Of Pandas and Rainbows
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 and faves
largo621, heather, Lú_, Kevin, and 285 other people added this photo to their favorites.
cisley (46 months ago | reply)
This picture is unrelated.
Lú_ (46 months ago | reply)
This is True Awesomeness.
zyrcster (46 months ago | reply)
It's so awesome that I'm crying. I'll let you know when I get it animated. :)
--
Seen on your photo stream. (?)
tanaudel (46 months ago | reply)
That picture cracks me up. If I found it as a cover in a second hand bookstore, I would buy it and frame it.
elementalPaul (46 months ago | reply)
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!).
ColleenM (46 months ago | reply)
You Rule!
illinichick357 (46 months ago | reply)
You are a total rockstar!!!
dwof (46 months ago | reply)
Haha, this is awesome.
snufffilmcharlie (46 months ago | reply)
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*
saint magenta (46 months ago | reply)
will make factberry jelly to give to friends for Christmas ...
blimpa (46 months ago | reply)
this is so summer of 89.
ratsj (46 months ago | reply)
Awesome, man.
edit: I made the above remark before having read all the other comments.
The Searcher (46 months ago | reply)
That's alright. Two more "awesomes" and I might make it into Explore!
Mags_cat (46 months ago | reply)
Vomiting pandas...my day is immensely cheered :)
No. Nein (46 months ago | reply)
I'm in love with the new vomiting panda icon.
Graphiweb (46 months ago | reply)
awesome
awesome
:-) ok?
Mr Tickle - Wachoo Wachoo Tribe Congressman (46 months ago | reply)
nice! looks like an old book cover too.
I'm also embarrassed to say it reminds me of the Care Bears.... :/
*Albi* (46 months ago | reply)
genial!
greynotgrey [deleted] (45 months ago | reply)
"That's alright. Two more "awesomes" and I might make it into Explore! "
You know very well illustration doesn't get into Explore.
;)
alansmithee funky cat (45 months ago | reply)
UNIQUE, ahah!
Like it :)
zyrcster (45 months ago | reply)
Taken to new heights....
ColleenM (45 months ago | reply)
This is awesome. Gratz on the Explore spewing panda.
Everyone: check out zycster's link to see what Flickr has done with this picture!
saint magenta (45 months ago | reply)
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 *:)
illinichick357 (45 months ago | reply)
that is crazy cool.
vargaso (45 months ago | reply)
Hi, I run a group called "Pandas Vomiting Rainbows" and we'd love it if you submitted your picture.
timchambers (45 months ago | reply)
You are invited to become an acolyte at
Secrets Of Explore!
Learn the mystical truth behind Interestingness,
and behold the algorithm of the Magic Donkey...
GustavoG (45 months ago | reply)
So, who said that illustration doesn't get into Explore? ;)
zyrcster (45 months ago | reply)
The news is really getting around.
The Searcher (45 months ago | reply)
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!
mr walker (45 months ago | reply)
this image deserves a broad audience. it deserves its own saturday morning cartoon and toy line, in fact. bravo.
drewish (45 months ago | reply)
you're famous: www.flickr.com/explore/panda
paparatti [deleted] (45 months ago | reply)
I was so confused until I read that it was one of your illustrations. And then it immediately made sense.
zzellers (45 months ago | reply)
You are invited to join:
UNINSPIRED AND CLICHE PHOTO OF THE DAY!
Martín-O (44 months ago | reply)
just hahahahaa! and infinit .red hahahaha´s!
jacob o+ [deleted] (44 months ago | reply)
damn cool graphic + I liked the text as well.
thealphanerd (44 months ago | reply)
OMG! Cool!
www.dusio.net - Thedrjazz (44 months ago | reply)
panda vomiting rainbow haha
Dragonhide (44 months ago | reply)
HA-Awesome! I snorted when I laughed at this one.. Those flippin blinken lighten!
Grenadad (44 months ago | reply)
you're awesome. take the flaming sword of awesomeness and wield it with fury my friend.
The Blind Glass (43 months ago | reply)
Germana Bove (42 months ago | reply)
awesome!
:)
hinder90 (42 months ago | reply)
Full of WIN
Lee Sie (41 months ago | reply)
hmmm..Oh now I get it! Thanks?!
5JǿǾǿГ [deleted] (40 months ago | reply)
ha ha ha! This is superb! When people complain about boobs and bokeh getting into explore I'm going to point them here.
sincerely, brandi. [deleted] (40 months ago | reply)
Panda!!
zyrcster (40 months ago | reply)
You're a star.
[nivs] (39 months ago | reply)
pandas are not at all about explore. i think i know the secret.
www.innerlogics.com/blog/2009/03/real-time-fl ickr-pandas/
RRichardHobbs (39 months ago | reply)
www.flickr.com/photos/rrhobbs/sets/7215761518 0355741/
Tiger Pixel (36 months ago | reply)
It would look good hanging on my wall
My Baby Mia [very busy for few days] (33 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Crazy and geniuses - Folli e geni (Invited Images Only), and we'd love to have this added to the group!