Instagram - Good or Bad?

Image credited to Instagram

A few months ago I joined in on a heated discussion of the virtues and woes of Instagram when a friend posted comments of their disdain for the popular app. This discussion occurred prior to the recent controversy of their recent T&C update. The discussion was amongst consumers and pro photographers discussing whether Instagram rocks or sucks. By the end of the discussion, there was no consensus on the issue.

The Instagram product allows one to apply edits to their photos in the form of filters, borders, color variants, etc. with their smart phone. The results are often photos that mimic lomography and lo-fi cameras of decades ago. Some argue that people are attempting to recreate a reality that doesn't exist with vintage filters. I've heard some say that the filters ruin otherwise good photos. Being that there are two sides to every story, I've also heard people say that the filters make it easy for them to personalize photos with effects they wouldn't otherwise have the tools or skill to use.

How one judges Instagramized photos is a matter of personal opinion. However, critics should tread lightly as just about every commercial image we view has been edited to some extent, thereby altering reality. You've probably seen some of the bombshell stories on just how airbrushed most models are in commercial photography.

While I'd probably never utilize their filters to adjust one of my fine art photos or include Instagram as part of my professional workflow, they have their place for kitsching up a photo of a Starbucks cup to post on Facebook.

While I don't believe that your photo will become the next face of a brand without your knowledge or compensation, there is some gray area created by the most recent T&C. That gray area should be enough for any professional photographer to delete their account for no other reason than the fear that their copyrights may not be honored or respected.

Is Instagram good? Yes. Is Instagram bad? Yes. Its all a matter of opinion. If you think you're being unique and expressing yourself, well I suppose that's your opinion but you're only as unique as everyone else who uses the same app as you.