Vazaar ....what?

[Iron Flatline]

Hello everyone.

Well, I've been a member of this community for a long time, and I've rarely promoted a website, except of course my own photoblog - and I've pimped that mercilessly, with little success.

Brandon Stone has been developing Vazaar for several years now. I've been an early member and Beta-Tester, and am happy to report that it's initial version is ready for a debut. For the first time, it is open to the public.

Check it out!

Vazaar

So, what's the point of Vazaar?

Vazaar is a worldwide community of people who enjoy the challenge of photography. We regularly create new topics of interest to get the creative juices flowing. New topics are decided by a vote. Once a new topic is activated we upload our photos and share our own interpretation of the subject, then we decide which photos will be featured. Only 20% of all the images on Vazaar will ever be featured.

Every member of Vazaar is a photo editor and all users can choose which photos are featured next. We have no panel of judges, (which actually seems to work!) The Vazaar website constantly tallies up the votes and automatically features around 1 out of every 5 photos. Once an image is featured in a topic, it also appears on the Vazaar homepage for all to see. All featured photos are archived, so you can go back in time and see the entire history of the site. There are also RSS feeds, so you can follow along in your favorite news reader.

Since only 20% of all photos will ever be featured, we offer some tools to help our lesser-known photographers get feedback. Any user can request critiques of their photos. A critique is a way to say, "Hey! I'm looking for some honesty... Lay it on me!" Our system encourages active participation in the critiquing process by awarding critique points. The more critique points you earn, the more critiques you can get.
If you're not interested in any of this critique stuff, then you're perfectly welcome to not use that feature. Only people who ask for critiques should get them.

Both professional and amateur photographers come together on Vazaar to interact with each other. We like the fact that we have such a wide spectrum of photographers and we do our best to leave our egos at the door.

Brandon Stone also created Photoblogs.org, the ubiquitous Photobloggers.org, as well as the infamous Weekly Shot, but this is the first offering available to the public - or at least photographers who are proud of their images.

Sign up, get involved, post some images.... but don't forget to let your LUF flag fly high!

[jaapv]

if anyone wants an invite, I've got two left, just send your email.

[martano]

Originally Posted by jaapv

if anyone wants an invite, I've got two left, just send your email.

Hi! thanks for the info. I just sign in. Is the invite for any special features on the site?

[Iron Flatline]

Originally Posted by jaapv

if anyone wants an invite, I've got two left, just send your email.

Jaapv, it's now open to the public, you no longer need an invite.

[tvleeskr]

I had some pics published and got stupid comments. System is wrong because it is required to give lots of feedback to be able to ask for feedback. Removed my pics again because feedback given was not helping me to improve. At all.

[jaapv]

Originally Posted by Iron Flatline

Jaapv, it's now open to the public, you no longer need an invite.

I didn't know that. I used it for awhile and found the same drawbacks Thom did.

[Iron Flatline]

Originally Posted by tvleeskr

I had some pics published and got stupid comments. System is wrong because it is required to give lots of feedback to be able to ask for feedback. Removed my pics again because feedback given was not helping me to improve. At all.

Well, Vazaar is not an online photo school, there's probably other places where it's easier to get instructive comments, or specific critique. Occasionally I get some really constructive comments, but usually it's just a really friendly environment in which to share images with other photographers. Vazaar doesn't claim to be anything fancy, it's just fun.