Improve Your Photo Skills and Post Your Pictures Online

Oct 31, 2011 10:33 am | PC World

These Web services will help you share your images, learn new techniques, and find great gear.
by Jeff Enlow

You can carry your camera and take snapshots all day, but without a place to post them--or input on how you can improve your photos--you might find it difficult to make your work stand out. We asked Jeff Enlow, an editor with Corbis Images and a freelance photographer based in New York, which sites he visits to post his photos, learn about new projects, and get ideas.

A Photo Editor

A Photo Editor is the most professional and comprehensive site of the bunch. Former editor Rob Haggart has grown the blog, making it arguably the best resource on the Web. It's great for students, professionals, or anyone who loves the art and craft of photography. The site keeps abreast of all photo-related news, and fosters constructive discussion. It also helps aspiring and new professionals by sharing real-life business experiences from seasoned pros. On top of that, A Photo Editor regularly posts interviews with top working photographers such as Dan Winters and Jesse Burke, and covers everything from fashion and art photography to editorial portraiture and documentary.

Tumblr

Tumblr is no secret, but it remains the best way to share photos. It gives you the curated experience of a magazine, without the publishing costs and content restrictions. For photographers who need a place to post their work, Tumblr is great because it lets you assign a theme to your photo blog (unlike, say, Facebook, where you’re limited to one type of layout and feel). The generic layout ends up being better for snapshots of family and friends; if you want something more, you’ll need to present your photos artfully. Tumblr also has built-in social sharing devices that give your blog the potential to go viral--even more so than on Flickr.

If you’d just like to look at photos and get ideas, Tumblr is the best way to lose 5 hours of your life. If you're bored, I suggest those on the humorous side, such as “Chicks With Steve Buscemeyes” or my personal favorite, “Accidental Chinese Hipsters.” On the other end of the spectrum are serious photographers who are using Tumblr as a way to share work that they love; the site can be a great way to discover new work. Photographer Emiliano Granado and the photo collective MJR both have eclectic taste in photography as well as in art, fashion, and music.