I just renewed my Flickr Pro membership, which got me to thinking about how much I love Flickr.
I first used Flickr when it bore no resemblance to the service it is today--back in those early days, it was focused on real-time photo sharing and chatting in an interactive Flash-based environment. The first photo I uploaded, in December of 2003, is photo number 216 in the system--which makes it, so far as I know, the first photo uploaded by someone who didn't work for Flickr.
Three years later, I've uploaded 2,160 photos, which have garnered (as of a few moments ago) 99,914 views.
Wow.
So, that list...
Flickr revitalized my interest in photography. I take more pictures because I want to share them with others.
I bought my first cameraphone because of Flickr, and now it's an essential part of my life. I use it--along with Flickr and the marvelous Shozu software--to document day-to-day details of my life. The small events that are under the bloggable radar, but important enough to remember and share.
My Flickr photos led me to long-lost family members in Brazil.
This week I'll be receiving the ten free cards from Moo that my Flickr Pro account entitled me to. The samples I ordered will include ten different sunset photos I've taken. If they're as good as everyone who's written about them says, I'm pretty sure I'll be buying lots more--for myself and as gifts.
Because of Flickr, every day I get visual updates from people I care about. I know that Eric and Nicole dressed as pirates for "Talk Like a Pirate" Day. I know that Stewart is (was?) in Taipei, that Tantek is in Tokyo, and that Jill has a new camera (ooooo....I'm so jealous! a canon digital slr is at the very top of my wish list these days). I know that Weez has the boys this weekend, that Julie took her kids to visit a salmon hatchery, and that Gina went to a wedding. And I know all that not because of lengthy emails or telephone conversations, but from the constant stream of photos from friends that I see in Bloglines.
I know there are more reasons I love Flickr, but it's lunchtime and I promised to take Alex to Panera.
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