Instagram and the Perpetuation of the “Commonplace Photo”

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by

Trent
in

Instagram and the Perpetuation of the “Commonplace Photo” – PhotoShelter Blog

The New York Times’ James Estrin recently penned an article about the “commonplace photo” where he opined on how the photos of the mundane, like our lunch, is having a significant effect on “serious” photography as well as culture at large. “A photograph

via PhotoShelter Blog: http://blog.photoshelter.com/2012/09/instagram-and-the-perpetuation-of-the-commonplace-photo/

thinking more about the value of what I call “social photography,” and what I’ve concluded is that some of it is not photography at all. Let me explain by breaking down categories of social photography that I’ve observed in my Instagram feed:

Comfort images (food, pets, familiar places, sunsets)
MLIBTY (“My Life Is Better Than Yours”)
Novelty (graffiti, a tiny ice cream cone)
Serious (images by pros that showcase their vision and skill)