That time has come again for the 4th time in 2024 when I am thinking I need a bit of distance from Social Media in the interests of sanity but also to allow for personal creativity. Social media is a fantastic place but also damaging, in a time that we can access a world of artistic talent that previous generations could not.

I find it strange that we call it social media, there is an overdose of media amongst a drought of social. In a world that Photutorial published data stating 14 billion images are shared worldwide every day on social media in research completed by by Matic Broz. I use Instagram to find inspiration but you get bombarded with garbage from the algorithm, but you sometimes get a breakthrough and find some gold. The find of the month has been Adra Pallón go check out the work, I dream of producing anything close to that work. The thing about the work is it shows; connection, intimacy, empathy, and a desire to share story and experience. Now I did reach out and message Adra, and I hope to hear back, but why contact? Well, that’s the thing we can all scroll through and double tap images that we find visually pleasing, and for consumers of images that is ok, I mean after all we have billions of images being sent to devices in our hand daily, who has time to comment? Occasionally, I will get someone on my page going through and liking lots of images at once, now that is great, and validating in some ways, but I’d take 1 comment or message over 100 likes anytime. You see when you share an image you are putting yourself out there, it’s showing people how you see the world, if they take the time to really look. It’s fascinating to look at why they took the image, what drew them to the subject, what does it say about their politics, values and motivations. Some people use their photography as therapy, for those people they are inviting you into their therapy session, imagine if someone walked up to you and said I’m heading to counselling come with me and witness it. Would that be strange, or an honour that they want to share their inner secrets with you?

I make no secret that my photography is sometimes ‘just’ a moment on the street, at others it is trying to raise social issues, political fights, or social injustice, special events, or life recorded in images. No matter what it is I photograph, it’s a glimpse into me as a person. This person is struggling just now to understand why something important to me is becoming so difficult. I’m struggling to know what my motivation is for taking the images, let alone sharing, and increasingly why people would want to see them. Some describe imposter syndrome, creative ruts, creative block and general lack of motivation. My current issue is more a ‘why’ question, why am I putting so much effort into this, for that I need to step back. I need to read, I need to get away from the noise, I need to refocus on the act of photography. I find podcasts a good source of inspiration and can be thought provoking, The Candid Frame is one I particularly like and a recent episode with photographer David Hobby was one which a person really talks to you and you feel connection. As a result I have purchased his book The Travelling Photographers Manifesto this is one of the ways I will be getting away from the digital noise and having a bit of reflection.

Anyway, tomorrow is Saturday, I plan to be on the streets of Glasgow looking at the world through my personal lens of the world around me whilst capturing it with the camera lens. Remember, when you are looking at images people share they are offering more than a pleasing image, take a deeper look and rather than like leave them a comment, even if it is “I like that photo”.

Take care.

Scott