What is Flattr? To make it short: It is a social micropayment system that lets you support content and creators you care about.

Although it is more about donations, some creators in Europe are building a reliable financial base for their creative work.

It is easy to use:

1. Register,
2. pay in some money via paypal or credit card (for example 2€/month),
3. click on a Flattr button if you see one and determine a donation.
4. At the end of the month, your monthly limited donation will be split though all the clicks you have made. And the creator will receive the donation.

I use Flattr because I was told by some creators that it is a good possibility to give away some money If I like a specific content.

Being not a big fan of “everything must be free” I like clicking on a Flattr Button instead of only liking or +ing something in my favorite social network.

This could make the world a bit better. And it is a fraction of the answer to the actual copyright discussion.

You can explore recently flattred content. As you can see, there is also a section of flattred photos. So there is a place for photographers in Flattr. Imagine a social payment system in Google+, where a +1 means a few cents.

I believe in systems like Flattr! That’s why I am supporting it.

Feel invited to implement the Flattr system in your blog or your Twitter account. It is really easy. (And let me know so I can possibly follow and flattr your creative work)

But don’t think Flattr is a system of income. I guess you will be disappointed. It is a payment system! It is more likely you will get rid of some money than earning it.

But you will make a statement using it:

“Good content has a value and I believe in the value of free creative work!”

I was told that Flattr is not very popular outside Europe. But I think it starts growing there too. For example 5by5 implements Flattr to their network.

I will contact some photographers in the next months to spread the idea of Flattr outside of Europe. I hope it will be heard.

What do you think about Flattr? Please write a comment!

An Interview with Sam Abell.
My idol.
Nothing new he said!
But why talk about new things if you found the truth.

Being the first German having 1.000.000 followers on Google+ is incredible!

Also being one of the few Europeans with so many people interesting in what I share is a great feeling.

What does this mean to the system GooglePlus?

GooglePlus is a really successor for all the creative people outside. Googlers like Vic Gundotra did a great job revolution all aspects of social communication especially the aspects of visual communications. They brewed all ingredients to a modern absinth that influences artists and creatives from all over the world. They build an open system- open for anybody. And more and more people are joining from all over the world. They are bored and frustrated from other social systems like facebook or myspace.

I couldn’t connect to so many interesting people from all over the world without the help of google+. Other social system didn’t help me spreading my words and keeping in touch so intense.

The number is nothing compared to the quality of connections. I made so many great connections to people I didn’t know they are out there. Most of these people didn’t have so much attention like me, but this is not important. It is the quality of relation that matters.

Google always did a great job in helping people finding the right.

This is the reason why Google+ matters! +1 to all of you!!!

Are you the kind of guy to show every single photo you have shot on the net?

There is nothing wrong with that. The web is a free place.

But maybe I can give you some reasons to rethink this strategy.

I have lots of photos you will probably never see

Most photographers are working with the principle: The more the merrier!

Let me explain you why this will not working well for photographers:

The more photos I show the merrier I will be seen!

Keep in mind, that you will risk to bore your audience with similar stuff. Remember the old times your uncle bored you with hundreds of photos of you aunt staying in front some tourist traps? How do you cope the good a old times of slide shows. Me? I was drinking lots of beer and soon fall asleep. What will you do today in front of your computer? Yes, switch to the next interesting information…

The more photos I show the merrier I will get good critics!

The same thing here. You get in danger to bore your audience. Or you will be unfollowed by demanding critics that are made somewhere else. If you want critics do the thinking first and don‘t let your followers do it: Is there a possibility someone have written something about your problem somewhere else? Use the search functions and have a look. So you don‘t waste precious time of your audience and risk to be overseen because of boredom and ignorance.

The more photos I show the merrier I will become famous!

If you want to become famous there are many things to keep in mind. In cases of showing your photos: Show only the best of the best. It is the worst photo that determines your popularity, not the best. You don‘t need to show lots of photos to impress and let the people keep you in mind. And there are a few more things left to do, than showing photos…

What do you think is the best practice to show photos on the net?

Dear friends. This is the new Look and Feel of OlafBathke.de.

The new design and structure of my homepage is a big step forward.

It was very confusing to read about my work as a photographer on different layouts and in different structures over the last months. Shame on me that I haven’t fixed it earlier.

I am very pleased that the new Design is clear and functional. It enables me speaking in English and German in the same way.

Sending in English language was new to me when I started switching my public relation work to English. But I am proud to see that there are so many people outside willing to follow my English words. It is not easy as a European – to be precise as a German speaking European – to get so much international attention.

Thank you very much!

So I hope you like the new Design. If you haven’t already followed my blog now is the time to grab the RSS Feed of my English speaking Blog. There were lots of blog posts following in the next weeks. Don’t miss to add me on GooglePlus and Twitter.