I get a lot of motes and comments asking me "How did you ever get to be this popular" like there is a secret button you need to press, or someone to bribe...
In order to try and put things in perspective, I'll try and put a simple answer that will clarify it, or not...
1. Submit high quality work (filter the work you submit)
In other words, respect your gallery and your watchers. Show them the stuff you consider to be high quality, and don't filter your work to scratch after you submitted based on how popular it turned out to be. The more consistent you are, the more respect you get from your watchers as an artist who really knows what he is doing.
2. work within the community
Remember you are not here alone. The more you will be a part of the community, the more the community will see you as a part of it. Comment and critique the work of others, and think of the way you do it. Be polite and helpful. If it will not be helpful to your popularity, at least it will still be the right thing to do.
3. Teach from what you know. Share.
Isn't it wonderful when you have something you can share?
If you have a certain way to work your magic, a wonderful technique, or even graphic skills... I feel it's much more fun passing it on to others, than having it as a "secret" for others to admire. Seeing others improve, learn, and broad their skills, because of your help, is so much better than a "secret". So comment, answer when asked, explain.
This is the best feeling, when somebody grows artistically, and you are a part of it.
4. Use your journal entry for tutorials and promotion - for others
One thing I don't like is when the journal is used for self-promotion.
I just don't get it... The system offers you a way to communicate a journal, and you use it to tell how great you are? I just don't get it. If people want to see your work, they go to your gallery. If people want to buy your prints, they go to your store.
Right? That should be enough IMHO. Well, I think journals should be used to share thoughts, knowledge, news, promotion for fresh artists, most favorite work. Etc’
You know what I mean?
5. give feedback back to those who found time to comment on your work.
Tricky, I know.
Over a certain amount of comments, it becomes impossible to answer everyone. So don't answer all, but answer questions when asked, or answer long and well thought of comments. Hey, they gave you their time, and this is the least you can do to appreciate them.
I've been a part of DA for over 3 years. I didn't start here with popularity. The first few photographs had less than 30 pageviews. Still, I kept updating my gallery with work and after a DD I got, and a growing amount of watchers, I started getting more and more popular. This wasn't something I strive for, it was a result of the hard work I did as an artist and as being an active part of this community. I believe that If your goal is to be popular - it will not work. You need to set your aims at being an artist, because this is what everybody else really wants to see and relate to.
Good luck!
Now, I invite you to take a look with me, at 10 of my favorites Under my weekly spotlight
Brilliant frame bringing the life and details of something we rarely see so close and personal. The B&W works and sets the mood.
Total views up to now: 121
Total Favorites up to now: 28
What a wonderful frame. I would gladly hang this as a print at home.
It captures the dynamics and beauty of a special, and yet so ordinary moment.
Bravo!
Total views up to now: 62
Total Favorites up to now: 15
A dialog with no words.
A minimal frame with very few details, and yet a story can be easily told. Beautiful!
Total views up to now: 309
Total Favorites up to now: 35
The composition and angle makes this one very special.
The landscape alone is beautiful, but the photographers work made this one different, and I appreciate it.
Total views up to now: 137
Total Favorites up to now: 25
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A story of a journey.
We see it from the boat point of view and that makes it easy to relate to the man as a passenger on the road, heading to see a world. Beautiful landscape and good lighting and atmosphere makes it all come together.
Total views up to now: 144
Total Favorites up to now: 20
A classic tree&landscape shot.
The composition is perfect and the minimal colors and details makes it easy to like. What makes it special to me was that I was sure it was IR when I first saw it as a thumbnail, and it was only when I eexamined it that I realized it was really not. Awesome.
Total views up to now: 37
Total Favorites up to now: 7
I love it!
A perfect silhouette and the setting sun. Minimalistic photography as it suppose to look.
It's easy to fall in love.
Total views up to now: 12
Total Favorites up to now: 3
The sand of time running through my fingers...
Beautiful and poetic frame, a classic in my opinion.
Total views up to now: 346
Total Favorites up to now: 80
Again, a frame that tells a story. A fairytale if you will.
Two kids and a horse. Somehow you feel there is a lot of depth to this one.
I love the textures and feeing here.
Total views up to now: 42
Total Favorites up to now: 7
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A jogger running on the sand, but the color, the harsh light, the minimalistic frame.
It looks almost iconic, a classic. I can imagine this one being popular as a print.
Total views up to now: 71
Total Favorites up to now:10
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It's amazing to see how much beauty and quality is passed un-noticed here in all one week. I hope that more great work will get noticed here. It's up to us. Use the comments favorites power to support the un-noticed.
Keep supporting!
*****
1. Art is all about expression
2. About Photography, and Israel too
3. DA Thoughts
4. Infra Red
5. Let me shed some Light
6. All the Info you can probably get on me – The BTL with G
7. Listen to "One Day"
8. About freedom of speech and ethics
9. A Different Look At Israel / Part 3, and part 4
10. Where you can download the "A Different Look At Israel" presentations.
11. Summing up 3 years of being a DeviantArt member
12. Summing up what I had to say in 2006
13. Special Interview - An Eye On The World
14. Tips on Shooting indoors
15. Tips on recommended filters
16. Using build in flash
17. Keep your pixels yours
18. About making money in photography
19. Do you know how to get exposure?
20. When does photography become manipulation?
21. About making money in photography
22. A Light unto the Nations
23. Shooting RAW or JPEG?
24. Getting inspired for photography
25. Dust on your sensor?
If you didn't hear about the wonderful project of ArtistsForCharity now its the time! go, share, and help.
These are five prints of my work, I gave to the project so far:
:thumb32432455: and :thumb30663927: and :thumb25868807: and :thumb25653391: and :thumb26333866:
Yours, G
If you don't want to read all this Bla Bla Bla, you can simply download the "A Different Look At Israel" presentations here.
