OK OK........the subject line was just to catch attention. ;)

I was browsing through the photo gallary today like I do everyday. Since it is impossible to view all, I use a certain not very scientific method of browsing the image.

First thing I do as soon as I come from work is take a picture out of collection, shave , crop, edit and frame it, if necessary, it all takes about 10 to 15 minutes and bingo......... 200x200 I make an interesting crop out of the image itself or, I make an interesting crop of the image and size it 200 x 200 and post the image. In all I take 20 minutes and my composition for the day is done. It is like a ritual for me and I look forward to it everyday.

Soon after I post, the next thing I crave to do is, look up images in the gallary and I first go through the thumbs, then the titles and sometimes the artist name, right click the image ..... Open as new page...... not all the images. Only those that are attractive or interest generating in the thumb itself.

Today, I decided to open all the images without any prejudice and view all images or only as many as that can be opened from the immediate front page and I was in for a surprise.

Some of the images posted in the not so very interesting or attractive or interest generating thumbs were marvelous photo work. I was astonished that there were no comments on two such wonderful images which I even voted.

I think, more or less, we all follow the same pattern with a little bit diffrence but overall it is the same.

The thumb has to be interesting if you want better viewership. Not that better viewership or comments are going to change anything but the fact that if I were the photographer of the two images I am talking about, I would have suffered a serious setback or complex. I mean, like it or not I post images and I put in my bit in composing it and capturing the image and post work on it and after satsfying myself that the peice of work is good , I go ahead with it and if I don't get acclaimed I feel rejected or I feel I was lacking somewhere. I treat the particular post as below par whereas it may not be so.

Today, I realised something, it is not the beauty of the work itself that counts but a lot depends on how you present it and the THUMB NAIL plays a very vital role in this regard. If you can't make an interesting thumb, you are bound to be ignored and for that none else is to blamed but the artist itself. An artist or photographer who works so hard in working on those images should work a little more in improving their thumb and coming out with something interesting. Afterall , there is no better marketing than self marketing. By marketing I mean, to reach out for th viewers attention. With a better viewership, you get a better response and a more balanced view on your work.

Like it or not, it is the RULE OF THE THUMB, which makes a lot of diffrence.

The reverse of the same is equally true. The work posted may be very below par but the thumb maybe interesting , thereby generating more viewership. ( If you go through images with suggestive titles and suggestive sexual crops you will realise what I mean.)

I would like to know from everyone what your views are in this regard. Am I right in asserting that it is not enough to be a good artist but you should be a good marketier too?? What good is an art that never gets viewed??

Please feel free to express yourself, even if you disagre with my views.

Thank you.

:O))

SNAKEY