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Of Pandas and Rainbows

Of Pandas and Rainbows by The Searcher.
There is no real "secret" to Explore. That's the big secret.

Ever come across a photo with dozens if not hundreds of comments, and they all have these little blinky "Best of Sparkly Award" graphics in them? "Diamond in the Rough!". "Flaming Sword of Awesome!!" etc etc. Well the reason for that is many people are members of Flickr groups that enforce strict "commenting" rules. To post to the group, you have to first comment on some other photos in the group, or favorite them, or give them award blinkies. It's an artificial "game" of false attention, almost all geared towards one thing: getting their photos on Explore.

What is Explore?

"Explore" is basically Flickr's front page, an introductory collection of ever-changing photos to show people the kinds of things inside the site. Each day Explore displays 500 images, but those images are constantly changing, as new photos are uploaded throughout the day.

To some people, Explore is the ultimate beauty contest. It's the pinnacle of Flickr, the achievement of achievements. They fret and conspire and worry, and actually get angry and frustrated, when their perfectly fine photos, never "get into" Explore.

Except it's basically random. No matter how artificially "interesting" you try to make your photos (Explore photos are selected via Flickr's "Interestingness Algorithm", affectionately known as the "Magic Donkey"), Explore is still only 500+ images each day. And each day on Flickr, there are more than five thousand photos uploaded each minute. That's each minute.

So to help these poor souls, to shed some light on the mysteries and myths of Explore, a Group was formed. "The Secrets of Explore". A clearinghouse of info to clear up the nonsense, to spread some fact jelly over fiction bread.

And of course, it has its very own blinky graphic. This artwork might go blinky for the cause as well, but it's also an homage, a bit of a congrats and thank you, to the fine Flickr volunteers who risk their sanity, to tell TruthToExplore(tm). Why pandas, you ask? Why pandas vomiting rainbows?

That's a whole other secret.

larger one here. 

Comments

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cisley  Pro User  says:

This picture is unrelated.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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Lú_  Pro User  says:

This is True Awesomeness.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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zyrcster  Pro User  says:

It's so awesome that I'm crying. I'll let you know when I get it animated. :)

--
Seen on your photo stream. (?)
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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tanaudel  Pro User  says:

That picture cracks me up. If I found it as a cover in a second hand bookstore, I would buy it and frame it.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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elementalPaul  Pro User  says:

Top notch work, I'm in awe. It's put a big grin on my face :-D

This would make a great fridge magnet, seriously I'd buy one (I hope that's not insulting, it's not meant to be!).
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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ColleenM  Pro User  says:

You Rule!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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illinichick357  Pro User  says:

You are a total rockstar!!!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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dwof  Pro User  says:

Haha, this is awesome.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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snufffilmcharlie  Pro User  says:

So that's it ... I just needed to photograph pandas vomiting rainbows in order to gain notoriety around here ... thanks for the tip. :)

*Seen in Pop Surrealism*
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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saint magenta  Pro User  says:

will make factberry jelly to give to friends for Christmas ...
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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blimpa  Pro User  says:

this is so summer of 89.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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ratsj  Pro User  says:

Awesome, man.

edit: I made the above remark before having read all the other comments.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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The Searcher  Pro User  says:

That's alright. Two more "awesomes" and I might make it into Explore!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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Cellach  Pro User  says:

Vomiting pandas...my day is immensely cheered :)
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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No. Nein  Pro User  says:

I'm in love with the new vomiting panda icon.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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Graphiweb says:

awesome
awesome

:-) ok?
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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Mr Tickle - Wachoo Wachoo Tribe Congressman  Pro User  says:

nice! looks like an old book cover too.

I'm also embarrassed to say it reminds me of the Care Bears.... :/
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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Albi°  Pro User  says:

genial!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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greynotgrey says:

"That's alright. Two more "awesomes" and I might make it into Explore! "
You know very well illustration doesn't get into Explore.
;)
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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alansmithee funky cat  Pro User  says:

UNIQUE, ahah!
Like it :)
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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zyrcster  Pro User  says:

Taken to new heights....
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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ColleenM  Pro User  says:

This is awesome. Gratz on the Explore spewing panda.

Everyone: check out zycster's link to see what Flickr has done with this picture!
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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saint magenta  Pro User  says:

le AWE!

this and a mug of black coffee w. a half scoop of cocoa will become a part of my breakfast ritual. probably my second breakfast ritual too *:)
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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illinichick357  Pro User  says:

that is crazy cool.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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vargaso says:

Hi, I run a group called "Pandas Vomiting Rainbows" and we'd love it if you submitted your picture.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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timchambers  Pro User  says:

You are invited to become an acolyte at
Secrets Of Explore!
secrets of explore
Learn the mystical truth behind Interestingness,
and behold the algorithm of the Magic Donkey...
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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GustavoG  Pro User  says:

So, who said that illustration doesn't get into Explore? ;)
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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zyrcster  Pro User  says:

The news is really getting around.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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The Searcher  Pro User  says:

yeah it was on half a dozen blogs that I found searching for my own stuff (which means it was blogged more, but those made mention of me.) The viewcount was at 500 in here yesterday, now it's 2500+.

neat!
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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mr walker says:

this image deserves a broad audience. it deserves its own saturday morning cartoon and toy line, in fact. bravo.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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drewish  Pro User  says:

you're famous: www.flickr.com/explore/panda
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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_saturnine  Pro User  says:

I was so confused until I read that it was one of your illustrations. And then it immediately made sense.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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zzellers  Pro User  says:

You are invited to join:

UNINSPIRED and CLICHE PHOTOGRAPHY of the DAY
UNINSPIRED AND CLICHE PHOTO OF THE DAY!

Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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Martín-O  Pro User  says:

just hahahahaa! and infinit .red hahahaha´s!
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

jacob o+ [deleted] says:

damn cool graphic + I liked the text as well.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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thealphanerd says:

OMG! Cool!
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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thedrjazz  Pro User  says:

panda vomiting rainbow haha
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

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jallen "To Be" dragonhide  Pro User  says:

HA-Awesome! I snorted when I laughed at this one.. Those flippin blinken lighten!
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

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Grenadad  Pro User  says:

you're awesome. take the flaming sword of awesomeness and wield it with fury my friend.
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

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The Blind Glass says:

I DoN'T UNDERSTAND!
0_o

Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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Germana Bove says:

awesome!
:)
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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hinder90 says:

Full of WIN
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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Lee Sie  Pro User  says:

hmmm..Oh now I get it! Thanks?!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Tony₁  Pro User  says:

ha ha ha! This is superb! When people complain about boobs and bokeh getting into explore I'm going to point them here.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

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brandi, ♥ says:

Panda!!
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

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zyrcster  Pro User  says:

You're a star.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

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[niv]  Pro User  says:

pandas are not at all about explore. i think i know the secret.
www.innerlogics.com/blog/2009/03/real-time-fl ickr-pandas/
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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Tiger Pixel says:

It would look good hanging on my wall
Posted 4 weeks ago. ( permalink )

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view photos Uploaded on August 18, 2008
by The Searcher

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