I am a photo enthusiast. Lately I purchased a Nikon D90 together with some lenses: a Tamron 17-50mm which is a marvelous lens, a Tamron 18-270mm, a wonderful walkaround lens, a Tokina 11-16mm superb wide angle lens, very sharp indeed, and a nikon 50mm standard prime lens, excellent sharpness.

Flickr is such a fabulous place to make friends and learn photography. I find the respond from flickr friends very encouraging indeed.

These are what I learn in Flickr:-

1. Making friends through contacts.

2.Choose the right pool to join, there are too many out there. If you are invited to join a pool do so. Later you will know which pool are active, which are helpful and which are beneficial to you.

3.The best contacts/friends are pool admins, they give great comments and invitations. "Trust me", they know how to appreciate good captures.

4.Try your best to comment on your friends/contacts uploads. I found later making comments is not easy. If you have to comment on a few photos would be fine, but a number of them will take your time. Especially if you really want to give commendable comments( not professional of course). Most of the Flickr comments are short and simple, sometime casual, sometime in a hurry followed by invitations and awards. Most important you appreciate others.

5.If you get comments and awards, always give comments in return and follow the rules of the pools.

6. Sometime you get random comments, do look at these Flickers' photostreams, you learn to appreciate others.

7. Choose your contact well, read their profiles and look at their photostreams, then decide to add them to your list. If they in return add you to their list that is good sign of friendship. If not, learn what you can from their uploads that is shown in your contact latest activity, you don't have to give comments.

8. If you have the time look at the "more properties". You will learn how fantastic shots are made.

After awhile you will also learn that there are Flickr addicts:-

1. Genuine photographers

2. Not so genuine but urging for comments and awards.

3. Promotional Flickrs.

4. Really good friends.

Seeking recognition is a normal healthy attitude, but sometimes you just want to share your joy with others. The joy of the moment the shots are taken(just that one brief moment of brilliant shot), after uploading, the joy of having others shared your joyous moment, and later the joy of having your work appreciated by other Flickr addicts ........

If you are invited to be an Admin of a new group, think wisely before you agree. It can turnout to be a full time job.

To think of it, Flickrs is an amazing site to know about people all over the world. Through their photos you can learn about the creative instinct of each individuals, whether they are a serious or casual photographer. Most important is to make friends, share your joy, images and experience and of cause have a good lasting friendship.

But in learning photography, the most important thing is practice, as the old saying goes "practice make perfect".

Compare your work with more experience photographers, then evaluate your work by looking at your previous photo shots. You will definitely see the differences. If there are improvements, you are on the right track. If not, you know what to do.

If you are a serious enthusiast, then do "fave" the photos you like.

Find the time to look at them again and learn how such shots are made. Whether they are macro shots, landscape, scenery, potraits, candids etc.

I found out on Flickr most common images upload are of flower macros, scenery, landscapes and sunsets.

Flowers are most popular, maybe because of its variety and color. A single flower can look different at different angle.

Well, I am learning outdoor shots now and enjoying every bit of the time I have taking them. Landscape and scenery photography are tiring for ailing man, but the result produced worth the time and walk.

After sometime making friends on Flickr I found out that friendship will last if you maintain good communication. This you do through constant comments on their uploads. Making contacts is easy but making friends is different.

Will update this profile from time to time to share my experience with you all.

My gears:

Cameras:- Nikon D50 & D90

Lenses :- Nikon 50mm, Sigma 105mm, Tamron

17-50mm, Tamron 18-270mm and

Tokina 11-16m

Flash :- Nikon SB 600

My first 100+ comments:-

My first on Explore:-

Thank you to all my great Flickr friends for your comments, invitations, advices and supports.