Is Instagram changing the face of photography?

[ulrich.von.lich]

I'm a late starter. Recently I created an instagram account and had a look at the pictures of some very popular Instagram photographers. They are mainly travel photographers whose photos usually have thousands of likes. However I was not that impressed, and I think I might have found the reason: many of their pictures are selfie alike or oriented. For example, a picture of some beautiful lake which I would have liked much more if there wasn't a man laying on it. But that shot got more than 100000 likes. Perhaps I should shut up and look into my perception of beauty.

I do discover more easily photographers whose work I like on Flickr than on Instagram.

Also, can someone explain me how these popular photographers can ever earn money from Instagram? They don't sell prints or promote commercial products.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I have Flickr account and see zero needs to participate in something which is started as iPhone photography. It was good idea, actually. Once I'll become phonetographer, I'll jump on Instagram.

Many of hundreds liked photos on Flickr are crapshots, IMO. Primitive and cheesy. Sometimes I think, it is faked votes. You know, they have to practice somewhere before moving on election system in the States... 😎

 

[Bill Clark]

Can you take "likes" to the bank?

 

[Axel]

I don´t have any account anywhere. Up to now it is not necessary.
The modern world needs keywords. Instagram, Facebook, Flickr...

I do and look pictures. Everywhere. Why limit to a "platform"?
I think there the question begins. Should I? Must I? Why do they?

And why should anything be limited like phonephotography to Instagram
or the other way?

Barriers in heads.
Crutches for minds 😉

 

[daveleo]

Ko.Fe. you are a funny guy !!

 

[jsrockit]

I'm a late starter. Recently I created an instagram account and had a look at the pictures of some very popular Instagram photographers. They are mainly travel photographers whose photos usually have thousands of likes. However I was not that impressed, and I think I might have found the reason: many of their pictures are selfie alike or oriented. For example, a picture of some beautiful lake which I would have liked much more if there wasn't a man laying on it. But that shot got more than 100000 likes. Perhaps I should shut up and look into my perception of beauty.

They are using photography to sell a lifestyle. It's more marketing than about art. Photography has many uses. People like to travel to exotic locations and I believe photography with oceans, sunsets, and dreamy locations allows these people to live vicariously through others on Instagram. It has nothing to do with the art of photography. People have always been drawn to sunsets, ocean photos, exotic locations, and pretty people... before the internet, it was postcards, magazines, and calendars that were the realm off this type of imagery.

 

[jsrockit]

I'm a late starter. Recently I created an instagram account and had a look at the pictures of some very popular Instagram photographers. They are mainly travel photographers whose photos usually have thousands of likes. However I was not that impressed, and I think I might have found the reason: many of their pictures are selfie alike or oriented. For example, a picture of some beautiful lake which I would have liked much more if there wasn't a man laying on it. But that shot got more than 100000 likes. Perhaps I should shut up and look into my perception of beauty.

They are using photography to sell a lifestyle. It's more marketing than about art. Photography has many uses. People like to travel to exotic locations and I believe photography with oceans, sunsets, and dreamy locations allows these people to live vicariously through others on Instagram. It has nothing to do with the art of photography. People have always been drawn to sunsets, ocean photos, exotic locations, and pretty people... before the internet, it was postcards, magazines, and calendars that were the realm off this type of imagery.

 

[ulrich.von.lich]

Perhaps it started as iphone photography, I think today it has gone beyond that. There are good photographers on Instagram, promoting their work, but they are just not as popular. Perhaps it's just a matter of taste.

There is nothing wrong with travel / landscape photography. But why should I see your face or body on every picture you take?

Isn't the number of likes supposed to mean something at least? How can they be faked?

 

[ulrich.von.lich]

They are using photography to sell a lifestyle. It's more marketing than about art. Photography has many uses. People like to travel to exotic locations and I believe photography with oceans, sunsets, and dreamy locations allows these people to live vicariously through others on Instagram.

This does make a lot of sense. Thanks.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Can you take "likes" to the bank?

100%. But it is up to individual what to do with popularity.

Recent story about some Australian magazine cover taken by popular in Instagram photog with iPhone was posted somewhere at RFF is the evidence.
"Popular on Instagram" these days is as money maker tool as "published in the Life" was.

 

[Prest_400]

There's quite a few camps around, I found IG useful to connect with a small community of (film) photographers. Posted a bit myself, but I dislike the likes system. It's just uncomfortable for me. I ended up not playing the game, although I keep active watching out small people and commenting.

There's a lot of lifestyle game (youtube as well but differently) and quite a bit of herd behavior. It's a funny window to sociology too.

The stories are curious, specially location based. Search for any point of earth and see what some person recorded with it. I even used it to see how some storm was faring in my town while I was away. It's even utopian.

It's amusing though to be discussing about the virtues of a [medium format] photo over a facsimile that's smaller than the negative itself.