Instagram lessons from the Aussie outback
I saw a movie inflight recently which presented a good argument. It was an unlikely rom-com between two professors, one teaches literature and the other, art. They try to outdo each other and present the power of their preferred medium. There are some things that words can express which a picture can’t fully express. And there are pictures that speak more than a thousand words. The movie progresses and they end up becoming not-so-strange bedfellows and you know how these movies end.
In this visually oriented culture — okay, let me say it, Instagram culture — I feel that the caption is as important as the image. Given that some people just post photos of themselves without a caption, which proves that a.) they’re lazy, b.) they’re uncreative, or c.) they’re both. I think laziness and lack of creativity fall under the same category, so must avoid at all costs.
Microsoft Devices invited me plus a couple of media mavericks slash Instagram enthusiasts from all over the world to sample their new Lumias — the Lumia 930, hailed by critics as the best mobile phone on the market, and the Lumia 730, a phone that is reputed to take the best selfies (I can already hear the clamor from the Selfie Capital of the World). The destination, the Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort, an exclusive luxury wildlife reserve a few hours from Sydney. Our mentor, one of Australia’s foremost Instagram photographers, Matt Glastonbury. The task? To take as many beautiful images as we can using the Lumia.
One look at Matt’s IG page (@mattglastonbury) and I was convinced. Sat beside him majority of the time to ask as many questions — I can be quite obsessive compulsive with my photos and its filters, my friends know that all too well. And I must say I learned a few good things from the master himself. When shooting a body of water, get up close to the water — the waves always create a unique effect, making your shot look more interesting. You may also opt to shoot the reflection on the surface with the accompanying subject, and just blur out everything else. Limit your posts to four a day (okay, this one I’m having a hard time coping with.) These are just some of the pointers I learned while spending some time taking images and editing with the master snapper.
The subject wasn’t hard to photograph at all. I think it’s one of those places that you can shoot anywhere and it’s going to look great. Then again, nothing beats a good eye and a great gadget to help you capture those moments to the oohs and ahhs of your Instagram followers. The Emirates Wolgan Valley estate is a six-star resort which boasts its own wildlife reserve~yes, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats and wallaroos running beside you as you go on your morning jog, that kind of undisturbed beauty in the middle of the woods, away from it all. Scattered throughout a 4,000-acre property, it boasts a spa, picture-perfect views of mountains, hills, trees and everything that spells serenity. So beautiful is the place that I have a few friends who, upon seeing it on my Instagram feed, said that they wanted to get married there! Well, a few proposals have been done, and according to our concierge, the success rate has been a hundred percent!
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Check out the pics on this page — and on my Instagram page (@officialtimyap) with the hashtag #LumiaInWolganValley and you’ll know what I’m taking about. In this case, I must concede. Some pictures do not need captions. They’re beautifully breathtaking on their own.
