So RANDOM only a modern millionaire with a sinister plan could understand!

[elpollodiablo]

Something that I get even less than Tumblr is Instagram. People really love those filters that much, huh?

[jebreject]

It makes the picture more AUTHENTIC, Pollo.

[elpollodiablo]

It certainly makes them all look the same. What I really don't get about it is that typically people are using it to share photos on Twitter or Facebook, both of which services already have perfectly good photosharing options baked in. So the extra step of using a separate app really must be justified in the appeal of those filters, yeah? Or is there some value added there I'm missing?

[YojimboMonkey]

I generally use it to amuse my 5yo son. So bite me pal

[elpollodiablo]

So he likes seeing pictures of food in various sepia tones?

[YojimboMonkey]

he likes seeing pictures of himself in various sepia tones, picking the filter he likes the best, and then watching it show up in my facebook feed. Endlessly entertaining for him. Quite the little camwhore I'm raising, I know. Don't anybody else say that about him though or I'll gut ya.

[YojimboMonkey]

For reference (and lulz) see his "Spy face" series from yesterday.

[elpollodiablo]

he likes seeing pictures of himself in various sepia tones, picking the filter he likes the best, and then watching it show up in my facebook feed. Endlessly entertaining for him.

That is pretty cool

[YojimboMonkey]

Also this is the 2nd picture I ever took w/ Instagram and I love it

[davy]

An instant classic!

[Thermofusion]

That is awesome, Jim!

One thing I'm curious about: with the advent of Hipstamatic and Instagram, how the hell is "Lomography" still in business? Instagram: free. Lomography: buy a crappy surplus 35mm camera that's been upcharged 800%-1000%. Result: the same, minus Lomography's dubious, new-age-y, invented/made-up aesthetic.

[davy]

[YojimboMonkey]

He looks cranky, I bet he hasn't had second breakfast

[elpollodiablo]

Lomography is doing just fine. Not sure what you mean by their aesthetic being made up; it's an effect of certain equipment. Like, those Red digital cinema cameras sure do have a wacky and whimsical invented aesthetic, too, by that measure.

[Thermofusion]

They take $20 Soviet-era cameras that take shit pictures and sell them for $250, and because no rational person would ever see the value of that, they had to invent a ridiculous philosophy/aesthetic (see the "10 Rules of Lomography") to justify it.

[davy]

He looks cranky, I bet he hasn't had second breakfast

 

[DCDave]

They take $20 Soviet-era cameras that take shit pictures and sell them for $250, and because no rational person would ever see the value of that, they had to invent a ridiculous philosophy/aesthetic (see the "10 Rules of Lomography") to justify it.

You're aware that one of the friends of many of us on the board and all around incredibly genuine person is the person who comes up with what you term a "ridiculous philosophy/aesthetic," right?

[Thermofusion]

Don't hate the player, hate the emotionally-pandering flavor text composed to move crappy old cameras for four-digit profit margin

[elpollodiablo]

You could have saved time and just written "Fuck you"

[jebreject]

I like the assumption that every single person who buys one of those cameras has been fooled by marketing, rather than, you know, maybe they actually LIKE that aesthetic.

[jebreject]

Hopefully Thermo feels similarly full of rage toward all those musicians who still record on four tracks and all the movie makers who prefer film

[Thermofusion]

Ha, what do four-tracks have to do with anything?

[fishjim]

My new name is Bon-go / Hope you like my song-o!

http://www.bongobeatr.com/

[mixed cats]

It certainly makes them all look the same. What I really don't get about it is that typically people are using it to share photos on Twitter or Facebook, both of which services already have perfectly good photosharing options baked in. So the extra step of using a separate app really must be justified in the appeal of those filters, yeah? Or is there some value added there I'm missing?

I like the filters for making Hugo's face somewhat visible, instead of just a mass of black fur. I try not to use them otherwise. And I don't send eeeevvvvvery photo to twitter, because it's not a default setting, but a toggle for each post. Still use regular twitter photo uploading, but very rarely the FB one. I've only had this fancy phone for three weeks, so maybe I'll figure out something better later.

The app also lets you search for things and follow people - much like Flickr - so you can look at pictures from people you don't really know. I like looking at pictures of things from all over the world, so I'm into it, but if that's not your thing I wouldn't bother.

[clare]

Exactly what mixed cats said. I can't edit the photos with the iPhone, and I take photos indoors or at night, so with the filters on Instagram to bring up the exposure or whatever I can get a reasonable pic to share without having to take it with the good camera, upload it to the computer, fiddle with the contrast and exposure, then upload it to fb/twitter whatever. If I have to do that I won't share any photos at all because I just don't have time in my life. Hate all you like.