Just dropping a note to thank you for what you are doing for the photography community. Instagram, at least for is the quintessential love/hate relationship - much like I would imagine an "arranged marriage" might be like.
Hey Andy, I love what you are doing. I caught myself being shy about this but if you like the work I would love you to share what you find most interesting of my own work.
I'm doing a deep dive into slow photography with my 8x10 camera and paper negatives.
It occurred to me that the reason that I love it so much is that the use of the paper negative with its very slow ISO of about three, makes it possible for a single image especially one with a deep depth of field of like F 64 for example, to reveal complex formal and dynamic elements. Objects in the picture plane which are fixed or sharp everywhere but that f-stop. But objects or materials, which are in motion, whether they are people or leaves or water, or whatever , become blurred, or erasing any object crispness that might have made them clearly defined and pinned to a specific moment in time, which is how we tend to think of photography, isn’t it? So there’s not only no decisive moment, but no instant, stopping time so we can return to it via the print, but we get something very different - time is passing, we are living and dying all at once. We experience the joy of being alive, while we face our mortality.
And there’s somethings so satisfying about being able to do it, and what feels like an elegant way in a single photo. I realize I could never make pictures like this with a digital camera. It’s only by going back to the origins of photography that it seems possible. I can tag you in a post or two if that's cool with you.
I don't have any of that work on my website yet only the Gram...
I enjoyed the Five, thanks for posting, I hope this becomes a very regular thing. Lately I spend more time looking at pictures than taking them. I use IG sporadically but less and less. I'm looking for an alternative. In the meantime feel free to check out my pictures on IG @nvanzanten.
Nice to meet you, I just followed you here and on Instagram. I recently went private on Instagram and trying that out for a while, but I do nature and animals photography @westpalmphotog I love the pictures you took during your visit to San Francisco.
Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos and artists. I don't use Instagram much anymore. Uninstalled the app in January and have no plans of getting back to it. It just became too much and using it sucks so I'm good.
I enjoyed this! Love discovering new artists on so thanks for sharing. I have a love-hate relationship with Instagram but it’s still my preferred platform to connect with people. I just use it at my own pace rather than being pressured by the algorithm. Don’t get me started on the push to post reels...😬🙅🏾♀️
I feel like IG could be so much more than it is. It has the potential to be a photo sharing network, a new Twitter, YouTube, tic Tock all rolled into one. They just keep trying to control the conversation instead of letting creatives use the tools in whatever way they want. If they would just focus on making creative tools and not on forcing people to use whatever new tool they make, they would take off organically.
I have a deep hate for what IG has become. Every time I open it, I have to scroll forever before I can find a real picture and not a reel (created only to feed the algorithm so pictures will be more visible) or ad or whatever sponsored post. Most of the times I close it even before I have seen some of the works from the people I follow.
I found in VERO a platform that brought community and pictures back at the core. There is no algorithm there, all is in chronological order and there are no ad. If you like to enjoy content from people you follow, that's the best experience you can ask for. On the other hand, people are too lazy to make the move from one platform to the other. Users who took years to create an audience just won't move over. And for this reason, IG will keep ruling as they wish. Knowing they will always win.
Beautiful images, but I have to say IG is horrible for photographers. Have you explored Vero yet? You will find just as interesting, diverse, wonderful photography without an algorithm or Meta looking over your shoulder.
Years ago (maybe 2016) commentator Bomani Jones noted that “everybody has to use Facebook, but how many of us are happy about it?”
I still remember the moment I heard that line (unlocking the gate to my in-laws house one evening) because it marked the beginning of the end of my FB addiction.
If it’s a similar dynamic at IG...then wait a decade. It takes time to kill a giant, but Time always wins and the clock's now ticking.
Cian Oba-Smith’s photo is so compelling! I love you sharing highlights here. Wish searching was a little easier on Substack.
I used to use IG for photo challenges and it reminded me of Flickr groups or the short-lived Google+ for a bit.
A wonderfully diverse inaugural selection. These photographers were all new to me, so thanks for the introduction!
Just dropping a note to thank you for what you are doing for the photography community. Instagram, at least for is the quintessential love/hate relationship - much like I would imagine an "arranged marriage" might be like.
Love your newsletter.
I've been posting on Instagram for almost 10 years now, but I still have less than 300 subscribers.
Everyone seems to like my photos, yet not that much, I guess.
I continue to post, though, and follow you on Instagram!
Cheers,
ak
Hey Andy, I love what you are doing. I caught myself being shy about this but if you like the work I would love you to share what you find most interesting of my own work.
I'm doing a deep dive into slow photography with my 8x10 camera and paper negatives.
It occurred to me that the reason that I love it so much is that the use of the paper negative with its very slow ISO of about three, makes it possible for a single image especially one with a deep depth of field of like F 64 for example, to reveal complex formal and dynamic elements. Objects in the picture plane which are fixed or sharp everywhere but that f-stop. But objects or materials, which are in motion, whether they are people or leaves or water, or whatever , become blurred, or erasing any object crispness that might have made them clearly defined and pinned to a specific moment in time, which is how we tend to think of photography, isn’t it? So there’s not only no decisive moment, but no instant, stopping time so we can return to it via the print, but we get something very different - time is passing, we are living and dying all at once. We experience the joy of being alive, while we face our mortality.
And there’s somethings so satisfying about being able to do it, and what feels like an elegant way in a single photo. I realize I could never make pictures like this with a digital camera. It’s only by going back to the origins of photography that it seems possible. I can tag you in a post or two if that's cool with you.
I don't have any of that work on my website yet only the Gram...
Cheers,
Hillary
I enjoyed the Five, thanks for posting, I hope this becomes a very regular thing. Lately I spend more time looking at pictures than taking them. I use IG sporadically but less and less. I'm looking for an alternative. In the meantime feel free to check out my pictures on IG @nvanzanten.
Nice to meet you, I just followed you here and on Instagram. I recently went private on Instagram and trying that out for a while, but I do nature and animals photography @westpalmphotog I love the pictures you took during your visit to San Francisco.
Thanks for your article. I’m not over Instagram but know if I didn’t have a business I wouldn’t be on it. I would spend more time on Substack.
Such a great selection and I love that some people don’t have a big following yet. Followed all!
Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos and artists. I don't use Instagram much anymore. Uninstalled the app in January and have no plans of getting back to it. It just became too much and using it sucks so I'm good.
Such wonderful photographs! Thank you for sharing.
I enjoyed this! Love discovering new artists on so thanks for sharing. I have a love-hate relationship with Instagram but it’s still my preferred platform to connect with people. I just use it at my own pace rather than being pressured by the algorithm. Don’t get me started on the push to post reels...😬🙅🏾♀️
I feel like IG could be so much more than it is. It has the potential to be a photo sharing network, a new Twitter, YouTube, tic Tock all rolled into one. They just keep trying to control the conversation instead of letting creatives use the tools in whatever way they want. If they would just focus on making creative tools and not on forcing people to use whatever new tool they make, they would take off organically.
I have a deep hate for what IG has become. Every time I open it, I have to scroll forever before I can find a real picture and not a reel (created only to feed the algorithm so pictures will be more visible) or ad or whatever sponsored post. Most of the times I close it even before I have seen some of the works from the people I follow.
I found in VERO a platform that brought community and pictures back at the core. There is no algorithm there, all is in chronological order and there are no ad. If you like to enjoy content from people you follow, that's the best experience you can ask for. On the other hand, people are too lazy to make the move from one platform to the other. Users who took years to create an audience just won't move over. And for this reason, IG will keep ruling as they wish. Knowing they will always win.
Beautiful images, but I have to say IG is horrible for photographers. Have you explored Vero yet? You will find just as interesting, diverse, wonderful photography without an algorithm or Meta looking over your shoulder.
Years ago (maybe 2016) commentator Bomani Jones noted that “everybody has to use Facebook, but how many of us are happy about it?”
I still remember the moment I heard that line (unlocking the gate to my in-laws house one evening) because it marked the beginning of the end of my FB addiction.
If it’s a similar dynamic at IG...then wait a decade. It takes time to kill a giant, but Time always wins and the clock's now ticking.