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[on:]

So I had some people ask me to create a Pinterest account and put some stuff up.. Photography that is.  I still don't really get the whole thing, but I created an Arduino private pinboard and will be creating a public one, if there isn't a projects one already.

Anyone use this thing, and what is the point, exactly?  I kind of like their image layouts, but I am kind of lost in terms of what makes sense.  It would seem that the idea is that you like things based upon linked images?  In that case, it would make sense to link to images here on the forums, yes?

http://pinterest.com/focalist/

[Reply #1 on:]

Based on what I can see (and this would be without signing up, just a quick look-over), it seems like you share pictures (?) of things you love/like, and so do others. Also, you can build your "likes/loves" into categories, "re-pinning" other's photos and such into your own collection.

This could be useful from a certain standpoint:

Let's say you're redecorating your house. You take a few pics of things you want to include in your new layout/design/color-scheme, then using those, you browse for other photos from others on pinterest to add to your "collection" (maybe it's a color, or a style, or something else). Then that "collection" could become the basis for the overall theme of your redecoration.

Or - let's say you wanted to design something, maybe a robot: If there were enough people sharing such an interest, you could pin their designs/pictures/ideas to yours, and you could build up a "portfolio" of ideas (maybe someone posts a pic of a custom servo controller schematic, while another posts an image of a specification for a motor, and another a picture of a certain type of gear mechanism or something).

The only thing that seems limiting (at least to my brief glance at the site) is that you can only (?) link photos; what about other documents or media? That would be really helpful, IMHO (both internal and external focused links). It would make it more useful as an idea/design "scrapbook" (particularly if annotations and other things could be added to the images and such).

[Reply #2 on:]

It looks like you can (and are supposed to) link photos from external sites more than it's really meant as a content provider itself.  From the Arduino project with the video spectrum analyzer project, I was able to link my blog entry on it.  

Kind of like a visual Google?

I agree with your evaluation that documents would be beneficial, but maybe the intent is that the documents are the material 'behind' the photo, rather than thenother way around, as is usual..

There's a lot of buzz about the site, I guess for things like my photography, the intent would be to lead to a web store for prints or something like that.

[Reply #3 on:]

Did you read the license agreement?

[Reply #4 on:]

Admittedly, in a cursory manner.  I really don't worry about folks jacking my pictures when I post public galleries.. The shots I had created the account to post were a handful I took yesterday while chilling n a greenhouse while my wife and daughter went hiking.

You say this as if there's something specific I should have noticed.. ?

[Reply #5 on:]

Recently, I read two news articles complaining profusely about the license agreement.  "Why would anyone in their right mind agree to this crap" was the essence of both articles.  Not being a user I did not take an interest in the writer's specific objections so I cannot provide details.  There is always controversy when a website takes a "creative" view of the copyright law.  This time around there seems to be an unusually high number of negative opinions.

Given the time and money you spend on photography, I thought I'd pass on what (little) I know.

[Reply #6 on:]

Well, the photography is really an escape for me, most of the time.  These particular shots I released via another site as creative commons images, so I'm not that concerned about these specific images.  I'm not making a career of this or anything.. selling photography is a major job unto itself, which would make my photography something that I can't ever allow it to be.. a stressor.  If my photography becomes a source of stress rather than an escape from it.. It'll be over.

It is very strange these days, I do my photography for the love of the art, and the love of being lost in the moment.. It's not about money, other than trying to sell a bit here and there to try to keep the gear in repair, and maybe even save for some upgrades.

Its not really possible to make an income as an untrained amateur art photographer, at best you can get some attributions and fans.  Paying gigs are portraiture and events, and those are snapped up fast by higly trained pros these days.. a lot of competition for limited customers.. And being sick, it's just not realistic.