my love affair with instagram
I have to admit, I wasn't an early adopter to Instagram (@michellemaddensmith)....I didn't quite get it at first in part because it didn't have a web interface, and I REALLY didn't want to have to maintain an additional social media channel.
But I recently went back through all my photos and discovered that I've been using it for a year now...my first photo was on 7 March 2011 and naturally it was of little eli...(thank you to those of you who liked my first ever pic!!)
It is because of all of you that I was encouraged..because who doesn't love that kind of instant gratification? it was everything I liked about Hipstamatic (square format, vintage looking filters) but then it automatically sent the photos to your friends (well, at least the ones that followed you).
Within a few weeks I told my father-in-love he HAD to use it. He's a National Geographic photographer (@davidalanharvey) and he's now actually quite addicted! We are currently having a friendly competition to see who can post the coolest photo that gets the most likes on our images (percentage-wise of course since he has something like a gazillion followes). I might actually be winning!
And now the whole family is on Instagram...16 of us (from our youngest 17-year old Maria all the way to our 92-year-old matriarch Teetoo). Mostly I'm seeing pictures of cats, but it is such a great way to feel connected and to see their faces, homes, lives...warms my heart.
There is so much FUN stuff connected with Instagram. Check out Webstagram, Stickygram and Prinstagram if you want to see some fun things you can do with your pics!
Anyway, I didn't mean for this to be a big plug for Instagram...I just enjoy it so much and have had fun finding out all the ways you can play with it.
The real thing for me is not only has it made me a better photographer, but it has helped me to notice the life i've created...it's helped me to see my life and appreciate how much goodness I have around me.
Most often the photos I post are moments when I am absolutely content, blissed out, even perhaps in awe of the beauty around me...moments when I feel lucky to be alive.
And that to me is the coolest part of all...
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So Jen is cooking up an Instagram hashtag project of our own for the weekend...check back here tomorrow for Meet me at the Dock to see what it is!
xo*m
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Oh boy .. I've been hooked for awhile too. I have about 2000 pics on there @karendel Most of the sky, trees, puppy and my everday life. I love sharing and viewing snap shots into everyone's day. For me it's almost like a visual diary. LOVE IT!!
The funny thing was last year I was using it at Squam in Sept and some of my instagram friends were there too, and we met up. It was also great to see everyone's perspective of the the same thing.
If you are taking participants for the hashtag project you know i'd love to be apart of it!
xoxoxo
Karen
deldino
Im an instagram fan as well... It doesn't seem as hectic or busy as other forms of social media. It's simple, a photo, a few words. That's it...
I love seeing what my friends and family are up to during the day :)
xo
jen
I love it too! So fun!!!
LOVE IT .... it's funny how i barely use my actual camera anymore!
i recently downloaded the app "MagicHour" which is compatible with Instagram ... haven't had a chance to mess with it yet but may be something to check out!
oxox
k
I love IG! It has been an amazing creative outlet for me. When I am caught up in my hectic life it helps me to bring creativity in when there otherwise wouldn't be any time.
YES!! i am totally digging on this. what would my travels be without instagram to document it? ......so happy i get to see a simplified version on instagram of what my loved ones' day is like.
oh Michelle-- I LOVE this-- I didn't really get it but now, seeing how your whole family shares it-- it's like the mojo of Friday nights of old (from a different era) of sharing slides in the living room after dinner .. . SO cool Thank you for sharing this passion .. . it feeds me.
right there with all of you...a huge fan as well! i'm not much for social media, but i love sharing my pics and get so much inspiration from the people i am following. little bits of beauty, fun, or whimsy throughout my day. i started using IG at the beginning of this year, as part of my personal challenge of 1 photo/day. it's turned into so much more for me...
I am just now getting into it for the potential it holds-getting me back to seeing beauty and feeling gratitude in my every day. xo