500px 17+

I really like this app and the photographic community that supports it. Compared to some other similar apps (e.g., Flickr), it is much easier to build connections to interesting photographers and receive feedback quickly. Also unlike Flickr, nobody on 500px seems to use their ‘board’ as a dump for long series of repetitive unedited smartphone pictures. The actual upload process for pictures could be a little easier, especially for keywords - although the app suggests keywords, most are either repeated variations or just irrelevant, while it does not seem to recall your past often-used keywords from your galleries. Still, overall this is a great app and an enthusiastic, welcoming and discerning photographic community!

I am a 10 year+ user of 500px app and website. I liked it as a site for serious photographers, an alternative to places to view teenyboppers’ latest selfies and pictures of cats. Recently it updated its app and its website service. Both “improvements” were disastrous. First the app. Previously the app was simple, clean, and displayed one’s work in an attractive and intuitive manner. Now the app displays ones work in a wide, heavily cropped, landscape format, destroying the frame and composition of the original work. One has to question the sanity and competence of the individuals responsible for this change, as if photographers don’t care about framing and composition. Moreover, it has added new ‘functionality’ which pushes crap into your feed you have never liked and will never like, as well as work you have already liked. Duh. The new search function uses “AI” which in this case stands for ‘artificial insipidity’, delivering results that are downright bizarre, even if you name the photographer or subject matter precisely. Most of this applies to the web version too, though so far the severe cropping has not been implemented. Users should just skip this app and go straight to the web until 500px regains their sanity.

As a painter, I use this app to find the most compelling images for subject material. Keyword searches and the ability to see all the work by a particular photographer are pluses, although I wish I could figure out how to set up my feed so that I see the work of photographers I follow. Also allows you to post your own images and to create customized galleries of your own work or simply photos you like. I use it to stash images I like for future painting projects. The ability to “like” and comment on images is another feature I like.