Week 7: Instagram Photography
This week we looked at an article by Robert Palmer titled ‘Mobile Media Photography.’ This article explains the progression of the camera phone and the evolution of social media app Instagram, which has allowed everyday individuals access to a platform for self expression through photo imagery. The article goes on to explain how the birth of Instagram has enabled ‘data mining’ and tracking of trends that users interact with on an online space and how the platform is now used for marketing and business opportunities. What was once a more artistic concept, photography has now become novel and independent due to camera phones such as iPhones, which today have excelled in technology for their cameras. Individuals can now download editing app and presets that can enhance photos to be published on Instagram for aesthetic ideal and exposure to the masses. Instagram’s affordances are growing, with the limitation on its constraints diminishing year by year. For example, what was once an app simply to upload photos now you have a fully integrated app which allows you to post videos, zoom in on pictures, apply GIFS and presets, upload links, track data analytics and which allows you to explore content globally and combine it with editing apps and link it to other platforms.
Below is a photograph taken by Artistic Insagtram influencer Gab Scanu, which shows the evolution of Instagram and it’s images today.
Who is the practitioner (what is their name?) and when were they practicing?
This photo was taken by Gab Scanu, a well known Instagram photographer with 350k followers. Gab Scanu is known for his photography and videography of landscapes and travel destinations (using a lot of drone footage also). He also has developed ‘presets’ which he has for sale for his followers, who want to attain similar quality photographs to his.
With the photo or video you are examining when was it produced (date)?
This photo was published on January 2nd, 2017. As fore the production of the image it is unknown — Gab Scanu could have taken it earlier and distributed it when it was the right fit for the marketing of his Instagram page (to receive the most exposure and comments and likes).
How was the photo or video authored?
This photograph was taken with use of a drone (SJI Phantom Pro 3) and edited with the use of Adobe Lightroom.
How was the photo or video published?
Gab Scanu published this photograph on his Instagram and on his personal website, after applying presets from Adobe Lightroom to the image.
How was the photo or video distributed?
As mentioned above, this photograph was distributed via the Instagram app and on Gab’s personal website, to his 350k followers for the promotion of his photography and videography. Such distribution of photos have seen Gab work with luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Lexus and Alfa Romeo.