Week 10: Image Post
How did you author the photo you recorded for upload to Instagram?
The image was taken on my iPhone 6s. For this post, i found managing the exposure to be less dynamic within the Instagram app, so I took the photo just in my regular photos and then put it into the app when I was posting it. By doing this, I could get the right exposure (that I felt was right for the image). In editing, I adjusted the image to straighten it, as it there is a particular focus on lines in the composition. I chose to work with lines and shadows based on chapter three of Instagram and the Contemporary Image by Lev Manovich, which is Instagramism. In the chapter, the ‘kinfolk’ look is explored, which is focused around minimalism and the over-styling of a photograph to suit that aesthetic. I definitely styled the composition, with the bare table home only to the lamp sitting on top, highlighting the inclusion of white or negative space. In the editing, I set the contrast to -73, which is a common editing technique within that aesthetic too, and helped to wash out the image a little bit. I did like the shadows present in the photo, and how that contrasted with the light in the top left of the frame, so I wanted that to stand out too. I also added a purple highlight at +43, because I think it went well with the purple lamp. I also wanted a slight variation to the grid, which had previously been black and white posts. I think overall the image does have a certain ‘feeling’ that a kinfolk-inspired post has, and that is very calm, serene, and almost dream-like. I think the image suits the quote in focus by Donald Norman in a different way than I might usually think of it. What leads me to this thought is the inclusion of the lamp in the daytime, where it is essentially useless. In the design of the image, it does function as a way to create the shadow, and the interest of the photogaph.
How did you publish the photo you recorded for upload to Instagram?
The image has the caption, “~ every shadow, no matter how deep, is threatened by morning light ~”. Personally I find the quote a little cheesy, but it suited the vibe of the image, which is a direction that I have found that overtakes a lot of content on Instagram today. There were no hashtags, which was also a feature described in the Manovich chapter, as it would then place the image in a ‘defined’ or ‘labeled’ space. I also found the geotag ‘daydream’, with crusive writing, obviously not an actual place but it does further suit the aesthetic I was going for.
How did you distribute the photo you published on Instagram to other social media services?
The image was shared to Twitter. On Twitter, I shared after posting the image, which allowed me to change the caption. I instead said, “New post on Instagram”, which keeps Instagram as the main platform and source of the image. The aim in this case would be to draw an audience to that platform, rather than work with the user interaction on Twitter alone. This would be suitable if a creator worked mainly on Instagram, because it keeps the main audience on that platform. Also after posting, I got the option to share to Pinterest. I found this a suitable platform because it is an image-focused space. I created a new board, ‘minimalism’, and posted the image and quote (as these were the options I was given). I think posting to this platform gives a different sort of engagement, and the image becomes more networked than a space like Twitter. I think this is because it can be shared and enjoyed more for its aesthetic, and it is not automatically attached to the initial Instagram post.
Week 10: Video Post
How did you author the video you recorded for upload to Instagram?
The video shot on my iPhone 6s, and taken within the Instagram app. I removed the sound, like in previous posts, to keep the focus on the visual. I also added the Lark filter, which I think suited the subject, and this was at 51%. I chose this as a subject because it is a decoration that I have seen at my parents house for years, and I have always questioned it’s design. Were the two pieces created separately, or did they come together? I filmed it in a way that questioned this, with the two separate pieces shown. It was also filmed in a way to show the whole design of the piece. I wanted to use a white background, but did not have an appropriate space, so I instead filmed it on a dark leather chair – this did give me a consistent surface for the different angles seen in the video. Overall, I think it suits the quote by Donald Norman, as the design of the piece itself is questioned. I think over this time reflecting, and the years that I have spent looking at it, I believe it is good design as an art piece, if both elements are together. Separately, they do not work.
How did you publish the video you recorded for upload to Instagram?
I added the caption, ‘What came first…’ with a chicken emoji. This alludes to the chicken and the egg question, which I think is suitable given my thoughts to the piece itself. I like using emojis because they encapsulate the content of the image nicely, and in this case it makes clear what the quote is referring to, too. I did not use hashtags similarly to the image, because I wanted to keep in line with the ‘undefined’ element of minimalist posting. I do not think this works if a user wants their work to be seen, however.
How did you distribute the video you published on Instagram to other social media services?
The video was shared to both Twitter and Tumblr. On twitter, I utilised the function from the image this week, and just captioned it without the emoji, as I do not believe it transfers across platforms well. On tumblr, I did not think it worked for the aesthetic of common posts there, but I do not know if it would have worked anywhere outside of Instagram.
