You’ve probably heard all the jokes and some of the explanations too, including some of the darker versions as well. Nothing dark here! This post may well be a short one, as it is only my own thoughts, feelings and opinions of the following matter. You may well disagree, and that’s fine, this post is about giving thought to your photography and being yourself – allowing your personality to show through your images. Do I have your attention? Good, read on…
We’ve all heard the joke… “Why did the chicken cross the road?”. The answer, as we all know, is “to get to the other side”. Simple enough. There are many, many variations too, including the elephant, but we’ll come to that.
What do I want to write about today then? Today is about social media and you’ll see how the chicken and elephant are involved.
Let me re-iterate once again, before I proceed…anything expressed here are my views, feelings and opinions – you have your own and that’s fine.
Most of us are on social media in some shape and form, to varying degrees, both old and young and for the most part it does impact upon us. We may love it, we may hate it, we may devote a great deal of time towards it or shy away from it altogether (almost), but it is nearly impossible to ignore and it can and does influence our views and thinking. It is all around us, it’s growing and all encompassing, there is no escaping it and for the purpose of this post – I’m only going to write about photography.
Yes, I do have a few social media accounts, I wouldn’t say that I’m very active on them...I have Facebook, Instragram and a Linkedin page. I do also have a Flickr and 500 pix account (both no longer used), a YouTube Channel (almost nothing there) – but I haven’t posted there in years. I have only used Facebook Market Place in the past few years and don’t use Facebook for anything else now. Instagram, I seldom post to and Linkedin I haven’t updated in years and don’t really care to do so. I’m not opposed to social media, but I’m not a social media fan. Enough of the preamble.
Before the internet, my photography viewing, inspiration and ideas came from books, magazines, going to exhibitions, talking with friends, looking at their images, I still enjoy this. With the introduction of the internet, I can do most of this from where I’m sitting now!
I’ll touch on a couple of platforms here…Instagram. I’m sure it has its virtues, but do I really want people to look at my images on a tiny screen for a second, perhaps two. If you have decent, good, great images, are they not worthy of more than a second or two on a tiny screen? I hear that many people have huge followings and are “found” by people or companies for work – terrific! How many likes did I get for that image? I must increase my audience, my followers, I need more likes! This is not for me!
Youtube…I admit, I spend too much time there, it is an interesting place and it has a huge amount of diverse content. Some of it is fantastic and you’ll learn a great deal there on so many subjects. Perhaps watch old videos on so many different things. It is a great place to get help and advice. But as time has gone by the number of “experts” has grown and grown and finding good content is often lost in the wash of ever-growing channels and the increasing number of “experts” on them.
I’ve skimmed over this: there’s so much to talk about…there are so many people offering their presets, so you can get “that look” – that so many people’s images will have! Your images mixed in with millions of others. You won’t learn much this way, you must find your own style.
It’s too easy. The problem here is your diluting your work with the masses. No, I’m not opposed to social media, it has its place, but you need to use it wisely and not let it control or influence you in the wrong way. Don’t worry about not getting “likes”, or about what the individuals or the masses are saying, don’t allow your thinking, and ideas…creativity to be stifled by social media. Keep your individuality, pursue what’s important to you!
That individuality can best be represented in your own website, showing your best work, undiluted by anything or anyone else. Your ideas and creativity deserve it. You’ll find yourself spending days, perhaps weeks – and longer fine tuning your site, giving thought to your galleries, your images, the flow of your work, your audience. It will be a far more satisfying experience than posting on social media.
One can certainly find inspiration on social media, inspiration is all around us, look and learn, decided for yourself what’s right for you. Don’t follow the masses, your work deserves better.
I have rambled on (a bit more than I thought), and it’s probably all come out a bit garbled, but what I have written here today I think you understand where I’m coming from and it’s my hope that you give some thought, as I’m sure you have, to your work.
So why did the elephant cross the road? I’m sure you already know…he was strapped to the chicken’s leg!