This article about the imminent demise of Instagram is the proverbial aloe juice to my social media heartburn; as stupid as it is to admit that I needed a published article to tell me it’s ok to let go of the expectations around what social media (and specifically IG) can do for me, the relief is palpable. As it stands, I’ve already scrubbed my profile of its history and currently have a whopping 25 images representing my “existence” on the platform (which is ironic since I categorically avoid posting images with my own face, opting instead to share only my fine art portraiture. My stories are a different… story?). The decision to delete all but my most recent posts came out of a simmering frustration and disdain for what Instagram has become (I’m not going to get into it- read the aforementioned article if you want an explainer). Pretty much the only thing stopping me from deleting the app altogether is the vain anxiety that what little traffic I have on my portraiture website would evaporate completely if I burn the only linked bridge.
But that anxiety is ebbing, to be honest with you. I’m slowly caring less and less about how many eyeballs land on (and interact with) my portraits on social media. It was never a very lucrative venture financially because:
I am not a machine that can churn out content.
My interest in skill building and expanding my technical toolbox as a portrait photographer tends to overpower my desire to get faces in front of my lens.
It’s a good thing that I’m not caring as much, because outside of sharing my own content, it’s no longer how I use the app anyway. I spend less time absorbing art and creativity on Instagram and more time consuming a feed that serves me either commercially (aka I use it to shop) or to learn about stuff that has NOTHING to do with photography (aka weightlifting, although 6 months ago it was sewing, and 6 months before that it was houseplant care). One can argue that it’s totally fine to use Instagram as a vehicle for fleshing out other interests but it’s just kind of ironic, no? A photography platform that has turned into an infomercial.
At least that’s my algorithm.
this week’s goodies:
Norma Kamali had a sale last week (as of last night it was still going!) so I finally finally finally got my hands on a sleeping bag coat ::sobbing:: it’s so good.
After finishing Low Country and feeling utterly confused by the last 30 seconds, I cleansed my palate with the first episode of Inside Man. Highly recommend both.
I want one of these. This one is also very nice looking. This one is bonkers.
Currently using a lot of my down time to study the styling at Djerf Avenue…
… and Matilda Djerf’s incredible hair…
And last but not least, using this (third image) as inspiration for my outfit to see the incomparable Nasia Thomas in her first performance of Six tonight.
See you in a week. -Kai
P.S. 😂😂😂
P.P.S. In case you were frustrated with the vagueness of last week’s post, it had to do with accessibility (actually, lack thereof). Rather than going backwards to explain what happened, I recommend visiting the “Wanted: A World For One Billion” exhibit at the United Nations Headquarters here in New York. My brilliant friend Lauren Anders Brown is one of the featured artists.