Why do "real" photographers hate instagram?

[ptl2010]

Why do "real" photographers dislike Instagram?

Here's my view:

I just started messing with it, and honestly, I don't see what the big deal is. Yes some of the filters are over the top, and I wish there was a way I could dial in exactly how much is applied, but other than that there's not really anything wrong with it. I'm not really familiar with the user base, and haven't looked at any other accounts or anything, but I used it this past weekend and found that all it really did was make me want to take more photos and focus on my subject and composition to make things interesting since there's not much else to it. I think using Instagram (or any camera phone/app) is a great way to practice, since you can't really worry about the technical aspects, you can focus on taking the picture.

I've seen a lot of people say it takes the skill and effort out of photography. How? Applying a filter doesn't make up for being able to compose an interesting subject in a compelling way, it just makes a bad image look old. Then again some of those filters can take a great image and make it look better.

I think Instagram (or something similar) could be very useful in the photography community. With everyone going around with the notion that you need a huge kit to be any good at photography, a photo sharing site where equipment is irrelevant could bring photography back to what it should be all about, taking pictures. No one could argue that you're picture sucks because you used the kit lens or an outdated camera, the only thing they could talk about is what's more important, your composition, subject, and lighting. It would be a great place for people to start, and for experience people to keep there skills up to date and see what other photographers are doing.

 

[bhop]

Because:

 

[Derrel]

I am quite a traditionalist, and I LIKE Instagram. MY FAVORITE part about it is the default SQUARE FORMAT. That to me is the coolest thing...the square format!!!! Plus, it resides on my iPhone 4's camera...which I have with me almost always, and which has a very modern, non-threatening profile. People react mostly favorably to smart phones these days, less so to cameras. In decent light, the iPhone 4 and the other higher-end smart phones have pretty decent camera performance!

What the square format does for me is it takes me BACK to my roots, which had a lot of square-format shooting (albeit on old, doggy 6x6 low-end TLR cameras) with a ONE-lens camera...just a simple premise: me, one lens, and the world. To me, that's the thing about Instagram on iPhone...there is no telephoto...you must get closer! There is no powerful,powerful flash; there is no high-speed sequential shooting. It's pure photography. You. The one-lens camera. The world. Of course, the filter effects are pretty broad, so the images are not just plain, boring, as-shot results. So there *is* a modern aspect to Instagram as well.

 

[snowbear]

I haven't used it (I don't have a smart phone) but it's intended purpose is not professional level photography. It's meant for sharing photos and having fun.
From their FAQs:

What is Instagram?

Instagram is a fun and quirky way to share your life with friends through a series of pictures. Snap a photo with your mobile phone, then choose a filter to transform the image into a memory to keep around forever. We're building Instagram to allow you to experience moments in your friends' lives through pictures as they happen. We imagine a world more connected through photos.

 

[fjrabon]

Zack Arias loves it, you can usually count on at least a couple from him per day. Derrel has stated his love above. I'm sure there are many other professionals who like it a lot.

I like it, though I am new to it, and thus sometimes forget about it. I like the challenge of using the iPhone, with a square format, and having to come up with something cool. I like seeing what my friends are up to without much commentary, just photos. It's sorta like facebook, but without as much idiocy and pictures. Sure, some are bad, but have you seen my uncle larry's political rants on facebook? I'll take an overprocessed filtered image of somebody's food over that any day.

 

[sm4him]

I have no idea why "real" photographers hate it. If I become one of those, I'll let you know.

I hate it because almost all the pictures I see produced by it, look exactly the pictures I took with my old Instamatics--I spent years trying to get my pictures to STOP looking like that! :lmao:

Granted, I really haven't explored it--what I know of it is from the photos I see all my young (and a few not-so-young, but not skilled at photography) friends post on FB.

I'm about to dragged into the Instagram world anyway, because I'm the social media manager where I work (along with the editor, graphic designer, information specialist, website manager, digital signage designer and photographer...) and I'm developing a plan to get passengers using it to promote our public transit system.

 

[kathyt]

I LOVE my iPad and I love me some Instagram! It is fun and playful especially if you have any children that you want to capture a cute moment or two.

 

[mjhoward]

maybe for the same reason that a real driver prefers a manual transmission?

 

[pixmedic]

maybe for the same reason that a real driver prefers a manual transmission?

that's why my mustang is manual. might as well throw a sports car away if its automatic.
or a Jeep...only hipsters and yuppies drive automatic wranglers.

 

[snowbear]

maybe for the same reason that a real driver prefers a manual transmission?

only hipsters and yuppies drive automatic wranglers.

Mall crawlers & pavement princes/princesses.

 

[fjrabon]

maybe for the same reason that a real driver prefers a manual transmission?

Or the same reason real photographers only use manual focus lenses?

 

[pixmedic]

maybe for the same reason that a real driver prefers a manual transmission?

Or the same reason real photographers only use manual focus lenses?

AND always use the rule of thirds!
don't forget portrait orientation.

 

[tirediron]

maybe for the same reason that a real driver prefers a manual transmission?

that's why my mustang is manual. might as well throw a sports car away if its automatic.
or a Jeep...only hipsters and yuppies drive automatic wranglers.

Jeeps were made by Willys-Overland.

 

[Derrel]

REAL photographers still use Speed Graphics and Crown Graphics !!! And shoot all their flash photos with flashbulbs!!!

 

[tirediron]

I'd like to think that I am a 'real' photographer and I don't hate Instagram, in fact, it has no emotional impact on my life whatsoever. I could not care less about it. I think a lot of the "issues" people have with Instagram and similar applications is that many (most?) users simply push buttons and try different effects. They have no vision for the end result, and make no effort toward a defined goal. Is that bad? I don't see it as good, but I'm hard pressed to call it 'bad'. I just know that it's not for me.