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Instagram Photography -Disadvantage into Advantage

Yeah, you've got a phone, but no camera. So what? Don't let it limit your potential. Let's explore how to use Instagram to edit your phone photography. The spectrum of photography is SO vast, phones seem to be making their way into quality photography equipment everyday, anyway. Work with what you have, not with what you don't have.

By Haley BramwellPublished 3 years ago 2 min read
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Pho-tog-ra-phy, noun - The art or practice of taking and processing photographs / Oxford Dictionary.

You don't need a Nikon or a Blackmagic DSLR to be able to take and process photographs.

Your phone, your local pharmacy's throw away cameras, that digital camera you got when you were 9;

All of these things are viable use of photography equipment for any photographer.

I have been taking pictures since I was 9 years old. My thought process when I was 9?

It was cool.

Yeah, I was right, it's pretty damn cool. Capturing a moment on a piece of paper, or onto the movie techno screen, is pretty insane.

It sure caught my curiosity.

As I got older, I became more worried with the quality of my equipment, and started feeding myself excuses on how and where to give up.

Good thing my conscience wasn't having it.

I have been uploading photography onto the social network, Instagram.com, for 6+ years.

Which has become a dumping ground for cancelled celebrities, new talent, and TikTok models.

But, that's a different story.

Instagram.com is also an awesome tool for editing and getting your content out into the world.

Here's my editing and uploading process through Instagram.com:

Start off by downloading the Instagram Application in your Apple or Google Play store. Make an account with a username you feel comfortable sticking with throughout your photography career.

Secondly, start with a non cropped, unedited photo that you believe can show more beauty than it already has. Maybe a random picture of the sky that you thought was pretty. Anything you find beauty in.

Once you open up the Instagram App, you'll be able to see a little [ + ] button in the corner. Press that, so that you can upload your picture, and begin the editing process.

Scroll through your gallery until you find the photo that you took and wish to edit. Select the picture, and then in the upper right hand corner, press the "Next" arrow.

By using the "rule of thirds" even out the picture that you selected. Find a common ground where you want the middle of the picture to be, and what you find most "even" with the two lines that come down the center. I zoomed in by pinching the screen, and moving the picture with my fingers. I saw that there were two slightly bigger trees in the center of the photo. I used them as a placard for the most aesthetically pleasing 'cropping' of the photo.

"The rule of thirds describes a basic compositional structure of a photograph. Taking any image, you can split it into 9 segments by using 3 vertical and 3 horizontal lines. The rule of thirds involves splitting an image up into 9 segments." www.naturettl.com

Now, you can choose a filter. These filters (by scrolling with your finger, right to left) can assist you in the different aspects that you want to bring out of the photo. Colors, tones, brightness, etc. Which you'll be able to adjust after choosing a filter, within the editing portion.

You don't have to choose a filter, it's completely up to you. I prefer to use a filter, and then edit from there. It's all preference at this point. What colors please you, what you believe will enhance the photo the best, or even what brings out the personality of the photo. It's all up to you, and how you want others to perceive it.

At this point, you should be able to edit the different aspects of the photo. For example, the Contrast, which helps depict which parts of the image you would like brighter or darker. This really helps with setting the tone. It helps me to make sure that my brightness is turned all the way up on my phone before making any edits. It's a good base point for you to start off with, and know what you're actually working with when it comes to the photo.

There are tons of options to choose from at this point. Brightness, structure, saturation, etc. It all comes with practice in finding what works best for you. You're not going to ruin the photo when you adjust all the way up or down, it's not completely 'done' until you publish. You can always go back and edit.

Instagram is a great start, a slow dip into the photography realm. You can explore other photography by using hashtags (#'s) and the Explore page within the Instagram App. #photographer #StartPhotographingNow

At the end, you'll be able to display your masterpiece for all to see. Be proud, be humble, and share your expressions.

Here are some examples of my before Instagram editing, and after Instagram editing:

WELL, now, that wasn't so hard was it?

Photography is a wide spectrum of ups and downs, colors, yes or no's, and perseverance. If you set your mind to it, you can create beautiful art. Photography is an art, like anything else. Embrace the moment you are in, and photograph the things you find beautiful, irregardless of you only having a phone, or free editing software.

If you're not photographing, then who is?

how to
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About the Creator

Haley Bramwell

Keep writing, it's a form of expression, that NOBODY can take from you.

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