The Land of Kings - DIY photozine
Recently I decided that rather than store all my images on a hard drive with occasional posts on instagram, I was going to print my images and curate zines after every small trip or vacation I returned from. This exercise has been so much fun and so fruitful that I even started pulling up old work to curate and print and make zines. Here I am showcasing a zine of images made during a workshop I conducted in Rajasthan with a small camera and a stock of cheap colour film. These images had been buried in a hard drive and I had not looked at them since the trip. But now after printing the zine I regularly flip through it (and my other DIY zines) for ideas and inspiration. I imagine that in time I will have a shelf full of my best work catalogued and printed for my own easy consumption.
The act of printing and creating zines is so much more rewarding than fleeting social media platforms like Instagram. Instagram is great for self promotion for those who have amassed a huge following. But I have mixed emotions about exclusively using social media for showcasing my photography or art for that matter; in effect reducing my art to content.
Over the years, Instagram has changed a lot. It's not just a place to share photos anymore—it's become a busy marketplace where businesses and people both chase after attention and validation. While you can still share moments and experiences, the platform's packed with brands and individuals competing for the spotlight. Amidst all the likes, comments, and shares, the original vibe of genuine appreciation seems to have faded.
Instagram is all about visuals, which makes it great for artists, entrepreneurs, and influencers to showcase their stuff. But focusing so much on appearances has led to a culture where value is often judged by likes and followers rather than the quality of the content. As everyone tries to stand out, the feed gets filled with polished posts meant to grab attention rather than really connect.
Counting likes and comments to measure your work can be misleading. Often, people engage not because they admire your content but because they hope you'll do the same for them. So, these metrics don’t always reflect the true value of your work. It’s important to look beyond these numbers and seek more genuine feedback.
There’s also the emotional side of Instagram. People post snippets of their lives to get affirmation and connect with others. But this quest for validation can be a double-edged sword, leading to comparison and insecurity. The endless search for likes and comments can leave people feeling empty and craving real connections behind the screen.
Plus, the fast pace of Instagram means everything is consumed quickly, with little time for deep thinking or appreciation. The platform’s algorithm tends to favor engagement metrics over meaningful interactions, which only adds to the problem.
Some people are moving to other platforms that focus more on depth and authenticity. Blogs, for example, let creators share their thoughts and ideas in a more meaningful way. Without the pressure of character limits and algorithms, bloggers can have real conversations and build genuine connections.
For those looking for a slower, more thoughtful way to share, blogs offer a break from the chaos of Instagram. They allow for a deeper engagement with art and ideas, offering a space where substance takes priority over spectacle.
So while I continue to post on instagram it will often be in an attempt to direct people to my blog where they can engage with my work and direct me to their work, hopefully propogating an authentic exchange of ideas from which we can all be inspired and grow.
