Instagram Rage

[The Artist]

So I had a lovely debate at the bar last night which ended up getting somewhat heated. For those of you that have me on FB you may or may not have seen me post this image



Friend of mine went on to say how it makes pictures better with the click of a button and it’s a super awesome app that shares your pics and all that jazz. I said that’s great, but that’s not why I posted that picture. I posted it because “Certain” people use the app and automatically think they’re an artist, hence the meme. He told me I was being a pretentious graphic designer and just because I’m in the trade I hate on it because it does what I do with the click of a button.

Then. Shit. Hit. The. Fan.

We went back and forth regarding the subject and I basically told him that it added a sepia effect to a picture and cropped it into a square, congrats. My friend, who is very into the car scene, then heard this as a response from me “If you see some 18 year old in a civic with an obnoxious exhaust, do you hate on him”. He said yes. Perfect, I told him that it’s the same thing. He told me, not true because I was hating on Instagram whereas he was hating on the guy in the car. I told him, no I was hating on the individuals that post pics using it that think they’re the shit. Back and forth back and forth. My business partner was there with me and he joined my cause (maybe I’ll actually get him to pipe up on the GDF because he does have an account).

I’m just curious on your thoughts on the issue. I told him it undervalued our business/career as graphic designers because to a certain scale it is the same principle of “I’ll pay Joe Blow with his pirated version of Photoshop who designs Sigs for websites to do my logo”.

Don't get me wrong, it's a cool app that shares your pics, awesome. But it's more the people that use it, who think they're an artist that irk me.

</rant>

[Audentia]

Okay... an episode of Whitney (new sitcom) the other day (I wish i could take credit for this line). She's a freelance photographer who is having trouble finding work.
Her comment "I got replaced by a $1.99 app. Now I know how porn stars felt when webcams came out."

Let me say this: People are stupid TA. Next time see if you can find a way to turn it around on them with an example in THEIR industry. I find that helps if you can find something. Make it mildly believeable. ie: someone works in a warehouse, one day they'll be replaced by robots as if a robot falls from a lift it's not a big deal. or someone in retail, hey self checkout already exists there goes 4 cashier jobs each shift. or an engineer, oh look there's a program that allows me to put together a building it does all the calculations for me, what do I need you for now?
You may find that suddenly they realize their industry it's tech proof or 'safe' either.

[maynardsayswhat]

He told me I was being a pretentious graphic designer and just because I’m in the trade I hate on it because it does what I do with the click of a button.

Get better friends. Ones who don't, hopefully, talk out of their rumps. =)

[kemingMatters]

I don't necessarily think it devalues our profession because it really can't do what we do with the click of a button. IMO people that think that way are just plain ole ignorant.

Originally Posted by The Artist

He told me I was being a pretentious graphic designer and just because I’m in the trade I hate on it because it does what I do with the click of a button.

Just tell them "you're absolutely right, just like the smart phone has replaced the need for thinking, you're case in point of that." [/end argument (and/or friendship)]

[Craig B]

Instagram is awesome. I use it all the time. I don't know where I'd be without it.

[The Artist]

Originally Posted by Audentia

Let me say this: People are stupid TA. Next time see if you can find a way to turn it around on them with an example in THEIR industry.

Exactly why I made the reference about cars. 2 people that were on his side suddenly were like "oh... well when you put it that way..."

[mlmcasual]

Unlike technical fields and rule-set based careers, GD has two traits that work against you; Subjectivity, and "Ease" of emulation.

It used to be just Subjectivity worked against you but now the proliferation of crowd sourcing and digital tools has made it worse for maintaining respect and recognition.

But I don't think that's an excuse for a "friend" to show such an utter lack of respect to you. Just saying.

[Brie]

I have no idea what this instagram which you speak of is.

[<b>]

Similarly, there's Hipstamatic — the app that just runs a series of gimmicky filters on your photos. My wife took all our vacation photos using this silly app this past summer. As a result, they're all distorted, artificially colored, cropped weird and look like they were shot with an old 1960's Kodak Instamatic camera, then printed, covered with honey and nailed to a tree in a bug-infested swamp for five years. She thinks it's cool. I think she just ruined all her vacation photos.

[jld]

Sad thing is, I know of 3 graphic designers who use Instagram on a regular basis.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOUR STUPID FAKE DOF SHOTS OF MUFFINS EVERY DAY ON FACEBOOK.

One of them I don't rate, the other is actually highly talented, and the other is more of a production monkey than a designer I suppose.