Flickr, certainly presents photographs for many different tastes and in that way is very democratic. However, it also serves up much that is the photographic equivalent of junk food and worse. I long ago tired of doing a keyword search on a topic of interest and then being delivered to a Flickr photo or page showing someone’s buddies getting smashed at the local watering hole? Why not set this stuff for the private viewing of friends or family and spare the rest of us? That’s only common courtesy.

I also believe that too few photographers say anything significant about the context of their photos thereby leaving the viewer to guess why the picture was made, where, when, for what audience it was intended, under what circumstances, for what purpose, and using what kind of equipment? Answers to any or all of these questions can greatly affect the viewer’s understanding and appreciation of the image. Of course some photographs are obvious. Most are not. That is why you rarely see a photograph in a newspaper or magazine without an appropriate caption.

And of course, the family sharing albums, all of which have their place.

I find that these days we put ourselves out there — blogs, facebook, flickr — and why? To connect with others who find something in our work, even if their words in reply don’t dig deeply? I’m not sure, but I’m glad these are there for us — and equally glad there is discussion that goes beyond the surface.