Do you use Instagram?

[zoom-zoom]

I just started playing with it last night with a few photos on my iPhone's camera roll. Wow, it's been fun!
I especially like how this one turned-out:
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/250508_4772603397310_1617705730_n.jpg

Here are some more results of my play (http://www.zoomylicious.com/2012/10/instagram-has-jumped-shark.html).

Do you have any to share?

[shootingstar]

I don't have an iPhone. Does it require an iPhone?

[zoom-zoom]

I don't have an iPhone. Does it require an iPhone?

There's a version for Android, too.

[thekarens]

Great pic!

[shootingstar]

Great to take photos. I don't particular care for that type of overall "finish" on the photo on a frequent basis. Occasional liker only.

It reminds me of looking at a 1960's-1970's photo, which maybe that's the point. (I just feel old when I look at it. :)) Or maybe I'm not understanding the different special instant effects on the digital photo.

[zoom-zoom]

Great to take photos. I don't particular care for that type of overall "finish" on the photo on a frequent basis. Occasional liker only.

It reminds me of looking at a 1960's-1970's photo, which maybe that's the point. (I just feel old when I look at it. :)) Or maybe I'm not understanding the different special instant effects on the digital photo.

Yep, often it has that effect. Sometimes I see filters applied to photos and I don't like them at all. I like what it did for this shot, though:
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/65393_4773627542913_398042790_n.jpg

After giving it some Instagram treatment:
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/550491_4773332935548_279630284_n.jpg

[zoom-zoom]

And our Piggy...the guy who's having the poopy problems (vet has just had us start him on special probiotics):
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/485812_4774020032725_364975914_n.jpg

[Crankin]

OK, maybe I am dense, but what does this do? They just look like normal pictures to me.
Why would I use this? I see a few of my friends posting things done with Instagram, but I thought it was just a way to actually take pictures.

[pll]

You take a picture with the app on your smart phone and then you can choose different "filters" to modify the photo. See the pictures with the cats that zoom zoom offered? They are the same picture, except in the second she applied one of the filters. It's an entertaining app, I have to say, and some pictures turn out fun to look at.

[zoom-zoom]

You take a picture with the app on your smart phone and then you can choose different "filters" to modify the photo. See the pictures with the cats that zoom zoom offered? They are the same picture, except in the second she applied one of the filters. It's an entertaining app, I have to say, and some pictures turn out fun to look at.

I like that I can even use it with my preferred app (ProCamera on the iPhone). Then if I have a photo I want to play with I open it in Instagram, since I can open anything from my camera roll.

[Crankin]

Yea, OK, now I get it. I do see the difference, but to me, well, I don't play with anything. A picture is a picture is picture.

[zoom-zoom]

I took a few today during my 31 mile bike ride. These are the ones I liked best:
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/486945_4779520890243_1345959567_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/561944_4779549290953_301277968_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/230800_4779555531109_1999080689_n.jpg

[BikeDutchess]

Love those, great eye! (but of course, with your background!). I was really into Instagram last year, but for some reason less so this year.

[Irulan]

So what's the big deal? It's just quick clicks on a phone app vs loading something into photoshop and doing it that way?

[zoom-zoom]

So what's the big deal? It's just quick clicks on a phone app vs loading something into photoshop and doing it that way?

Pretty much. To get effects like this with PS would require uploading the image files (from phone or camera) onto the computer, opening in PS, converting from RAW (I rarely shoot in JPG if I can avoid it), cropping, applying multiple filters and/or brushes, saving, then uploading online. Instagram takes a minute or two/photo of playing with the filter options. And I can't get the same sorts of results with my iPhone. It renders colors very poorly (my previous HTC Incredible Android phone did a better job, though the rest of that device greatly lacked). Everything has is flat and dull without much contrast. This is the original of that leafy road shot:
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/522213_4780764601335_987097622_n.jpg
Blah.

[Wasp]

Zoom-zoom,
Those are great pics! Your very talented. Any chance you have formal training?

[zoom-zoom]

Zoom-zoom,
Those are great pics! Your very talented. Any chance you have formal training?

Thanks! Yep, I have a BA in Photography (more of a photojournalism bent, as my alma mater's Photography degree program fell under their Communications department, rather than Fine Arts). Things have really changed since I received that degree. Digital was still really new and REALLY expensive. All of my coursework was film-based. Now I don't even own a film camera (which makes me kind of sad, but it's just no longer practical at all, unfortunately).