Assignment 3 – Report
Name: Nhu Nguyen s3658126
I declare that in submitting all work for this assessment I have read, understood and agree to the content and expectations of the assessment declaration – http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/support-and-facilities/student-support/equitable-learning-services
Photo and Video works:
Report (1046 words)
Instagram is the pinnacle of a visually saturated society, connecting both consumers and producers around the world. The features that Instagram provides, and even the ones that they do not, impacts the way that photos and videos are authored and published in that it forces users to consider the way in which an online presence can affect content, and vice versa. The app presents itself as a way for users create their own content, giving users the ability to capture and edit images through the app. Even though Instagram allows users to use the app to edit photos, there has been a large preference to capture and edit images on other services, and then to upload it to Instagram. Consistency is essential when it comes to attracting attention from potential consumers, Manovich (2016, p. 103) claims that ‘the consistent use of a strong visual style’ is of utmost importance when ‘creating a popular gallery’. Despite the fact that Instagram may not be the most superior app in terms of editing photos and videos, it affords user friendly interactivity in its social media aspect, which also reinforces the idea of network literacy, in that users have to be conscious of their content before authoring and publishing their work.
Despite the fact that Instagram affords editing as an in-app feature, I have noticed that there is a preference (outside of this coursework) for using other image or video editing applications to author visual content. In week 12’s tutorial, we were shown a video that boasted how to use Instagram to its fullest potential—looking at the Instagram stories, specifically. It almost seems like putting more effort in images or videos is synonymous with using other applications to edit said content, and then uploading it to Instagram in order to stand out and create one’s own brand. Instagram, interestingly, also affords users the ability to upload their content, rather than constrict them to only using the app’s inbuilt features. It can be insinuated that using Instagram by itself is an “amateur” method of photography, which I think is evident through the inferior editing features compared to software dedicated to editing images or videos—such as Photoshop or Premiere. The affordances that Instagram provides to its users allows the consumers to create their own content, but also levels the playing field for all authors. The people that use different applications to edit their photos are the ones that stand out, and therefore have a greater ability to attract views and potential consumers.
Consistency is key (Manovich 2016). It should, when ones wants to create and sell a brand, be considered greatly when authoring and publishing content on Instagram. Creating and maintaining a theme is important when using Instagram, as it attracts views and people which increases the chances of gaining followers and establishing a social presence. Through my practice Instagram, I attempted to follow this rule by using the Stinson filter. Each post was edited individually as I posted, as the lighting and colour was dependent on when and where the image was captured. Despite the fact that I was conscious of the fact that I wanted to make my account consistent, it did not work out as well as I had hoped. Perhaps it is because I lowered the filter down to 26%, as I do not find Instagram’s filters to be visually appealing. When I first started, both my week 9 posts were published on the same night, so the editing and consistent and cohesive. My next post was not as lucky, as I struggled with white balancing and editing the image, as I did not use my previous posts as a reference.
However, Instagram remains one of the most prominent apps in any app store—and it probably will not lose it’s position. As well as providing visual editing services, Instagram is widely used and known for its social properties. Instagram affords the connectivity and interactivity of its users through liking, commenting, tagging, and even instant messaging through private messages. As a user, it seems like Instagram invests more of their effort in the social aspects of the app, despite the fact that users are given the ability to edit both images and videos. Due to the app’s priority for socialising, the editor—especially for videos—is lacking in options.
Through my practice of using Instagram during weeks 9 to 11, I have noticed that the social aspects of Instagram provides a sense of community to the users. There appears to be a rule, for people that are not fortunate enough to have gathered a large amassing of followers and likes; the like for like rule. It is simple enough, go through a tag, like images, and soon enough, people will return the favour. My ‘googlyeyes’ post remains my top-liked image (at a measly six) because I followed this rule. Even when using the social aspect of Instagram, deciding what kind of tags to use should be a considered process, as using tags has the potential to draw unwanted attention or the wrong audience; specifically, in week 11, I tagged a post with “#car” and a photographer for races interacted with my post. After I realised my mistake, I removed the tag “#car” so I would not get similar interactions in the future.
Instagram, when leveraged correctly, helps users—both consumers and producers—to understand network literacy. Authoring and publishing content for Instagram fosters a sense of careful consideration when publishing and distributing content on the network. Being network literate means understanding how the network works, and Instagram helps reinforce this idea as users should consider the images they post, in terms of content and colour scheme, even the caption, the tags, their handle, and their brand. One of Instagram constraints that I learned through my practice, is that it does not afford editing an already published image or video—users can edit the caption, or add a location, or input tags, but we cannot edit the visual content once it has been published. If adjustments need to be made, the post has be to be taken down and reposted. Instagram provides the tools in which users can understand network literacy, and a user’s online presence is a representation of how well the user can leverage those tools to reflect their brand and their work.
References
Manovich, L 2016, Instagram and the Contemporary Image, University of San Diego.