In this smartphone age, when so much of our time is spent in the click-and-upload mode, everyone is a photographer. The soaring popularity of image-based social media platforms makes it extremely evident that the human mind is stimulated by imagery.
No wonder then that text-based social networks are already becoming a thing of the past as more visual mediums of interaction take over. Popular image-based social media sites such as Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr and Flickr need no introduction but if images are what truly drive you, here are a few lesser known social media for pictures for your trigger-happy soul:
DeviantArt
DeviantArt, a close-knit online community of artists, is the best place for photography enthusiasts who really want to improve. The site boasts 25 million members globally and offers the perfect platform to share one’s artwork with like-minded people. Besides uploading their own artwork, members can use this platform to critique and appreciate the work of fellow artists, follow them and favorite their images.
Though DeviantArt is not a website builder network, users can promote their specific projects through other popular sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. You can organize your work into genre-specific galleries, enter contests and collaborate with other members to work on projects. All in all, DeviantArt offers the perfect platform for those looking to pursue photography in true earnest.
Pros DeviantArt offers free memberships, allows users to expand their artistic horizons, is user-friendly and easy to navigate through. Members can monetize their DeviantArt accounts and use it to sell images and prints.
Cons Since art has many forms and expressions, it is not uncommon to find artwork you might find offensive: nudity, gore, blood and violence are not rare on this site.
Photobucket
Photobucket is an image hosting and sharing platform that is rapidly growing and giving arch-rival Flickr a run for money. This user-friendly image-based hosting service is best known for its exciting features and flexibility in terms of customized use. It offers a safe option for online photo storage needs, besides offering additional features such as automatic image sharing on Facebook or Twitter, image editing and filters, picture printing and an opportunity to connect with friends and like-minded photographers.
Pros It allows easy upload of pictures be it a single image or an entire album and comes packed with a wide range of exciting multimedia features. Users can generate revenue from their Pro accounts or through traditional internet ad formats.
Cons The site could use some improvement in its customer help and support segment. The option of monetizing accounts is limited to only Pro members.
Panoramio
This is a photo sharing site with a difference – the USP of Panoramio is its geolocation sharing feature. This first-of-its-kind photo sharing site that started out as an independent project but was soon took over by Google and embedded into Google Maps and Google Earth. So, all the images you see on your Google Maps navigation are sourced from this site.
Each user is duly credited for their images and you can find out more about the photographer and their body of work by simply clicking on the photo credits. Of the many firsts the site has brought about in the world of online photo sharing, utilizing tag clouds is perhaps the most ground breaking. This feature has immensely simplified the process of searching for and finding relevant images from a seamless volume of uploads. Of course, now Instagram has a few similar features, especially with the option of PhotoMap.
Pros Because your images get uploaded on Google Maps and Google Earth, the number of people you can reach is phenomenal. As long as your work is good, recognition is guaranteed.
Cons The site’s USP can also double up as its biggest drawback. A lot of users may not be comfortable with geolocating every picture they upload on the internet, as it compromises privacy and gives away details of physical location. There is no provision of earning money on the images posted on Panoramio.