The Flavors of (photo) Search

[photo credit: wardi]

Whew. Now that we've launched with relatively few issues (okay, there is still that whole matter of the uploader - in that it http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifis a bit of a memory sucker and there is still no Mac version...but that's a whole other post), we've been awarded the freedom to begin really thinking about Riya and the future of photosearch.

Which, of course, brings up many debates in the office. We all have a very different idea of why people search...for what they search...and what it is about a search that makes them keep coming back.

Some think it's quantity. Some think it's quality. I raised relevance because of Thomas' amazing piece. There, of course, is the debate on what determines quality. That Riya relies on community created content should really help in this area. A rating system + other factors (such as tag quality, bookmarks and visits) will allow the members of Riya to determine what quality is. It isn't our job to do this in a staff meeting.

But I still believe we need to have a good mix of photographers...some who take everyday life shots + photographers who look at shooting as an art form. The reason I think both are important is because we need to cover the various flavors of photosearch.

Flavor #1 - The Explorer

Ah...the Explorer. This person loves to browse and uncover diamonds in the rough. 'Easter Eggs' and hidden gems mean more to this searcher/browser than a contact sheet of perfect shots. The Explorer likes a bit of a challenge. The pleasure is in discovering something that others haven't found.

This person will enter random search terms like, "Jellybean" and "Horseradish" to just see what pops up. The Explorer is also a sucker for Flickr API mashups. ;)

Flavor #2 - The Aficionado

Aficionados have a seriously amazing eye for a good photograph. An Aficionado usually takes amazing photographs him/herself and appreciates (sometimes with envy - "Doh! Why didn't I catch that shot?!") others amazing photographs. Aficionados travel in circles together. This type is serious and usually carries a serious camera with serious lenses. Aficionados pay a great deal of attention to their art form and will spend many hours 'exploring'. Just like The Explorer, they love to uncover gems, but they are much more likely to interact with the photographer they admire.

Aficionados tend to organize Photographer Meetups. ;)

Flavor #3 - The Social Butterfly

With less of a focus on the art form of a photograph (but can also often appreciate that, too), the Social Butterfly spends his/her time on photo sites finding people to connect with through their photographs.

"You went to Maui? Well, I went to Maui! Let's be friends!" is the battle-cry of the Social Butterfly.

Social Bs are interested in the people in the photographs and the stories behind those people - but what they are MOST interested in is collecting awesome, photo-taking, fun-loving friends. You can tell a Social B from the size of their Friends list. Seriously, though, how can you keep in touch with 10,000+ people? ;)

Flavor #4 - The Researcher

The Researcher crosses his/her 'T's and dots his/her 'i's. Whether finding a photo for a blog post or is merely curious on a subject , the Researcher will search many terms to find out more about a person, place or thing.

Researchers are usually those people you know who can tell you interesting, but useless trivia facts about everything under the sun. Wanna know what goes into bologna? The researcher has bookmarked the photos of the process.

Flavor #5 - The Cultural Anthropologist

The Cultural Anthropologist is interested in people. S/he is most interested in the stories and the events behind photographs. Cultural Anthropologists will, very much like the Lurker, sit back and watch photostreams unfolding tales, but instead of a mere voyeurism, a CA is studying and trying to find patterns and theories. Cultural Anthropologists also seek out social groups more than individuals.

Tag clouds fascinate and delight Cultural Anthropologists.

Flavor #6 - The Personal

The Personal searcher gives a rats ass about artsy photos or photos of random people. S/he cares about searching his/her own photographs as well as close friends. This searcher is more likely to keep his/her photos private as well, as privacy is a big issue for the Personal searcher. In fact, s/he thinks that all of us clowns blogging and putting our photos up for the world to consume are totally certifiable.

Maybe we are. ;)

Flavor #7 - The Designer

The Designer is an Aficionado who uses his/her found treasures for either design inspiration and/or mashup material for part of his/her designs. The Designer is a true graphic artist and is a whiz with Photoshop and Illustrator. S/he can take a photograph most would see with little potential and turn it into a total work of art.

The Designer doesn't take many photos of people. People muck up the 'composition'.

Flavor #8 - Newshound

Forget old fashioned news sources, they are too slow. The Newshound wants shots as they happen. During the London Bombings, this search demon was scanning for london and mobilephoto tags. The Newshound enjoys clicking through things like 'top news' 'top searches' 'top tags' etc. and only wants right now, up to the minute pictures.

Occasionally, historical photos will enhance the news...but only occasionally.

Flavor #9 - The Lurker

Other names: stalker, watcher and leach. Kidding. The Lurker watches others photostreams with curiosity, but rarely posts own photos. Lurkers are very important to the ecosystem of any social network because they usually have more time on their hands to actually help tag, add comments and spread the photo loving around.

Flavor #10 - The Perv

I mean that in a loving way, really. You know what kind of photos and search strings you enter on those lonely nights. ;)

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Now, of course, many of you are thinking, "Well, I'm both a Perv and a Researcher, what does that mean?" That's okay. I think we are all made up of many flavors. The delineations are meant only as characterizations of specific behaviors rather than specific people.

Who am I missing? Any characteristics of search that you have that I'm missing the ball on?

NEXT: Types of amateur photographers...

[tags: riya, riyarocks, riyasobetaithurts, photosearch]