That last image of the monk amidst the candles is fantastic; I love it for the art and the time it took to create with light. The mini figure is awesome too, not just because I love minifigures but it’s a monk! Anyhow, I digress.
The photoblog community that was destroyed by social media was all about the art and being a better photographer. I used to be a part of that community before it dissolved and dissipated to IG. When IG came out it was about the art; the realistic filters for photos designed by professional photographers to enhance even mundane photos and make them look more awesome.
I feel like as time went on more and more folks joined IG and the “photographic” community purely for extrinsic motivations. I, along with many other photographers were intrinsically motivated to shoot better photos. Intrinsically meaning inside; no need for external motivations like likes and shares and saves and clicks and comments. But when IG was purchased by FB it was apparent that FB wanted to push extrinsic motivators on to everyone because it made the platform more broad reaching outside of photography and the photoblog communities IG had replaced.
There are plenty of researched articles and journals on the subject of motivation. These studies found that most of the time when extrinsic motivators are introduced, it killed intrinsic motivation almost immediately. Like having my kids do the dishes because they love to be part of our family and help out around the house (intrinsic); yet when I pay them to do it (extrinsic), all of the sudden they put a monetary value on the action and decide it’s not worth it.
I feel there are many extrinsically motivated folks that come and go because IG was built on the foundation of Intrinsic motivation at its roots. I also think that’s why it’s so hard for photographers that are intrinsically motivated to see the platform de-evolve into something so basic as extrinsic motivation. But it’s a real thing and it is what it is. So I agree there that if it quacks like a duck and looks like a duck and flies like a duck then we should treat it and approach it like a duck. But I will still keep it intrinsic—because that’s what it is for me; I’m motivated to up my game because it’s fun and I enjoy the learning experience so thank you for writing this article. It’s true to form of the photoblogs of yesteryear.
I wrote about the myth of motivation and it touches on some things you talk about.
I'm one of those people who doesn't need likes, themed challenges, or even a community to push me to shoot. I'll do it on my own because I love to shoot. I don't need "pushing" because it's me "pulling"-- which is another way to put what you're saying.
I think some external motivators help but everything in moderation, as usual. So likes, themed challenges, and community are all good so long as they're not your everything. That, however, seems to be the case on social media.
I'm a photographer who had the benefit of not starting my toy photography hobby on social media, so it's easier for me to step back and look at all of this the way I do...cynically.
I suppose you're in the same boat so these essays I write will make a lot of sense to you.
Thanks! I spend the least amount of time on Instagram because it's deeply disatisfying even as a consumer.
I should write a follow up to this post about how bad content makes me immediately close the app and any other good content after it goes pretty much unseen by me.
(Sensible photographers will post elsewhere anyway.)
Bad content kills the whole experience and everyone should make an effort to stamp it out of their feeds.
I make this realistic lighting mistake when I take my space pictures. But I just can't force myself to use more "spectacular" or "show" lighting. I just don't feel it's my picture.
But I agree on other ones. Sticking to realistic lighting can devalue the photo.
That last image of the monk amidst the candles is fantastic; I love it for the art and the time it took to create with light. The mini figure is awesome too, not just because I love minifigures but it’s a monk! Anyhow, I digress.
The photoblog community that was destroyed by social media was all about the art and being a better photographer. I used to be a part of that community before it dissolved and dissipated to IG. When IG came out it was about the art; the realistic filters for photos designed by professional photographers to enhance even mundane photos and make them look more awesome.
I feel like as time went on more and more folks joined IG and the “photographic” community purely for extrinsic motivations. I, along with many other photographers were intrinsically motivated to shoot better photos. Intrinsically meaning inside; no need for external motivations like likes and shares and saves and clicks and comments. But when IG was purchased by FB it was apparent that FB wanted to push extrinsic motivators on to everyone because it made the platform more broad reaching outside of photography and the photoblog communities IG had replaced.
There are plenty of researched articles and journals on the subject of motivation. These studies found that most of the time when extrinsic motivators are introduced, it killed intrinsic motivation almost immediately. Like having my kids do the dishes because they love to be part of our family and help out around the house (intrinsic); yet when I pay them to do it (extrinsic), all of the sudden they put a monetary value on the action and decide it’s not worth it.
I feel there are many extrinsically motivated folks that come and go because IG was built on the foundation of Intrinsic motivation at its roots. I also think that’s why it’s so hard for photographers that are intrinsically motivated to see the platform de-evolve into something so basic as extrinsic motivation. But it’s a real thing and it is what it is. So I agree there that if it quacks like a duck and looks like a duck and flies like a duck then we should treat it and approach it like a duck. But I will still keep it intrinsic—because that’s what it is for me; I’m motivated to up my game because it’s fun and I enjoy the learning experience so thank you for writing this article. It’s true to form of the photoblogs of yesteryear.
Thanks for reading!
I wrote about the myth of motivation and it touches on some things you talk about.
I'm one of those people who doesn't need likes, themed challenges, or even a community to push me to shoot. I'll do it on my own because I love to shoot. I don't need "pushing" because it's me "pulling"-- which is another way to put what you're saying.
I think some external motivators help but everything in moderation, as usual. So likes, themed challenges, and community are all good so long as they're not your everything. That, however, seems to be the case on social media.
I'm a photographer who had the benefit of not starting my toy photography hobby on social media, so it's easier for me to step back and look at all of this the way I do...cynically.
I suppose you're in the same boat so these essays I write will make a lot of sense to you.
This is so interesting! Always wondered why the “figbarf” 🤣 photos do so well!
Excellent and insightful article...Lighting is one of my challenges that I've been working on (I think I need smaller lighting sources).
Instagram is easy though not really satisfying...I really need to do more with Tumblr, Facebook, and in Real Life...
Thanks! I spend the least amount of time on Instagram because it's deeply disatisfying even as a consumer.
I should write a follow up to this post about how bad content makes me immediately close the app and any other good content after it goes pretty much unseen by me.
(Sensible photographers will post elsewhere anyway.)
Bad content kills the whole experience and everyone should make an effort to stamp it out of their feeds.
I make this realistic lighting mistake when I take my space pictures. But I just can't force myself to use more "spectacular" or "show" lighting. I just don't feel it's my picture.
But I agree on other ones. Sticking to realistic lighting can devalue the photo.