It’s no secret that Instagram, and social media in general,
gets flack for inciting the feeling to compare yourself to others when looking
at their “perfect” content. Instagram especially aids in giving an illusion
that certain users have amazing, picture-perfect lives.
And as the popularity of the media, and the follower count,
grows, the pressure to create likeable content grows, creating this insane
subculture where Instagram has taken on a life of its own. In this subculture,
regular people fancy themselves: influencers, models, and photographers.
Sure, we live in a world where it’s acceptable to be
whatever you want, but this can be dangerous as it makes those who have worked
their tails off to develop a true talent get lost in the shuffle. This is
especially true of professional photographers, as there is so much more to
photography than selecting the right filter.
A photographer named Nick feels this sentiment, as he has
written an inspiring message – vowing to ditch Instagram and create a space for
true photographers to share their work and engage a community.
“For photographers like me, it just doesn’t work,” Nick
writes on his website. “Whether you
have 5 followers of 500,000, it’s not a place for photographers looking to
share their work with a community of thoughtful, engaged people.
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“Worse, it creates a toxic treadmill of insecurity and self-doubt by encouraging us to focus on follower counts, hearts and worthless comments. I’ve been there, obsessing over followers and likes. It’s not a good place to be.”
He then writes he wants to create a space with consistent,
regular feedback. While this space does not have a platform or a name, Nick is
committed to developing an app in the public eye, in real time, where people
can follow its development.
Now, there’s something that can be qualified as true
innovation. It will be kicking off Soon 2019, and those interested in following
can sign up via email for an inside look when the time comes.
While this could turn into something amazing for photographers, it also gives us non-photographers something to think about. Nick has challenged himself to leave the unhealthiness of social media comparison behind; maybe challenge yourself (in small steps, of course).
Next time you’re out, try refraining from snapping a picture
of your dinner for the ‘Gram, and just focus on eating it. Don’t worry about
recording an entire concert for your story, focus on enjoying it. Sure,
Instagram exists for us to showcase the highlights in our life. But, what’s a
life that’s not actually being lived, just posted?
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Mallory
January 30, 2019 at 7:45 pm
Flickr is a great place for photographers.