Should you feature a photo on a news website that’s been filtered in Instagram? This discussion and demo addresses the many ways in which the rise of social photography is affecting creative expression and what place that has in news publishing and journalism. Join two of the most popular photographers in the Instagram community as they demonstrate how to build images so you can do it, too.
Media companies have some incredibly low-hanging fruit in Instagram and other social communities — be where your readers and viewers are.
“Why wouldn’t I as any media organization want to go into that crowd of people and say ‘Hey, I’m here!’” -@koci #ONA12 twitter.com/AmyBartner/sta…
— Amy Bartner (@AmyBartner) September 21, 2012
“No one complains about black and white, which is the ultimate filter and has been part of photojournalism for years.” – @koci #ONA12
— Katy Anderson (@KatyAnderson) September 21, 2012
The debate about whether adding an Instagram filter to a photo is the same as Photoshopping/altering has started. Claire says it is the same, Richard disagrees.
People talking about payoff during @koci talk on IG.My answer:I simply enjoy sharing and seeing photos. It’s about communication. #ona12
— Nancy Andrews (@NancyAndrews) September 21, 2012
The main presentation is over — taking questions now. Claire O’Neill asks what make someone a professional, and says that these social tools might not “make everyone a Jimi Hendrix”, but it might make them all a Johnny Cash — different, but no less worthy.
Richard’s response is that he only considers himself a professional — and it’s hard for him — because he got paid to take photos.
Any questions that relate to mobile photography? Instagram? Email Richard Koci Hernandez at koci@berkeley.edu.
Three simple tips for building a social photography audience:
3social photography tips by @koci: post 1 image, like 2, comment on 3 #ona12 #nofilter “Hey, look at you” is better than “hey, look at me”
— Tim Currie (@tscurrie) September 21, 2012
“Love your experiments, as you would an ugly child,” Richard said.
More tips on mobile photography: Avoid zooming on the iPhone if at all possible.
Hipstamatic secrets: Double tap viewfinder for full screen, hold down volume + for continuous shooting. (2nd one is cool!) #ONA12
— Jeremy Littau (@JeremyLittau) September 21, 2012
ProCamera, Hipstamatic, Filterstorm — delete your iPhone camera app and download one of those, Richard says.
Mobile photography 101: Ditch the default camera app. You cannot separate the exposure and focus and use them independently #nofilter #ONA12
— Jennifer Gaie Hellum (@jghellum) September 21, 2012
“don’t think, just shoot.”Koci Hernandez on mobile photography.#ONA12
— Jonathan Forsythe (@jforsythe23) September 21, 2012
Richard maintains that the photographer — the best photographer — will remain just that, regardless of how technology changes.
“What survives technological change is your (a photographer’s) eye, your vision.” – Koci Hernandez, re #Instagram #ONA12
— David Beard (@dabeard) September 21, 2012
The photojournalism debate shouldn’t be about the filter or how it was shot, but the ethics of the photo, Richard said.
Dorothea Lange’s famous photo, under filter. #ona12 twitter.com/AmyBartner/sta…
— Amy Bartner (@AmyBartner) September 21, 2012
“Photojournalism needs to mature beyond the filter” @koci – #nofilter #ONA12
— Dave Earley (@earleyedition) September 21, 2012
Using a filter on social photography doesn’t take away from the meaning of the image, Richard said.
“people who say using filters on Instagram is cheating is like saying everyone who got to this conference by flying is cheating” – #ONA12
— gregotto (@gregotto) September 21, 2012
Is this a controversial feeling? Richard felt like it might be when he presented it.
@koci #nofilter #ona12 instagr.am/p/P2kl3atleJ/
— David B (@Inkaman) September 21, 2012
UC Berkeley’s @koci: 50% of the images posted to Instagram don’t have a filter applied. #ONA12#nofilter
— Tim Currie (@tscurrie) September 21, 2012
Photographers have a fear that the popularity of Instagram now means everyone is/can be a photographer — but Richard says the best will always rise to the top. “You can’t put lipstick on a pig. A bad photograph is still a bad photograph.”
just because one has access to guitar doesn’t mean everyone is a jimi hendrix. @koci believes cream always rises to top. #nofilter #ona12
— Toni Tabora-Roberts (@ttr_the_engager) September 21, 2012
Richard Koci Hernandez says you can take a photo on your expensive camera and then Instagram it later. You don’t just have to shoot with your phone! Not only that, but they don’t have to all be square.
“There’s a way to use this platform to your advantage.”
#ona12 “this should be called ‘yes, filter, not ‘no filter’” Richard Koci Hernandez at ONA seminar on social photography
— Beatrice Motamedi (@writergirl) September 21, 2012
#ona12 session on social photography #nofilter instagr.am/p/P2jHfNSgkd/
— Adrienne LB (@AdrienneLB) September 21, 2012
That’s it for #NOFILTER! They could’ve answered questions and continued the debate all day.