I see that there has been a postponement of the closure, and the faint possibility of a reprieve:

www.ipernity.com/blog/team/4646844

I really hope this can be one small victory this year, in a year which looks awfy dark otherwise.

Since the announcement, I've reactivated my Flickr account, and for the last few weeks have been posting the same content on both sites. It's interesting to reflect on the differences between the two sites. Flickr remains irritating to use - too many menus and clicks needed to get you to a place which is still less easy, satisfying and visually appealing than ipernity. The mobile phone interface works better for me than ipernity's, which is something, but I note that it encourages viewing and quick 'fave'ing without commenting.

Which leads me on to a particularly interesting difference. All of my new content over the last few weeks has received far more views on Flickr than on ipernity, and some of it has received more 'faves' on Flickr than on ipernity. However, nearly all of my photos have received more comments on ipernity, and some of them have also received more 'faves'. I notice that some of the groups I'm in on ipernity are more active, with more recent images and comments, than the equivalent groups on Flickr (compare the two 'Fence Friday' groups for example). All this despite ipernity's far smaller user numbers. It confirms what we already know: that in ipernity, it's quality not quantity which counts. There seems to be something about ipernity's visual calmness and slower pace which encourages better quality interaction.

My experience over the last few weeks on Flickr hasn't been all bad - it's been lovely to catch up with old contacts who never jumped ship to ipernity in 2013, and to make new contacts (and also to see ipernity exiles there). If ipernity closes for good, then I'm sure I will adjust to Flickr and make it work. But the experience confirms my belief that ipernity is the better site, and my hope that it survives,