Professional vs Amateur Instagram Travel Photos

**interested_observer** · 09-23-2016, 02:42 PM

Quote:

There are travelers who like to take photos, and then there are travel photographers.

There's a difference between the two, and that becomes especially apparent when browsing travel photos on Instagram.

We rounded up 13 beautiful places around the world and compared a professional's depiction of those places to an amateur's.

Professional versus amateur Instagram travel photos - Business Insider

BrianR · 09-23-2016, 03:26 PM

Originally posted by dcshooter

It really bothers me a lot how tilted the Qazneh in Petra is in the "travel photographer's" photo.

Do you mean the perspective shift from looking up at it? It's otherwise level and symmetrical to the point that it couldn't have been an accident.

victormeldrew · 09-23-2016, 04:25 PM

The worst thing by far is the English-homework-style captions.
This one is colourful.
This one is less colourful.
This one is romantic.
This one is less romantic.
This one is good.
This one is less good.

Kill me now!

**Digitalis** · 09-23-2016, 06:48 PM

Originally posted by dcshooter

It really bothers me a lot how tilted the Qazneh in Petra is in the "travel photographer's" photo.

The Eiffel tower bothers me more, anyone would think the french were following design cues from the leaning tower of pisa.

**Bruce Clark** · 09-23-2016, 08:13 PM

It seems to me that the so called "Pro" images have been expertly processed for contrast and saturation where the "Amateur" images have an auto straight out of camera look. Some of these could be improved somewhat with a bit of PP. The other striking difference in my opinion is composition. Here the "Pro" images stand out.

micromacro · 09-23-2016, 08:15 PM

It's obvious that the author is not a photographer

DeadJohn · 09-23-2016, 08:18 PM - **1 Like**

I have some alternate captions

The Wave in Arizona looks majestic against a starry evening sky
This majestic sky has an airplane trail passing through it

The Norwegian village of Geiranger just begs to be photographed. The umbrella adds a whimsical quality to this shot.
The village is still begging to be photographed. Meanwhile, here's a photo of an umbrella and landscape. The village is somewhere below the photo.

This shot of Positano on Italy's Amalfi Coast is particularly vibrant.
This photographer knows how to use the saturation slider.

This solo traveler manages to look very trendy in front of this stunning, impressive view of Machu Picchu in Peru.
This solo traveler manages to block our view of Machu Picchu.

India's Taj Mahal is richly colored and perfectly centered in this post.
The saturation slider goes to 11!

(Disclaimer: My photos aren't better than these, but the author exalting these shots as an ideal is off kilter.)

micromacro · 09-23-2016, 08:33 PM

I read the text. LOL

Ok, fellow native speakers, tell me please is it normal to use so often little/less/more in one short article?

colors pop a lot less
looks a little more realistic
little less exciting
little more dull
little more deserted

Not a Number · 09-23-2016, 09:40 PM

Not to mention the author can do some cherry picking and select not-so-great amateur photos.

victormeldrew · 09-24-2016, 03:21 AM

Originally posted by micromacro

I read the text. LOL

Ok, fellow native speakers, tell me please is it normal to use so often little/less/more in one short article?

colors pop a lot less
looks a little more realistic
little less exciting
little more dull
little more deserted

It is perfectly correct English, just extremely dull to read.
Rather than describe the first and then simply use the negative in the second desctiption, it would be much more interesting to actually describe what is wrong with the second, and how it could be improved. But I think the earlier post nailed it...the author has no idea how.

micromacro · 09-24-2016, 04:32 AM

Originally posted by victormeldrew

It is perfectly correct English, just extremely dull to read.

I thought so, thanks. I understand that the author is not a photographer, but she has some degree in journalism. Did she learn there at university to write that way?

victormeldrew · 09-24-2016, 10:29 AM

I learned at age 11 not to write that way...but modern journalism is pretty much an exercise in writing for 5 year olds. So yes, she probably did.

**Digitalis** · 09-24-2016, 07:47 PM

Originally posted by victormeldrew

it would be much more interesting to actually describe what is wrong with the second, and how it could be improved. But I think the earlier post nailed it...the author has no idea how

Critique can be as much as an art form as the art it is criticizing. Journalists are for reporting facts, not critique.

micromacro · 09-25-2016, 12:07 AM

Originally posted by victormeldrew

modern journalism is pretty much an exercise in writing for 5 year olds.

I read news in three languages, and yes, it seems to be a global problem. I believe that internet era damaged high standards for journalism everywhere.

victormeldrew · 09-25-2016, 03:41 AM

Originally posted by Digitalis

Critique can be as much as an art form as the art it is criticizing. Journalists are for reporting facts, not critique.

That depends what kind of Journalist you are I'd say...
The journalists who write in the British Journal of Photography are quite good at critiquing photos.
The journalists in Hello are quite good at critiquing women's outfits.
The Financial Times are good at critiquing financial policies.
The gutter press are quite good at critiquing everyone else's moral standards.

The key skill for a journalist is to do your research. Perhaps 10 minutes with a photographer, asking them why these amateur photos don't measure up, would have yielded some good nuggets for the article.

09-23-2016, 02:42 PM	#1
interested_observer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tumbleweed, Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,707	Professional vs Amateur Instagram Travel Photos Quote: There are travelers who like to take photos, and then there are travel photographers. There's a difference between the two, and that becomes especially apparent when browsing travel photos on Instagram. We rounded up 13 beautiful places around the world and compared a professional's depiction of those places to an amateur's. Professional versus amateur Instagram travel photos - Business Insider

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09-23-2016, 03:26 PM	#2
BrianR Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,332	Originally posted by dcshooter It really bothers me a lot how tilted the Qazneh in Petra is in the "travel photographer's" photo. Do you mean the perspective shift from looking up at it? It's otherwise level and symmetrical to the point that it couldn't have been an accident.

09-23-2016, 04:25 PM	#3
victormeldrew Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: South West UK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,493	The worst thing by far is the English-homework-style captions. This one is colourful. This one is less colourful. This one is romantic. This one is less romantic. This one is good. This one is less good. Kill me now!

09-23-2016, 06:48 PM	#4
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by dcshooter It really bothers me a lot how tilted the Qazneh in Petra is in the "travel photographer's" photo. The Eiffel tower bothers me more, anyone would think the french were following design cues from the leaning tower of pisa.

09-23-2016, 08:13 PM	#5
Bruce Clark Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ocean Grove, Victoria Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,458	It seems to me that the so called "Pro" images have been expertly processed for contrast and saturation where the "Amateur" images have an auto straight out of camera look. Some of these could be improved somewhat with a bit of PP. The other striking difference in my opinion is composition. Here the "Pro" images stand out.

09-23-2016, 08:15 PM	#6
micromacro Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,722	It's obvious that the author is not a photographer

09-23-2016, 08:18 PM - 1 Like	#7
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,833	I have some alternate captions The Wave in Arizona looks majestic against a starry evening sky This majestic sky has an airplane trail passing through it The Norwegian village of Geiranger just begs to be photographed. The umbrella adds a whimsical quality to this shot. The village is still begging to be photographed. Meanwhile, here's a photo of an umbrella and landscape. The village is somewhere below the photo. This shot of Positano on Italy's Amalfi Coast is particularly vibrant. This photographer knows how to use the saturation slider. This solo traveler manages to look very trendy in front of this stunning, impressive view of Machu Picchu in Peru. This solo traveler manages to block our view of Machu Picchu. India's Taj Mahal is richly colored and perfectly centered in this post. The saturation slider goes to 11! (Disclaimer: My photos aren't better than these, but the author exalting these shots as an ideal is off kilter.)

09-23-2016, 08:33 PM	#8
micromacro Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,722	I read the text. LOL Ok, fellow native speakers, tell me please is it normal to use so often little/less/more in one short article? colors pop a lot less looks a little more realistic little less exciting little more dull little more deserted

09-23-2016, 09:40 PM	#9
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Not to mention the author can do some cherry picking and select not-so-great amateur photos.

09-24-2016, 03:21 AM	#10
victormeldrew Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: South West UK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,493	Originally posted by micromacro I read the text. LOL Ok, fellow native speakers, tell me please is it normal to use so often little/less/more in one short article? colors pop a lot less looks a little more realistic little less exciting little more dull little more deserted It is perfectly correct English, just extremely dull to read. Rather than describe the first and then simply use the negative in the second desctiption, it would be much more interesting to actually describe what is wrong with the second, and how it could be improved. But I think the earlier post nailed it...the author has no idea how.

09-24-2016, 04:32 AM	#11
micromacro Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,722	Originally posted by victormeldrew It is perfectly correct English, just extremely dull to read. I thought so, thanks. I understand that the author is not a photographer, but she has some degree in journalism. Did she learn there at university to write that way?

09-24-2016, 10:29 AM	#12
victormeldrew Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: South West UK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,493	I learned at age 11 not to write that way...but modern journalism is pretty much an exercise in writing for 5 year olds. So yes, she probably did.

09-24-2016, 07:47 PM	#13
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by victormeldrew it would be much more interesting to actually describe what is wrong with the second, and how it could be improved. But I think the earlier post nailed it...the author has no idea how Critique can be as much as an art form as the art it is criticizing. Journalists are for reporting facts, not critique.

09-25-2016, 12:07 AM	#14
micromacro Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,722	Originally posted by victormeldrew modern journalism is pretty much an exercise in writing for 5 year olds. I read news in three languages, and yes, it seems to be a global problem. I believe that internet era damaged high standards for journalism everywhere.

09-25-2016, 03:41 AM	#15
victormeldrew Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: South West UK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,493	Originally posted by Digitalis Critique can be as much as an art form as the art it is criticizing. Journalists are for reporting facts, not critique. That depends what kind of Journalist you are I'd say... The journalists who write in the British Journal of Photography are quite good at critiquing photos. The journalists in Hello are quite good at critiquing women's outfits. The Financial Times are good at critiquing financial policies. The gutter press are quite good at critiquing everyone else's moral standards. The key skill for a journalist is to do your research. Perhaps 10 minutes with a photographer, asking them why these amateur photos don't measure up, would have yielded some good nuggets for the article.