I vowed to myself, as part of this website, to provide some insights into my photographic process. As such, I conceived the idea of bifurcating the inquiry of photographic aesthetics and Instagram into two topics: (1) the procedural aspects of how I capture my photographs [and what I edit with], and (2) the substantive considerations governing the subject matter or content of my photography. For each topic, I may provide additional installments or parts. Thus, for now, each topic begins with a “Part 1.”
As previously discussed in “Procedure, Part 1,” I have found that many individuals are interested in the technological aspects of photography — that is, what camera or phone you shoot with, how many megapixels your camera or phone has, and what apps you use to edit with. These are all salient inquiries, and to a large degree, I have already addressed that issue in “Procedure, Part 1″ of this blog series on aesthetics. (Additionally, as a side note, for those interested in a comparative analysis of various camera equipment and photographic specifications, I do highly recommend taking a look at Ken Rockwell’s internet articles on virtually every camera and every lens ever created. Simply Google your desired piece of equipment and type “Ken Rockwell” in the search prompt, and you will find a highly informative entry on the specific gear).
The topic presented here, however, from my limited perspective, is the content of a photograph, what motivates me to pull the trigger, and what I look for in a given shot.
An additional note of preliminary housekeeping before I continue … Because there is so much interest in apps like Instagram, I am going to confine this post to the substance and subjective considerations that I tackle when electing to post something to Instagram specifically. This is to be contrasted with the broader notion of “what to photograph” in general, which involves a more complex, metaphysical, and largely personal enquiry into the course, scope, and pursuit of your unique human existence. For example, why take a photograph of a water droplet, a dead ant, or a cleft of skin? Who knows? Maybe that is your thing, and I applaud it — whatever “it” may be in your unique set of aesthetic life circumstances.
Yet, when it comes to certain platforms like Instagram, and one’s desire to obtain viewership, the content of your photographs does matter. This post is going to assume as a foundational assumption that you care — i.e., that you want more followers, and that you care about increasing that number. The motive behind your desire for greater statistics is your own: be it fortune and glory, self-esteem boosting, monetary potential for your budding photo career, whatever. Your “mens rea” is your own, and I do not judge it. For this post, we shall just assume (for whatever reason), that you wish to grow your Instagram account. Cool.
The most important factor is LOVE. All you need is love, right? The Beatles had it right. The essence of photographic success — and any aesthetic success, really — is approaching your content from the standpoint of desire. You have to love what you shoot for it to evoke a sensory quality that people can respond to. We don’t know IF your audience will feel your passion, but that is always an unknown and impossible quotient to slay. Different strokes for different folks. However, one truth is fairly unassailable: if you categorically hate the process of taking photographs, or are indifferent to the process, you cannot conceivably expect that others will care. No matter what you are depicting.
Assuming you LOVE to take photos and LOVE the process of doing so, there are several core content categories that I have identified on Instagram:
(1) Landscapes (epic scope);
(2) Third Party Portraits (objects and humans);
(3) Animals (#weeklyfluff);
(4) Selfies;
(5) Weekend Hashtag Projects (#WHP);
(6) Art, Architecture, and Fashion (#ArtThursday);
(7) Nature (macro perspective).
In my opinion, a successful account on Instagram strikes a balance between all of these elements, or masters one or more of these categories. To be sure, there are successful accounts on Instagram that focus exclusively on only one or two of these aforementioned categories. These profiles are exceptional examples of focused galleries where the aesthetic is consistent and streamlined. Branching out from there, there are some accounts that attempt to display facility with more than one of these genres. Then, there are those accounts that attempt to dabble in all. Decide for yourself what you like, and then at least the governing thesis of your Instagram account has a function, direction, and purpose.
If one were to take a gigantic step back from their Instagram journey, and inquire to him or herself, “what would make me popular on Instagram?”, wouldn’t an amazingly obvious and productive starting point be to look at the @instagram account in and of itself? To determine what Instagram itself is posting? What better barometer of their desired aesthetic than what they are proactively posting on their own account.
What’s even more amazing to me — in assessing this seemingly nebulous topic — is that Instagram provides everyone on Sundays with their “weekly selects” from the week, and on Monday, they provide everyone with 7 featured choices for their Weekend Hashtag Project. Then, in the Suggested Users area of the app, you have discrete examples of the kinds of accounts that they like. (Note: Set aside the seemingly perfunctory inclusion of mass celebrities, such as Justin Bieber, on the Suggested User list).
Stated differently, Instagram is effectively pointing out — in various ways and dimensions — the flavor and style of photographs that it likes. Have you studied them? Think of the amount of aesthetic data that they have provided. Think of all the opportunities you have to assess the kind of photographs and content that appeals to them.
This assumes of course that Instagram has good taste. Well, they do. Hugely.
It just so happens that the people working for Instagram are extremely bright and amazing artists in and of themselves. They aren’t just all tech nerds trying to code new pieces of software in the basement of some dorm. These are exceptionally talented folks and artists in their own right! So, give their choices some real credit and see how these meticulous choices can not simply make you a better Instagrammer, but a better photographer and artist.
With love,
Justin | ReadeLab
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