As I am blogging about travel I am always uploading photos along with my posts and this allowed me to come to the conclusion to create and hopefully establish an Instagram account dedicated to all the photos I have taken along my journey. I speak about this in my blog post My People.

When creating the account @just_go_there I had to consider multiple details. From the name, which required a lot of thought because I had to ensure that it was catchy, easy to remember and somewhat relatable to the way my posts were going to be set out, to ensure I was noticed. This led me to think of the ideas of Jay Bolter. He speaks of links and how they connect people, “add photos and tag them (forging implicit or explicit links), tell your friends that you like a page, a song, a tweet (leading to further ramifications as they connect to that page), and so on.”(Bolter,p208) This allowed me to understand the power of hash tags on Instagram and by using them I will open my self up to more followers in turn more traction on my account. Then in conjunction with this idea of Bolter’s was what Jay Oatway spoke of in Mastering Story, Community and Influence. His idea of trying to communicate with the people who don’t have lots of followers instead of going to the ones with hundreds of thousands. This will allow you to create connections and understand who is following who and why. The other detail he speaks of is that you need “social currency” to break the “big five” because when they “notice you, you want them to be able to check out your stories and see that you have value to offer” (Oatway, p99) This is what I really tried to do, to upload regular content, it showed to work as I got people with nearly fifty thousand followers to follow me and hopefully at some stage repost my content.

Instagram as a platform I found to be quite accessible and easy to use. It really emphasises the use of pictures as a means of communicating the meaning of what one is trying to say. It really shows through if you are passionate because the quality and the presentation of the photos are quite appealing. I felt quite surprised when I uploaded my first photo that I managed to gain almost five to six followers and also get over twenty likes on the photo. I think this was largely to do with use of the multiple and generalised hash tags which allows people to see the photo by simply searching the word. I felt that in terms of actually communicating with other users it was harder as it is such a large photo based social media site. This is not to say that you receive no communication as I did receive comments and commented on others photos. Some examples in my blog post Contributing and Commenting and Instagram Pictures. There is obviously a reoccurring theme where if one has more subscribers then they will receive more of a reception on the photos they publish. However, there is a repetitive theme that the people with the highest amount of followers also post in large volumes, a tip I tried to emulate. Overall, it was an experience that I enjoyed and feel as if I am apart of the travel bloggers of Instagram community and will definitely be establishing myself further on @just_go_there.

References:

Bolter, Jay David. “Social Media and the Future of Political Narrative.” Travels in Intermediality. Lebanon, US: Dartmouth, 2012. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 8 February 2016. 206-226

Oatway, Jay, Apr 26, 2012, Mastering Story, Community and Influence : How to Use Social Media to Become a Socialeader Wiley, Hoboken. 97-109. ISBN: 9781119943457.

https://www.instagram.com/just_go_there/

So it has been a little over a couple of weeks since I started my blog and I am finding more fun and interesting than I thought I would. It has allowed me to really explore my passions and what I want to achieve from the course and myself in the course. I have found it quite enjoyable to be able to reflect on and edit my own photos to a standard that is surprisingly high in the travel Instagram blogging community. I find the images speak 1000 words to what the people publishing them are saying they actually yell the kind of people we are without having to actually see the person. Below are a few screenshots of my pictures that I have uploaded in the space. You can also see them on the additional Instagram feed I have embedded to my blog in the side bar. Also I have gained more followers than I anticipated I would have in a short amount of time.

Amsterdam is a place that transcends the way we perceive life. They have there on way of life that is free from a lot of stress, maybe to do with a certain something being legal there. The place itself is so mysterious and clean. As you walk through the tight streets and the ageless buildings that seem to be as clean as the day they were built you get an odd sense of freedom. Maybe because it was -3 degrees when I was there and you could smell the marijuana in the air. However, the people themselves are very laid back and carefree probably the reason I really enjoyed the city. As you walk with the river on one side and the buildings on the other you seem to crossover in mere seconds from the bustling of the city into an uncertain calmness that is then followed by the famous red glow. The streets become laced with some questionable characters but also many people there as tourists. Then you see it the women in the windows that everyone talks about. In a way I found it a great experience. It was so interesting to see the way people find the red light district so normal. I am not saying it isn’t but it is something that you don’t see here in Australia and it makes you wonder if we are to closed here and can we be more open like they are in Amsterdam. However, I suppose that is the reason we visit other places to experience new things and understand the identities of others.

Covent Garden – Strand Palace Hotel – The Adelphi Theatre

The night in London was with out an inkling of a doubt magical. If you think there is so much going on in this city in the day, by night it is even more. The quaint quite streets to the bustling squares and main roads are full of life and things to do. As it was around -4 degrees when I was here it made all the better. I love the cold because it makes you feel fresh and alive. The same feeling the city gives you. The dinner we went to in Covent Garden was really quite chill. A glass of mulled wine topped it off though. The aspect of this city that I think gives it life are those buildings. By night they are illuminated from below in a sombre yellow light that just encapsulates every corner of the building, keeping it awake even in the dead of night.

If you take a stroll through the West End you will come across those hidden theatres I spoke about. The right picture shows the Adelphi theatre where I went and saw The Bodyguard. One of the most incredible experiences I had in Europe. The way they do musicals over there is just different. They are so grand and large scale even in this hidden gem. I suppose this is what I loved about London, it was like Melbourne (my home) but on steroids. The culture, the architecture, the people and the shopping are all just perfect.

Covent Garden, Parliment, The Eye and a Taxi

The true meaning of the word charming would be London. Well in my experience anyway. This place is what you expect it to be but so much more. It has the standard fun stereotypes, the cabs, the cold, the tea but it’s the cute little niche places in the alleys and behind the century-old buildings that truly make this city shine. This is why I have decided to break it up over more than one part. In this part is what I like to call London by day. From the second I stepped off the plane the bustling city was alive, even if it was in the cold chilled -3 degree air. The way the air hits your skin is almost comforting in a way, it encapsulates you and really makes your warm body feel alive. It is oddly similar to Melbourne except older. This brings me to the history, like many places in Europe the history is almost alive in the city with the towering buildings, old streets, quirky old shopfronts and sometimes those questionable smells. Places like Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Harrods show you how much character the city really has. It caters to all that come and includes you like one of its own.

The place we stayed was on The Strand in the famous West End. The thing I loved about this area was its uniqueness to the rest of the world. Here you will find incredible theaters behind unlikely facades and delicious restaurants behind old brick walls.Then just around the way is Covent Garden. The most interesting place to be, especially in the Winter. It is alive with culture whether it be the street performers, the towering Christmas tree or the cute little indoor/outdoor eateries. That is of course all aside to the cozy marketplace decked with little stalls, enthusiastic shopkeeps and the giant Christmas balls dangling from the roof.

Then it becomes night and the atmosphere changes…

The above images are a teaser to what this blog is going to be about. They are pictures taken by me on my travels around this big incredible world. I feel as if there is only so much imagery you can create with words and images help enhance the experience of remembering, also helping me to remember the key points of the trips that I have taken. I think the pictures I upload will work aesthetically to the homey and raw feel I want my blog to take. There may be some editing here and there but the pictures are all my own and taken in a moment. This really ties into my intention of the blog to let you know the feel, culture and identities of the places I have been. I hope that the addition of the media like pictures and at times maybe short clips will give you a deeper understanding of what I write.

As I slightly hinted to in my last post I thought of an idea that I could possibly write about in regards to the topic I want this blog to take. Along with my posts about Networked Media and The Story Lab I want to speak about Travel.

Let me give you a quick back story. My family is decendent of the great race that created pizza, pasta and a let’s say an easy going way of life… Italians. My grandparents were born there and then moved here in hope for a life that was truly worth working for. Not long after my parents were born (To their respective parents) So I have always had the traditions that come with an Italian family like lots of food, a big family and lots of love. These traditions are strongly rooted within in me. However, there were people my grandparents left behind in Italy. More family, people I didn’t know but for some reason had a close connection to.

So when my mum at the ripe old age of 53 decided to go to Europe for the first time I was 100% there. I really looked forward to seeing the places I had seen before but also seeing new places and meeting this long lost family that I didn’t even know.

I want you to come along if you like while I relive my experiences overseas and hope you enjoy it just a little bit!

What to focus on? A question I am asking myself over and over. Now don’t think I am some crazy homework crazed psycho but it just plays in the back of my mind. I am finding it hard to think about one thing that I could write on over and over. I am not sure if it is just getting used to uni and classes or if I just don’t have any focus. But it’s enough! I need to focus, I have never been a person to dwell in my own self-pity so it’s time to move forward.

I was speaking with a friend who actually put me onto a potential topic to write on that I didn’t think of originally and that is travel. DON’T be misunderstood however, I am not going to be doing lists of 10 Best ice-creams to eat in Rome but I feel as if I was to write on travel it would be more about the feeling of the places I have been. The way they smelled, looked and included me in their individual identities.

I have always looked at travel as an extremely personal and individual experience that can’t be experienced alone. I know that sounds absolutely ridiculous and contradictory but its true. You can’t travel alone because then what is the point of the experience. This sounds complicated but I hope that I can explain that more throughout the blog.

Hey !!! I guess I found what I want to write on… maybe 🙂

Today was the first workshop of Networked Media. In it we were posed the question as to what we wanted from the course. The answeres were varied and insightful. A few people telling us their reasons that I would have otherwise not thought of.

Someone said that they wanted to build an online profile or identity if you will, that way they could become more marketable in a professional work environment. I find this very interesting, it makes you wonder just what your potential employer has access to in regards to your personal life at the click of a button? Some may find this concept fairly intimidating but in my opinion it depends solely on the type of person you are and how you present yourself. For example a Facebook profile that is full of inappropriate photos and crass comments is not only a negative when it comes to an employer but when it comes to friends and family aswell.

I spoke to Hannah who informed me the reason she wanted to do this course was to develop her confidence with writing as it is going to be a big part of her studies. I think this is a great response! This course seems to be a fairly open and inclusive course to allow students to write about and explore issues and content that they feel passionately about (along with assessments).

Finally, the reason I am doing the course. Simply, I want to dabble in a variety of media based courses that can further my knowledge of the industry, to make me a markatable candidate for a varied amount of jobs once I graduate.

The only hurdle I am faced with at the moment is what it is I want to focus on as the epicentre of this blogging journey I am embarking on. But for now I will leave that as a TBC…

Karl