For those that have been off the grid for a while Threads is the Zuckerberg/Instagram competitor to Instagram/X that was launched recently.
Although in its infancy the application offers certain advantages over Twitter, including increased (500) character post limitations and for us photographers none of the Twitter format restrictions on images.
Features are being added regularly, with the new web interface allowing posts direct from the desktop (yeah!).
From my own perspective I find this way easier to use than Twitter, especially now that I can pull images directly from my PC.
I am seeing a lot of photographers embracing the application, though to be truthful I feel that at present most continue to fall back to their historical social apps (Instagram/Facebook/Twitter) as engagement remains lower than those platforms.
Do you use Threads yourself, and if so what do you find appealing or perhaps frustrating about the app (I believe an expanded search feature is on its way with hashtags on the roadmap)?
If not Threads then do you use social media to engage with your photography at all?
Would members like to follow other members on Threads/other? If so, please add the platforms you use and relevant handles so that others can find you.
I'll start with the sites I use most for my photography.
- Threads - https://www.threads.net/@alanbrownphotography
- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alanbrownphotography/
Hello,
I have been using Threads although not as much as I use Instagram and Facebook. Every time I post on threads I either get 1 or 2 likes or none at all so I don't post that often on it anymore. I also use Vero every now and then. The interaction I get on Vero and Instagram is about the same.
Another thing I've been doing lately is posting to different groups on Facebook. Especially groups local to the area I photographed. I recently spent a couple days/nights in Chincoteague Island Virginia. I took a Milky Way photo of their Waterman's Memorial (it's in my portfolio if you're interested). Which is a memorial to local watermen lost at sea. I found 3 Chincoteague groups on Facebook and posted the photo to each group. Between the 3 groups the photo got over 30k likes and thousands of comments. By far the most I've ever had. The guy that built the memorial saw the photo and contacted me and we're working together to make a big print of it and auction it off to raise money for the memorial. I also had lots of people reach out to me for prints and was able to sell quite a few.
I am from North Carolina and I've also had some success posting my photos to various NC groups. Especially my coastal photos. Honestly I usually get the most interaction (likes/comments) on Facebook groups than anywhere else.
I don't know if we count this site as social media but I post on here kind of often as well. Although the interaction on this site seems to have dropped off from what it was a few years ago. I still like it though!
My socials are below. I post from my personal Facebook rather than a business or photography page.
- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kyleforemanphoto/
-Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ksf0601
Thanks Kyle. I had forgotten about Vero - I signed up quite a while ago but although it seemed to be a good place for others to share images I didn't see much interaction otherwise.
I get what you are saying about Threads (like), I have found the same. However, I feel this will take off as features get added and the integration (with Instagram/Facebook?) expands.
I also agree on the fstoppers group. We are one of (if the the) most active groups on the platform. I feel that is more members engaged that would inspire others to follow suit. With 650 members it would be nice if at least some of the core few would participate.
Following you on Threads/IG/Facebook (which I rarely access....)
I agree, this is the most active group on here. Whenever I post in group at least 1 person chimes in.
There are a lot of times where I want to comment on people's post in this group but I don't really have anything constructive to say or add. Especially with abstract/ICM or some of the experimental things people post. It's just not my expertise. Where I feel like I can be much more helpful with landscape/cityscape type stuff.
People probably don't think landscape/cityscapes are experimental but I think they can be. For example, I've been experimenting with time blending. Inspired by Elia. For me it's a really fun genre of photography. And it can be helpful for me to have other people comment on my work to know if I've over done it a bit. Which can be easy to do with time blending.
Thanks Kyle. I think it helpful for members to comment even if they feel they are not qualified or have nothing to add.
A simple statement recognizing effort or giving a ‘thumbs up’ let’s the member know that their post is being seen.
Please don’t feel you have to be an expert in a genre to have an opinion. Feedback from the ‘outside’ often gives a fresh view that helps others.
The goal of the group is to encourage experimentation and sharing with others. This can certainly include landscapes etc.
I'm not a professional so no. I have a Vero account which I haven't posted anything on. Outside of here, I never even post my best photos on-line. I make photo books on Shutterfly and get a number of copies as gifts and to have around to show people. I've sold a few that way, just above my cost.
Thank you for the heads up on Threads. I just started looking into it. To a certain extent, I feel I am at the end of my "thread" with social media. Lol! Like too little butter spread over too much bread - there's so much out there. A few years ago I took a business for photographers course where I had to ... well ... start a business. Coincidentally covid struck the country at the very same time. I ended up turning to social media to keep my business in everyone's mind by posting a photo of the day which has become a daily routine for me since then. I have a very small following here and there resulting in some inquiries. With all the other projects my husband and I are working on right now, I haven't really landed the plane in any particular social media sites so my engagement is very low. This group is the only one I really enjoy personally for myself; although, I don't post photos as I'd like to. I have learned a lot here thanks to all of your posts. For what it's worth, here are my social media pages ... they all have the same photos because I post my POTD on each one; so if you're interested, you can just check out your social media venue of choice.
IG: https://www.instagram.com/wisephotographyforyou/
TW: https://twitter.com/JennyWisePhotos
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wisephotographyforyou/recent-activity/all/
PINT: https://www.pinterest.com/WisePhotographyForYou/
500PX: https://500px.com/p/imjenny
FB: https://www.facebook.com/WisePhotographyforYou/