How Visual Artists Can Stand Out in a Sea of Social Media – By Megan

Last night Jesse and I discussed the consumption of visual media within the context of social networking. This morning I ran across a collection of Benjamin Lowy’s iPhone photos taken during a recent trip to Libya. They proved a point Jesse was trying to make to me: do not over produce. Visual artists can spend hours, days, months or years producing in studios, edit suites and in the field to achieve what looks, sounds, and feels in tune with our minds’ eye. But sometimes once we upload or send or publish that perfect creation we realize our minds’ eye has gone slightly out of tune with our surroundings. Social media is strange in that way. Sometimes there’s no room for hesitation or daydreaming.

BENGAZI, LIBYA - 03 20 2011 Libyan Rebels Stand Amidst the Rubble of Destroyed Gaddafi Army Vehicles iPhone Photo by Benjamin Lowy

That’s why Benjamin’s photos are inspiring to me. Last night I made a decision to spend more time traveling and taking risks to expose myself to interesting subjects than work safe jobs in the city and slowly upgrade my camera packages until I’m properly employable. I’ll just skip the fancy equipment and do it with my iPhone instead. Taking the pressure of the necessity of upgrading camera equipment is relieving. Now I can focus on capturing what is actually new, current and exciting versus figuring out how to use fancy equipment to make this or that look new, current, and exciting.

BIN JAWAD, LIBYA - 03 29 2011: Rebel Soldiers Try to Rally Their Comrades With a Cry of "Allah Akbar" iPhone Photo By Benjamin Lowy

As an artist making sure your work stands out in a sea of social media means strengthening your technique, finding a unique style, producing thoughtful content, and mastering immediacy. Strengthing your technique has become easier. There are a million places to go on the internet for tips and for the most part other photographers are going to be willing to help you grow through out your career.

Until recently it was very difficult to differentiate personal styles of photographs taken with camera phones. That changed with the development of applications like Hipstamatic, Instagram, and my new personal favorite/the only smart phone photo retouching app I find acceptable: Camera+. I haven’t tried Adobe’s Photo App yet though. Does anyone have any feedback on that one?

Finding thoughtful content is the easy part. LOOK AROUND YOU it’s everywhere.

Immediacy is the holy grail of photography in social media. I love the feel of tinkering with the DSLRs but the immediacy of a camera phone is too valuable to ignore. Until I can easily upload straight from my Digital SLR to various social media platforms it’s iPhone first then the Canon if there’s time to play. Remember I’m talking about images for social networking, not your living room wall.

Hopefully more professional photographers start to loosen up and shoot assignments with their cell phones (their assignments people not just their cats and babies) because Getty Images, one of the premier stock image companies in the world, bought Benjamin Lowy’s iPhone photos. That’s crazy. And awesome.

Libya: iPhone Photo By Benjamin Lowy

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