7 Quick Takes Friday

1.
Are you on Instagram?  What are your thoughts on it?  I love love love it, so much so that Ken has started upping his, "Boy, I'm super glad we bought you that expensive camera just for your to spend all your time taking pictures on your not-phone" comment frequency (my phone is Ken's old one.  It doesn't work as an actual phone, just a camera and game device.  And that's fine with me, since I hate phones. But I love pictures.)


I think it's the lack of pressure I associate with Instagram.  When I use my real camera, I'm always so aware that I need to make full use of aperture, white balance, depth of field, blah blah blah in order to justify the expense of the camera.  Since I'm a really slow learner, by the time I've gotten all the settings juuuuust so, the moment's past and/or I come up with crappy pictures.  But with Instagram, point, shoot, slap on a filter, and everything looks like an Anthropologie store.

(that blouse is $200, but the atmosphere is free!)

2.
I love people's Instahandles.  Some of them are very straightforward, variations on the person's name type of deals.  Others, like mine (clandonaldson) are equally straightforward.  My favorites are the ones that make me crack up every time I see it.  For example, a certain blogger/speaker/writer always has comments on her pictures by someone named "bootyclap".  I can't help it- that is the funniest Instahandle I've ever seen.  "Bootyclap" has now made its way into our family lexicon- generally to describe a particularly loud fart, but it's been pressed into service in other situations, too.
Bootyclap is a very versatile word, it turns out.


3.
To continue my Instagram theme I seem to have started, I'd like to discuss Hipstamatic.  Another photo app that lets you turn mundane things like a Home Depot parking lot into ridiculously moody scenes straight out of a film noir.  Observe:

(Suburban Storm, a study in mood by C. Donaldson)

4.
Diptic is another photo app I like.  And anyone who has me in their feed likes it too, since it spares them the agony of scrolling through two dozen distinct pictures detailing the fascinating process of mohawk maintenance,  because I can sum it up nicely on one montage, like this:

(let's ignore the third possibility, "Hey Cari, how about you settle 'er on down and NOT find it necessary to document every moment of your extremely unthrilling life?"  That sounds like a horrible idea)


5.
But, since the subject's been broached, let's deal with it head on: why Instagram?  Do we need one more outlet to talk about our lives, really?
Yes.  We do.
My thoughts, briefly:
In a lot of cases, Instagram is an extension of blogs I follow.  It's like the special features DVD- providing me with entertaining extra information about the narrative that is your written work.  In other cases, Instagram lets me see people that I don't get to see often:

(this is my godmother.  Isn't she beautiful?  Do you know that last time I got to see her in person?  Yeah, me either.  But thanks to my mom's Instagram feed, I get to see her in pictures.  And now you do, too. )


6.
Don't forget Webstagram-  a way to check your feed even when your phone is totally dead.  Plus, it makes the pictures big enough for people with failing eyesight (like me) to see them.  However, I don't recommend following Webstagram's picture feed.  Their "Photo of the Day" is lame and the people who comment on it are even more so.  In fact, I'm going to unfollow them right now.
Things that will also get me to unfollow an Instagrammer- posting pictures of drug use, nudity, and/or 40 self-portraits.  In a row.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm a fan of the self-portrait, but I dunno, space them out with a picture of your new pedicure or something.

(thanks to Instagram, my Target hat now looks like I got it at Anthropologie)

7.
I will purposely follow companies on Instagram.  Think about that.  Free advertising, tailor made for your target demographic.  And since you can comment on Instagram, you get constant, instant consumer feedback.  I'm no ad exec., but that seems like a pretty sweet deal to me.  So Magic Hat, Mod Cloth, and (of course) Anthropologie, you've got my undivided attention.  For, like, 12 seconds before I scroll on down to the next picture in my feed.


Annnnnd there you go- seven quick takes all about Instagram.  Which, if you're on, let me know.  I'd love to follow you.


Unless you've just posted 40 self portraits in a row.


and go see the Jenmeister for more.