In case you don't know, Instagram is a photosharing social network. It's like Flickr crossed with Twitter and Facebook, and it's my absolutely favourite app on my iPhone.
Instagram allows you to take a pic and post it immediately or pull an old image from your photo library. Like another photography app, Hipstamatic, has an assortment of filters that can be applied to your photo. But there are any number of filter apps you can use to process your images before posting on Instagram.
Not only is it exciting to see the support and feedback I've received from other Instagramers (IGers), some of whom are existing friends, many are now new ones, it feeds my soul and imagination to be awash in a sea of beautiful and engaging imagery every morning.
You know when something has taken a serious hold on you when you eschew checking email first thing in the morning to see what @msuze, @mordafoca, @imagraphicartist or @mariannehope have posted. In fact, I spend a good 20 mins every morning reviewing the IG feed (liking and commenting on awesome imagery) and checking on the likes and comments left for me. And every now and then, I get a notice that someone is following me. It's always a treat to find someone new is following but the best is to receive questions and comments.
Like other social media experiences, participants fall into different camps. There are the professionals, serious photographers and designers who have large followings. I'm sure their great posts on IG get them other work. At the very least it's a great marketing channel for them. There are folks who are only interested in having a large number of followers, but to get there, they have to follow thousands of people and pester people about looking at their photos.
There are people who are sharing details of their personal lives - their cats and dogs, kids and spouses, their neighbourhoods and travel destinations. Others are more interested in studying people, still others take pictures of architecture. A large group appear to be fascinated by sunsets and I have to admit I fall into that category sometimes.
The most curious group to me are the bigwigs on other social media platforms who've decided to join IG. Some like @scobleizer, @johnperrybarlow, @mathewi and @waynesutton give us glimpses of their lives hobnobbing with VCs, tech and internet giants. Some are clearly interested in photography. For others, it's a window into their personal lives. It's fun to see this side of them after having followed their Google+, Twitter and blog lives for a few years.
I am continually and pleasantly surprised by the talent out there, especially from folks who don't have backgrounds in art and design. It reinforces for me a belief I've long held that creative acts are not the sole domain of so-called artists and designer. If you want to take pictures, dance, paint, design handbags, what have you, just go out and do it. Enjoy the process and don't get fixated on the outcome.
Here's a sample of my IG posts:
If you'd like to follow me you can find me on Instagram at @zanipooh
1 comments:
Great post Zan, if I wasn't already addicted to IG I'd be drawn to it's seductive ways through your description of it alone.
So I'm not the only one who checks IG before anything else in the morning. Phew! relief. And yes, I'm constantly humbled by the talent out there that shapes and pushes my own ways of seeing. It's a wonderful creative environment, especially with your pics there too.
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