Instagram, Apple iPhone App of 2011, is supposedly coming to the Android platform in the very near future. It therefore seems a good time to post some IG pro tips I've accumulated over the year (and by "pro" I mean someone-who-spends-far-too-much-time-fiddling-with-Instagram than anything to do with my level of photography!).
I'm a big Instagram user and, now that I've been using it for a while, I'm getting a hang of some of the more subtle and advanced ways of using it. I've found a cool techniqe for using tags but first I'd better set the stage...
I initially loved the amazing hipstamatic camera app (and still use it) but nothing beats Instagram (IG for short) for quickly capturing an image and (just as importantly) quickly sharing it to the social networks of your choice (or none if you like as IG is a network in its own right).
I see some derogatory comments about IG sometimes which sort of say that people think that adding a filter to any old photo will improve it; i can see where the detractors are coming from but that's not my experience...allow me to explain.
I'm a long term (very) amateur photographert with a long term passion for images; time has taught me that no amount of expensive DSLR equipment (or even more expensive lenses) can make up for a person's inability to compose and "see" a good image; the camera is just a tool and so it is with IG.
I use IG as a completely separate social network to my main stomping ground of Twitter. Yes I do share images to Twitter occasionally but this will be for a rare circumstance (and it will also act as a "hello! I'm on IG as well" flag).
My use of IG is mainly this: if i see abstract things and textures/moments i like in everyday like, i will share them on IG. Further more I follow people on IG who share that passion - it's great to interact with people who, for example, might see the beauty in a crumpled crisp packet and want to share it - it's not for everyone i'm sure :)
The funny thing is that not only is IG the app i first check in the morning but my relationship with the network has encouraged me to take more of such photos; i mean, a few months ago i might have passed something in the street and thought "that'll make a nice photo" but *not* took it - now i'll stop and take it because i know there are folks on IG who will like it - and i'm glad those folks *also* take the time to stop & take their snaps because good images put a smile on my face. IG has altered my behaviour - not bad for a free app!
I don't use IG for family shots/work stuff - i've got other social networks & tools for that; it's a specfic tool, a specific network & a specific audience.
On IG i typically follow folks whose images are mainly taken on their iphone camera - i don't mind the odd dslr shot but, to me, that's not what IG is about. I want 'on the hoof' everyday moments/objects - i want to see how they see.
People who i've met on IG and love their photos include (IG usernames):
- @gypsycaravan (based in Ohio; lovely american photos/textures)
- @westatom (great shots, many streets & buildings. Interesting image techniques)
- @twheat (an amazing mix of photos; he's got a wonderful eye)
- @elinlia (wonderful textures & colours; my fave Instagrammer)
- @mortenbk (a recent find; based in Oslo; great urban/abstract stuff)...and i'm sure i've forgotten loads! (which makes me think i'll do a proper IG roll call in a separate post - as an appreciation seeing as i'm coming up to my 1000th photo!).
Oh yeah, on IG (as on Twitter), i am @joel_hughes
