Instagram and OCD

I have had the Instagram app residing on my iPhone for a long time, probably almost a year, but I never really used it.  I am a methodical person, taking my time, and consequently I’m often a smidge late embracing a lot of trends.  Friday afternoon I was walking out of a meeting and there it was, a low winter Boise sun on a cloudy day casting a light post and building in silhouette.  It appeared to me this was my Instagram moment!  I was happy enough with my photo and somehow felt unique, maybe even superior; like I had somehow invented Instagram or something.  That was a little narcissistic on my part, and the symptom is duly noted.  But I also knew that I’d found a new tool way at the bottom of my toolbox that I hadn’t used yet.  Yup, I’m about to go overboard.

I think I posses some OCD characteristics because when we went out to dinner, I Instagrammed the Cannoli we had for dessert, then went home and started running a bunch of already processed photos through Instagram.  I had actually posted a few to my Facebook account, then stopped because I didn’t want it to appear as though I’d just discovered this new toy.  No, I was sly and posted all of them on my Flickr account instead.  It didn’t seem to matter what the subject was, EVERY photo I had was the ideal candidate for Instagram.

With that,  a few closing observations about myself and Instagram:

1. I am several days behind on my photo challenge.  One photo a day is unrealistic for me, while one a week isn’t enough.  So my “Several Photos a Week” challenge now has a fighting chance.

2. There are a lot of things to learn about Instagram and I’d like to use all the processing options at least once.

3. I think Instagram works because by design, it takes advantage of tiny camera phone sensors and makes phone pics beautiful.

4. I may do a self-portrait or two.  Looking through my collection of photos, I’ve discovered that my family thinks I look better behind the camera, not in front of the camera.

5. My iPhone is NEVER far from me, and unlike my Canon, I can always access it.

6. My wife just got an iPhone and I’m curious to see if I can turn her on to Instagram.

With that, all of you should get out there and shoot!

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