There’s no doubt that, when it
comes to new technology, I’m a bit of a Luddite. This applies particularly to
the use of mobile phones (I just use my smartphone for making phone calls and
sending text messages, as well as very occasionally for taking photographs on
the rare occasions when I don’t have a camera handy) and social media (I don’t
use ‘Facebook’ or ‘Twitter’ and see no reason for doing so in the future).
However, my images do occasionally find their way onto others’ ‘Flickr’
accounts (see, for example, some Antarctica images at https://www.flickr.com/photos/naturetrek/sets/72157667613083114
if you don’t believe me) and I am starting to take an interest in some of the
most interesting of the millions of images that are downloaded every day onto
others’ ‘Instagram’ accounts.
‘Instagram’ is essentially
designed for (mainly) young mobile phone users with apps that allow them to
instantly process, download and share their phone images with others via the internet. Often the mobile phone
is their only camera. Many people use ‘Instagram’ simply to share pictures of
family and friends, show where they are on holiday at any given time, etc.
However, as one would expect from young, bright, socially aware people who
perhaps have no interest in pursuing photography as a career but are full of
ideas, some really creative images are appearing on peoples’ ‘Instagram’
accounts. I wouldn’t have any knowledge of this if it were not for the fact
that a rash of books, featuring some of (I assume) the most creative
‘Instagram’ work around, were not appearing in the ‘photography’ sections of
major booksellers.
Producing books of some of the
best ‘Instagram’ images and selling them at (Waterstones) prices of £8 to £17
must be ‘money for old rope’ as far as publishers are concerned, but for mugs
like me who look at and occasionally buy these books, the creativity behind
some of the images is a regular source of ideas and inspiration. My work is
heavily influenced by the creativity provided by others and some of the
‘Instagram’ images that I have found have had a direct or indirect influence on
my current project work. Perhaps the most influential book has been ‘Insta
Grammar Nordic’ (Lannoo), which features images by a variety of Nordic mobile
phone users. Many of the results are atmospheric and some can have an emotional
effect – the images are very evocative of the region. Several of the most
interesting images have been downloaded by an ‘Instagrammer’ called
‘@KRISTINENOR’: some of her images can be found at: https://www.instagram.com/kristinenor/.
Whilst a wide range of subject matter is featured it is the abstract or
semi-abstract images (for example Image 1 and Image 2) that impress me. I
haven’t seen the use of huge areas of dark (negative?) space, as in Image 2,
before – it may or may not be original, but it seems to me to be a potent
weapon in the armoury of a photographer who wishes to create a certain mood and
atmosphere in their work. Large areas of light space, as in Image 1, are more
commonly seen in images, but the use of a hand (trying to get in?) is again
very effective in creating atmosphere, according to how the viewer interprets
the image.
Image 1 (Kristinenor)
Image 2 (Kristinenor)
The idea of the photographer
holding up a photograph or a photo frame, in order either to highlight a part
of the subject matter beyond it or to juxtapose the frame with the remainder of
the image, is not new. However, Kyle Steed (@kylesteed; www.kylesteed.com) uses the idea in
imaginative ways (Image 3). His work can be found in ‘The Instagram Book’
(Ammo). John Levett (see the separate post in this blog) also uses ‘held’
photographs in his work and these influences have worn off on me, as three of
the images in my photo book refer to this type of work.
Image 3 (Kyle Steed)
Other influences have been
absorbed but not yet used – they may come in useful for future projects, but
there is probably still time for me to develop any particularly relevant ones
within the current project. One atmospheric example, shown in Image 4, was
produced by Pei Ketron (@pketron; www.penelopesloom.com)
and can be found in ‘This Is Happening’ (Chronicle Books). What does the future
hold for ‘Instagram’? One thing is for sure: many more ‘Instagram’ books will
appear in the coming months and years.
Image 4 (Pei Ketron)
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