I read a really fun article today called What I Instagrammed Vs. What Was Really Happening, Or My Entire Life Is A Lie. What a great title. Olivia Muenter really hits Instagram on the head, or at least she did for me. Please check out the link because it's a really fun read.
I'm really into Instagram. I think I like it more than Facebook or Twitter. Taking pictures has been my passion though, so it's really no surprise. However, Olivia really nails it when she talks about what she's trying to portray, verses what really happens. I don't usually like to copy someone else's idea, but her article was so fun that I wanted to create my own. So, here goes ...
1. A PERFECT FLOWER
What It Looks Like I'm Doing ...
Oh, look at this unique flower! I better take a picture of it because I'm such a great photographer of flora and fauna. I'll post it so everyone knows I see such amazing things on my outings.
What I'm Actually Doing ...
I wouldn't even have seen this flower had I not stopped to die! I was biking up a steep hill and had to stop because it was kicking my butt. I had all my gears in the wrong spot. Oh, look at the flower! Let me take a picture of it while I stand here and heave. Regardless, it worked. I was able to rest and I got a cool flower picture—not to mention one I'd never seen before.
2. MY IMMACULATE CLASSROOM
What It Looks Like I'm Doing ...
I'm going to post this picture of my homeschool classroom to show everyone how neat it is. I want everyone to think I'm the best homeschool mom. What a great learning environment. I am completely organized, right down to the last cubby. Don't you wish your kids did school here?
What I'm Actually Doing ...
Thank the Maker! I have finally cleaned up this mess. Nevermind the fact we're due to start school in a few hours. After sitting in shambles for the entire summer, I figured I better get it at least walkable in there. And since I like putting photos of our classroom in our school year book, now is a good time to get a picture taken before it goes back to its unruly-messy-laundry-on-the-floor state. Oh, look, a googly eye ... hmm, I know I have a cubby for that.
3. I HAVE COOL SHOES
What It Looks Like I'm Doing ...
On first glance, you would think I was bragging. Oh, look at me! I have brand new Doc Martens. I'm so cool because I have cool boots. Don't you wish you had cool DMs too?
What I'm Actually Doing ...
I'm actually bragging. Oh, look at me! I have some Doc Martens. Seriously, I found these shoes at a thrift store and paid about six dollars for them. There's no way I can afford Doc Martens. Sure, I'm going to brag. It's just a bummer they squeak. No wonder they were given away.
4. MY PERFECT CAKE
What It Looks Like I'm Doing ...
Doesn't this Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake look yummy? Don't you wish you could have a slice? I better take a picture and post it on IG to show everyone what a great baker I am.
What I'm Actually Doing ...
I can't get the damn cake out of the bloody pan! I have the stupidest bundt pan in the world. It has all these nooks and crannies. Everything sticks, no matter how much I grease it. I took a picture of it because I was going to blog about it. After it got stuck in the pan, I posted it on IG instead. I got the cake out eventually, but it was missing some pretty big chunks. It was yummy, but not definitely not pretty. Ironically, I had seen this recipe on Facebook the day before, so I wanted to try it. It was really good. Click here for the recipe.
5. THE PERFECT LANDSCAPE SHOT
What It Looks Like I'm Doing ...
Oh—here I am again—posting beautiful pictures of beautiful Montana. I'm such a great photographer and I want everyone to know how beautiful it is where I live.
What I'm Actually Doing ...
This is what I call a drive-by shot. I even tag these on Instagram as #drivebyphotography. I'm not alone in doing this. Lots of people tag pictures that way. I took this shot while Rick was driving 75mph down the road. Brighten up the color a bit, add a frame ... perfect. Am I really bragging that I live in such an incredible place? Yeah, maybe, a little. But in all honesty, the canola blooms once a year and it's so damn pretty. I simply want to take a picture of it.
6. I'M SO COOL
Oh, look at me. I'm so cool wearing my John Lennon sunglasses. I bet you wished you had John Lennon sunglasses. Aren't they cool? And look at my face. My skin is so perfect.
What I'm Actually Doing ...
Just like Olivia, I tend to take a lot of pictures to get ONE selfie I'm willing to post. Sometime I'll take 30 or more. It's not that I'm scared of people seeing how I really look. It's simply a matter of why would I want them to see me looking like an idiot? I look stupid in most pictures. It's all about control. And the sunglasses? They cost me about $5 on Amazon. Yay for gift cards.
7. MY CAT LOVES AMERICA
Oh geez, look at Denny wearing that fantastic, patriot visor. Isn't he the coolest? Even Denny gets into the spirit of the 4th of July. I couldn't have asked for a cooler cat.
What I'm Actually Doing ...
There was blood involved in this.
8. THE SHOPPING BAG
I love Trader Joe's so much. I want everyone to know I shop there. Oh, look at my bag. It's reusable. I care so much about the Earth. All the cool people shop at TJs.
What I'm Actually Doing ...
I used to shop at Trader Joe's all the time. We had them all over California. There are none in Montana. The closest TJs to me is four hours away in Spokane, WA. That's a hell of a long drive for a jar of habanero salsa. So, when I DO get the chance to visit a TJs, I'm as giddy as a school girl. I'll take pictures of the bag, the products I buy, the products I didn't buy, the sign on the front of the building, you name it. I have no shame. I miss that store—A LOT.
9. LET'S CUT THE CRAP
I'm not mocking the article I read. I really enjoyed it. She had a lot of great points. Things are not always how they seem. But ... THAT'S OKAY! You don't pick up a magazine and see cups of half-drank tea with lipstick smears on the rim. You see a pretty tea cup, next to a pretty croissant, next to pretty flowers, or whatever else they decide to photograph. We don't see pictures of people with unflattering lighting. We see images that are carefully PhotoShopped to make people look good. That's okay. We all know what that slice of cheesecake looks like before we stick our fork into it. Life is pretty. It's okay to take a picture of it. It's okay to share.
Instagram—at least to me—is like a modern day, digital photo album. Remember how we used get our film developed, sort through the pictures, and then toss out the bad ones? Then we'd put the good ones into albums to enjoy for years to come? That's all it is to me. I don't post pictures to brag or to tell everyone how great I am. I just like taking pictures. It doesn't matter if it's the most beautiful scenery in the world, a pair of matching scissors (photo challenge prompt, by the way!) or a dead mosquito. It's all good. I totally appreciate people who take the time and effort to make their pictures worth looking at. So, take a picture of that bag of pretzels and share it with the world. I don't mind. I love pretzels.
And last of all ... thank you, Olivia. Your article was awesome!
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