The Surprising State of Photography: Flickr’s 2024 Year in Review


Episode Artwork
1.0x
0% played 00:00 00:00
Jan 16 2025 45 mins   55


In this episode of TWiP, I sit down with my good friend and commercial photographer Rob Grimm to explore Flickr's fascinating 2024 Year in Review.

Rob Grimm @rggphoto

We unpack some surprising insights about the photography world, including Canon's continued dominance in the professional camera space and the unexpected staying power of the iPhone 13. Rob and I dive into the statistics that caught us both off guard – from the mysterious September 30th upload spike to the impressive 30% surge in street photography.

We also discuss the revival of community-driven photography challenges and what these trends might mean for photographers in 2025. Whether you're a gear enthusiast, a street photographer, or simply curious about how the world of photography is evolving, this conversation offers valuable insights into how photographers worldwide captured their world in 2024.



Below are a few findings from the report. Head over to the Flickr blog for more!

Most Popular Cameras

* Canon dominated traditional cameras, securing 6 of top 10 spots

* iPhone 13 was the most-used camera overall on Flickr

* Surprisingly, 900 users still actively used the iPhone 3G

* A total of 7,000 different image capture devices were used

Photography Trends

* Street photography saw a 30% increase in popularity

* Color-themed tags (especially red and green) were among top 5 used tags

* "Friendly Challenges" became the most active discussion group

* "World Photography Day 2024" was the fastest-growing group

Notable Dates

* September 30th: Highest number of photo uploads

* January 1st: Most photos taken

* May 11th: Special surge in photos due to rare Aurora Borealis visibility (as far south as New Mexico)

Popular Locations

* Times Square

* Metropolitan Museum of Art

* Empire State Building

* Vatican City (2,300 unique users uploaded photos)

* Mammoth Cave National Park (most photographed U.S. National Park)

Community Activity

* Art and cultural institutions drew major photographer interest

* The British Museum was among top photographed locations

* Active engagement in challenge-based photography groups

* Strong focus on community feedback and learning

Conclusion

The 2024 Flickr Year in Review shows us that great photography transcends equipment choices, from professional Canon cameras to legacy iPhones.