InstaEssays

February 24, 2015 4:08 PM

"In recent months, a number of writers and photographers have begun to utilize Instagram beyond its common use as an application that enables the creation, stylizing, and sharing of personal photographs to a particular group of friends and acquaintances, and rather as a journalistic tool. In particular, writers like Jeff Sharlet (#Nightshift // A Resourceful Woman ) and photographers like Neil Shea have paired their photos with short narratives, constrained to 2200 characters by Instagram’s caption limit. The effect is similar to that of “Flash Fiction”—short, impactful self-contained stories—except that these stories are true and paired with a photograph of the subject."

Further Reading
* Sharlet: About Humans of New York: "He's a photographer w/ quotes; I'm a writer w/ snapshots."
* New York Times: Instagram's Graveyard Shift
* The InstaEssay Archive.

Other Essayists
* Quince Mountain
* Nicole Greenfield
* Blair Braverman
* The Illuminated InstaMag

posted by zarq (9 comments total)

Forgot to include: Jeff Sharlet's instagram account.

If you're looking to jump right in, the #Nightshift and A Resourceful Woman links are your best bet.

I did not include a trigger warning in the post, but perhaps I should have. Mary, in the "A Resourceful Woman" essay, talks about rape. Apologies.
posted by zarq at 4:11 PM on February 24, 2015

This is the art form I've been waiting for. Thanks for posting!
posted by mmiddle at 5:34 PM on February 24, 2015 [2 favorites]

Wow, these are really good, thanks zarq!
posted by carter at 6:45 PM on February 24, 2015 [1 favorite]

Love it. Thanks so much for sharing this.
posted by saucysault at 7:54 PM on February 24, 2015 [1 favorite]

Jeff Sharlet's great, I've been waffling about posting his article on the MRA movement here, but this is probably a better thing. I found him somewhere near the beginning of A Resourceful Woman, it's been really great/gripping, as well as all his other little profiles of people.
posted by Nomiconic at 10:20 PM on February 24, 2015

Thank you for this! I'm scarily addicted to Instagram and I'm always looking for ways people are stretching the medium. I do the occasional short essay one myself & it's great to see others who aren't just a sea of hashtags & throw us a follow 4 likes LOL. Let me add a favorite of mine too, not so much essays as reference: http://instagram.com/fittleworthhousegardens He's just finished an encyclopedic A-Z of the plants there with botanic info, growing tips & gorgeous photos.
Apologies for ugly link, tablet impaired.
posted by mygothlaundry at 5:40 AM on February 25, 2015 [1 favorite]

No worries. Here's a hyperlinked version: Fittleworth House Gardens

Thanks for the link! He looks fascinating.
posted by zarq at 6:51 AM on February 25, 2015

I teach photography and photojournalism at a community college. This exactly fits ideas we are exploring and my next assignment as well. Once again the Metafilter world makes my life better. Thanks!
posted by cccorlew at 8:22 AM on February 25, 2015 [2 favorites]

This is inspiring. Thanks, zarq.
posted by reynir at 12:26 PM on February 25, 2015