The first photograph in history dates from 1826. The picture “View from the Window at Le Gras” still exists, although it doesn’t look very impressive for today’s standards. It’s a humble black and white picture where only a few lines are clearly visible. Yet, this photograph would usher in a new era and transform cultures worldwide. The passion for photography is quite old, and more people seem to fall in love daily. The cupid? Instagram.
Instant Legion
Instagram didn’t invent the concept of a photo-sharing platform, but it took it to a whole new level. Instagram was created in 2010, and platforms like Tumblr and Pinterest were already around. Yet, no other social media platform would be so engaging for photographers, professionals and wannabes. It’s much more interactive than its predecessors, and many professional photographers migrated there when it came up.
More importantly, Instagram made photo-sharing easy. It provides several filters that can make even poor shots look great. This social media didn’t take long to create a legion of amateur photographers sharing their world views. However, the importance of smartphones can’t be neglected. Over 80% of the world’s population owns a smartphone, with cameras of all sorts.
Some users share so many quality photos on their profiles that a new service has been created: the social media photo book maker. It’s possible to make a printable photo book of the best pictures. It’s possible to have it printed, like a regular book. It’s also possible to have it digitally so that users can share it on their blogs or professional pages.
Amateurs and Professionals
Looking for a photographer today is almost like looking for Spartacus; everybody claims to be one. Indeed, professional-like gear has never been so accessible. Flagship smartphones have very powerful cameras. Also, new photo editing software makes pretty much anything possible.
Professional photography goes much deeper than cool tech gadgets, though. A professional photographer must know about lenses, angles, exposure, processing techniques, and more. That’s why some professionals resent the space amateurs have gained in the business.
Still, turning the audience into engaged amateurs only expands the popularity of this art even further. You don’t need years of study and investment to have a lot of fun with a hobby. It turns out that Instagram is one of the best social media platforms to channel this hobby. There, it’s possible to interact with other amateurs and professionals and receive feedback. Moreover, you can show everybody your perspective of the world.
The Last Shot
There are over 1 billion users on Instagram today, and numbers keep soaring. The platform concentrates an unfathomable wealth of pictures. Such wealth never stops increasing, with users posting every day. The platform constantly renovates its options of filters so that users are always engaged. Many photos were taken from untrained (but not unskilled) hands that are true masterpieces, and by the looks of things, the platform isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.
