Mark Denney Instagram isn't the problem, it's the users who go out and desecrate landmarks us photographers love to shoot. I've had to trek further and further and in worse weather in order to find a spot devoid of Instagram hikers and IPhone photographers. Luckily for Idahoians like me, we have the Owyhee Canyonlands to shoot in. Completely inacessable to all but the most determined back country adventurers.
Thank you for raising this topic of discussion Mark! A lot of photographers likely struggle with the negative experiences you mentioned. It can undermine the passion for photography and the joy that it brings, when you get sucked into playing the game on IG. This is a platform distributing a massive number of images that will have an increasingly large influence on the ideology of imagery, as another phase in the iPhone cultural revolution. I am grateful for this type of conversation, as a reminder to use this platform and not be used by it: to take inspiration from quality images and enjoy the pursuit of producing my own quality images.
Mike Kee My pleasure Mike and thank you for the comment! Glad to hear you enjoyed the video. I love what you said, “use the platform, but don’t be used by it”. That’s right on the money👍
Also, another important point is, how we started taking landscape photos in Portrait mode. As bizarre as it sound, if you want your photo to look good on Instagram, you have to force your composition inside a 4 : 5 portrait frame to utilize the maximum viewing angle. I think that's one negative impact of Instagram !!
True. I also caught myself (many times) composing the photo and thinking: "Damn, this will be cropped out...", and then recomposing it just so it looks nice on my IG feed... I hate it.
All good points. I'm not a fan of IG. I don't like the engagement model, it doesn't really do anything except waste time. Posting there appears pointless and certainly impacts on the time available to create. I read one "guide" recently that said one should spend 80% of time on engagement and 20% creating content - well that appeared so back to front, I almost choked. There is no way I am going to spend 80% of my life liking & commenting on random flower and cat photos. Instead I'm switching it off and I'm going out into the world to take pictures that I have to work hard to get and then I'm going to print the good ones.
There you go! That's what I should do as well - focus on capturing and printing over social media. I agree 80% engagement vs 20% creating content is sheer bananas! Thanks for watching the video and the comment, Will.
I know this is an older video, but I have to echo the idea that IG should never be the reason we do photography. We should do it because we genuinely enjoy doing it. Sure it is great to get praise for our work, but I have enjoyed so much learning and continuing to learn about the art. I have enjoyed the experience of wandering around and capturing moments and feelings in time. But, by far what put it the most into perspective for me and puts IG in a shameful place is printing out my photos. Seeing my photos professionally printed made me relive those moments out on the trail or in my city travels. I had captured a feeling and a moment, and seeing it printed onto nice, large paper places on my wall or a friend’s wall brought photography full circle. I made this photo because I enjoy the process, I enjoyed the experience of exploration, but I also wanted to share it with others. Printing my photos trumps Instagram 9/10. Keep up the good work!
One of the best videos ever Mark! I think IG itself hasn't destroyed landscape photography, but it (and other social platforms) has created a movement where people are chasing likes and attention. Humans have always sought attention, and now every man and his dog and can get it like never before. And if they can't get it, they can at least chase it like never before. Like you said, how many feet off helicopter shots do we see? Or epic sunrise? That mountain in Iceland? The list goes on and on. I've had a enough. I'm going to stop chasing a bigger IG account (I only have about 1.5k followers) and just try to enjoy my photography and pictures. I'm going to try and enjoy people's photos who I followed because I thought they were good. I want to enjoy my photography and others' photography. Chasing more followers has made me tired and it's not worth my time.
You're exactly right! Chasing engagement is exhausting and it's very easy to get caught up in it - I know I sure have. I'm shifting my focus just like you mentioned to making photographs that I like to look at and supporting other fellow photogs that create content that I like and support! Time to get off the proverbial hamster wheel -lol! Greatly appreciate the comment Rohan and glad you enjoyed the video!
Hope you don't mind me continuing the discussion Mark, but I noticed something. Today I went from following about 1200 people to 999, ultimate target is about 100 or so. I just want to follow people who I really enjoy. However, that's not to say I won't give likes back to people who give me likes. So tonight I posted and got likes from random people as usual. So instead of just liking the first photo on their feed in return I changed my strategy - I looked through entire feeds for a photo that I thought was good before I liked back. If there was nothing good, I didn't give a like. It made me feel I was becoming more critical, in a good way though. Reward a good photo with a like, which I think is fair. I'm not going to give like to photos I think are poor quality or offer me nothing in terms of visual enjoyment. I think I'm on the right road now and probably I should thank you. Cheers mate! (I've had a few beers, so hopefully I make sense).
Rohan Gillett Makes sense to me Rohan! More purposeful “liking” seems like a great practice to me. It’s easy to get in the habit of scrolling and double tapping just about everything.
Mark Denney treat landscapes like the old days if you can sell prints pay your bills and smile travel places with your wifey and kids life’s good these are my goals :-)
Mark McNeill Indeed! These are great goals to have and very closely mirror the ones that I have laid out as well! Family and a smile on your face is most important, everything else is really just a way to get there.
I’m new at the over ran photography world but I believe it has changed for the better in the last 3 yrs. like you said I can go places in pictures I’ll never be able to go. Great video thank you
I can relate to this a lot. I get what you mean by desiring to grow a following, share your work, and get likes. I also feel that pressure to post something. Sometimes I ask myself who I am posting for? I like to see things I produced get noticed, but then it becomes this addicting thing to be seeking out likes immediately after posting. I guess for me Instagram is a place to share art, but it should not be a place to find happiness. That sounds pretty obvious, but thats how I have been using it at times. I need to figure out how to use it as a tool, and not have the app use me.
Really wonderful video Mark, lots of food for thought! The last piece about how many "hearts" a photo gets and that impact on how we feel about our own work really rings true.
Evan Kane Thanks for the comment Evan and glad you enjoyed the video! It sounds silly to think about, but it’s a very subconscious thing even if the doubt only lasts a few moments, it’s still impacting us in one way or another.
Ohhh the algorithm... Glad you mentioned. I see so many good photographers with so few followers and likes. That is just sad. Cheers. Good talking nice video...
photographers dont do audience engagement by virtue of being observers. social butterflies with a smartphone however dominate the platform that was set up FOR them.
Very thoughtful discussion. I've seen some landscapes defaced with tagging for the sake of "art". It's not art, it's a crime and they're taking the joy of experiencing the outdoors away from everyone. The funny thing is, most of these "taggers" would probably consider themselves as "environmentally" in tune with nature. Pretty sad....
Don’t get discouraged. Your work is great. Loved this. I’m trying to highlight that great landscape photography doesn’t have to be in crazy locations. Been going within a few hours of my house. People are surprised to realize that we have such beauty close to home
Mark, just came across your channel. I have been very intrigued by this topic for quite some time. I think you highlight a subject that is very controversial, and still new. I've recently decided to start shooting film because digital just seems too superficial to me lately. I do it in order to practice patience and not having that instant gratification. What IS photography by today's standards? Instagram is a great platform, but everything requires a balance.
Hello Mark. I somewhat agree with SGbroadPhotography's comment. We have to play the social media game to present our work. As important as it is to have a lot of likes on your posts, I think it is also important to value who likes your posts. Having other "photographers" liking my posts, gives me the confidence and the encouragement to be a better photographer. I think we just have to learn to how filter out the the negative side of social media and just treat it as another tool in our bag. Thank you for this video. ☮️
Mate you just gave me a full plate of food for thought.. You hit a lot of relevant points. I am gravitating towards personal photographic projects and making book out of it. In Japan their is a saying, " If every body knows who you are then you cant be that good at what you do." ( That is in an artistic way ) Thanks . Dominique Pierre-Nina.
Thank you! I believe it's time for me to do my part and not post the location or name of places as I have seen some of the damage the masses have done. I wish people would learn "leave no trace and tread lightly" and put it to heart. However I know few will and I thank you for pointing that out and raising awareness.
My pleasure, Chuck! Glad you enjoyed the video. I see not posting photo locations becoming standard operating procedure in the years to come and as you mentioned that's probably a good thing.
Very thought provoking. I appreciate the well-thought out pros/cons. For me, the one that resonated most was about the overcrowding of popular spots due (largely) to Instagram, but probably also Facebook, Pinterest, 500px, etc. And even that I'm conflicted on. While I hate showing up to a place and finding a big crowd there, I have had some wonderful interactions with people in those groups. We automatically have much in common, and I often meet people from other places who I never would have encountered otherwise. You're right too about the occasional disrespect of the land. There is no punishment too severe for those who would defile these special places. I do feel, with the exception of places like you mentioned with viewing platforms, etc, there is still room to get a semi-unique shot even from the most famous places. My favorite approach is going out in nasty weather. It lowers my odds of a good shot, but increases my odds of a GREAT shot and definitely cuts the crowd!
Bill Young Thank you Bill! Glad you enjoyed the video! I like you mentioned prefer to go out in “moody” weather conditions as well due to smaller crowds plus I like the added drama that poor weather provides👍 I definitely sit on both sides of this discussion - many pros many cons, just have to balance the good with the bad. The ole yin and yang! Appreciate the comment!
Great video. So clear and honest. I agree with Jared Weaver: Instagram is not the problem. If it didn´t exist, there´d be something else. It´s social media itself, it´s this vast amount of information that gets carried to the masses. Keep up the great work. Congrats.
Juan Carlos Piña Thank you Juan very much appreciated👍 Agreed the broader discussion is social media as a whole rather than one specific platform over the other. They all can be both a blessing and a curse.
Really thoughtful essay, Mark. I think I fall more on the negative side of the debate. Like any technology, there are upsides and downsides. Thanks for sharing!!!
I've posted my "goodbye Instagram" post months ago and I tell ya, it's a relief. Though I don't look at it from the perspective of a landscape photographer but lot of the negative points here are common specially when it comes down to the so-called algorithm and interactions. We have to realize one important thing here: We are psychologically attached to the Likes; It is some sort of a "self-worth" formula. I read tips all over the net about how to increase the numbers of your followers and how to get more Likes, and it all comes down to "socializing" but in a specific manner and putting some sort of an "argument" into your posts to get more exposure. I tried my best with those (even though I could buy bots to increase my exposure) but seriously, it was such a waste of time. And to add to my adversity, the friends which I thought are friends in photography, didn't really care much about what I post despite being one group and agreeing to Like for each other to help each other raise (I realized later that I was the only one keeping the oath). The thing is, which seems Instagram management is simply ignorant to, MOST people want to get followed and not to follow or check other people work and that ends up biasing the community it works in. I dared even telling one lady (out of a joke) that if she wants to get popular on social media and specifically Instagram, all she has to do is take naked/half-naked photos of herself and post (and same goes for a photographer). In no time, the account will be rocking with views and followers as well as Likes. Now it's all behind me, and I'm back to my old Flickr checking photos on my pace and interacting on my pace and as I like, not like how Instagram's algorithm wants me to be. And let's not talk further about the useless features which I don't need and the options that I don't like and forced in app and all that chronological fuss. Instagram, is a waste of time.
The follow/unfollow thing in instagram is today a just joke. I total agree with everything you mention here. To base a career of how many likes you need on a certain stage is just...well, whats the point if everyone follows each other, just to follows? They "try" to be social but you cant be online 24 hour on instagram just to keep it up. Its not worth it. Then people can buy followers and i really think this is the biggest problem, because Instagram has done alot to prevent it, but does it help? I dont think so. As photos need to get out there, they need also to attract something, but you see more of very heavenly manipulated photos ,just to get that extra 20 % of attention. The problem is that everyone is doing this, so i wonder everytime i see a photo on instagram: How much is it manipulated?
Great vid Mark, many truths that needed to be said, totally agree with you. Many people are "addicted" to IG likes and their photography is focused on just getting more and more likes...and they forget that publishing content for the sake of publish something, sometimes has a negative impact cause you're no longer focusing on creating THE image (yes, with capital letters....), they're only focusing on creating AN image, another one for the basket...another one to say "hey, I'm still here...look at my content". I would say that IG has more positive things to go for....but adding "just be careful, it's not the end of your photography or life if people doesn't like your pictures, it's not all about that."
Very well said! Glad you enjoyed the video as well! As you mentioned above, if not managed correctly Instagram can certainly alter your personal creative process. Thanks for watching!
Just seen this Mark. Great video. Lovely editing. I think the issue with Instagram depends on what you want from your photography. If you just want to increase your following or 'get more likes' then you can approach the platform in your own way without the worry. If you're trying to earn a living from photography then you have to play the game...and the game is changing so so fast. The pressure is real!!
Very good point, Mark. This is something I feel too many photographers don’t get right. Yes it helps possibly get your name out there, but you should post your photo because you like it and are proud of it and not just to get as many people to like it. Something we all struggle with in this new era. Great video
Mark, thank you. I am a new follower. I just found you and I like what you are doing. This is exactly what I have been experiencing in my creativity. I look on instagram and see all the wonderful places and the exquisite photographs and I become depressed. I enjoy landscape photography but I live in central Florida, not much in the way of landscape. Yes, there are the sunsets, the clear blue water, the flat nondescript sandy beaches and birds, Boring! I can not afford to travel to these far away places and the Blue Ridge Mts. are about 12 hours away. It is disappointing when I do get the chance to get to the mountains, the crowds are unbelievable. Have you gone to Cades Cove in Tennessee? Bumper to bumper two hours to get in. Back home I go to the swamps trying to find an interesting composition, I get the typical water shot with a white bird with corpuscular rays hanging moss, you can see the picture can't you. We have a "dark sky" location that is dark. The sky large and clear, the horizon line is flat and ends with a straight line of shrub trees, nothing interesting except for the person pointing a light at the milky way. My photos are good but I don't post anywhere because I don't think they can compare to the "exotic locations" I love ig and at the same time I hate ig. Your comments ring true with in me, my thinking is definitely that instagram is a negative effect on the future of landscape photography.
You nailed it! I went through the same process, editing second rate pictures just to keep posting, then overediting, compositing, etc. Until I had enough and deleted the whole account. Now I have remade it and don't care or try not about the likes, hearts, etc. If one person likes and is touched by your work, then it's already meaningfull. Before watching the video, I thought you were going about a different issue with social medias on phones: landscapes photos look smaller so those who want more exposition go only for portraits.
You make some great points Mark and I agree with all of them. Instagram is a double edged sword, some positive aspects and some negative. Perhaps the way to stand out in today's digital age is to go analogue. To hold an exhibition of our work rather than share so much on social media. We've seen it with cameras with a resurgence of large format film.
Thanks Chris - appreciate the comment! Totally agree a double edge sword indeed. I found it very interesting that the positive talking points related to this discussion were the same as the negative ones. I'm still not certain though which side of the fence I sit on regarding Instagram - I see both sides I suppose. P.S. Glad to hear the selfie is going to live on :)
An excellent and well balanced presentation about IG. Also some thought provoking aspects - particularly not letting IG dominate your photographic life. Also very concerning about the devaluation of national parks and wild places. I think one way of helping to avoid this, as a photographer, is for captions not to include the exact location. From an aesthetic point of view, there is a good case for that anyway. Many thanks for your observations Mark - really helpful.
Thumbs up for the "Do Epic Shit" sign. I was wondering where it went. I think one of the greatest compliments you can give a photographer is telling them that their work inspires you. That is the case with your photos.They also make me feel like I suck. :)
Hahah - I love that sign! And, I truly appreciate the kind words! Being told that your work inspires someone really means a great deal. Many many thanks!
Actually I think the, "Do Epic Shit", was a crock. Like you said, when someone compliments on you on your work that is a great feeling. And I know it's hard, but try not to compare. Take photos because you like photos! Take photos because you like photos and that should be enough. Enjoy what you enjoy!
I love your point about the mentality. Forcing inspiration for a post. What is Instagran worth? Every one of us has been there. The best video I've seen in a month. Thanks so much!
I've made a video about this same topic. Fantastic points, Mark ... on every aspect! Environmental degradation, the human thought, the algorithm. Here in the PNW we've seen a traumatic impact on our wild places thanks to social media. It really is a problem. New subscriber, my friend
Firstly, really slick beginning to that video Mark. I like to think that IG hasn't affected how or why I take an image but I definitely feel a totally irrational pressure to post on a semi regular basis. I think, for me, the biggest difference I've noticed, is before I jumped upon the IG conveyor belt I could take an image, process it and be happy but know in slightly different conditions it could be better. That image would probably just serve as reference until those conditions presented themselves. Now, I find myself posting that 'almost as good' image to feed the machine. IG is a double edged sword that I think is more positive than negative but I do have to remind myself that, as a totally amateur photographer, the great and powerful algorithm is actually irrelevant to me. Also, for what it's worth, that photo was brilliant.
Thanks Steve! Spent many hours getting that sequence just right, but I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out. The "IG conveyor belt" is spot on - I can actually envision what it looks like - lol. Glad you liked the photo - you mentioning it means a lot!
I’d like to say big thank you for this video. I could see myself in this video and experience the same feeling how Instagram can change you perspective to your hard work and photography! Thanks a lot for reminding me that I’m not alone ... amazing video!
Absolutely! It’s the best part of TH-cam - responding and discussing. Without you all I’d just be making videos for myself which would be quite the drag😂 Thanks again Adam!
Since mobile phones started including decent quality camera I discovered that I liked taking photographs. I have thousands if not millions of photos but I was the only person who ever got to see them. When I signed up to Instagram it wasn't for getting likes or followers, it was just to share my work with anyone that happened to notice. More than that however, Instagram made me realise how generic a lot of my photos were and inspired me to try and get a bit more creative with my own work. As with any good artwork it needs to stand out to get noticed and in that regard I don't feel the landscape has changed it's just more crowded than it used to be. I recently came across your channel and would like to say how much I appreciate the time and effort you put into the videos you create, they are definitely worth a 'like' from me.
I really enjoyed your video. Being an active IG user I certainly feel that it has impacted me both in a positive and negative way - in fact you have laid it out very eloquently. On one hand I have been successful in reaching out to thousands of followers which has impacted my print sales in a positive way but the sheer pressure of constantly posting good high quality images adds lot of stress and I have reached a point that I post whenever I feel like posting, not really caring much for algorithm anymore (which sucks by the way) as that allows me to enjoy what we all like the most- taking photos. Keep up your good work and I am glad I ran into your channel. Wish you all the best- Raj
Playing catch up Mark on your posts and I picked this one tonight because of my own frustration with Instagram today. Very thought provoking post about the future of these iconic sites as the coaches turn up.👍
Mark as a subscriber to your channel for almost as long as you have been posting vids, I must say that what makes a great photo is not the "likes" on IG as well as the constraints IG places on photographers, but rather that individualized satisfaction one gains from working for the image. I noted in one of your recent postings the characteristics of your creative style. Two of those are IG requirements (portrait and 4x5), so take note of that. If your goal is to monetize your work in your lifetime ( and I gather it is), then the game is afoot and IG is one of the avenues one must travel with consequences be dammed. If you are not already aware may I suggest you look at Adam Gibbs' channel. He just won an amazing award as Landscape Photographer of the Year. I think he has discovered one way to navigate the social media morass we all find ourselves in and I am studying his approach for this very reason. Right now I do not participate in IG for just the reasons you state. We all have to find our pathway to happiness and for me, at least, IG does not present a reliable path to follow. But my mind is open and I keep looking for the right way. Thank you for all the insight you bring from your work on TH-cam every week.
Wow, such a raw and insightful video Mark. So true and somewhat distressing. I photograph for me and hope that others like it. I dont share on instagram but then again I dont need for financial reasons or desire notoriety. I understand the need though for others. Congratulations on a well thought out and measured analysis. Definitely should give some people pause, at the very least.
The thing which bugs me the most about the Instagram is how people are more focused on the no.of followers and like. They don't follow someone cz they like their work but with a hope that they might get a follow back.. People invest their huge chunk of time maintaining their statistics then to enjoy the art they created.. I feel bad how people actually take pressure and stress on the growth followers or when there is a drop in the numbers.
With regards to posting on Instagram you are absolutely right you get the feeling what is wrong with my photography, I can’t get better no matter how many I discard and now many and diverse my photos are. At the end of the day I choose which are fantastic I get them printed for my wall and to hell with the repetitive HDRs and same old pictures that are flicked through daily on instagram. Photography is personal if your not paid to do it so who cares what others think at the end of the day....
I appreciate your comments in this video, and pretty much agree. I am an old amateur traveller photographer that made most of my pictures for the shake of recording my trips and remember what I saw “forever”; just as that beautiful Simon And Garfunkel song says … What a time it was, I have the photograph that´s all that’s left…” Fortunately I never enter Instagram, but I get scare with what you say… Big numbers, Big Data, Internet Hyperspace bigger than the World it recreates. There had been a time I went to Venice and were astonished because I did not really knew beforehand what I would find (so long ago, that I could only spare one 36 shoots for this one whole photo roll) was one and took pictures that I still love and would engage my friends back them. Not any more can do that for I´m overkilled with information… Big Data social media drowns us with information, but saturates our taste for there are not surprise factor any more ¡Too bad! On the other hand, I would want to tell you that the picture of the Hawaiian shore you showed in your video, I really like a lot ¡Beautiful! … yet It is surprisingly similar to one I took some 40 years ago and some few thousands of miles away, in the Mediterranean Sea ¿Can you believe it?... well it is true, but you don´t have to take my word for that, since it seems a fact that landscapes like forests, sea shores, fires, scattered cloudy skies, even though infinite forms and compositions, they somehow look similar for the repeated patterns, they are called Fractal structures. Sorry for my long comment, I do appreciate and, somehow, agree with what you say.
You bring up some very interesting points about things that I have noticed about instagram and how it has affected photography and places to take those photos. I originally joined instagram much later than most everybody I know, but joined with a purpose to be able to follow friends and to share photos and experiences with close friends and to hopefully share my photos with other like-minded people whom I've never met. I have realized the struggles with trying to get the likes and when I think a photo should have done better, it does make me step back and think if there is something wrong with my photography. I have to remind myself why I do it in the first place and that is to share, follow and inspire. There is a shortlist of the people that I follow and they follow me as well that we regularly engage with each other on posts and to me, those are the people I do this for. If there are others who'd like to follow along as well, I welcome them. But I'm not doing it to be popular. I'm doing it to share with the people that care enough to engage in social media the way it was designed. To interact, to hear peoples stories and to inspire and be inspired. I also stopped posting the exact geo tags on my locations to reduce the urge to draw crowds at my beloved and often isolated photography locations, as I don't want to see them trampled, vandalized or over-crowded in the future. My takeaway message that I continue to remind myself is that don't post only to get the likes. I don't need to impress everybody. Post to have an outlet to share experiences, to express yourself and to inspire those around you. That is what photography is about for me.
totally agree with ur points , i can't denay that watching photographer in IG every day post some great photos from different location and processing in different ways push me to go out and shot more, but recently I discovered that I put myself as a photographer in a small shell (instagram) and as u mentioned i affected when i find people interest and some days no body cares at all , now i slow down and start to not give the IG most of my interest as a photographer.. sory my english is not perfect
I have the exact same feelings, the days when my posts dont get the likes i expect..but then i say...ok...i shot it, i spent time for it, i liked it, i posted it.. Now, Instagram defintely changed the game in photography...and i have seen major changes in the way i shoot. But not in the way "i want to copy the compositions i see"...but more like.."oohhh yeeesss...great place to shoot from other angles...and test my photo limits...", especially for someone as me, who wants to work as a travelling photographer...but it also helps, since many photographers, in their posts they also have the settings for some techniques (for a milky way fro example) and you can also contact with some of them and ask them things about photoshooting...which is great i think, bc you keep contact with people who know what they're doing and they can give you some really amazing advices... I keep my insta as my portofolio....which is both good and bad, since i post all my great and favorite shots...and it also helps me to see how my vision and my angles and my photo techinques have changed or not over the years.... As for the algorithm, it totally f***ed up everything as for how much our posts are seen or not through the feed, and the #s, and that's what upsets me the most....because if i get it right now, the algorithm sees and shows on the feed only the posts that are paid for that exact reason...to get a growth....and i am a person, who will never do it... i will never pay for my posts to be seen by more people...i will keep fighting through the #s and my content... Thank you for this video !
Wow! Great point! I just did a six state trip with my wife. To shoot pictures and film the west. Started in Utah, than Montana, Yellowstone, Idaho and the grand Tetons, in Wyoming. Then went to the Colorado Rockies and and ended up in New Mexico for the balloon fest. I can’t tell you the cell phone and selfie opportunities I seen over and over. It is very hard to compete with that. I took a picture of the grand Tetons with my a7riii sat there for hours with my tripod waiting for the sun to reflect the mountains off the water. Had a hard time posting it on Instagram because it was a landscape photo. I finally did. But it was kind of the same picture as any one else takes with there phones. It felt like a been there done that moment. It was October ,and the parks were packed.
I know it’s a two year old video but, you make some great points here. I have not figured out IG’s algorithm and, frankly, I just stink at IG. I recently felt that feeling of “maybe my photo’s not good” or, as good as it thought because it got very minimal likes. In general I don’t do well on IG anyway (apparently I just don’t know how to IG) but those particular photos did even worse than usual. Like you I thought, I probably could have done better on my composition, on my edit etc. it’s all good. I’m working at it, I’m consistently shooting and getting better and, trying. I enjoy it and it’s all good. I still post about twice a week to IG and I’m trying to stop caring how many likes my photos get. Just work. I’m just going to keep working and progressing. Anyway, thanks for all your helpful content. Best to everyone out there
Great content, Mark. Just recently found you because I was going to Charleston and searched TH-cam about photographic opportunities in Charleston. Your video with the Arthur Ravenal Bridge popped up first. I did get a great shot there in the same location as you, so I guess I violated one the issues you mentioned in this video. I guess Instagram isn't the only platform that invites imitation. One thing that I got frustrated with Instagram is the follower count. I can gain 20 people in a weak yet my total barely budges. Over a couple of months of this, you really wonder if it's accurate. Also, no matter how I tag the image, I can't get my likes and comments above a certain threshold. It makes you feel unworthy of posting content. The sick part is that I feel that I am doing myself a disservice if I leave Instagram. It's crazy.
Thanks Mark for that introspective look at something i have actually wondered myself. I am no where near a pro, but consider myself an aspiring enthusiast 😊. I have 2 IG accounts, 1 for personal/family, and 1 just for photography and try to put my best ones out there. I live in the PNW, and there is no shortage of landscapes, moss, waterfalls, etc.. here. But i agree, that the “market” is saturated and you almost have to have an impossible shot to get even noticed. So, i do agree that IG and other social media has contributed greatly to that and to the downside of people not appreciating the various places by vandalizing, etc. On the other hand, IG has also helped me share my love, and passion for landscape/wildlife photography with like minded people from all over. I follow a number of photographers and have learned something from each one. I bought my latest camera backpack based on your video review of it (mindshift). So, in conclusion, i have been inspired by much of the content due to IG, and TH-cam. I am thankful for ones like yourself who put allot of time and effort i to delivering great content and helping ones like myself improve my love of photography. Keep up the great work Mark!
yep i just left social media i thinks its having a negative impact for sure.instagram has ruined the town i live in,everyone is here just to get that photo for there instagram so they can hashtag where they are and get likes.im going to try and get my photos out there the old school way
So well done Mark. I had so much to relate to on both sides. And although I'll probably go back and forth on this topic for years to come, Ill always have this video to reference. Keep doing you my dude
Hello Mark, very informative video. Thank you for the thought provoking theme Myself finding a serious interest in photography through Instagram, it is very difficult for me to say Instagram changed photography in a negative way. I think many of us became more serious photographers because of Instagram that otherwise would not have. Now, with that said I also notice how much the platform had changed over the years being an early adopter of the app. Before it was certainly more of an app for artistic expression. It was not flooded with very casual photos like it is now. That is a change that I have not enjoyed but I guess it's hard to avoid with so many users now. But overall Instagram has provided me with (hopefully) a lifelong hobby that has inspired me to do new things, go to New places, and meet new people. 🙏
Hi, Toru! Glad you enjoyed the video. I was very hesitant at first as to whether or not publish it, but figured I would go ahead. Happy to hear the overall response was positive - thankfully:) You bring up a great point that Instagram was your gateway into photography and that has to be another positive for the platform as I'm sure there are many more just like yourself out there. Instagram certainly is a double edged sword - I think it's one of those things that it is what you make of it. Thanks for the comment - very much appreciated! - Mark D.
I like instagram. I dont print all my photos i do print some but i enjoy putting my wirk out there for people to see not for people to like or comment or follows. I fell in live with photography as a whole landscape portraits street everything about it i love. It is forever a growing process. Dont get sad because your photos arent getting as many likes as youd like if you like them and want them out there post them. If not dont but dont judge a platform because you arent getting what youd like. Enjoy photographing and your own personal journey to get that phot. Happy shooting my friend. 📸📸📸
very interesting reflections .... of course from the moment we join a social network, the wait is to have a growing success .... we are all consciously or not in perpetual lack of recognition. And this can have a perverse effect, as you point out, wanting to post more and more, move away from its path, join the current movement to please the greatest number. Photography must first be a satisfaction and a personal pleasure, social networks surely distance us from that. Thank you for this video that brings to think
Good thoughts! I started shooting landscapes (shooting at all) just less than a year ago and to me, to this moment, instagram plays mostly positive role. I'm subscribed to some great photographers and I constantly see their amazing shots and it's quite often when I find something new - composition, light, idea, editing style and so on. I have really good examples of top photography and really think my progress in landscape (not only) photography would be much slower if not instagram. I'm not saying my progress is great, but I personally think I learn relatively fast. Due to IG and TH-cam of course. But on the other hand, I just feel like getting tired of all the same staff I see on instagram and feel like the value of photography is kinda diminishes. And also you can't enjoy the photographs in large size, cant see details. Especially this is important for landscapes. Most of all you just see the wide landscape picture as a small thumbnail and this is said too... cool landscape - swipe up. Another great landscape - ah, swipe up. Great mountains.. swipe up! swipe up! This video made me thinking to visit some real landscape exhibitions really...
I used to get noticed on magazines but social media has destroyed that medium so i am now an unknown photographer because i have less exposure and when I do I get comprared to other cheaper or better people
Love the video. You presented things I had never considered and I am one of those who won't get to go to these locations. I post all my shots to FB to share with friends and relatives. When I first started posting on FB everyone would put up that like. Sadly now, probably because I live in farm country, I get perhaps 2 likes. I looked at all my photos on my hard drive where I house all my photos and saw where I kept going back to the same places in my city. So, I decided it was time to go to neighboring States to see what I can find. I shoot mostly along the Mississippi River and the countryside, looking for nice farms, historic churches, or empty historic buildings. Yeah, I love history and farms. Once I saw a picture in our local paper of a site along the River and went down just to see if I could recreate what the local photographer did, to see how it would turn out. It was okay, but, not quite as good as their's, but, this was my first DSLR. I try to be original, looking for the right conditions, the correct perspective, always learning. Thanks again for making me think about what I am doing and not rushing to get a picture taken....patience.
Great vlog you’re right on the dime when it come to comparing work among the best landscape photographers. So easy to get trapped. There’s one thought that I keep in mind the Bible says “Thou shall not covet!” Thank you sharing your thoughts Much Aloha
Instagram has impacted my work and creativity in a good way trying different locations and trying not to copy what i see, but now i hate IG the "algorythm" sucks and few times i got to the point of just stop posting and got creatively blocked because of it. So I do think that IG does good but also does bad which one is more? As of now im in the middle 5 out of 10
I actually somewhat* like that IG has made the movement patterns of human traffic in parks and open space predictable. No, I do not like the crowds, but I know where to go to escape them, with great photo locations, which often is not far, but just outside of the general "good for selfie/IG" zones. *= I generally prefer empty trails :), but with the current trend, you have to roll with the crowds you are confronted with. The thing that turned me off from IG in the start was it made you conform to the square format, and the white bg.
Just think about that camera device and app that was made to mimic setting from other photos that it searches for and finds the most popular on the net then takes the photo for you and does all the work and settings. In a few years people will climb a mountain for a computer to do the creative work.
Classic video production style. Felt like I'm watching CBS 60 minutes. For me Instagram has positive effect. One, I find interesting locations, seasonal moments, and most of all I take more time to look around before taking pictures as I don't want my picture to look like million other pictures.
Great point and the same I feel for a couple weeks now. I reduced my social media life quite heavily. I got out of the race and concentrate more on my own website and blog. Greetings Jürgen
Sounds like you're leading the charge and ahead of the game! I should shift more of my focus to my website as you mentioned above. Thanks for the comment, Jurgen!
You´re welcome. For most of my Blogposts I get more views than on Facebook these days. Instagram is the only platform I like, till now, because it´s all about the image, no distraction like on Facebook.
Just coming across this video for the first time and found it really interesting. I've got one question, what platform would people recommend for sharing photo's that isn't Instagram? I've also found myself chasing those likes and ultimately found it to be a pretty unfulfilling experience.
I used to think like what you described but I realize people who click likes on photos, they probably spend less than 5 seconds on each photo the scroll to next one. So like isn’t really worth it in my opinion
I've just found your channel, going through the videos (mostly in the order the youtube algorithm offers) and I am enjoying every single one immensely. I think Instagram incorporated a lot of the philosophy (if you can call it that) of the modern social networks from its parent company: quick and dirty development and pandering to the lowest common denominator. In other words, it's a money-making machine that has no other objective -- and it shows. In terms of the software quality, Instagram is one of the worst products I've ever seen. It is beyond sloppy. For one, the web version is complete garbage, that diligently uploads black squares if your aspect ratio is different from what they expect. Worse, it is restrictive not only for the creator, but for the user as well. You cannot view the images in full detail. The worst content consumption habits are exacerbated, where users would mindlessly scroll through thousands of pictures. The user is forced (encouraged?) to consume the content on a 5-7" phone screen, which makes the experience abysmal. Much like one has to approach editing for large prints differently, one has to change their entire approach to account for the tiny media via which their photo will be consumed. Case in point, your example with that Hawaiian photo. I bet you if you were to view it on a phone screen it would look bland. It is an amazing photo, as it contains a lot of subtle details and color transitions, but all of that can only be taken in when you view it in the appropriate medium. Which the phone is decidedly not. Art galleries exist for a very good reason, and Instagram is basically the opposite of an art gallery.
Mark, thanks for raising these important questions/issues. You mentioned the keyword for all Social Media and especially Instagram, which is "Content". A warehouse, a shopping mall, an IKEA Store or a landscape destination are all full of content. There are even Apps that now direct you to an exact location at a certain time and tell you where to stand so you can capture a perfectly canned image. Photos are now ready made and waiting just for you! Facebook is even worse because it is solely based on comments and being "followed". What a strange concept to have your "Content" judged by a blank audience. For now Flickr is all that seems to suit me and with SmugMug's recent acquisition it may prove to be the best alternative for sharing meaningful photographs. www.flickr.com/photos/sanwarzone/
San Warzoné It’s crazy to think how photography has changed over a relatively short period of time. You bring up another great point and that’s the apps available today to aid in capturing the “perfect” photo. Even apps that show you where the sun or the Milky Way will be at certain times at any location in the world - it’s a crazy time we live in!
hmmmm, do you feel more engaged at a hardware store or ikea? the content has to make you feel something, and people love to be told how to feel. write a story for the shot. the likes are not a judgement , it is an engagement indicator.
I know this is an old video I just had come across my feed and had to comment. To be honest I have never posted to the likes of Instagram or any other similar social media platform, I do not even think I have an Instagram account, I think this is mainly due to how a lot of people are for the most part. I love photography and landscape/nature/wildlife photography most of all. In truth there is really only two people in this world who's opinion matters to me, that is myself as the one who took the photo, did I do the correct exposure/edit etc. and the other is the love of my life and partner. I have always been that way, and I believe on word of mouth in the event of maybe deciding to selling any prints or if someone asks for a print I will usually just print one for them, even way back in the day of film. I think at the end of the day, does it really matter what anyone thinks of your photographs, unless they are potential clients, Ask yourself this question, are you happy with the results, if the answer is no, go retake to photo, especially if it is taken locally or redo the edit, if the answer is yes, then what is the problem, in reality that is the only opinion that really matters.
I am a poor instagrammer but, if this was inspired by the story NPR just did... I was quoted as they were there a morning we were at Mesa Arch. There was a girl in there who took her branded hat, carefully laid it out by her as she did a Yoga Pose in her Lulu lemon pants. Not a super big deal aside from the fact that she attempted to walk right in front of about 30 photogs who were there first... many of whom were shooting timelapses. People are RUDE. These parks belong to all of us. I have no qualms with all of us wanting to see our parks. That is in fact a big part of why they are there but the more people show up the more we need to self police and the more courtesy we need to have for the parks and each other.
Thank you for your thoughts on Instagram. To me Instagram is some kine of a love-hate-relationship. I have to say that I am just a hobby-photographer. Sort of ambitioned, but still. However it get excited if my photos get some kind of attention. 50 likes is "wow". I have one with 80 likes not (Golden Gate Bridge which I took way back in 1992). That was highly exciting. But then I look at other profiles. Just selfies. Nothing else. Far away from artistic. Hanging legs from a cliff? Thousands of likes! So I (try) to see it as a way to share photos with the world. Which is usually 40-50 likes. Likes usually don't correlate with what I think is great. Started drone photography a few weeks ago. I usually get most likes on drone photography. No matter how boring I think some of the pictures are. That's interesting. I added a drone hashtag on one of my non-drone pictures as an experiment and ... got more likes than usually. Do likes resemble the quality of the compositions. By no means! They resemble the mainstream perception. That's why you see so many feet in the pictures. Should try that one day to get the feeling to be more loved out there in the world of instagram ;-) Have a great day! Alex (Instagram: alex.buschek)
For me it has a very simple answer. If you think about the endless potencial and help for your own pleasure. The benefit is clear, therefore, Instagram is a beautiful tool. However, if you are looking for recognition you are scr... waaaay too many people. So let´s be honest, "The craving for recognition is every artist's Achilles heel" In my opinion that´s what art is all about. Imagine writing a beautiful song that no one could ever listen to. Sad, isn´t it?? Bottom line: "Don't worry when you are not recognised, but strive to be worthy of recognition". Abraham Lincoln
This thoughtful, but dark, video of yours reminded me of a video by photographer Ted Forbes that I saw a couple of years ago entitled "Nobody Cares About Your Photography." I think your video and his go hand-in-hand, in that they portray the depressing side of photography and the mad, nearly impossible, dash to be seen and recognized by others. That said, good artistic work is needed more than ever in this world, whether in music, art, writing, and even photography. Ted Forbes' video is a bit dark, just like yours, but also gives us a ray of hope, just like yours. Here's a link to Ted's video: th-cam.com/video/L4pE-pdhnJw/w-d-xo.html
Mark, I am kind of shocked to see that you are surprised that a great picture (in this case yours) does not get as many likes as you thought. One of the very first things I realised about Instagram is that we (photographers voters) are a tiny, tiny minority. And people can give 100.000 likes to poor photo of a toast with butter taken with a phone (actually they do on a regular basis, again and aaaagain) and just a few hundreds to your piece of art. Voters are not photographers, neither artists. Just regular people. They do not see what you see in a photograph. I painted oil on canvas for many years before starting photography and it was shocking to see what regular people pay attention to and what is invisible for them. Please, take this into account when thinking about why the resulting number of likes in any of your pics. I do now it is not a relief but it is the reality :)
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Which side of the discussion do you sit on? Positive or Negative Impact?
Mark Denney Instagram isn't the problem, it's the users who go out and desecrate landmarks us photographers love to shoot. I've had to trek further and further and in worse weather in order to find a spot devoid of Instagram hikers and IPhone photographers. Luckily for Idahoians like me, we have the Owyhee Canyonlands to shoot in. Completely inacessable to all but the most determined back country adventurers.
Yes, having a location like that close to home is definitely a good thing!
Thank you for raising this topic of discussion Mark! A lot of photographers likely struggle with the negative experiences you mentioned. It can undermine the passion for photography and the joy that it brings, when you get sucked into playing the game on IG. This is a platform distributing a massive number of images that will have an increasingly large influence on the ideology of imagery, as another phase in the iPhone cultural revolution. I am grateful for this type of conversation, as a reminder to use this platform and not be used by it: to take inspiration from quality images and enjoy the pursuit of producing my own quality images.
Mike Kee My pleasure Mike and thank you for the comment! Glad to hear you enjoyed the video. I love what you said, “use the platform, but don’t be used by it”. That’s right on the money👍
Maybe photographers shoud stop giving the exact location and just letting people enjoy your photo. Make them inspired and having their own adventures.
Also, another important point is, how we started taking landscape photos in Portrait mode. As bizarre as it sound, if you want your photo to look good on Instagram, you have to force your composition inside a 4 : 5 portrait frame to utilize the maximum viewing angle. I think that's one negative impact of Instagram !!
True. I also caught myself (many times) composing the photo and thinking: "Damn, this will be cropped out...", and then recomposing it just so it looks nice on my IG feed... I hate it.
Yeah this crop thing annoys me. I've seen people post the whole image with a white border but it comes off a little tacky.
All good points. I'm not a fan of IG. I don't like the engagement model, it doesn't really do anything except waste time. Posting there appears pointless and certainly impacts on the time available to create. I read one "guide" recently that said one should spend 80% of time on engagement and 20% creating content - well that appeared so back to front, I almost choked. There is no way I am going to spend 80% of my life liking & commenting on random flower and cat photos. Instead I'm switching it off and I'm going out into the world to take pictures that I have to work hard to get and then I'm going to print the good ones.
There you go! That's what I should do as well - focus on capturing and printing over social media. I agree 80% engagement vs 20% creating content is sheer bananas! Thanks for watching the video and the comment, Will.
engagement means having a dumb story on how you got to that photo. like the formula peter mccanon uses to success.
I know this is an older video, but I have to echo the idea that IG should never be the reason we do photography. We should do it because we genuinely enjoy doing it. Sure it is great to get praise for our work, but I have enjoyed so much learning and continuing to learn about the art. I have enjoyed the experience of wandering around and capturing moments and feelings in time. But, by far what put it the most into perspective for me and puts IG in a shameful place is printing out my photos. Seeing my photos professionally printed made me relive those moments out on the trail or in my city travels. I had captured a feeling and a moment, and seeing it printed onto nice, large paper places on my wall or a friend’s wall brought photography full circle. I made this photo because I enjoy the process, I enjoyed the experience of exploration, but I also wanted to share it with others. Printing my photos trumps Instagram 9/10.
Keep up the good work!
One of the best videos ever Mark! I think IG itself hasn't destroyed landscape photography, but it (and other social platforms) has created a movement where people are chasing likes and attention. Humans have always sought attention, and now every man and his dog and can get it like never before. And if they can't get it, they can at least chase it like never before. Like you said, how many feet off helicopter shots do we see? Or epic sunrise? That mountain in Iceland? The list goes on and on.
I've had a enough. I'm going to stop chasing a bigger IG account (I only have about 1.5k followers) and just try to enjoy my photography and pictures. I'm going to try and enjoy people's photos who I followed because I thought they were good. I want to enjoy my photography and others' photography. Chasing more followers has made me tired and it's not worth my time.
You're exactly right! Chasing engagement is exhausting and it's very easy to get caught up in it - I know I sure have. I'm shifting my focus just like you mentioned to making photographs that I like to look at and supporting other fellow photogs that create content that I like and support! Time to get off the proverbial hamster wheel -lol! Greatly appreciate the comment Rohan and glad you enjoyed the video!
Hope you don't mind me continuing the discussion Mark, but I noticed something. Today I went from following about 1200 people to 999, ultimate target is about 100 or so. I just want to follow people who I really enjoy. However, that's not to say I won't give likes back to people who give me likes. So tonight I posted and got likes from random people as usual. So instead of just liking the first photo on their feed in return I changed my strategy - I looked through entire feeds for a photo that I thought was good before I liked back. If there was nothing good, I didn't give a like. It made me feel I was becoming more critical, in a good way though. Reward a good photo with a like, which I think is fair. I'm not going to give like to photos I think are poor quality or offer me nothing in terms of visual enjoyment. I think I'm on the right road now and probably I should thank you. Cheers mate! (I've had a few beers, so hopefully I make sense).
Rohan Gillett Makes sense to me Rohan! More purposeful “liking” seems like a great practice to me. It’s easy to get in the habit of scrolling and double tapping just about everything.
Do photography for you nobody else print that fantastic image for you wall and forget about the Instagram just be happy :-)
Words to live by Mark! You are 100% correct!
Mark Denney treat landscapes like the old days if you can sell prints pay your bills and smile travel places with your wifey and kids life’s good these are my goals :-)
Mark McNeill Indeed! These are great goals to have and very closely mirror the ones that I have laid out as well! Family and a smile on your face is most important, everything else is really just a way to get there.
Mark McNeill love that response man! Good reminder!
I’m new at the over ran photography world but I believe it has changed for the better in the last 3 yrs. like you said I can go places in pictures I’ll never be able to go. Great video thank you
I can relate to this a lot. I get what you mean by desiring to grow a following, share your work, and get likes. I also feel that pressure to post something. Sometimes I ask myself who I am posting for? I like to see things I produced get noticed, but then it becomes this addicting thing to be seeking out likes immediately after posting. I guess for me Instagram is a place to share art, but it should not be a place to find happiness. That sounds pretty obvious, but thats how I have been using it at times. I need to figure out how to use it as a tool, and not have the app use me.
Really wonderful video Mark, lots of food for thought! The last piece about how many "hearts" a photo gets and that impact on how we feel about our own work really rings true.
Evan Kane Thanks for the comment Evan and glad you enjoyed the video! It sounds silly to think about, but it’s a very subconscious thing even if the doubt only lasts a few moments, it’s still impacting us in one way or another.
Ohhh the algorithm... Glad you mentioned. I see so many good photographers with so few followers and likes. That is just sad. Cheers. Good talking nice video...
Thanks Joel - appreciate it and glad you liked the video!
photographers dont do audience engagement by virtue of being observers. social butterflies with a smartphone however dominate the platform that was set up FOR them.
Very thoughtful discussion. I've seen some landscapes defaced with tagging for the sake of "art". It's not art, it's a crime and they're taking the joy of experiencing the outdoors away from everyone. The funny thing is, most of these "taggers" would probably consider themselves as "environmentally" in tune with nature. Pretty sad....
Don’t get discouraged. Your work is great. Loved this. I’m trying to highlight that great landscape photography doesn’t have to be in crazy locations. Been going within a few hours of my house. People are surprised to realize that we have such beauty close to home
Mark, just came across your channel. I have been very intrigued by this topic for quite some time. I think you highlight a subject that is very controversial, and still new. I've recently decided to start shooting film because digital just seems too superficial to me lately. I do it in order to practice patience and not having that instant gratification. What IS photography by today's standards? Instagram is a great platform, but everything requires a balance.
Hello Mark. I somewhat agree with SGbroadPhotography's comment. We have to play the social media game to present our work. As important as it is to have a lot of likes on your posts, I think it is also important to value who likes your posts. Having other "photographers" liking my posts, gives me the confidence and the encouragement to be a better photographer. I think we just have to learn to how filter out the the negative side of social media and just treat it as another tool in our bag. Thank you for this video. ☮️
Mate you just gave me a full plate of food for thought.. You hit a lot of relevant points. I am gravitating towards personal photographic projects and making book out of it. In Japan their is a saying, " If every body knows who you are then you cant be that good at what you do." ( That is in an artistic way ) Thanks . Dominique Pierre-Nina.
Maybe we should ask a question: Is Smartphone Destroying Landscape Photography?
good question! it means you should try harder, or find a less crowded genre?
Thank you! I believe it's time for me to do my part and not post the location or name of places as I have seen some of the damage the masses have done. I wish people would learn "leave no trace and tread lightly" and put it to heart. However I know few will and I thank you for pointing that out and raising awareness.
My pleasure, Chuck! Glad you enjoyed the video. I see not posting photo locations becoming standard operating procedure in the years to come and as you mentioned that's probably a good thing.
Very thought provoking. I appreciate the well-thought out pros/cons. For me, the one that resonated most was about the overcrowding of popular spots due (largely) to Instagram, but probably also Facebook, Pinterest, 500px, etc. And even that I'm conflicted on. While I hate showing up to a place and finding a big crowd there, I have had some wonderful interactions with people in those groups. We automatically have much in common, and I often meet people from other places who I never would have encountered otherwise. You're right too about the occasional disrespect of the land. There is no punishment too severe for those who would defile these special places. I do feel, with the exception of places like you mentioned with viewing platforms, etc, there is still room to get a semi-unique shot even from the most famous places. My favorite approach is going out in nasty weather. It lowers my odds of a good shot, but increases my odds of a GREAT shot and definitely cuts the crowd!
Bill Young Thank you Bill! Glad you enjoyed the video! I like you mentioned prefer to go out in “moody” weather conditions as well due to smaller crowds plus I like the added drama that poor weather provides👍 I definitely sit on both sides of this discussion - many pros many cons, just have to balance the good with the bad. The ole yin and yang! Appreciate the comment!
Great video. So clear and honest. I agree with Jared Weaver: Instagram is not the problem. If it didn´t exist, there´d be something else. It´s social media itself, it´s this vast amount of information that gets carried to the masses. Keep up the great work. Congrats.
Juan Carlos Piña Thank you Juan very much appreciated👍 Agreed the broader discussion is social media as a whole rather than one specific platform over the other. They all can be both a blessing and a curse.
Really thoughtful essay, Mark. I think I fall more on the negative side of the debate. Like any technology, there are upsides and downsides. Thanks for sharing!!!
Mark Muller My pleasure! Thanks for watching Mark!
I've posted my "goodbye Instagram" post months ago and I tell ya, it's a relief. Though I don't look at it from the perspective of a landscape photographer but lot of the negative points here are common specially when it comes down to the so-called algorithm and interactions. We have to realize one important thing here: We are psychologically attached to the Likes; It is some sort of a "self-worth" formula. I read tips all over the net about how to increase the numbers of your followers and how to get more Likes, and it all comes down to "socializing" but in a specific manner and putting some sort of an "argument" into your posts to get more exposure. I tried my best with those (even though I could buy bots to increase my exposure) but seriously, it was such a waste of time. And to add to my adversity, the friends which I thought are friends in photography, didn't really care much about what I post despite being one group and agreeing to Like for each other to help each other raise (I realized later that I was the only one keeping the oath). The thing is, which seems Instagram management is simply ignorant to, MOST people want to get followed and not to follow or check other people work and that ends up biasing the community it works in. I dared even telling one lady (out of a joke) that if she wants to get popular on social media and specifically Instagram, all she has to do is take naked/half-naked photos of herself and post (and same goes for a photographer). In no time, the account will be rocking with views and followers as well as Likes. Now it's all behind me, and I'm back to my old Flickr checking photos on my pace and interacting on my pace and as I like, not like how Instagram's algorithm wants me to be. And let's not talk further about the useless features which I don't need and the options that I don't like and forced in app and all that chronological fuss. Instagram, is a waste of time.
The follow/unfollow thing in instagram is today a just joke. I total agree with everything you mention here. To base a career of how many likes you need on a certain stage is just...well, whats the point if everyone follows each other, just to follows? They "try" to be social but you cant be online 24 hour on instagram just to keep it up. Its not worth it. Then people can buy followers and i really think this is the biggest problem, because Instagram has done alot to prevent it, but does it help? I dont think so. As photos need to get out there, they need also to attract something, but you see more of very heavenly manipulated photos ,just to get that extra 20 % of attention. The problem is that everyone is doing this, so i wonder everytime i see a photo on instagram: How much is it manipulated?
Nice video, really made me think. All of this social media and my own photography is very new, so im glad I got this info early on. Cheers.
Great vid Mark, many truths that needed to be said, totally agree with you. Many people are "addicted" to IG likes and their photography is focused on just getting more and more likes...and they forget that publishing content for the sake of publish something, sometimes has a negative impact cause you're no longer focusing on creating THE image (yes, with capital letters....), they're only focusing on creating AN image, another one for the basket...another one to say "hey, I'm still here...look at my content".
I would say that IG has more positive things to go for....but adding "just be careful, it's not the end of your photography or life if people doesn't like your pictures, it's not all about that."
Very well said! Glad you enjoyed the video as well! As you mentioned above, if not managed correctly Instagram can certainly alter your personal creative process. Thanks for watching!
Just seen this Mark. Great video. Lovely editing.
I think the issue with Instagram depends on what you want from your photography. If you just want to increase your following or 'get more likes' then you can approach the platform in your own way without the worry. If you're trying to earn a living from photography then you have to play the game...and the game is changing so so fast. The pressure is real!!
Very good point, Mark. This is something I feel too many photographers don’t get right. Yes it helps possibly get your name out there, but you should post your photo because you like it and are proud of it and not just to get as many people to like it. Something we all struggle with in this new era. Great video
Mark, thank you. I am a new follower. I just found you and I like what you are doing. This is exactly what I have been experiencing in my creativity. I look on instagram and see all the wonderful places and the exquisite photographs and I become depressed. I enjoy landscape photography but I live in central Florida, not much in the way of landscape. Yes, there are the sunsets, the clear blue water, the flat nondescript sandy beaches and birds, Boring! I can not afford to travel to these far away places and the Blue Ridge Mts. are about 12 hours away. It is disappointing when I do get the chance to get to the mountains, the crowds are unbelievable. Have you gone to Cades Cove in Tennessee? Bumper to bumper two hours to get in. Back home I go to the swamps trying to find an interesting composition, I get the typical water shot with a white bird with corpuscular rays hanging moss, you can see the picture can't you. We have a "dark sky" location that is dark. The sky large and clear, the horizon line is flat and ends with a straight line of shrub trees, nothing interesting except for the person pointing a light at the milky way. My photos are good but I don't post anywhere because I don't think they can compare to the "exotic locations" I love ig and at the same time I hate ig. Your comments ring true with in me, my thinking is definitely that instagram is a negative effect on the future of landscape photography.
You nailed it! I went through the same process, editing second rate pictures just to keep posting, then overediting, compositing, etc. Until I had enough and deleted the whole account.
Now I have remade it and don't care or try not about the likes, hearts, etc. If one person likes and is touched by your work, then it's already meaningfull.
Before watching the video, I thought you were going about a different issue with social medias on phones: landscapes photos look smaller so those who want more exposition go only for portraits.
This is wonderful Mark! Also, your Atlas bag review got me to buy one of each, Adventure and Athlete!
Tom Marasco Thanks man!
You make some great points Mark and I agree with all of them. Instagram is a double edged sword, some positive aspects and some negative. Perhaps the way to stand out in today's digital age is to go analogue. To hold an exhibition of our work rather than share so much on social media. We've seen it with cameras with a resurgence of large format film.
Thanks Chris - appreciate the comment! Totally agree a double edge sword indeed. I found it very interesting that the positive talking points related to this discussion were the same as the negative ones. I'm still not certain though which side of the fence I sit on regarding Instagram - I see both sides I suppose. P.S. Glad to hear the selfie is going to live on :)
An excellent and well balanced presentation about IG. Also some thought provoking aspects - particularly not letting IG dominate your photographic life. Also very concerning about the devaluation of national parks and wild places. I think one way of helping to avoid this, as a photographer, is for captions not to include the exact location. From an aesthetic point of view, there is a good case for that anyway. Many thanks for your observations Mark - really helpful.
Thumbs up for the "Do Epic Shit" sign. I was wondering where it went. I think one of the greatest compliments you can give a photographer is telling them that their work inspires you. That is the case with your photos.They also make me feel like I suck. :)
Hahah - I love that sign! And, I truly appreciate the kind words! Being told that your work inspires someone really means a great deal. Many many thanks!
Actually I think the, "Do Epic Shit", was a crock. Like you said, when someone compliments on you on your work that is a great feeling. And I know it's hard, but try not to compare. Take photos because you like photos! Take photos because you like photos and that should be enough. Enjoy what you enjoy!
I love your point about the mentality. Forcing inspiration for a post. What is Instagran worth? Every one of us has been there. The best video I've seen in a month. Thanks so much!
I've made a video about this same topic. Fantastic points, Mark ... on every aspect! Environmental degradation, the human thought, the algorithm. Here in the PNW we've seen a traumatic impact on our wild places thanks to social media. It really is a problem. New subscriber, my friend
Firstly, really slick beginning to that video Mark. I like to think that IG hasn't affected how or why I take an image but I definitely feel a totally irrational pressure to post on a semi regular basis. I think, for me, the biggest difference I've noticed, is before I jumped upon the IG conveyor belt I could take an image, process it and be happy but know in slightly different conditions it could be better. That image would probably just serve as reference until those conditions presented themselves. Now, I find myself posting that 'almost as good' image to feed the machine. IG is a double edged sword that I think is more positive than negative but I do have to remind myself that, as a totally amateur photographer, the great and powerful algorithm is actually irrelevant to me. Also, for what it's worth, that photo was brilliant.
Thanks Steve! Spent many hours getting that sequence just right, but I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out. The "IG conveyor belt" is spot on - I can actually envision what it looks like - lol. Glad you liked the photo - you mentioning it means a lot!
Well said. Your commentary is how many of us feel.
I’d like to say big thank you for this video. I could see myself in this video and experience the same feeling how Instagram can change you perspective to your hard work and photography! Thanks a lot for reminding me that I’m not alone ... amazing video!
Thanks a ton, Adam! Very much appreciate the comment - you are certainly not alone here, I hear this topic discussed more and more lately.
Mark Denney What I appreciated the most is that you actually reply to your audience ,read their comments and respond on them ! 👍
Absolutely! It’s the best part of TH-cam - responding and discussing. Without you all I’d just be making videos for myself which would be quite the drag😂 Thanks again Adam!
Since mobile phones started including decent quality camera I discovered that I liked taking photographs. I have thousands if not millions of photos but I was the only person who ever got to see them. When I signed up to Instagram it wasn't for getting likes or followers, it was just to share my work with anyone that happened to notice. More than that however, Instagram made me realise how generic a lot of my photos were and inspired me to try and get a bit more creative with my own work. As with any good artwork it needs to stand out to get noticed and in that regard I don't feel the landscape has changed it's just more crowded than it used to be.
I recently came across your channel and would like to say how much I appreciate the time and effort you put into the videos you create, they are definitely worth a 'like' from me.
I really enjoyed your video. Being an active IG user I certainly feel that it has impacted me both in a positive and negative way - in fact you have laid it out very eloquently. On one hand I have been successful in reaching out to thousands of followers which has impacted my print sales in a positive way but the sheer pressure of constantly posting good high quality images adds lot of stress and I have reached a point that I post whenever I feel like posting, not really caring much for algorithm anymore (which sucks by the way) as that allows me to enjoy what we all like the most- taking photos. Keep up your good work and I am glad I ran into your channel. Wish you all the best- Raj
Playing catch up Mark on your posts and I picked this one tonight because of my own frustration with Instagram today. Very thought provoking post about the future of these iconic sites as the coaches turn up.👍
Mark as a subscriber to your channel for almost as long as you have been posting vids, I must say that what makes a great photo is not the "likes" on IG as well as the constraints IG places on photographers, but rather that individualized satisfaction one gains from working for the image. I noted in one of your recent postings the characteristics of your creative style. Two of those are IG requirements (portrait and 4x5), so take note of that. If your goal is to monetize your work in your lifetime ( and I gather it is), then the game is afoot and IG is one of the avenues one must travel with consequences be dammed. If you are not already aware may I suggest you look at Adam Gibbs' channel. He just won an amazing award as Landscape Photographer of the Year. I think he has discovered one way to navigate the social media morass we all find ourselves in and I am studying his approach for this very reason. Right now I do not participate in IG for just the reasons you state. We all have to find our pathway to happiness and for me, at least, IG does not present a reliable path to follow. But my mind is open and I keep looking for the right way. Thank you for all the insight you bring from your work on TH-cam every week.
With the huge emphasis on Reels & instant video contents these days, IG destroyed all of photography all together
Wow, such a raw and insightful video Mark. So true and somewhat distressing. I photograph for me and hope that others like it. I dont share on instagram but then again I dont need for financial reasons or desire notoriety. I understand the need though for others. Congratulations on a well thought out and measured analysis. Definitely should give some people pause, at the very least.
Rice Crash Appreciate the kind words and the comment! Making the video sure opened my eyes as to the path this is all potentially going.
The thing which bugs me the most about the Instagram is how people are more focused on the no.of followers and like. They don't follow someone cz they like their work but with a hope that they might get a follow back.. People invest their huge chunk of time maintaining their statistics then to enjoy the art they created.. I feel bad how people actually take pressure and stress on the growth followers or when there is a drop in the numbers.
With regards to posting on Instagram you are absolutely right you get the feeling what is wrong with my photography, I can’t get better no matter how many I discard and now many and diverse my photos are. At the end of the day I choose which are fantastic I get them printed for my wall and to hell with the repetitive HDRs and same old pictures that are flicked through daily on instagram. Photography is personal if your not paid to do it so who cares what others think at the end of the day....
You've brought up some excellent points. I had no idea about the Insta-hikers though, thats pretty insane.
I appreciate your comments in this video, and pretty much agree. I am an old amateur traveller photographer that made most of my pictures for the shake of recording my trips and remember what I saw “forever”; just as that beautiful Simon And Garfunkel song says … What a time it was, I have the photograph that´s all that’s left…” Fortunately I never enter Instagram, but I get scare with what you say… Big numbers, Big Data, Internet Hyperspace bigger than the World it recreates. There had been a time I went to Venice and were astonished because I did not really knew beforehand what I would find (so long ago, that I could only spare one 36 shoots for this one whole photo roll) was one and took pictures that I still love and would engage my friends back them. Not any more can do that for I´m overkilled with information… Big Data social media drowns us with information, but saturates our taste for there are not surprise factor any more ¡Too bad!
On the other hand, I would want to tell you that the picture of the Hawaiian shore you showed in your video, I really like a lot ¡Beautiful! … yet It is surprisingly similar to one I took some 40 years ago and some few thousands of miles away, in the Mediterranean Sea ¿Can you believe it?... well it is true, but you don´t have to take my word for that, since it seems a fact that landscapes like forests, sea shores, fires, scattered cloudy skies, even though infinite forms and compositions, they somehow look similar for the repeated patterns, they are called Fractal structures.
Sorry for my long comment, I do appreciate and, somehow, agree with what you say.
You bring up some very interesting points about things that I have noticed about instagram and how it has affected photography and places to take those photos. I originally joined instagram much later than most everybody I know, but joined with a purpose to be able to follow friends and to share photos and experiences with close friends and to hopefully share my photos with other like-minded people whom I've never met. I have realized the struggles with trying to get the likes and when I think a photo should have done better, it does make me step back and think if there is something wrong with my photography. I have to remind myself why I do it in the first place and that is to share, follow and inspire. There is a shortlist of the people that I follow and they follow me as well that we regularly engage with each other on posts and to me, those are the people I do this for. If there are others who'd like to follow along as well, I welcome them. But I'm not doing it to be popular. I'm doing it to share with the people that care enough to engage in social media the way it was designed. To interact, to hear peoples stories and to inspire and be inspired. I also stopped posting the exact geo tags on my locations to reduce the urge to draw crowds at my beloved and often isolated photography locations, as I don't want to see them trampled, vandalized or over-crowded in the future. My takeaway message that I continue to remind myself is that don't post only to get the likes. I don't need to impress everybody. Post to have an outlet to share experiences, to express yourself and to inspire those around you. That is what photography is about for me.
totally agree with ur points , i can't denay that watching photographer in IG every day post some great photos from different location and processing in different ways push me to go out and shot more, but recently I discovered that I put myself as a photographer in a small shell (instagram) and as u mentioned i affected when i find people interest and some days no body cares at all , now i slow down and start to not give the IG most of my interest as a photographer.. sory my english is not perfect
I try not to look at other peoples stuff on Instagram for this very reason, I want my creativity to be my own :)
I have the exact same feelings, the days when my posts dont get the likes i expect..but then i say...ok...i shot it, i spent time for it, i liked it, i posted it..
Now, Instagram defintely changed the game in photography...and i have seen major changes in the way i shoot. But not in the way "i want to copy the compositions i see"...but more like.."oohhh yeeesss...great place to shoot from other angles...and test my photo limits...", especially for someone as me, who wants to work as a travelling photographer...but it also helps, since many photographers, in their posts they also have the settings for some techniques (for a milky way fro example) and you can also contact with some of them and ask them things about photoshooting...which is great i think, bc you keep contact with people who know what they're doing and they can give you some really amazing advices...
I keep my insta as my portofolio....which is both good and bad, since i post all my great and favorite shots...and it also helps me to see how my vision and my angles and my photo techinques have changed or not over the years....
As for the algorithm, it totally f***ed up everything as for how much our posts are seen or not through the feed, and the #s, and that's what upsets me the most....because if i get it right now, the algorithm sees and shows on the feed only the posts that are paid for that exact reason...to get a growth....and i am a person, who will never do it... i will never pay for my posts to be seen by more people...i will keep fighting through the #s and my content...
Thank you for this video !
Wow! Great point! I just did a six state trip with my wife. To shoot pictures and film the west. Started in Utah, than Montana, Yellowstone, Idaho and the grand Tetons, in Wyoming. Then went to the Colorado Rockies and and ended up in New Mexico for the balloon fest. I can’t tell you the cell phone and selfie opportunities I seen over and over. It is very hard to compete with that. I took a picture of the grand Tetons with my a7riii sat there for hours with my tripod waiting for the sun to reflect the mountains off the water. Had a hard time posting it on Instagram because it was a landscape photo. I finally did. But it was kind of the same picture as any one else takes with there phones. It felt like a been there done that moment. It was October ,and the parks were packed.
Wow!! That sounds like a great trip Jose! I bet those parked were indeed swamped with folks.
I know it’s a two year old video but, you make some great points here. I have not figured out IG’s algorithm and, frankly, I just stink at IG. I recently felt that feeling of “maybe my photo’s not good” or, as good as it thought because it got very minimal likes. In general I don’t do well on IG anyway (apparently I just don’t know how to IG) but those particular photos did even worse than usual. Like you I thought, I probably could have done better on my composition, on my edit etc. it’s all good. I’m working at it, I’m consistently shooting and getting better and, trying. I enjoy it and it’s all good. I still post about twice a week to IG and I’m trying to stop caring how many likes my photos get. Just work. I’m just going to keep working and progressing. Anyway, thanks for all your helpful content. Best to everyone out there
Great content, Mark. Just recently found you because I was going to Charleston and searched TH-cam about photographic opportunities in Charleston. Your video with the Arthur Ravenal Bridge popped up first. I did get a great shot there in the same location as you, so I guess I violated one the issues you mentioned in this video. I guess Instagram isn't the only platform that invites imitation. One thing that I got frustrated with Instagram is the follower count. I can gain 20 people in a weak yet my total barely budges. Over a couple of months of this, you really wonder if it's accurate. Also, no matter how I tag the image, I can't get my likes and comments above a certain threshold. It makes you feel unworthy of posting content. The sick part is that I feel that I am doing myself a disservice if I leave Instagram. It's crazy.
Thanks Mark for that introspective look at something i have actually wondered myself. I am no where near a pro, but consider myself an aspiring enthusiast 😊. I have 2 IG accounts, 1 for personal/family, and 1 just for photography and try to put my best ones out there. I live in the PNW, and there is no shortage of landscapes, moss, waterfalls, etc.. here. But i agree, that the “market” is saturated and you almost have to have an impossible shot to get even noticed. So, i do agree that IG and other social media has contributed greatly to that and to the downside of people not appreciating the various places by vandalizing, etc. On the other hand, IG has also helped me share my love, and passion for landscape/wildlife photography with like minded people from all over. I follow a number of photographers and have learned something from each one. I bought my latest camera backpack based on your video review of it (mindshift). So, in conclusion, i have been inspired by much of the content due to IG, and TH-cam. I am thankful for ones like yourself who put allot of time and effort i to delivering great content and helping ones like myself improve my love of photography. Keep up the great work Mark!
Rob Roy Thank you Rob - glad you enjoyed the video! I agree with you - I think that inspiration is probably my favorite quality of Instagram as well.
yep i just left social media i thinks its having a negative impact for sure.instagram has ruined the town i live in,everyone is here just to get that photo for there instagram so they can hashtag where they are and get likes.im going to try and get my photos out there the old school way
So well done Mark. I had so much to relate to on both sides. And although I'll probably go back and forth on this topic for years to come, Ill always have this video to reference. Keep doing you my dude
Thanks a million for the awesome comment! Very much appreciated - glad you enjoyed the video!
Hello Mark, very informative video. Thank you for the thought provoking theme
Myself finding a serious interest in photography through Instagram, it is very difficult for me to say Instagram changed photography in a negative way. I think many of us became more serious photographers because of Instagram that otherwise would not have.
Now, with that said I also notice how much the platform had changed over the years being an early adopter of the app. Before it was certainly more of an app for artistic expression. It was not flooded with very casual photos like it is now. That is a change that I have not enjoyed but I guess it's hard to avoid with so many users now.
But overall Instagram has provided me with (hopefully) a lifelong hobby that has inspired me to do new things, go to New places, and meet new people.
🙏
Hi, Toru! Glad you enjoyed the video. I was very hesitant at first as to whether or not publish it, but figured I would go ahead. Happy to hear the overall response was positive - thankfully:) You bring up a great point that Instagram was your gateway into photography and that has to be another positive for the platform as I'm sure there are many more just like yourself out there. Instagram certainly is a double edged sword - I think it's one of those things that it is what you make of it. Thanks for the comment - very much appreciated! - Mark D.
Exactly Mark! How is correct you shared your thoughts.. I've same feelings. Thank you!!!
I like instagram. I dont print all my photos i do print some but i enjoy putting my wirk out there for people to see not for people to like or comment or follows. I fell in live with photography as a whole landscape portraits street everything about it i love. It is forever a growing process. Dont get sad because your photos arent getting as many likes as youd like if you like them and want them out there post them. If not dont but dont judge a platform because you arent getting what youd like. Enjoy photographing and your own personal journey to get that phot. Happy shooting my friend. 📸📸📸
It has changed the way I crop photos: Square of Portrait are kind of the golden aspect ratios; so that's a Big One for the gram.
very interesting reflections .... of course from the moment we join a social network, the wait is to have a growing success .... we are all consciously or not in perpetual lack of recognition. And this can have a perverse effect, as you point out, wanting to post more and more, move away from its path, join the current movement to please the greatest number. Photography must first be a satisfaction and a personal pleasure, social networks surely distance us from that. Thank you for this video that brings to think
Good thoughts! I started shooting landscapes (shooting at all) just less than a year ago and to me, to this moment, instagram plays mostly positive role. I'm subscribed to some great photographers and I constantly see their amazing shots and it's quite often when I find something new - composition, light, idea, editing style and so on. I have really good examples of top photography and really think my progress in landscape (not only) photography would be much slower if not instagram. I'm not saying my progress is great, but I personally think I learn relatively fast. Due to IG and TH-cam of course.
But on the other hand, I just feel like getting tired of all the same staff I see on instagram and feel like the value of photography is kinda diminishes. And also you can't enjoy the photographs in large size, cant see details. Especially this is important for landscapes. Most of all you just see the wide landscape picture as a small thumbnail and this is said too... cool landscape - swipe up. Another great landscape - ah, swipe up. Great mountains.. swipe up! swipe up!
This video made me thinking to visit some real landscape exhibitions really...
Totally agree with everything you said here sir.
Thank you! Appreciate the feedback👍
Super good discussion and points, really.
Mattia Busana Thanks Mattia! Glad you enjoyed the video!
I used to get noticed on magazines but social media has destroyed that medium so i am now an unknown photographer because i have less exposure and when I do I get comprared to other cheaper or better people
Exactly, I have thought in your way...
Love the video. You presented things I had never considered and I am one of those who won't get to go to these locations. I post all my shots to FB to share with friends and relatives. When I first started posting on FB everyone would put up that like. Sadly now, probably because I live in farm country, I get perhaps 2 likes. I looked at all my photos on my hard drive where I house all my photos and saw where I kept going back to the same places in my city. So, I decided it was time to go to neighboring States to see what I can find. I shoot mostly along the Mississippi River and the countryside, looking for nice farms, historic churches, or empty historic buildings. Yeah, I love history and farms. Once I saw a picture in our local paper of a site along the River and went down just to see if I could recreate what the local photographer did, to see how it would turn out. It was okay, but, not quite as good as their's, but, this was my first DSLR. I try to be original, looking for the right conditions, the correct perspective, always learning. Thanks again for making me think about what I am doing and not rushing to get a picture taken....patience.
Great vlog you’re right on the dime when it come to comparing work among the best landscape photographers. So easy to get trapped. There’s one thought that I keep in mind the Bible says “Thou shall not covet!” Thank you sharing your thoughts Much Aloha
That was excellent. Good points. I'm going out to shoot and no longer worry about Instagram. Thanks! To the hills I go!
Great info Mark, thanks
Instagram has impacted my work and creativity in a good way trying different locations and trying not to copy what i see, but now i hate IG the "algorythm" sucks and few times i got to the point of just stop posting and got creatively blocked because of it.
So I do think that IG does good but also does bad which one is more? As of now im in the middle 5 out of 10
Appreciate the comment Ivan! I’m in the middle with ya👍
I actually somewhat* like that IG has made the movement patterns of human traffic in parks and open space predictable. No, I do not like the crowds, but I know where to go to escape them, with great photo locations, which often is not far, but just outside of the general "good for selfie/IG" zones. *= I generally prefer empty trails :), but with the current trend, you have to roll with the crowds you are confronted with. The thing that turned me off from IG in the start was it made you conform to the square format, and the white bg.
Ray sena That’s a great way to look at it, Ray! And, yes the square crop factor-ugh..
Just think about that camera device and app that was made to mimic setting from other photos that it searches for and finds the most popular on the net then takes the photo for you and does all the work and settings. In a few years people will climb a mountain for a computer to do the creative work.
I know - it's crazy to think about what's going to be available in the future.
Classic video production style. Felt like I'm watching CBS 60 minutes. For me Instagram has positive effect. One, I find interesting locations, seasonal moments, and most of all I take more time to look around before taking pictures as I don't want my picture to look like million other pictures.
Awesome! Love the 60 Minutes comparative - that's great! Thank you. Yep, agreed - that's a positive for me as well, location scouting.
Smart Phone alway chasing us, but we have to Slow Down, stop, and think.
These are some poignant points. Thank you for sharing your perspective, I’ve felt much of the same lately. I hope a backlash is brewing in some ways!
My pleasure Vinny! Glad to hear you enjoyed the video!
Great point and the same I feel for a couple weeks now. I reduced my social media life quite heavily. I got out of the race and concentrate more on my own website and blog.
Greetings
Jürgen
Sounds like you're leading the charge and ahead of the game! I should shift more of my focus to my website as you mentioned above. Thanks for the comment, Jurgen!
You´re welcome. For most of my Blogposts I get more views than on Facebook these days. Instagram is the only platform I like, till now, because it´s all about the image, no distraction like on Facebook.
Indeed! Facebook has become a melting pot of all types of content and the reach has become almost non-existent.
Just coming across this video for the first time and found it really interesting. I've got one question, what platform would people recommend for sharing photo's that isn't Instagram? I've also found myself chasing those likes and ultimately found it to be a pretty unfulfilling experience.
This is so honest and true thank you
Great speech. You raise some very good points, and I can relates to most of what you said.
Many thanks William! Glad to hear you enjoyed the video!
7:20 GOT IT. that's the thing i hate the most
Instagram destroy all photography.
Great Video, Keep up the good work!
I used to think like what you described but I realize people who click likes on photos, they probably spend less than 5 seconds on each photo the scroll to next one. So like isn’t really worth it in my opinion
I've just found your channel, going through the videos (mostly in the order the youtube algorithm offers) and I am enjoying every single one immensely.
I think Instagram incorporated a lot of the philosophy (if you can call it that) of the modern social networks from its parent company: quick and dirty development and pandering to the lowest common denominator.
In other words, it's a money-making machine that has no other objective -- and it shows.
In terms of the software quality, Instagram is one of the worst products I've ever seen. It is beyond sloppy. For one, the web version is complete garbage, that diligently uploads black squares if your aspect ratio is different from what they expect.
Worse, it is restrictive not only for the creator, but for the user as well.
You cannot view the images in full detail.
The worst content consumption habits are exacerbated, where users would mindlessly scroll through thousands of pictures.
The user is forced (encouraged?) to consume the content on a 5-7" phone screen, which makes the experience abysmal. Much like one has to approach editing for large prints differently, one has to change their entire approach to account for the tiny media via which their photo will be consumed.
Case in point, your example with that Hawaiian photo. I bet you if you were to view it on a phone screen it would look bland. It is an amazing photo, as it contains a lot of subtle details and color transitions, but all of that can only be taken in when you view it in the appropriate medium.
Which the phone is decidedly not.
Art galleries exist for a very good reason, and Instagram is basically the opposite of an art gallery.
Mark, thanks for raising these important questions/issues. You mentioned the keyword for all Social Media and especially Instagram, which is "Content". A warehouse, a shopping mall, an IKEA Store or a landscape destination are all full of content. There are even Apps that now direct you to an exact location at a certain time and tell you where to stand so you can capture a perfectly canned image. Photos are now ready made and waiting just for you! Facebook is even worse because it is solely based on comments and being "followed". What a strange concept to have your "Content" judged by a blank audience. For now Flickr is all that seems to suit me and with SmugMug's recent acquisition it may prove to be the best alternative for sharing meaningful photographs. www.flickr.com/photos/sanwarzone/
San Warzoné It’s crazy to think how photography has changed over a relatively short period of time. You bring up another great point and that’s the apps available today to aid in capturing the “perfect” photo. Even apps that show you where the sun or the Milky Way will be at certain times at any location in the world - it’s a crazy time we live in!
hmmmm, do you feel more engaged at a hardware store or ikea? the content has to make you feel something, and people love to be told how to feel. write a story for the shot. the likes are not a judgement , it is an engagement indicator.
100% agree great video
Two things about instagram:
1. Poor desktop development version.
2. I hate when I upload a photo and instagram give me some other aspect ratio.
Yes, horrible desk top application! I like the way Vero allows photo uploads, but that platform seems to have stalled out.
I know this is an old video I just had come across my feed and had to comment. To be honest I have never posted to the likes of Instagram or any other similar social media platform, I do not even think I have an Instagram account, I think this is mainly due to how a lot of people are for the most part.
I love photography and landscape/nature/wildlife photography most of all. In truth there is really only two people in this world who's opinion matters to me, that is myself as the one who took the photo, did I do the correct exposure/edit etc. and the other is the love of my life and partner. I have always been that way, and I believe on word of mouth in the event of maybe deciding to selling any prints or if someone asks for a print I will usually just print one for them, even way back in the day of film.
I think at the end of the day, does it really matter what anyone thinks of your photographs, unless they are potential clients, Ask yourself this question, are you happy with the results, if the answer is no, go retake to photo, especially if it is taken locally or redo the edit, if the answer is yes, then what is the problem, in reality that is the only opinion that really matters.
I too get caught up in likes and I shouldn't. If I love it I should be good with that.
David Glandon It’s an easy trap to fall into that is for sure!
Instagram “influencers” are largely to blame for over-exposing iconic locations.
I am a poor instagrammer but, if this was inspired by the story NPR just did... I was quoted as they were there a morning we were at Mesa Arch. There was a girl in there who took her branded hat, carefully laid it out by her as she did a Yoga Pose in her Lulu lemon pants. Not a super big deal aside from the fact that she attempted to walk right in front of about 30 photogs who were there first... many of whom were shooting timelapses. People are RUDE. These parks belong to all of us. I have no qualms with all of us wanting to see our parks. That is in fact a big part of why they are there but the more people show up the more we need to self police and the more courtesy we need to have for the parks and each other.
Thank you for your thoughts on Instagram. To me Instagram is some kine of a love-hate-relationship. I have to say that I am just a hobby-photographer. Sort of ambitioned, but still. However it get excited if my photos get some kind of attention. 50 likes is "wow". I have one with 80 likes not (Golden Gate Bridge which I took way back in 1992). That was highly exciting.
But then I look at other profiles. Just selfies. Nothing else. Far away from artistic. Hanging legs from a cliff? Thousands of likes!
So I (try) to see it as a way to share photos with the world. Which is usually 40-50 likes. Likes usually don't correlate with what I think is great. Started drone photography a few weeks ago. I usually get most likes on drone photography. No matter how boring I think some of the pictures are. That's interesting. I added a drone hashtag on one of my non-drone pictures as an experiment and ... got more likes than usually.
Do likes resemble the quality of the compositions. By no means! They resemble the mainstream perception. That's why you see so many feet in the pictures. Should try that one day to get the feeling to be more loved out there in the world of instagram ;-)
Have a great day!
Alex (Instagram: alex.buschek)
On the positive side, if people destroythose location your photo of how it looks before will be more value
For me it has a very simple answer.
If you think about the endless potencial and help for your own pleasure. The benefit is clear, therefore, Instagram is a beautiful tool. However, if you are looking for recognition you are scr... waaaay too many people.
So let´s be honest, "The craving for recognition is every artist's Achilles heel"
In my opinion that´s what art is all about. Imagine writing a beautiful song that no one could ever listen to. Sad, isn´t it??
Bottom line:
"Don't worry when you are not recognised, but strive to be worthy of recognition".
Abraham Lincoln
This thoughtful, but dark, video of yours reminded me of a video by photographer Ted Forbes that I saw a couple of years ago entitled "Nobody Cares About Your Photography." I think your video and his go hand-in-hand, in that they portray the depressing side of photography and the mad, nearly impossible, dash to be seen and recognized by others. That said, good artistic work is needed more than ever in this world, whether in music, art, writing, and even photography. Ted Forbes' video is a bit dark, just like yours, but also gives us a ray of hope, just like yours. Here's a link to Ted's video: th-cam.com/video/L4pE-pdhnJw/w-d-xo.html
Mark, I am kind of shocked to see that you are surprised that a great picture (in this case yours) does not get as many likes as you thought. One of the very first things I realised about Instagram is that we (photographers voters) are a tiny, tiny minority. And people can give 100.000 likes to poor photo of a toast with butter taken with a phone (actually they do on a regular basis, again and aaaagain) and just a few hundreds to your piece of art.
Voters are not photographers, neither artists. Just regular people. They do not see what you see in a photograph.
I painted oil on canvas for many years before starting photography and it was shocking to see what regular people pay attention to and what is invisible for them.
Please, take this into account when thinking about why the resulting number of likes in any of your pics.
I do now it is not a relief but it is the reality :)
x1.25 speed, you're welcome.
no offence but i dont like the 2 camera angles. Much love
Really who give a fuck about Insta??, just go out and enjoy photography, I refuse to follow instagram, create your own style,don't follow the masses.