View allAll Photos Tagged signofthetimes
First up, a very special thank you to everyone who has made my time on Flickr most enjoyable with your visits and faves. I have taken you down some interesting rabbit holes in the past 13 months, some surprising even to myself (who would have thought I’d be going on about computer bots a year ago – ha ha). There are so many genuine people with whom we have been able to share our photographic experiences and even frustrations. My utmost appreciation for that. I hope it continues for a long time to come.
During my Lake St Clair series I chalked up 2 Million views. It was on October 8 to be exact, so now is a good time to pause, give thanks and reflect. Four months ago I passed the Million views mark, so it was beyond my wildest expectations to have passed 2 Million views by now. I discovered the sign posted above (wink, wink) on my trip to Sandy Bay in Hobart - my next series which I’ll start on the weekend.
I’m on the record about my frustrations with the Explore system as a whole, its method of selection (a computer bot), the Exploromania it tends to generate with people trying to find ways to game the system, etc. etc. You are welcome to join the discussions at www.flickr.com/groups/anti_bot_anti_fake_photo/
I’ve had some very helpful advice from people about why my first Explore came soon after joining Flickr and I’ve not troubled the scorer since.
•Don’t say anything controversial or ramble on too long in the descriptions
•Don’t post in full size
•Don’t post in so many groups
•Posting in series is a bad idea, random is the way to go
•Add a signature, add a border (and don’t do the same – the rule doesn’t seem to be clear here from what I’ve seen)
•Don’t get yourself banned from the group “In Explore” by attacking the conflicts of interest of the Admins who continue to procure Explores at the rate of “2-4 a month” according to the Texan.
Well I agree it’s all good advice, but you won’t find me following it for a moment. I fail to see why “jumping through hoops” should be a requirement for quality, and this dog doesn’t do tricks. So had the Explore Bot visited me more often I’d have had a boost in views (my only Explore has attracted 19,000 views, and it wasn’t all that good). But to get to 2 Million views without that assistance, my photographs have had to earn their views on merit. I’m proud of that. So no sour grapes Flickr.
But just a final note that illustrates why my public criticisms of the Explore system may have led to being banned, and that it is also possible to “game” the system with success had I chosen to do so. As an undercover operation for www.flickr.com/groups/anti_bot_anti_fake_photo/
I assumed another identity and account and began posting according to the methods we have gleaned from people on “how to get Explored”. My second ever posting was Explored, and this unleashed a cavalcade of backslappers and well-wishers (most of them well known Bot-users). People who didn’t really look at the photograph, but because it had the Explore stamp of approval thought it had to be worth faving. All this for a photo Luminosity7 had already rejected.
So yes it can be done. And I will continue for a little while undercover to glean what else we can about this system. When my work is done, all will be revealed in the group www.flickr.com/groups/anti_bot_anti_fake_photo/
But you will never find me compromising my position here in order to attract the attention of the computer bot called Explore.
"Alte Liebe rostet nicht." Gefunden im Stadtpark Gütersloh.
"Old love does not die." I found them in the city park of Guetersloh (Germany).
Bonbon hates when Poppy goes out without him, even for one evening...
*****
"Sign Of The Time" Poppy wears the dress of Groovy Baby Momoko, Barbie shoes, Poppy hat and purse.
Troy owns and runs a bike repair shop and loves to build his customized bikes. He also runs a local cycle club which meets up several times a year to cruise around the city.
A picture with a story. How do you think he would have responded to the question within the title, what does his expression suggest?
Location - Slovakia, Bratislava
"Yes, I'm packing, Mr Didier. I'm leaving you. Forever. We're done. It's not just a break.
I know you don't love me anymore. Go play with that Jem."
Oh the drama! Poppy is angry, jealous ans sad.
She thinks I spend too much time with Jem and the Holograms for my 365 Toy Project...
Is this just another sign of the times, with yet more interference from the H&E institution.
For centuries people were allowed to use common sense, but now we have the realm of the senseless and there has to be prominent signs where people are working. Is it only a matter of time before we have fences around mill ponds and the lakes in our parks?
This particular sign could have been flipped over and if I recall correctly it said, 'Man at work' on the other side....yet there was a woman using a long pole with a net on the end to collect leaves from the pond. Maybe she flipped the sign to deny gender activists the opportunity to get involved...
Backroads Saskatchewan -
Humboldt Broncos bus crash
On April 6, 2018, 16 people were killed and 13 were injured when a northbound coach bus struck a westbound semi-trailer truck that blew through a stop sign near Armley, Saskatchewan, Canada. The driver of the truck had failed to yield at a flashing stop sign at the intersection of Saskatchewan Highways 35 and 335 while driving at a speed of approximately 100 km/h. Most of the deceased and injured were players from the Humboldt Broncos, a junior ice hockey team from Humboldt, Saskatchewan, which plays in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8R-zl7SDUU
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Now that I am done with 365 and free to roam around the archives I am finding a few signy shots , number of signy shots I got is surprising considering my aversion to photographing “things” , anyway I thought I’d let them loose
paddle up/down stream for more signy things