by Grryo Community | Jan 15, 2014 | The Temples
In October 2011, Instagram changed the world, for iPhone users that is. Initially the app was released on the iOS platform only for several reasons. Technically speaking, the camera on the iPhone was superior to that of other mobile devices. Additionally, the iPhone demographic worked well with the original target audience of Instagram. With a population of 30 million, the app was clearly not going anywhere soon.
Instagram created a culture of mobile photographers and mobile device manufacturers recognized how important it was to improve the camera on their devices. New phones started to come out with some pretty incredible cameras. So, in March 2012, Instagram decided to shake things up and bring the app to the Android market. This caused quite the uproar with the iPhone users due to the exclusivity of the app, but the Android users were quickly accepted.
Now, with over 150 million users worldwide, Instagram adds yet another platform to its offering; Windows Phones. This is most likely to the incredible cameras that Windows brought to the market, namely the Nokia Lumia 920 and the more recent Lumia 1020. The Lumia 1020 has a 41 megapixel camera on it. With that technology available, it was no question that Instagram had to bring its popular app to this platform.
The app, currently called Instagram Beta, is a work in progress. The Windows platform is totally different than any other operating system out there. There had to be major design modifications made to the app in order to make the experience seamless for Windows Phone users. But for those of us who have used Instagram for years, the experience is pretty much the same. But there are some major differences. Below are side-by-side comparisons of the different platforms. (L to R – iOS 7, Android, Windows
It’s obvious that Instagram was a major catalyst in technological advances for mobile photography. And as the technology gets better and better, I’m sure that Instagram will continue to keep up and bring us new and exciting updates. But, Instagram and all of this technology counts on creative individuals who believe in the platform and have fun. So regardless of the advances, keep posting good content, engage with others keep pushing the limits and continue creating demand for something new and exciting.
by Grryo Community | Oct 11, 2013 | The Temples
Alex Bittner, Skydiving Photographer
In June of 2013, I had the opportunity to do my first jump out of a plane. That was just the beginning of my addiction to the sport of skydiving and countless weekends of training. From day one, I had the privilege of meeting Alex Bittner, a skydiving photographer. He shot my first jump and we immediately became friends. Since then, I’ve become a licensed skydiver and have also gained a passion for the sport. In this sport, it’s important to pick a specialty that you want to focus on and train hard. For Alex, that specialty was photography. I recently sat down with Alex to discuss this rare style of photography.
K: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
A: My name is Alex Bittner and I currently live in Ottawa, IL. I am originally from the Daytona Beach area and started jumping in Deland, FL in 2007. So far I have made 1800 skydives, of which roughly 1400 have included camera work. My wife, Jess, and I both enjoy jumping and traveling together and intend to forever or until we die, whichever comes first.
K: How long have you been photographing this sport?
A: I didn’t really start flying camera until the spring of 2010. My first camera jumps were filming a novice 4-way team so that I could learn my systems, equipment, and techniques with a fixed group and not much pressure.
K: Did you have an interest in photography before getting into skydiving photography?
A: Yes, I would call myself an amateur photographer from the age of 15 on. I took photography classes in high school and often shot my friends during various action sports. I also did a backpacking trip through much of Western Europe and developed a taste for architectural photography.
K: What made you want to get into shooting this sport?
A: I honestly started flying camera because it is a good way to get free jumps and work on canopy skills. My season of amateur 4-way led to a full-time slot on the second-best team in the country which meant 500+ free training jumps each season. It also opened the doors for many other paid gigs like record jumps and event photography. I look up to people like Norman Kent, Niklas Daniel, and Rolf Kuratle as my role models in the sport.
K: Obviously this is a passion for you. What are the requirements to be a photographer in this sport?
A: To be a skydiving photographer you have to start by becoming a skydiver, obviously. Once you are a licensed jumper, the United States Parachute Association requires a minimum of 200 jumps before you can wear a camera in freefall, including small cameras like GoPros.
K: What type of equipment do you use to shoot with?
A: I jump with a Sony CX-100 as my primary video camera, a Canon Rebel T2i for stills, and a GoPro Hero 3 Black for fun.
K: What is your favorite shot you’ve taken and why?
A: My favorite skydiving photo so far was one I took of accomplished aerial photographer Norman Kent as he exited a SkyVan with a RED camera on his helmet during 66-ways last summer. (A 66-way is when 66 people join together in freefall in a formation.) Norman is a personal friend and mentor and it was super cool to capture him in his element.
K: If someone is interested in photography in this sport, how can they get started?
A: Getting into skydiving is overwhelming enough as it is. Take your time and become a good, not just proficient, body and canopy pilot before you mess around with cameras on your helmet. I like to think that people should be able to concentrate on the shot and let the parts like getting to the group, getting away from the group, and surviving happen naturally. If you’re still learning those skills, be patient. Strive to be an old skydiver, not a bold one.
K: How risky is it to wear the gear on your helmet?
A: Flying a camera can increase the already risky activity of skydiving in many ways. First of all, it is a huge distraction. There is already so much to think about just to have a safe and successful jump; adding the elements of framing and flying good video or taking stills can take away from your ability to make good, safe judgment calls in the air. Cameras on helmets also add a risky element to parachute deployments. More weight on your head can result in hard openings and injury from them. A careless mounting system can result in snag hazards for lines during the deployment sequence.
K: Thanks so much for taking the time to do this interview. Do you have any final thoughts you’d like to share?
A: In our sport, if it didn’t happen on camera then it didn’t happen. I like to capture moments for my friends to hold onto forever.
Norman Kent w/ the helmet cam
This is me! Alex jumped with me on my graduation jump and this is his shot.
Editors note: The photos in the interview were not taken on a mobile device
by Grryo Community | Jul 19, 2013 | The Temples
From Your Phone to Your Wall – A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Instacanvas by Dave T
If you’ve been on Instagram long enough, then you’re probably familiar with a company called Instacanvas. They pioneered the concept of turning your everyday photos into works of art, while giving Instagram users the chance to make a little extra cash by opening their own online store. The founders, Matt Munson, Todd Emaus and Kevin Freemon started with an idea which has quickly become one of the fastest-growing startups in Southern California. They have also added many new product offerings to highlight photographers’ works.
I recently had the privilege to interview the members of this incredible team.
K: What is the main mission of Instacanvas?
IC: Instacanvas is a tool for the world to discover amazing art and photography, with the option of turning those discoveries into beautiful pieces of art by printing them onto a variety of amazing products. That also makes it a place for artists and photographers to express themselves to the world and gain exposure for their work. –Meaghan Emery, Community Manager (@meagems)
K: How did Instacanvas begin?
IC: We were seeing imagery and artwork in our digital lives that was far more interesting that what was on our walls. We were interested in bringing the best of our digital lives into our physical lives. We thought other people might like that idea too. –Matt Munson, CEO and Co-Founder (@mattmuns)
K: What have been the biggest challenges faced?
IC: Scaling from zero to millions of users in less than a year is not without challenges. We’re really fortunate with the caliber of engineers we’ve been able to attract to the mission. -Matt
K: How can Instacanvas benefit photographers?
IC: Mobile photography has really democratized creativity by making photography itself an incredibly accessible artform. We strive to democratize and foster that notion further by giving artists an even field to play on. On Instacanvas, you’re not limited to followers or micro-sized networks because our site framework allows your photos to be discovered by anyone who visits the homepage. On top of that, photographers can easily get inspired by the work of others here because the discovery process is really intuitive. Of course, there’s also the 20% commission you get when someone buys your pieces! -Meaghan
K: What tips do you have for photographers to promote their gallery?
IC: Having a successful gallery really comes down to constantly honing in on your skills. We admire our artists for constantly growing and improving because we’re simultaneously trying to do that as a company and give more back to them in turn. As your work progresses and you start really defining your voice, it’s important to organize your gallery for maximum impact, almost like a storefront. Promoting your photos with links back to them on any of your social networks is definitely powerful, as is making sure that all of your photos are tagged and categorized properly on Instacanvas itself. There’s really no end to the amount of people in the world who love beautiful art and photos, so the possibilities are truly endless when it comes to promoting. -Meaghan
K: What makes Instacanvas “special”?
IC: Our users come first. Every single feature we build is with you in mind, and if it doesn’t work, we are determined to find out what will. Your success is synonymous with ours, and we’ll constantly ask for your feedback in order to ensure it. Also, we are freaks when it comes to quality– you’d be hard pressed to find photo products on the market that are as beautiful as ours. -Meaghan
K: What new things can we expect from Instacanvas?
IC: We’ve put together one of the top mobile development teams in the country, so stay tuned for some exciting developments on the mobile app front. -Matt
Thanks to Instacanvas for taking the time to do this interview. And now, some behind-the-scenes photos of Instacanvas and the crazy crew.
View from the Instacanvas HQ in Santa Monica
Kiley, CEO Matt’s Boston Terrier/office mascot
Customer Service – Michelle Foster (@shhellz) and Community Manager, Meaghan Emery
Head of Product Todd Emaus (@toddemaus) and Creative Director/Designer Kevin Fremon (@kevinfremon)
CEO Matt Munson + prism
CEO Matt & Customer Service Michelle
by Grryo Community | Jul 10, 2013 | Featured Articles, The Temples
Saving Lives One Leash At A Time by Dave Temple
Mark Twain once said, “If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and man.”
That couldn’t be any further from the truth. When I very first heard of Found My Animal, a New York-based company that makes “accessories for adopted animals and people”, I had to reach out to them and find out more. Being the owner of two rescue dogs, it just made sense to connect with them.
I had the privilege of speaking with founder and owner, Bethany Obrecht. This former artist/photographer, turned entrepreneur is doing amazing things to help raise awareness of adoption of dogs from shelters. Check out the interview below and be sure to visit their website at www.foundmyanimal.com!
K: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
B: I was born in Baltimore, Maryland. My parents had some land and I had lots of pets. I studied photography at the Rhode Island School of Design and moved to Brooklyn, NY after graduating to pursue a career in photography. Soon after, I met artist Anna Conway on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, and realized that animal welfare came first and decided to create a brand focused on rescue animals.
K: How did Found My Animal start?
B: Inspired by a fisherman in the family, we made our first three-strand, hand-spliced and whipped rope leash for our rescue pups back in 2006. So many people stopped us in the street to admire our unique nautical leads that we decided to share them with others.
My business partner and I met on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn while walking our two rescue pups, both of whom were named Walter. The Walters were sizing each other up and we started a conversation that quickly revealed our passion for animal welfare. We decided to become partners after discovering we had more in common than two rescue dogs with the same name. We had both attended great design schools- Cooper Union and Rhode Island School of Design- and were passionate about animals. Animal welfare and a love of the principles of good design.
K: What would you say is the ultimate mission of Found My Animal?
B: Our mission is to help promote animal welfare through celebration of animal adoption in a very direct way: let your animal wear the message. Both Anna and I discussed how easy it had been to transform the minds of friends. By encouraging one person at a time to look into rescuing instead of buying an animal, we hoped to form a company that would deliver that simple but very important message.
K: How are you planning to use Instagram and photography to show what you’re doing?
B: There is no doubt that a picture is worth a thousand words. A funny or cute picture of an animal can make your day, and sometimes all it takes is a picture of an animal in need to generate the energy and enthusiasm for change. We need to harness the power of photography, and a visual platform like Instagram (@foundmyanimal) helps remind us that these creatures are often completely dependent on us for survival and happiness. We owe them that!
K: Tell us more about the rescue orange leash.
B: Orange is the color of animal protection awareness. We manufacture our own orange rope here in the US. The color is perfect for getting people’s attention, and most importantly inspires conversations about this important topic. Our orange rescue leash highlights (literally) the message. “Hey, I was rescued, join the club!”
K: What can people do to help?
B: Adopt, foster, and volunteer to walk a dog or pet a cat at your local shelter. Support your local shelter with food, towels, and beds. Convince friends to choose adoption, share your adoption story at the dog park, online, and with us!
K: Name some celebs who have purchased or supported Found My Animal
B: Jessica Biel, Drew Barrymore, Bradley Cooper, Martha Stewart, Amanda Seyfried, Erykah Badu to name a few.
K: What is the dream for the future?
B: If you’re lucky, small dreams become big ones. Our greatest dream would be to see an end to puppy mills and an increase in effective spay/neuter programs. Anna’s rescue pup Walter lived in a cage in a puppy mill for 5 years as a breeding machine. My Chihuahua Walter was a product of a puppy mill and was severely inbred with all sorts of health issues. If enough voices come together, legislation will follow. Access and awareness of the importance of spaying and neutering of all pets is critically important to help stop the flood of unwanted animals into shelters. We also dream about having our own Found My Animal Sanctuary, and that our orange Rescue leash will become a symbol of animal adoption worldwide.
Author’s Note:
Bethany is an amazing person and even sent my boys, Jack and Gordy a little treat. See photo below.
(L to R) Gordy and Jack
by Grryo Community | Jun 18, 2013 | Featured Articles, The Temples
“Splash Dance” – The Art of Water Dancing by Dave Temple, “Kewiki”
The first time I saw Jordy Bouchal, I knew I was on to something special. While I had seen water droplet pictures before, there was definitely something magical about his art. These were not just ordinary water droplets. Jordy’s ability to create shapes and figures from nothing more than water was astounding. I had to reach out to him and what I learned boggled my mind.
The following is an interview I had with Jordy. He was gracious enough to share with us some of his process, artwork and overall passion for what he does.
K: Kewiki J: Jordy
K: Tell me a little about yourself.
J: My name is Jordy Bouchal and I’m 30 years old. I’m from south of France in a town called Perpignan.
K: How long have you been into photography?
J: I started photography one year ago. I really love macro photography of insects, but recently became interested in water drop photography.
K: What influenced you to get into photography?
J: I was a skateboarder for more than 15 years. In skateboarding we used video a lot and I made a lot of video montages. I met a lot of great skateboard photographers and it made me want to start.
K: Tell me about your current art of water dancers. They are beautiful!
J: I discovered this are a few months ago. I saw pictures on the Internet and wanted to try it. I made my home system above my sink, but it didn’t seem to work. After a lot of trial and error, I finally invested in a machine that let me control the flow and timing of my water drops within a thousandth of a second. It allows me to synchronize the water valve, flash and camera.
K: That sounds complex!
J: It is! I originally started with milk because it has a higher viscosity than plain water. It’s easier to get a good collision. I like the look of water because it’s transparent, but plain water just doesn’t work. So to get water consistency to be the same as milk, I had to mix water with xantham gum or guar gum.
K: How are you able to get such unique and complex shapes?
J: The shapes of collisions depend on the consistency of the mixture, temperature, height between the valve and surface and the setup of the stopshot in milliseconds. For color I use food dye, ink, paint and/or flash gels.
K: What kind of camera equipment are you using to accomplish this?
J: I use two YN560II speed lights and two flashes from my Nikon R1C1 macro kit. My camera is a Nikon D5100 and my lens is a Nikon 105mm AF-S F 2.8.
K: Wow! This is a real science then! Thank you again for sharing with us and inspiring us with your incredible work.
J: You’re very welcome!
Below are examples of Jordy’s setup and works of art.
Jordy’s Setup
Azur Rain
Carousel
Jellyfish
The Mexican
If you’re interested in seeing more of Jordy’s work, please check him out on Instagram or you can contact him if you’re interested in learning more about his work. Thanks again to Jordy for sharing with us!
Editor’s Note: The above images are not captured with a mobile camera.
by Grryo Community | Jun 12, 2013 | The Temples
Keep Calm and Shoot On by Holly Temple
Nokia Lumia 920 Tricks and Tips
I came into this Windows Phone challenge gung ho. Like a freight train. Like a bull in a china shop. You get the idea. I was excited and ready to go! I shot my first decent picture within 2 hours of opening the box and was chomping at the bit to start posting. Apparently, I’m also an eager beaver with metaphor usage.
I’ll be honest. I had a good few days of shooting, mostly with the native camera, when I decided it was time to try some other camera apps. And I started struggling. The excitement was waning with each unfocused-missed-the-moment-just-not-right shot. I think that happens to all of us at some point though, not just in mobile photography. Actually, I’m pretty good at jumping into things only to fizzle out shortly after. Not happy to admit that, but there ya go. It’s just how I work.
Around that time, I decided to step away for a minute. What I didn’t mean to happen was stepping away for about 4 days. I didn’t realize it had been that long, but when I picked up my Windows Phone again, I had a missed call from an unknown number 4 days old. Oops. It was time to get serious again. That day I installed several more camera apps and took my little (not so little) neon yellow girl for a spin that evening. The mosquitoes had a good dinner as I stood in a field behind our neighborhood trying every single camera app I had. I don’t have specific complaints about some of them, they just didn’t feel right to me. On the other hand, I’m not fond at all of apps that make you choose a filter right then or you can’t save it and move on. Unless I was using it wrong, which is totally possible with the phone’s learning curve.
Then it happened. I opened Clever Camera and took a shot. And I got that feeling. I fell in love with that camera so hard it’s ridiculous. I’m actually dreaming of taking trips to different countries just to shoot with Clever Camera. No joke. Autofocus is great, but manual focus really lets you get in closer. I love being able to control it. There aren’t many editing capabilities within Clever Camera, but it does have a lovely soft vignette. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with each shot.
Will I abandon my other smartphone for the Lumia 920? Not quite. But, because of the awesome chance to participate in this challenge, do I plan on always having the Windows Phone with me from now on for photo opportunities? Heck yes.
by Grryo Community | Nov 22, 2012 | Featured Articles, The Temples
Casting Dreams with Photographer/Designer, Josh Strandell by Dave Temple *Originally posted on We Are Juxt on June 19, 2012
Kewiki’s Introduction
His name is Josh Strandell, known to the Instagram community as @dream_cast. He is an extremely talented designer/photographer. When I first saw his work on Instagram, my jaw literally dropped. Then, I found out he is only 13. Needless to say my jaw was dragging by then. This kid has a huge amount of talent and at such an early age. If you are on Instagram, definitely check him out! I had a chance to chat with Josh. See the interview below.
K: Kewiki J: Josh
K: First of all, I was blown away that you are only 13! How did you come up with this style of artwork?
J: Everyone always seems surprised when I tell them my age. As far as style goes, I tried thinking of a style that seemed fresh and unused.
K: It’s very unique! Who would you say has had an influence on your work?
J: Matt French (@mattfrench) has really inspired me into photography. @nois7 has also inspired me into designs.
K: Do you have any favorite pieces of your work?
J: I’m not sure which piece of art is my favorite. They are all beautiful and inspiring.
K: So how do you come up with your ideas? They’re all so different, but carry similar themes.
J: I think of an idea that soon gets bigger and bigger. Sort of like a snowball rolling down a hill. As I think of all of the ideas, I piece them together to make a somewhat dreamy design.
K: You certainly have done that! So can you shed a little light on the apps you use to achieve these masterpieces?
J: Some of the most used apps that I use are “iDesign” (a great app for adding shapes and designs). I also use “Snapseed” for adding my grunge effects. But, a magician also has a trick or two up their sleeves!
At the end of the interview I knew I was in the presence of greatness. Josh’s imagination surpasses the imaginations of so many of us. His work will inspire you and stir different emotions in you. But, then again, isn’t that the goal of every great artist?
To check out Josh’s “Dream Cast” Instagram, click here.(http://statigr.am/user/dream_cast)
by Grryo Community | Nov 15, 2012 | Featured Articles, The Temples
From Producer to Creator by @Kewiki
@Kewiki Introduction
Kevin Kuster is a name you may or may not be familiar with. But if you don’t know him now, you will. He is one of the many individuals involved in a monumental project started by the one and only Josh Johnson. I first met Kevin through Josh’s feed and really found him to be a fascinating and amazing photographer. I had a chance to catch Kevin before him and Josh left for Brazil to speak to the Brazilian Instagram group.
Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself. What do you do for a living?
A: For most of my career I was the Senior Photography Editor for Playboy Magazine, and Managing Content Producer for Playboy digital. Although most of my career had been focused on managing and producing, I am now focusing on being the content creator with my own photography and directing. I’m a partner at a startup studio called Creator Gallery in North Aurora, IL which is just outside of Chicago. This is a very exciting time in my life, and mobile photography has added to that excitement.
Q: Where are you from?
A: I was born in New York City, raised in Chicago, and went to school at the University of Kansas. It was quite a diverse move for me, and everyone asked “how does a city boy wind up in Kansas”. It’s a great school for art and design, plus, in addition, I got to see some of the best college basketball in the world. Go Jayhawks!!
Family, etc.
I’m from the typical Irish-German family. My mother never forgets anything, and my father is detailed and passionate. This combination has served me well in my career. I have one son, and he has just started to show an interest in photography and the arts.
Q: If you could recommend some of your favorite feeds on Instagram to new users, who would you recommend and why?
A: I am really a big fan of several people on Instagram; however, the following photographers never disappoint me with their images. Jason Peterson, @jasonmpeterson, has an amazing approach with black and white images. Richard Koci Hernandez, @koci, has to be one of the best street photographers ever. Lucho Marino, @lucho_marino is a wonderful portrait photographer. Martin Reisch, @safesolvent, often makes me say “how did he do that”. Mr. 007, @mr007, is truly inspiring and very creative. Of course, the #jjcommunity, @joshjohnson, inspires me each and every day. In my opinion, it is the epicenter of what snap, edit and share is all about.
Q: We see your name a lot on @joshjohnson’s feed. Can you tell us how you’re involved?
A: That’s actually a very interesting question. I contacted Josh a few months back after the Aurora, Colorado movie theatre tragedy. I sent him an email encouraging him to do a forum supporting all those who were touched by the tragedy or who might have lost a loved one. I told him that photography and images can change hearts and minds, and I asked him to use his platform to spearhead a measure of healing. After a few communications, he invited me to come on board to help them develop #jjcommunity and the new app we are creating. Since joining him as the Chief Editor we have added three core members (Emily Gomez, @ohemg87; Michael Petuzzi, @yomap, and Jackii Sovern, @jsovs), as well as 76 photo editors to help review the thousands of image we receive daily. In some of our daily forums we can receive up to 25,000 images.
We’ve also just started a charitable foundation, @jjfoundation. This will be where we post and hopefully sell images and collages to raise awareness and donate all proceeds to charity. We’re also getting ready to begin a new mentor sponsorship forum. This is a very exciting endeavor for us and mobile photography, in general.
Q: I interviewed Josh a couple of months ago regarding the new project he and the team are working on. Any updates you can give us?
A: Although we are still working on several plans, directions and a new app for our #jjcommunity, we’re very aware that what we currently have is working well. We hope to continue to add new programs and events each month and completely expand and add our own touch to the term community. To date our @joshjohnson, #jjcommunity feed has received about 20 million submissions. That’s a lot of really dedicated followers who are passionate about photography, and specifically mobile photography.
Q: Any final thoughts you’d like to leave for new users?
A: Yes, welcome to the future!!! Mobile photography is exploding, and will only get bigger and bigger. Mobile photography is defining how we create and connect like never before, introducing people to their inner creativity. As for me personally, mobile photography and editing on my iPhone really put the fun back into photography. Josh and I fly to Brazil in a few days to speak at a mobile photography conference and are very excited to be right in the middle of the mobile photo explosion. Soooo, start shooting, try out a new app, and jump on board the mobile photography wave!!! I can’t wait to see your images, read your comments and hopefully see you at a local Instagram meeting in Chicago.
Conclusion:
Thanks Kevin for taking the time to fill us all in on the exciting things you’re doing. Below are some of Kevin’s favorite shots. Be sure to check out his feed at Kevin Kuster.
by Grryo Community | Nov 12, 2012 | Reviews, The Temples
Back in July I wrote a review of ColorStrokes for iPhone. At the time, ColorStrokes was only available for the iPhone. Well MacPhun, the makers of ColorStrokes, FX Photo Studio and other great apps has released a brand new iPad-specific version of ColorStrokes. The already easy to use app looks even better on a bigger screen and is much easier to use with an interface custom-tailored for larger screens. The functionality of the app is the same as before, so there isn’t really a big learning curve. But for those of you who love spot color photography or even colorization of photos with extreme detail, then this is the app for you. Definitely check it out. It will help kick those spot color photos up a notch!
– Kewiki
by Grryo Community | Aug 31, 2012 | Featured Articles, The Temples
Kewiki’s Introduction
Josh Johnson, known in the Instagram world as @joshjohnson, is one of the first Instagrammers I followed and is most likely responsible for my impending addiction to the app. Instagram was in its infancy and Josh was one of the only Instagrammers hosting daily photo challenges. It was a great way for me to be able to stretch my creativity, connect with others and get involved in the community. Over the years, Josh and I have gotten a chance to know each other offline. Josh is crazy busy these days, but was willing to take some time with me to do a quick interview.
K: Kewiki JJ: Josh Johnson
K: So, tell us in a couple sentences who Josh Johnson is, what you do, etc.
JJ: I’m a professional photographer who found Instagram and has had a hard time picking up my Canon ever since. Once I experienced snap, edit and share, it was hard to go back to all the work that’s required with photography as I use to know it. For me, if creativity was the drug, IG was an intravenous injection. Instant buzz.
K: How long have you been on Instagram?
JJ: Almost two years
K: What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen on Instagram since you started?
JJ: I think the popular page, now known as explore, is the most obvious. When we started in this community I think it took everyone by surprise the quality of photography that people were sharing. As more and more people have come on the app, it is obvious that the general culture is less about the artistic side of photography.
K: What would you say are the biggest improvements and biggest downfalls of Instagram’s growth since you started?
JJ: I’m not sure I want to judge it that way actually. I think it will surprise some people to hear me say this but, Instagram is what Instagram is. It’s a place to post pictures. There are no rules so I don’t think I would say it’s going in the right way or the wrong way. It’s growing and changing. Sometimes you’ve just got to go with the flow.
K: Rumor has it, you’ve got a big project going on! What can you tell us about it?
JJ: Rumor is right. We’re developing an app that will be an open community featuring the very best Instagram posts.
K: What was the driving force behind your project?
JJ: I see a problem and I think, “I’m in a good position to fix it. How do you find Instagram’s best images? How do you get your images seen by the Instagram community?” I’ve been featuring some of the best images on the #jj tag for almost two years now. With over 11 million submissions it’s one of Instagram’s most active communities.
K: What other Instagrammers are currently involved and what are they doing to help make the project successful?
JJ: I’m working with Kevin Kuster @kevinkuster and Emily Gomez @ohemg87. Kevin is our staff editor and was the first paid employee of the app. Emily is my assistant.
K: How can others find out about the details of the project and/or get involved?
JJ: Check out the Q&A we’ve created on the @our_new_app account and stay tuned for details on the Kickstarter campaign coming soon. Also, you can join the community by following me @JoshJohnson and participating in the daily forums.
K: What are 5 tips you can give for new folks on Instagram?
“Josh’s 5 Tips”
- Post only your best work. Your feed has very little time to make a positive impression. It’s about quality not quantity. And don’t forget, personality, not just pictures. We want to know what makes you, you.
- Give thoughtful comments. Letting someone know you like their picture is great. Telling them why gets their attention. Always address people by name if you can.
- Befriend the new kids. Visit the followers list of a suggested user. The people with very few posts are new. They’d love to have someone show them around.
- Relevant hashtags are your friend. Use them. And don’t just tag, also be sure to search tags you are interested in as well. You’ll find people that have common interests. Also, geo-tag your shots when you are in public places. Click on the geo-tag above your picture and you will find Instagrammers who are local to your area.
- Ask questions. It’s a great way to start a conversation. You’ll find people are eager to talk to you about their pictures.
K: Any final thoughts you’d like to leave us with?
JJ: Have fun. You will come to realize that the best part of Instagram is not the numbers. You’ll find that you keep coming back to IG because of the friendships you make with people who share your love for taking pictures.
K: Thanks Josh for taking the time to do this interview! Sounds like this new app will be very exciting and we wish you the best of luck!
Josh’s favorite Instagram shots
by Grryo Community | Aug 9, 2012 | The Temples
Let’s start out by defining what a “Bot” is. A “bot” is a computer that runs automatically and executes certain commands. These bots are typically related to some sort of SPAM.
Okay, now that we have that out of the way, let’s get into the purpose of this blog post. Most of us that have been on some sort of social network have been the victims of bots. For example, if you’ve been on Twitter for any length of time, you’ve been followed by some random half-naked teenage girl who wants to date you or some financial company who will get you out of debt. You’ll also notice they follow a lot of random people and their tweets are all reposts of some other feed.
Well the problem has recently worked it’s way onto Instagram. Instagram’s API is pretty heavily protected when it comes to having the ability to post directly to the app. The only app that has been approved to do so is Hipstamatic. But somehow these bots are doing something that isn’t typical of the normal spammer on Instagram.
If you are on Instagram, you’ve dealt with the typical spammer accounts who either post pics from Google or WeHeartIt. They’re also notorious for taking screen captures of your photos and reposting them as their own. But, this is where things begin to differentiate. These spammers are NOT bots. Even though they lack creativity, there is a human behind the account.
The bots that have attacked Instagram have somehow hacked into the Instagram API and are not only creating fake accounts, but they are also reposting entire posts. This isn’t just a screen capture either. The bots are reposting photos and the captions word for word. There is no human behind these accounts either. They seem to follow the same accounts and are followed by the same accounts. Additionally, they don’t comment on their photos or even reply to you when you tell them they’ve stolen your photos.
So what’s the point of these bots attacking Instagram? It’s actually quite simple. Obviously, since Instagram spread out into the Android world, the quantity of followers has grown significantly. It has become harder for people to get noticed and therefore it’s harder to get followers and likes on your photos. So how do you increase your numbers? You buy them. At least that is the service that some companies are offering. Some companies, which I won’t name since I don’t want to endorse this practice, are selling followers and likes for a “small” fee. For example, you can pay $50 and get around 100 guaranteed followers and likes. For around $1,800 you can buy 20,000 followers and likes. But who are these followers? If you guessed they are bot accounts, then you’re correct.
In my opinion, this is one of THE worst things to happen to Instagram. The whole point of Instagram is community and appreciation of each others’ work. With practices like these, it will only be too long until “the next best thing” comes around and we all say, “Remember when Instagram was cool?”
Let me be the first to say, this isn’t Instagram’s fault. They really can’t do too much about it unless users help report and block these bot accounts. I’ve put together an extensive list of tips to help users ward off these attacks. You can find them at my Instagram account under the tag #kewiki_saynotobots or you can view online here: http://statigr.am/viewer.php#/tag/kewiki_saynotobots/.
As a community we have some responsibility to protect the integrity of the app. With the proper practices in place, we will hopefully be able to stop the bots and get back to enjoying creativity.
– Kewiki
by Grryo Community | Jul 26, 2012 | Reviews, The Temples
Well MacPhun is at it again. They’ve taken an app and made it even better than before. The app I’m talking about is what is now called “ColorStrokes”. This is a spot color app on steroids. Yes, I have done a previous review on the existing features, but what I wanted to highlight are what really sets it apart from the “other” guys.
Let’s look at why it’s called ColorStrokes. Just like a painter paints strokes of color on a canvas, you can now color your photos to whatever color you want. You can take color or black and white photos and select from the color palette tool any of the preset colors to begin painting your photo.
As an added bonus, they’ve included an eye drop tool that lets you create your own colors to paint with! This is something I haven’t really seen in other spot color apps and definitely makes it worth the $0.99. (Limited time price. Normally $1.99)
Another thing that I have to mention that has really set MacPhun apart from other app developers is their loyalty to their fans. Did MacPhun come up with the name “ColorStrokes”? No! This name was selected from thousands of user-submitted names. This is a brand new concept and one that other developers should pick up on.
The other really amazing thing MacPhun has done is the creation of their “fan club” for the ColorStrokes app. It’s still early on in development, but MacPhun is in the process of recruiting what they are calling “Lemon Headz“. This apparently is a club for the fans where you can get free Mac-based apps, news on upcoming apps and inside info on contests and other opportunities to win prizes.
Summary:
ColorStrokes is definitely a great app to check out if you don’t have it already. But besides all that, I applaud them for not just trying to sell apps, but for also doing such a great job at creating community on Instagram (@colorsplashrocks), Facebook, Twitter and other social avenues. Make sure you check out their feed or visit www.macphun.com for more info.
