Following Other Photographers: A Perspective

I have an account on ViewBug.  We are forumed here as of recently.  So this has been on my mind, lately as I have been on VB since March of 2009.  In that time, as a "free" Lite Member, I have amassed a HUGE following of 287.  I follow 359 other members.  I have managed this for two reasons:  Determination to Improve My Craft and Principle.

I see some photographers "show up" on VB within, say a few months of today's date and they have maybe a hundred or two hundred photos and something like 1300 Followers.  I am amazed.  I am certain that somehow they brought in "followers" from outside somehow, for no other explanation makes any real sense to me.  By the way, I have now, after just over six years of dedicated uploading of my work over 1,700 photos.

So I wonder?  How do you feel about following other photographers?  Do you feel that if you follow someone else, that they should pay out a little "quid pro quo" and follow you as well?  How do you 'generate' in your view or opinion followers to your work?  Do you even care?

I figure it this way.  I joined VB so that I could enter contests in order to gain greater exposure of my efforts to others.  Short and simple.  I really am not that concerned with attracting followers in any real sense, though I recognize that in order for me to gain greater attention, they must show up over time, right?

It is my sincere HOPE that those who follow me do so out of a respect for what they see in my gallery of work.  I HOPE that not all photographers that follow me expect that I should also follow them.  After all, I am a hard grader.  I especially grade myself with a critical eye.  The photos in my gallery are the examples of the growth of me as a photographer as well as a showcase for some of my more experimental efforts with ONLY point and shoot style cameras (they're all I can afford these days.)

I do not believe in the whole 'quid pro quo' concept in photography.  I follow other photographers for several reasons, but none of these reasons include following them so they'll follow me.  Not now, not ever.  The reasons I follow others is that I see something in their work that attracts me personally.  It could be excellent photography skills.  It could be that they are from another part of the world and so provide me a "free" trip through their eyes of their country.  It could be that they are "kindred" spirits, photographically.  Lastly, it could be that they provide so much WOW in their efforts that I cannot help but wonder "HOW do they DO that?"

My overriding passion is photography and it is my hope that someday I'll be able to get a "real" camera (DSLR with interchangeable lenses, an honest to god viewfinder instead of just a backscreen, filters, flashes, lightmetering, celestial mounting (for telescopes and astrophotography) or microscopy as these are all great interests of mine) so that I can continue to expand my reach, increase my skills and gain technical excellence in equipment that will, I have no doubt, allow me to be a better photographer.  I hope that those whom I meet and get to know over time online in the photography forums and websites share this passion, this love, of all things photographic.  Who knows, maybe even one day I'll start actually using Photoshop to make images I simply cannot do In-Camera, which is my principal love and desire in photography -- to capture my images in camera and not use any real editing software.

So now you know where I'm coming from as a photographer.  Do you have any thoughts or opinions on gaining or attracting followers?  What makes you choose to follow another photographer?  Are you a believer in the 'quid pro quo' concept or would you follow others with little to no expectation of being followed in kind?  Your thoughts and opinions are welcomed.

The biggest problem with the VB point system is that you can acquire many points for awarding photographs and favoriting, as well as following others.

The higher tiers allow more involvement, so... get points to move up.

The problem is that so many photos are not worth looking at, much less awarding.

That said....

If someone follows me, I follow them back. I wander through the "Trending" section looking for interesting images but am lucky to fine 1 or 2 per page. I'm trying to be a bit more open for favorites. I'm getting to where i don't just "like" an image, but award it if it's worth my attention. I am going to try to get to Moderator Level and see what that allows me.

If you are happy with the way you're doing things, keep it up. No reason to second guess.