My Ten Most Interesting Photos on Flickr

Filed under .

Flickr is a fantastic photo archiving solution, especially for the traveller. But the real benefit of Flickr is the community that’s shaped the network over the years since it was launched. Now, a whole Flickr culture exists, with thriving sub-communities for any subject you might imagine. Participation is encouraged, and the best shots tend to ‘bubble up’ and are promoted accordingly throughout the site.

I’ve been able to share and develop my interest in photography using Flickr in a way I would never have been able to do otherwise. Looking critically at what people are drawn to, from my photostream as well as in the site-wide ‘Explore’ section, really helps me to develop ideas about how to create an attractive, engaging image. The $30 annual subscription for unlimited storage and use of all of Flickr’s services is a steal — provided you use it, of course.

Here are the ten most ‘interesting’ photos on my Flickr account to date, as chosen by the community. My photos get relatively few views, so more would be nice! Guess I need to keep at it…

Sleeping under the Saharan stars

The most popular shot by a country mile is this dusk image from deep in the Sahara. It seems to prove that, as with many things, simplicity is best. But getting into this situation in the first place required quite a bit of effort!

Dawn on the ferry from Aswan, Egypt to Wadi Halfa, Sudan (HDR)

This would be an unusual situation for many people, and it takes a while to register what’s happening, which is perhaps what made it popular. I used HDR techniques to allow me to show what was happening on deck as well as preserving the sunrise, and to give the image a slightly surreal feeling which reflects the circumstances.

Wild camping near the Aswan Dam, Egypt (HDR)

The dark and moody desert contrasts with the pylons in the background. Civilization is not far away but my campsite is out of sight amongst the rocks and sand. Again I used HDR techniques to bring out the foreground detail.

Stormy Yerevan and Ararat

The view over Yerevan with Mount Ararat in the background is probably the most over-photographed view in the country. I tried to do something different, shifting the focus away from the symbolic mountain but leaving it looming in the distance. Yerevan’s perpetual state of construction is highlighted by the foreground cranes.

My bike's rear end in the Sudanese desert

I’m not sure why this photo has become popular, but maybe it’s to do with what is left unsaid, rather than what is actually contained within the frame.

A moody dusk over autumnal Yerevan (HDR)

This is another classic view over Yerevan, treated to a dose of moodiness rather than the usual utopian approach that patriotic photographers take towards their shots of the city.

Two nomads on a cycling adventure (Explored)

This shot found its way into Flickr’s ‘Explore’ section, proof that composition and technique aren’t always important — sometimes a simple, spontaneous snap of an intriguing subject can win people over.

Spectacular sunset over forests, mountains and valleys in Mongolia

There’s nothing particularly special about the subject here, but the colours captured during those few fleeting minutes of magical light seem to have done the trick.

Spectacular natural beauty on the Nile in Sudan

The foreground draws the eye to the curious rock formations to create a textbook image. It’s a shame that the remoteness of the location is not more obvious — it’s a rather predictable photo without it.

On the jetty near Luxor at dawn, Egypt (HDR)

I got up early to capture the pre-dawn light by the Egyptian Nile. The result is a classic lights-over-water image with an interesting foreground element. The red light provides a focal point — overall a safe, rule-following image.

* * *

I’ve got a long way to go with photography and I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to study the art more seriously in the future. In the meantime, I’m going to have plenty of opportunities to keep snapping during my travels in Europe on my way back to the UK this autumn.

Comments (skip to respond)

6 responses to “My Ten Most Interesting Photos on Flickr”

  1. photograph house avatar
    photograph house

    Hello there, I found your web site via Google while looking for a related topic, your web site came up, it appears to be like good. I’ve bookmarked to my favourites|added to my bookmarks.

  2. Nigel Francis avatar
    Nigel Francis

    Excellent photos. If I can produce anything near as good as those, I’d be happy 🙂

  3. Chewing the Cud | My Ten Most Interesting Photos

    […] Tip to Alistair Humphreys and Tom’s Bike Trip for the […]

  4. […] and am starting to build up a nice range of different images. So I decided to steal this idea from Tom Allen’s site and show today my 10 Most Interesting photos, as determined by the clever robots inside […]

  5. […] Tom is a man of many talents, one of which is photography.  My jaw actually dropped when I took a look at his Top Ten Most Interesting Bicycle Touring Photos. […] 

  6. Liz Allen avatar
    Liz Allen

    The bike at dusk in the Sahara is one of my favourites too.
    But then again I think you have many amazing shots as a record of your travels.
    xx

Something to add?