How do you decide where to post your photos?

[Almizilero]

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I guess in the end it's always a personal decission, but I'd be interested how you decide where (on this forum) to post your pictures? There are a bunch of options available and I noticed that some pictures pop up in several of them.

1. Post photo or set of photos in their own thread in one of the dedicated photo forums
2. Post photo in one of the collection threads (Like “Thread full of trees“, “What we photograph in the streets”, monthly threads, etc.)
3. Post photo in one of the technical threads (pictures taken with camera X, Lens Y etc.)
4. others?

Here's what I do: If I think the images shows something of technical significance regarding the camera or lens, I'll upload it to the technical threads. Usually unedited, because I think that it defies the intend of these thread to show heavily edited/filtered versions.

If I like an image but don't think it too amazing, I might put it in one of the collection threads.

If I'm quite satisfied with a photo or would like to discuss elements of it, I'll give it it's own thread.

 

This approach doesn't always work as intended. Overall, I think the collection threads usually give a photo the best recognition, at least when it comes to likes. I'm not a big fan of likes, but I find myself using them quite constantly in the collection threads, just to show some appreciation for pictures that stand out to me. Actually, I'm not even sure if it's intended to do more in these threads.

But I think it's a pity that most of the time, a couple of likes is all the single thread photos get as well. Again, I'm guilty of this myself, but I try to at least say something in these threads. And I guess that might be a big part of it. It's give and take, why should people discuss my images if I have nothing to say about theirs.

But often, I'm not sure of the intend of the poster. If there is a question attached, it's easy. But if the thread contains nothing but the photo and camera/lens info, I can only assume that this is a highlight photo for the poster. I can agree with that and give it some praise. But if I don't aggree, I'm reluctant to criticise, because there is no way of telling if the poster want's to hear it. I, personally, am almost always happy with any comment, be it praise or (constructive) criticism. But I also made the experience that people get angry when you don't love their photos (like them or shut up). This is quite the problem on Instagram, not so much here, I think.

Another forum I took part in tackled this problem by having two subforums. One where no comments except praise where allowed, one where everybody could assume that the photo was open to any kind of constructive discussion. It's quite weird they had to do this, but it worked surprisingly well! I'm not asking for any changes to the forum, but maybe we could establish some kind of dropdown codes in the image titles that clarify the intend of the poster?

 

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[Al Brown]

You can post same photo to several threads, it is allowed here. Best recognition here IMHO is the individual photo thread, at least in my experience.
Posting to a public forum, any OP should be open to both praise and critique, the latter of course constructive and within the forum etiquette. That is the point of a forum since Roman times. The "nothing but praise" rule is a snowflake invention and IMHO does not help in any way.

[LocalHero1953]

I often post the same photo in multiple subforums if I think some of those who might like to see it might not see it in just one thread e.g. a lens thread and 'I like film'. But I only upload it once and use the Other Media>Insert Existing Attachment option for subsequent threads.

[Gibbo]

When I first joined the forum I thought it was 'very nice' that any photo you posted got at least one response of 'very nice' or 'nice photo'. It went some way to making you feel included. But it wears off after a while and, when you have been posting for more than ten years, it would be nice to receive something more than 'very nice', even if it's 'what were you thinking?'. Otherwise the only conclusion you can draw is that one person thinks that all the photos posted are 'very nice' and nobody else is moved by them one way or another. 

I do appreciate that it is not always easy to express critique in a way that won't be taken personally though so perhaps 'very nice' is the most diplomatic way on here?

[Ray Vonn]

Unless the circumstances are exceptional, I'll just post to an already existing thread, as they'll likely be one that's started already regarding any subject I'm posting on.  I attend here to gain knowledge, looking at posts to see how a camera and lens render and what members experiences with same are as well as enjoying images which I like.  I basically post for the benefit of someone in the same position as me and that's it, no pontificating, extolling my virtues, critiquing of others' images (who am I to do that?) or trying to get members to acquire certain gear just because I own it.  This puts me out of a lot of threads here I guess but if I don't get 'likes', on my posts that's fine.