I like Instagram. I got on early thinking it was just a fun thing to try for a while, then it would lie dormant on my iPhone with dozens of other whatever apps. But it got me hooked like it did millions of others around the world.
For me Instagram is photography exercise. Knowing it’s waiting for me to upload something keeps the pressure on to look around for something interesting to shoot. And knowing I have followers who will see what I shoot adds to that pressure in an engaging way. I try not to upload anything that sucks for fear of it garnering no Likes and sitting in my feed generating only the lonely sounds of chirping crickets.

It’s not often one can say that an app has profoundly affected their way of seeing the world, but I think Instagram has done just that. It changes the way you study your surroundings – always keeping a keen eye out for something interesting to shoot. But it also changes your view of the world because you can see it through the eyes of Instagramers from Oslo to Tokyo to Waikiki. I share my vision of Toronto. And in return I get to see life through the talented eyes of those I follow around the world. Cool.

The list of photographers I follow has changed from when I started. At first, I connected to as many friends as I could find. But through living with the app, I’ve found I’ve stopped following those who post family shots or snaps of last night’s dinner in favour of avid photographers whose next post is even better than their last. These people feel the Instagram pressure to deliver, and they do every single day. It garners them thousands of Likes per shot and tens of thousands of followers. One day, like the social clout of having tens of thousands of Twitter followers, that kind of Instagram following might actually mean something! What it means to me is that I can look forward to a very inspiring feed of amazing photographs every single day. And that’s just another kind of pressure: the pressure to compete with the best shooters on Instagram.

So, with the pressure of wanting to upload only great shots, impress your followers daily, and compete against the best shooters, you’d think this app is more trouble than it’s worth. But I’d say creativity flourishes under pressure. The app was never positioned as a way to make people better photographers, but I believe that’s really what’s happening. So, to me, all that pressure is a good thing.

By the way, don’t ask to be followed. Lame.

Upload something amazing today.
stefan