Instagram was very good until it ruined the art of photography. Somewhere, the way the app celebrated once, it still intends to meditate on the pictures, and in doing so, it did not just change photography – it helped to ruin the art.
Recently, I have added more salt to instagram lesions from photographers. Comments, such as, “I am removing Instagram,” and “Instagram is no longer for photographers, I’m out!” These statements are factual, especially since Instagram is no longer mainly for photographers. I actually never found in Instagram; I have a little more recently, but I am never consistent. I think it’s a place and to be inspired and see what others do. Recently, it is difficult to do so.
I find myself scrolling, trying to find what I am looking for, only I serve more reels to see. There are great reels, and I do not hate them completely. The hatred I hate is the material they are serving me, and I wonder what I did by the algorithm to serve me the material I am watching. All these are stimulants, and the goal is to achieve me to go to their only page. What happened to photography, and where did the photos go?
Early days: Promise and Possibility
Instagram was once a place to be as a photographer. It was made for simple, portable and search. You can get your phone out of your pocket and do a mini portfolio to immediately show others. You can still do this that is not lost, but it has simplicity. There was no pressure; You had a chronological feed. It was not full of reels, but great pictures! Instagram is still full of brilliant photos – more than ever! You can find photographers around the world, and the creation of the community’s spirit began to begin. The photographers were talking to each other and searching for each other. You can find pictures of shoots and visual day-to-day diary. Gradually, a community was formed, and photographers interacted and shared. We preferred to be there, but no one knew what was lean in the shadow: an algorithm.
Shift: When photography material became
An algorithm-based feed infection began. Photographers began to adapt to visibility; The days of the chronological feed had gone. He started digging in his social media matrix, where the hashtag, posting Times, and the beauty of his profile took the center stage. Concern happened when we were told that our profile needs a beauty conformity and all images should be presented equally. Don’t think to me wrong – it looks impressive, but I know that other people will not post a great image because it did not match others.
The metrics’ mentality started catching. Likes the same verification, the number of followers became your legitimacy, and the comments equaled your value. Photographers feel that we were not valid because we had some followers. I prefer 500 highly attractive followers for 1,000 who rarely or sometimes do not interact. All this is over, and it began to tain photographers – bad habits and poor mentality. All this started taunting creativity. Now we were not asking, “Is it meaningful?” Instead, we started asking, “Will it perform?”
In copy culture crest, taking the main stage. When asked, “Will it perform?” Rather “Is it meaningful?” Photographers were only worried and decided on the basis of performance, not art. Then, the trends began to rise, and neon portrait, fogi shots and milk baths became the next big thing. Soon they got away, and others took the stage, while photographers tried to make trending materials, which would perform – or so they expected. The algorithm rewarded recurrence, and we fed it. Feed lost its originality, and the copy culture finally caught. You cannot scroll through your feed without looking at the same image – or now, reel -over and over.
Results: Art started suffering
As the art faced, the feed all became equal. Most images that were once experimental, strange or incomplete disappeared from the feed. With only a few changes, many people were following copy culture, thinking that they can collect other creators and collect it later overnight. The entire styles of photography began to become a parody. Take “Instagrammable Travel” – a long time about having an eye of a photographer. A playbook was built, repeated, and repeated. The feeds were filled with the same drone shot, which was done in 500 different ways, or the video of the tourist van used to driving through a tunnel, only at the end to highlight a magnificent view, or exposed the wedding photographers with a wide cap.
Photographers curb their personal work and replaced it with weak images. “If it doesn’t like it, is it worth sharing?” Emotionally replaced raw photographs, narrating the story and feeling the audience feeling. If it does not fit the grid, do not post it – it was also becoming a trend. All these only happened to chase reactions from followers so that they could feel valid. Time took a toll. Burnout and disconnection became a reality for many people. The comparison turned into an impostor syndrome, and many leave because they were not accepted. If he was not getting it, he felt unseen. Then there was pressure to constantly make it so that we could post on a regular program. Constant posting was considered a magic bullet, and then algorithm changed.
We made this option: not Instagram
Instagram was made by users, not Instagram. Instagram only provided a platform to the public, and we made it a popularity competition. It was no longer about the community of photographers and was watching the inspiring work on a chronological feed. It was about how many followers could collect and reach the person for verification. When changes started happening, the algorithm center became a stage. There was no rebellion against it; We hugged it. We started making for the audience so that we could collect followers again. Now we were not working for ourselves. Risk was visually replaced with reliability, style with trends and virality. Photographer’s work was based on trends, not on its own, construction of another landslide in social media Ebis. Many dug the hole, and very few people drove the ladder out of the abyss.
How to recover photography from feed
Post what matters to you (even if it is “not good”): Post experimental tasks that scare you to post. Do not be afraid to do not do well or not do your specific “style”. As an artist and creative, limiting yourself to a box is not allowed to develop in your art and skills. It holds you back! In addition, share the progress and not only polish, the last piece. I took a dip and started posting more interesting things and pictures which were far from my normal. I was hesitant to post, fearing it would not do well. I reminded myself that I like not paying bills, and I had nothing to lose. If my work was not being found systematically, what could be the harm?
Take brake: Do this without crime! There is nothing to feel guilty about going away, taking a breath and recharging creative batteries. You can only grow from this experience and get better. I took a long break several times in the last few years. I did not pick up the camera, but went to the art museums and programs. This only helped recharge my battery, and I focused on the elements of the pieces of art – not making them!
Print more, scroll less: Print, print and print your work. When our work becomes more tangible, we give it more importance. I started using with poleroid transfer and started making pieces each, and I am happy that I started. I started evaluating my work more!
Make a work that is not online: Find a project on which you can work that will not be displayed online. Private projects are a great way to create images you want to make without posting online. They will not perform because they are not online, and the feeling is that your work is not good. I am not saying that under the road, once it is completed, you cannot post it. Just remember, there is no need to post everything.
Ultimately
We cannot take back what has happened, but we can impress what happens next. If this means leaving Instagram and no longer part of the platform, then good! If this means only posting images you want and ignoring the reels, great! Instagram did not hit photography – it only revealed that we were ready to focus and sacrifice for 15 minutes of fame. Start shooting such as no one will tap those people and follow the button. There is nothing to lose to withdraw a step to re -evaluate things. A platform is not required to allow you to become a photographer. You need to remember why you raised the camera in the first place.
I am eager – has Instagram helped or hurt photography? Let me know in the comments!
