Waiting for a slice of watermelon
Instant Gratification with Instagram
So, are you that person taking pics with your phone camera everywhere you go? Instagram allows you to join a social network with a steady stream of photos vaguely reminiscent of the Polaroid shots people had in the 70s and 80s. You know…because of that square shape. Youngsters, please just nod your head and pretend you remember.
Instagram has only been around a couple of years, but it is certainly a hit on Facebook and Twitter. I use it to supplement my posts/updates on social media. I’m crazy about my dogs and tend to take lots of snapshots. There are other things that I take photos of as well. I’m that odd person who might take a picture of the dinner plate at a restaurant. Don’t frown. Other people do that…right?
The one plant I haven’t killed
Let’s say that you are a master gardener as well as an author. You might photograph your plants. You don’t need to post personal photos of yourself for people to be interested in what YOU like. Like to travel? Post photos of buildings or monuments. Like nature? Post some great sunsets. Get the picture? <- Sorry. I couldn’t resist the pun.
How do you sign up? You must have an iPad2, iPhone, iPod, or Android camera phone with the Instagram app. Take a photo with the app and choose a filter to make it look unique. Settings within the app let you choose if you will let it feed automatically into your Facebook wall or Twitter. Or you may choose to select photos and post them to social media manually.
You can also view a steady stream of all the photos in your Instagram account if you follow other users. You can add a label to the photo while in Instagram. Followers in Instagram can “Like” or “Comment” as well.
Are there really that many people on it this (yet another form of social media)? Here ‘s a timeline of the GROWTH OF INSTAGRAM (stats from Wikipedia).
October 6, 2010- product launch
December 2010 – one million registered users.
September 2011- passed ten million users
April 2012 – over 30 million user accounts
July 2011 – 100 million photos uploaded
August 2011 – 150 million photos uploaded
Android app version – one million downloads within 12 hours
They say that a picture’s worth a thousand words. Do you use Instagram?
BIO: Brinda lives in the southern US with her family and two spunky cairn terriers. She’s terribly fond of chocolate, coffee, and books that take her away from reality.
Gloria Richard 
Cool, Brinda! I must try this. Thanks for the Instagram heads-up!
This one is an easy. Sometimes, I struggle with what to post on social media. I enjoy seeing other people’s pics, so I now share mine. It’s a good way to let people know what inspires you.
Welcome
homeback, Brinda!I wondered how some of the
more* savvy Tweeps included photos in their tweets, and now I know. Oh, what I might have done with this on my trip to Pennsylvania and Canada.It’s official. I must go back. And, take the southern route the next time, so I can Instagram a picture of you and your adorable four-legged kiddoos.
*Deleted as it implies I have some measure of Twitter Savvy. Fair and balanced disclosure and all that jazz.
You, my dear friend, would be a posting/tweeting whirlwind with Instagram. I can see it now. No one (or animal) would be safe from your lens. 😉
OK, you’ve convinced me to try Instagram. Ever since getting an iPhone around 10 months ago, I’ve LOVED taking phone photos and posting to facebook. It’s my favourite thing. Haven’t tried Instagram though… yet!
You’ll fall in love with the filters that you can choose to enhance your photos. Have fun!
One day, I’ll have a camera chip inserted in my head so I don’t have to cuss when I forget my camera. I use my own pics for my blog and for my posts at Romance & Beyond. Never heard of Instagram, I’ll have to check it out.
Brinda, how do you have time to find, play with and learn all these tools?
Good luck with the presentation this weekend!
I love playing with the apps on my phone. Am I addicted? Maybe. My niece uses Instagram and I get the biggest thrill out of seeing the photos that she takes. It’s a sneak peek into someone’s day.
I think Apple has me on their “dipwad” list today — or an Apple version thereof.
I’d be playing with an Instagram app on my iPhone, too, if only I could remember the most current password.
I usually have an effective password paradigm. Too many apps added on the same day. Clumsy fingers. One too many paradigm shifts. Long story. *sigh*
This is very cool! Someday I’ll have a smartphone and I’ll actually take pictures. 🙂
I’ve tried the ipad, but I don’t like the way the pictures turn out, and it’s bulky. Maybe I’ll give it a go anyway. Thanks Brinda, for another idea I knew nothing about!
I agree that the iPad is bulky for taking photos. It also doesn’t have the clear resolution that my iPhone does.
Brinda … if Gloria was not as “challenged” as myself, I might think you were picking on us vintage folks. Instagram is my daugther, my son, even my grandchildren. I can barely work a plain, no frills cell and I leave all the photographs to my daughter and grandson 🙂 Maybe one of these days Gloria and I will catch up … until then … boo hoo on us );
I would never, ever pick on you. 🙂 I only want to offer this glimmer of the available fun stuff you can use. The iPhone is easy to use. And you could take pics of the grandkids…
Hey! Florence! Don’t call me down-for-the-count (Cliche alert! Sorry, Margie) yet. Or, yourself either.
I have tons of pics in my iPhone album. Some of them are even focused. No. Really. They are.
Watch for a glob wending your way titled How Old Would You be if Your Didn’t Know Your Age?.
The only thing delaying that one are six-pack abs for an Instagram. And, a few more ridonkulous experiences to prove I’m really
thirty-fivetwo.Very cool! I love that the old photos look new again since I have many from that era. I can get that look by tweaking the photo in processing too!
Yes, I love tweaking photos. I wish I had the time to do more!
Hey, Susie! If you can make old pictures look new again, will science one day be able to tweak and Instagram my sagging butt and jowls?
Calling Dr. Sheldon Cooper. Is there a Dr. Sheldon Cooper in the building?
Sign me up for the clinical trials.
Hahaha! I was playing around with Picmonkey the other day and found a weight reducing feature! No lie!
I have one of those archaic phones that has no internet connection. 😦
The world will never know what craziness I am NOT photo-documenting each day.
Craziness makes for the best photo opp. lol
Elizabeth! Hie thee to your cell phone carrier and take advantage of one of their upgrades. [Forsooth.]
The world deserves to see the craziness you’re not yet sharing with us.
My son tells me that all the kids at school are on Instagram. Is this the same thing? They sort of have groups, followers, etc… You friend or follow people through the app? I downloaded the app for this, but not had time to figure it all out.
You are always the queen of techie!
Yes, it is. My nieces and nephews all use it as well.
Oh, great. Now I just have to figure it out. 🙂
Ciara, what a trooper! You stopped by with words of wisdom when you have the creeping crud and your son is recovering from surgery.
The things we might have done with Instagram when I was a staid and innocent teen. *shudder”
It’s a pleasure to catch up with everyone, and what a great post to find.
I hear you, Gloria. I was so naive as a teen. I’d hate to think what kind of trouble some of the social media would have caused me.
I’m behind the times here. I don’t even have a camera on my phone. I think maybe I should keep it that way!
My hubby has a regular cell phone and borrowed my iPhone the other day to take some photos in some stores and email to his boss while on-site. He came home asking me questions and now I think he wants one. I use mine so much!
Why, Sharon, why should you “keep it that way?”
What are you doing that we’d love to know about?
Pics! We want pics!
I am downloading that app now! Thanks Brinda!
Hildie, I will personally drive to Atlanta to pinch you — hard — if you Instagram with pics of Midnight and Magnolias this year.
I. Am. So. Bummed. I. Can’t. Do. A. Redo.
Nationals in HOTlanta 2013, tho’. WOOT!
I’d never heard of Instagram before and since I don’t have a Mac product or fax-simili, I guess I won’t be using it. But it does sound like fun.
It is fun. I always advocate knowing what’s being used in social media even if you won’t use it. I don’t engage in Pinterest, but I know about it. Thanks for dropping by to read!
Not on Instagram yet, but I’ve been thinking about it… Your plant is beautiful, Brinda! Gloria, hope you’re having a good week!
Since I already like taking pictures with my iPhone, I thought why not. It doesn’t add any time to my social media day. Can you tell from my label on the photo that I’m not good with plants? 🙂
I have it on my iPad but don’t use it. If I ever get an iPhone I’ll probably snap away.
I agree with Jessica (above) that the iPad is a little bulky for picture taking. I don’t do it much on mine either.
I hadn’t heard of Instagram, but I love taking photos. Restaurant photos – check!
Look me up on Instagram if you join. I’d love to follow you on it.
Alright, alright, I’ll get on Instagram but y’all may regret it because I will snap a photo of anything and everything. No one is safe. Just sayin’.
BTW, one of my favorite photo apps is Cam Wow, though I save it for when I’m visiting my sister in Chicago. We laugh so hard over the ridiculous distorted photos of ourselves on that thing.
If you join, let me know. I’d love to follow. I’m listed under username brin145. You are a pro with a camera, so this should be fun.
Don’t use Instagram since I don’t have a mobile device, but it sounds like a fun app. 🙂
Thanks for reading. It’s good to know what these things are even if you don’t have a need for it. Then you won’t have to say, “Insta….what?”
Oh Dear! Instagram’s growth is… viagraesque! 😉
I agree! I think it caught on at the same speed as Pinterest.