Are " Instagrammers" photographers?

[probedb]

You seem to be dumping everyone who uses instagram in the same boat. Would you say the pro photographers that use it, post their stuff, have stuff published in places like National Geographic are crap just because they happen to post something on instagram?

Initially I didn't like it, but I've found so many good photographers out there, for many it's just another tool. Not everyone on instagram uses the app to take or compose or edit the picture. There are also plenty of apps that allow you to keep the aspect ratio of a photo and put borders where required.

[y2blade]

Now you see where my "PHfotosnobsrus" comment comes from.
Some real pompous asses in here at times

Photography has been a passion of mine since I was child, yet I rarely post anything in this subforum these days............

[MikeGTi]

They're quite clearly not real photographers - They don't even use full frame!!

[RobDickinson]

DeuxCentCinq said:

I invented a word for these people: "Fauxtographers".

Either that was a long time ago or someone got there before you

[rottie102]

probedb said:

You seem to be dumping everyone who uses instagram in the same boat. Would you say the pro photographers that use it, post their stuff, have stuff published in places like National Geographic are crap just because they happen to post something on instagram?

Initially I didn't like it, but I've found so many good photographers out there, for many it's just another tool. Not everyone on instagram uses the app to take or compose or edit the picture. There are also plenty of apps that allow you to keep the aspect ratio of a photo and put borders where required.

Just for the record - I'm not referring to people posting their DSLR photos on Instagram. Only people taking photos with their mobile phones.

[Simpo Two]

MikeGTi said:

They're quite clearly not real photographers - They don't even use full frame!!

Even 'full frame' isn't what it used to be... when 35mm came out it was a miniature format no doubt viewed as Mickey Mouse by the pros.

[MikeGTi]

I prefer wet plate personally.. None of this watered down amateur camera malarkey..

[covboy]

Simpo Two said:

Even 'full frame' isn't what it used to be... when 35mm came out it was a miniature format no doubt viewed as Mickey Mouse by the pros.

I remember the late Victor Blackman (who remembers him ?) say that tis new fangled digital stuff would never take off "

[Drumroll]

Photographer is not a protected title, so any body can call themselves a photographer.

[MikeGTi]

Even though Zack isn't talking about Instagram specifically, he does address some of the 'phosnobbery'

http://youtu.be/PHYidejT3KY?t=8m55s

[DUMBO100]

I see a lot of over- edited and doctored pictures nowadays at least most "snaps" on Instagram are just capturing a moment, I think many photographers are annoyed that their secrets have been laid bare and it seems that anyone can make amazing images and distribute them easily. Yes Instagrammers are photographers

[GravelBen]

Some instagrammers are photographers, if they take an interest in taking photos as a form of art. They might not be very good at it (some probably are), but at least they're interested and trying. Plenty of flickr users post blurry, uncomposed, out of focus, overly filtered rubbish from their phone too and people still call them photographers.

If they're not interested in photography for its own sake and its just a picture for the sake of attention-seeking, then no. Those ones probably don't distinguish between a 'pic' they took on their phone, a 'pic' they found on the internet, and a blank image with possibly amusing words on it.

[DibblyDobbler]

DUMBO100 said:

I think many photographers are annoyed that their secrets have been laid bare

WTF - really ?! I think all that ear flapping has addled your brain Dumbo

[RobDickinson]

DibblyDobbler said:

DUMBO100 said:

I think many photographers are annoyed that their secrets have been laid bare

WTF - really ?! I think all that ear flapping has addled your brain Dumbo

Thats a real big lol.

You could carve a good 'togs 'secrets' 10 meters high in stone and people still wouldnt be able to copy.

[zoom star]

My personal take on it, is if somebody told me they were a photographer,then they make a living out of it, it's their job,it's not a hobby, interest, or pastime.

[The_Jackal]

Also there are just as many people WITH a DSLR that dont have a clue about photography.
Instagram is just a medium it doesn't make a photo good or bad in itself.

[RobbieKB]

Like Rob Dickinson, I've got in to Instagram lately. Whether you're a photo snob or not Instagram is one of the primary ways of self marketing as a photographer these days. A lot of professional 'togs profess to get a large portion of their work through Instagram.

I've started a wiki so we can follow fellow PHers. I've added the PHers I already follow:

Instagram Wiki

[Gilhooligan]

I'd say instagrammers are photographers. I got into photography when I bought my first iPhone and through Instagram, I became interested in photography to the point where I ended up buying a DSLR.

Instagram does get a bad reputation though as it's full of teenagers taking #selfies and posting pictures of their Starbucks coffee but there are a lot of pretty accomplished photographers on there. I follow quite a few, it's good for inspiration and most of them will happily share their camera settings for a particular picture. So, in my case, helps improve your technical ability.

[HorneyMX5]

Mines a mix of camera phone snaps and DSRL shots. I use Afterlight to edit my photos on the phone and InstaSize to post in the original aspect ratio.

http://instagram.com/team_horney_racing/

I consider myself a hobbiest photographer buthave done a bit of paid work over the years.

[Gilhooligan]

HorneyMX5 said:

Mines a mix of camera phone snaps and DSRL shots. I use Afterlight to edit my photos on the phone and InstaSize to post in the original aspect ratio.

http://instagram.com/team_horney_racing/

I consider myself a hobbiest photographer buthave done a bit of paid work over the years.

Already follow you.

There's quite a good mx5 community on there. It's probably quite sad how excited I got when I was featured by the Topmiata account.