What is Blipfoto
and what’s it for? |
What is Blipfoto?
I’m a bit late to this one but will share my first impression.
Blipfoto was started by Edinburgh’s Joe Tree and Graham
Maclachlan back in 2004 but has taken a while to be fully integrated
into the photographic community. For further reading see an interview
with Joe Tree on the Edinburgh Spotlight website.
It’s basically an online photo journal that allows you to
upload only one image a day. Membership is free for a basic account
although you can become a premium user for £25.00 a year
which will entitle you to several extra benefits. The most crucial
one that appeals to me is the ability for other users to see your
images full screen instead of the preview size. That said I haven’t
as yet got a full membership although intend to do so.
There is no advertising on Blipfoto and although it ties in with
other social media it does so in a way that leaves the interface
refreshingly clean and simple. You have on the home page a stream
of images that will appear as they upload allowing you to surf
the images in bulk. The main tactic I’m using at the moment
is browsing at random and when I find an image that jumps out
I will explore the rest of images from that users previous entries.
If those photographs are interesting then I’ll subscribe
to that users account. So in principle your list of subscriptions
becomes your ‘friends’ list.
There is now the usual I-Phone app for Blipfoto. Overall the interface
is easy and quick. It must be good as Blipfoto recently scooped
a Scottish BAFTA Best Web award!
So why bother?
From my own perspective as a professional photographer it’s
a place to post images that I like. I do spend time when I’m
working fulfilling the brief of the client and although I’m
obviously happy with the results these images are essentially…work.
Blipfoto is about me
as a person and not just about being as an amateur or a professional
but just about the joy of taking a photo for its aesthetic value.
The real kicker is
you are basically posting a photo a day (although you don’t
have to) which means that even on those days I’m in the
office editing or relaxing at some point I have to think about
a picture. Some people would maybe say this is silly as when you’re
not at work you should not be thinking about work. I take a different
view. As a busy professional the process of photography becomes
about the product. You can forget the simple pleasures of taking
the camera on a walk or even looking around you kitchen for an
interesting macro shot.
I always said that
I looked at the world more closely with a camera in my hand. It’s
as if my eyes are half asleep when I’m not looking for a
picture.
In addition there is
such a broad spectrum of images and ideas that it is good site
to surf for ideas yourself and why take without contributing yourself.
From the abstract to the concise there seems to be something to
make everyone smile.
So are all the photos
on Blipfoto wonderful captured moments? Frankly, no. But they
are pictures that mean something to the people who take them….which
is all that counts.
Check out Blipfoto at http://www.blipfoto.com/
Check out my Blipfoto stream
(well ..the start of it anyway)
Posted by http://www.dougjacksonphotography.com/pr.htm
|
