Ah Instagram!
The perfect place help you realize everyone is having fun, except for you.
Ever since the app was launched in 2010, Instagram has cultivated its own culture of cliche photos:
girl taking dude by the hand, coffee, airplane wing
I'm sure you can think of many more on your own
the most interesting part about this phenomenon is that it's influencing more than you think
Well, finally tonight Pope Francis has described the internet as a gift from God
and he is seeing some godly numbers on his first day on instagram
a million followers and counting on track to beat even David Beckham on his first day
#Instapope is yes now a very real thing
and we can see that through the cliche images on the platform and how people are interacting with them
Welcome to psych IRL. My name is Donna
And today we are in Los Angeles and we're gonna find some of the most cliche photos in LA
This was a subject I touched upon in a previous video
But I really wanted to get more in depth with this topic
so in LA taking a photo in front of street art is a very common thing
To many, those who take a photo in front of the same mural are just self-absorbed,
unoriginal hacks
for some pieces, though the point is for the individual to take a photo and share it on social media
the fact that it has become popular makes me grateful
And it was kind of an organic response.
I didn't plan it. I didn't have an agent
I didn't have a grant
I was broke and doing it illegally
you know, it was just authentic
It was just really meant to be something. I felt I wanted to put out to the world
Social media is a new media form and it's just the era we live in and maybe in the future
It'll be something else but this will be there with or without instagram
the wings they're needed because it could maybe make somebody give pause and
it's not necessarily gonna change the world or change someone's mind
but if it does that, then I think it was successful
These wings are really meant to inspire the divine in us all
that's their message, to remind us that we are the angels of this earth
Although I do think some Instagrammers highlight the importance of their feed
rather than the message of the art, the very act of them spreading the art via social media
Increases the chances that someone would research its meaning
Therefore, taking a cliche photo does more good than harm
in regards to photography, there are numerous threads about plagiarism and how to be original
and that's because one purpose of photography
more of an art form and less as marketing
one purpose of photography is to view an image through the lens of the photographer
the photographer chooses the angle, the composition, the tone
Instagram has added the element of community
Sometimes the point isn't to be original. It's to share the aspect of, "Look I was here too"
I am part of this group that appreciates this art
Alright so, we're in the second location of the most cliche photos in LA
So let's go
This bridge. Don't remember what it's called unfortunately
but yeah, this is the second spot that is very cliched
This is the LA River a lot of movies with filmed here, so maybe that's why
I mean, it's a nice place. I'd want to take a photo here too
Maybe I will
I won't
Instagram along with our mobile phones has also affected what types of images people now like to take
Because of the "like feature", individuals are encouraged to produce photos that garner the most likes
Added with the community aspect of the platform
the photos that amass the most likes are photos that involve people
For example, unless done very uniquely and edited
accounts that specialize in architectural photos just don't do well
Part of the reason why they don't do well is the high accessibility of these images
because of the internet, anyone now has the ability to see any building from anywhere around the world
If they have access to the Internet
Sure you can play with the tone, angles, and mood, of the photo
but the only sure way to make it unique is adding yourself
posting photos solely for the purpose of likes can go too far as well
In my opinion, the most tone deaf posts happen when models show off where they're traveling and their bodies
but caption it with a tragedy
Tonight hurricane Irma bearing down on Turks and Caicos
after leaving a string of Caribbean islands in ruins
buildings and trees ripped apart
hundreds now homeless
The photo sharing app has also affected how businesses operate
Business displays its books in an array of unique ways not only attracting readers but instagramers as well
Essentially, they get free publicity from every individual that wants to take a photo with their artistic exhibits
Other operations have taken the Instagram model into their marketing plans as well
Restaurants have built artistic pieces on the outside of their establishment
hoping it'll attract these instagramers
Some museums are designed to be Instagram friendly exhibits are aesthetically pleasing
the lighting is perfect
The very purpose is for you to come in, take a photo
This young lady right here. What she's doing is correct. She has her phone out
Take your phones out. You're going to wanna take pictures,
videos of this experience. It's going to blow your mind
And share it with your friends
and tickets sell out fast
the accessibility of cameras and being able to share photos with their friends in an instant
has certainly changed the landscape of photography and business
other trends that have been popping up are nostalgia
People emulating film photographs with digital cameras, mimicking the quality of VHS with their videos
Although some hate the seemingly self-absorbed generation we are building
we can't really stop it.
whether this is just a passing trend or not
why not embrace it and if you're smart, maybe make some money using it
Since it's getting dark, I'm going to end the video here and I know it was only three spots, but that's it
That's the end of the video. I'll see you guys next time. Stay Psyched