Comments on: What the Instagram backlash says about the future of media

By: Whatevs

Whatevs — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 20:36:21 +0000

Instagram currently feels like Facebook circa 2004-05. Where you there back then? If not, then you won’t understand. Similarly to FB, instragram started as something new, different, ambiguous, unknown, and exclusive. ( I would also like to think exclusivity helped spread FB back then) FB has reached its peak and everyone loathes it. Instagram will most likely repeat a similar cycle. It’s really not about the filters. It’s about the engagement of decentralized communities in addition to the act of discovery of other users, places, and things. Flickr should have been Instagram, but they simply missed the boat.

By: Elias

Elias — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 07:18:40 +0000

I am a photographer and a good pi tire is a good picture. Ask any photographer what is the best camera, they would say the one you have at hand. Nothing Instagram is doing is ruining photography as a crappy picture can be taken on a Nikon D3 just as well as it can be taken on a cell phone. It doesn’t take a lot to look at a picture and know its a good and thoughtful composition.

By: Robin Deacle

Robin Deacle — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 16:12:51 +0000

Ric, I think you make a great point. Times change and we have to adapt. I can also understand, as a former journalist, that it’s difficult to see skills and wisdom you’ve spent your life developing replaced by an app. I don’t think that’s something you just get over.

Refocusing on curating this volume of content, now that would be adapting.

Robin

By: Richard Gray

Richard Gray — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 08:47:26 +0000

As I point out (iphoggy.com) Bevan’s point about easy is nonsense. The result is the only things that matters: whether it was easy or hard to create. Check out Picasso’s bike saddle bull. She’s also very misinformed about the role the Instagram filters play in the iphoneography genre. They are really just starter packs.

Grolleman is also talking nonsense. Online photography is like TV. You don’t tune into the channels you don’t like. No more drowning.

A lot of this is photo snobbery and fear that more creative people will be able to produce good work without having to spend thousands on kit.

But so much criticism suggests one thing: we must be doing something right.

By: Alan Wolk

Alan Wolk — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 04:14:46 +0000

Let me throw something else out there: the majority of Instagrammers have no idea that the filters “mimic professional photographic filters that were difficult to produce” – they just like the sharing aspects of the app – the cool/quirky filters are a minor factor. I suspect very few of them know anything about art photography – their definition of a “professional photographer” is more likely to be someone who shoots weddings or news photos.

I can see why journalists react to bloggers, who are consciously treading on their turf.

But professional photographers are giving the masses way too much credit if they think most of them have any idea that they are aping their craft.

By: infinityedulinks

infinityedulinks — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 16:06:17 +0000

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By: john

john — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 14:25:48 +0000

Wow, Talk about elitist positions. Do your art, and appreciate the efforst of others. I hang professional stuff on my walls, I look at and can enjoy snapshots. Mechanics unite–there are people working on their cars out there.

By: Gary Austin

Gary Austin — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 12:00:59 +0000

The thing is this is looked at from the point of a photographer commenting on photography. Most Instagram users look at it as a social thing

By: Coldframe

Coldframe — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 23:32:41 +0000

Also, I think the danger is confusing social media skills for photographic talent. If you follow me and like my photos and tell me how awesome they are, I’ll return the favour for yours. So we’ll pat ourselves on the back and delude ourselves we’re good.

Some very good photographers have emerged on Instagram, btw. But they are vastly outnumbered by people with little photogrhic talent who are just posting photos for fun….and what’s wrong with that?

By: Coldframe

Coldframe — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 23:27:00 +0000

I don’t think Instagram is ruining photography at all. The only problem I see is that there’s an awful lot of crap that gets hundreds of likes and “awesome shot” comments from people who couldn’t tell a good picture from a bad one. So lots of rubbish snappers are living under the delusion they are good photographers.