Last week we featured the winner Koyuki Inagaki as an Insta Fav. Today we’d like to introduce you to our Top 10 of all the submissions we received. Check out their feeds by clicking on their names, and don’t miss the next hashtag, that we’ll announce on Thursday.

@thislittlelion

@elsableda

@dianak_gram

@pchyburrs

@lualunera

@koyoox

@ncoun

@fabiobf

@renguldet

@timlampe

The post #ignt_melting Top 10 Submissions appeared first on IGNANT.

With our weekly Insta Fav Feature we offer you a chance to actively promote your own account to become a future Insta Fav on the blog.

Every Thursday we announce a certain topic via a hashtag, afterwards you’ll have 4 days to make a photo working with that topic and upload it to your Instagram using the hashtag. Who shot the best image will be featured as our Insta Fav in the following week. This weeks topic is #ignt_itsallred and here are a few rules and tips:

– This weeks goal is to find red details that catch your eye. Take a creative photo where the color red is the main subject or just subtly involved in the picture.
– Please only submit your own photographs to the project and keep them in a square format. Any image tagged until Sunday 0.00 am MESZ is eligible to be featured right here.
– If you want to submit your photo, use the hashtag #ignt_itsallred and upload your photo until Sunday the 19.04 on your Instagram account. Have fun and good luck, we can’t wait to see your submissions.

Catarina Sanches, who’s filling her Instagram with snapshots of her friends and her everyday life in Lisbon won the following feature with his picture for our last topic #ignt_springfever. Thank you for all your submissions.

Follow: @catsanches

When and where did you take the picture? Tell us a little about the idea behind it.

This picture was taken in Lisbon in the 4th April. It was Sara Chéu’s birthday (the banana girl in the picture) and she promoted a nice picnic with her close friends. I actually took some baloons and other party objects to photograph her day in a way that could make it last forever but when I arrived and saw her in that amazingly wonderful banana dress I didn’t had to think anymore: it would only be necessary herself and her little birthday cookies. She’s such an amazing performative artist that it isn’t actually hard at all to capture something amazing when she’s around.

Where are you from? How does that place influence the way you photograph?

I’m from Lisbon, Portugal, and I work in the advertising industry, so both image and words are an inherent part of my life. As a professional and most of all as a human being, I am primed to listen and tell stories and that is what I try to invoke in my photography. Whether I’m working for a brand or creating something for myself, what always influences my way of shooting is to question what surrounds me from my own point of view in order to create something in people’s hearts and minds.

Who and what are the things that inspire you?

I’ve learned that people and emotion are the only roads to foster lasting relationship with everything and luckily during this permanent search for my place in the creative world, I always had the luck of never being alone. True friendship and family are (actually!!) what inspires me the most. There are so many beautiful people always there for me and, for example, without the giant heart and helpful soul of @edzr, a designer who works with me, or the never-ending patience of my mum, this journey wouldn’t be half of what it is, and probabily that is why I aim to have human elements in most of my photography work.

Your favorite instagrammers?

Oh, that is always so hard to answer. It would be a long, long list but I will try to name some of my favorite. @sejkko, @pedrosamcastro and @teresacfreitas are a major inspiration for their artistic way of thinking photography, then there is @kitato and @mj_pereira who are always sharing their own unique perceptions of regular life, and finally @tsilvaribeiro that connects both in a very singular way. Most recently I got to know @anniset and @drcuerda and I am already a huge fan of those two!

Which Apps do you use to edit your pictures?

I always photograph and edit in my iPhone 4s when it comes to Instagram. I use VSCO and Afterlight and when I need something more precise, I use the Photoshop app.

Tell us a little about your everyday. (Family, friends, work, etc.)

I started studying Fine Arts and then Advertising. So, images and the desire of creating stories, one way or the other, have always been a part of me. During week days I always like to get up early and to do some yoga, it gives me time and space to reflect and get some balance for facing the every day life. This happens because sometimes I feel kind of crazy, you know? Besides my regular work I love to write (I’m almost finishing my book, I hope!), to paint – I have a painting atelier at home – and also to do some journalistic work when it comes to cinema festivals or theater. So, sometimes I actually need to step out of regular places and to give me total freedom to fall into imaginary places. And that is my everyday life, always sneaking around between those two.

All images © Catarina Sanches

The post #ignt_springfever Winner Catarina Sanches appeared first on IGNANT.

With our weekly Insta Fav Feature we offer you a chance to actively promote your own account to become a future Insta Fav on the blog.

Every Thursday we announce a certain topic via a hashtag, afterwards you’ll have 4 days to make a photo working with that topic and upload it to your Instagram using the hashtag. Who shot the best image will be featured as our Insta Fav in the following week. This weeks topic is #ignt_springfever and here are a few rules and tips:

– This weeks goal is to capture a creative photo of spring announcing itself. You can e.g. look at the changes you find in nature, in food or in peoples wardrobe. Let your imagination run free.
– Please only submit your own photographs to the project. Any image tagged until Sunday 0.00 am MESZ is eligible to be featured right here.
– If you want to submit your photo, use the hashtag #ignt_springfever and upload your photo until Sunday the 12.04 on your Instagram account. Have fun and good luck, we can’t wait to see your submissions.

Paris-based architect Raul Alejandro Cabrera Ruiz won the following feature with his picture for our last topic #ignt_opticalillusion. Thank you for all your submissions.

Follow: @raulcabrera

When and where did you take the picture? Tell us a little about the idea behind it.

This picture was taken in Paris two months ago. The second time I came to this city I was received by this huge metal guy graffiti painted in front of the train station. I always wanted to do something cool with it but I never could because it was hard to get into that place. Six years later I moved here and this is what I did. The mural is from a really good street artist from Turin call “Pixel Pancho”. So, a big part of the credits should go to him.

Where are you from? How does that place influence the way you photograph?

I’m from Venezuela, but I moved to Paris last year. I come from a tropical country. This is my first year living in a place with 4 seasons so I’m still very impressed with how much can everything change in just a few months. In my photography, I’m usually looking for simplicity, something that it’s not easy to find in this city but definitely make me train my eye.

Who and what are the things that inspire you?

I am being exposed every day to images and places influenced indirectly what I do. As an architect I always look for detail and simplicity in my own way. The architecture defined the way I see everything. In my photos you are always going to find order, scale, composition and rhythm. I always try to use the least amount of things to show what I want to.

Your favorite instagrammers?

This is allways a hard question since there is a lot of talented people on Instagram. It would be a long list but I’m just going to name some of them. My first favorite account was @thiswildidea. Through his pictures I discovered @reallykindofamazing, both great photographers. Other of my favorites is @drcuerda, in combo with @anniset of course. I also like @connortd, @timlampe and @jonpauldouglass for their creativity and @nunoassis for the way he use space. @fernandocobelo cause I think we have a similar style for creating images. And finally @sejkko. Those are the accounts that inspire me.

Which Apps do you use to edit your pictures?

I always use SKRWT to correct the lines in the pictures and after that I use VSCO cam for level adjustments. If I need something more specific, I use Photoshop.

Tell us a little about your everyday. (Family, friends, work, etc.)

I come from a big family but I only have one brother. I was born in Caracas where I worked for four years as an Architect and then I moved to Paris. When I got here did not speak French at all, I only knew a few words, so it was definitely a challenge (and still is). Now my French is a bit better. Back in Caracas I used to drive everywhere. Here is different, I walk at least 2 km per day, so I always discover a new place in the city. My closest friends in fact are not too close since we all live in different countries, so I have to thank my camera, my iphone and this app for giving a new list of people I know I can call when I have a problem.

All images © Raul Alejandro Cabrera Ruiz

The post #ignt_opticalillusion Winner Raul Alejandro Cabrera Ruiz appeared first on IGNANT.

Every Thursday we announce a certain topic via a hashtag, afterwards you’ll have 4 days to make a photo working with that topic and upload it to your Instagram using the hashtag. This week you’ll have a bit more time to do your shot, since our editor-in-chief will be away next week. Who shot the best image will be featured as our Insta Fav in the week after Easter. This weeks topic is #ignt_opticalillusion and here are a few rules and tips:

– The goal this week is to stage an optical illusion on a creative photo. Let your imagination run free.
– Please only submit your own photographs to the project. Any image tagged until Monday is eligible to be featured right here.
– If you want to submit your photo, use the hashtag #ignt_opticalillusion and upload your photo until Sunday the 05.04 on your Instagram account. Have fun and good luck, we can’t wait to see your submissions.

Philippine-based amateur photographer John Austria won the following feature with his picture for our last weeks topic #ignt_stairwell. Thank you for all your submissions.

Follow: @mvltiple

When and where did you take the picture? Tell us a little about the idea behind it.

The shot was taken in Forbes Town Center two months ago – one of the nicest hang-out places in Manila. My Instagram friends and I have always been chasing for spiral staircase and luckily we found it. I took couple of shots and chose to post the one that portrayed #instagrammerdown.

Who and what are the things that inspire you?

I live in Manila, Philippines. Having a tropical climate lets me explore the place without worrying about a gloomy weather; hence, sunlight plays an important role in my photos.

Where are you from? How does that place influence the way you photograph?

I always aim for simplicity which includes negative spaces or patterns. It inspires me and I know there’s a minimalist inside me so I’m putting off the best effort to exhibit it. There’s so much room for learning though.

Your favorite instagrammers?

It’s a bit difficult to name some of my favorite instagrammers but the ones the really inspire me are Jelito De Leon, Nunoassis and David Hsia. It’s pretty challenging to see their posts on a daily basis but it brings joy knowing that they become the source of motivation.

Which Apps do you use to edit your pictures?

I’m using VSCO cam to edit my photos until I decided to settle myself using Instagram editing tools.

Tell us a little about your everyday. (Family, friends, work, etc.)

I work in a platform-based company where I support clients in the Investment Banking industry globally. I’m a middle child and I’m the only one in the family who show interest in photography. I used to consider myself an introvert until I joined Instagram. I’ve been using it for approximately one year and 4 months. Trust me, I learned so much things and never thought I’d win so many friends who share the same interest as mine.

All images © John Austria

The post #ignt_stairwell Winner John Austria appeared first on IGNANT.

With our weekly Insta Fav Feature we offer you a chance to actively promote your own account to become a future Insta Fav on the blog.

Every Thursday we announce a certain topic via a hashtag, afterwards you’ll have 4 days to make a photo working with that topic and upload it to your Instagram using the hashtag. Who shot the best image will be featured as our Insta Fav in the following week. This weeks topic is #ignt_stairwell and here are a few rules and tips:

– The goal this week is to capture a creative photo of stairs, stairwells and everything that has to do with climbing the stairs. Let your imagination run free.
– Please only submit your own photographs to the project. Any image tagged until Monday is eligible to be featured right here.
– If you want to submit your photo, use the hashtag #ignt_stairwell and upload your photo until Sunday the 22.03 on your Instagram account. Have fun and good luck, we can’t wait to see your submissions.

Jakarta-based Sam Alexander won the following feature with his picture for our last weeks topic #ignt_patterns. Thank you for all your submissions.

Follow: @smlalexander

When and where did you take the picture? Tell us a little about the idea behind it.

The photo was taken when I was about to have lunch at a restaurant. I was walking to my table, then the sunshine peeked through the ceiling caught my eye, so I took a photo of it with my iPod.

Who and what are the things that inspire you?

Different artists with different styles on the internet inspired me, because we can’t settle to one thing, right? I’m inspired by Oleg Dou, Andrew B Myers, Kyle Thompson, and Ivania Carpio. Their works makes me to become more eager to explore my style and created new things.

Where are you from? How does that place influence the way you photograph?

I’m from Jakarta, Indonesia. It’s a city with many things going on all at once.
Basically, I captured anything that appealing and interesting to my eyes, I like to take bunch of random shots every time I see something new or different, so everything around me could be a photo opportunity.

Your favorite instagrammers?

This is a hard question. I follow so many great users with different styles, but my favourites are:
@tubrofi, @yeliahl, @jlhr_, @arthurmartins, @arthurmartins, @tinorenato, @amandakusai, @wk.ai, @_petitexfleur_, @davidgrr, @bythebrush, the two of a kind @pieterhardwearing and @joerihardwearing and my friend, @weirdoinpink and so many more…

Which Apps do you use to edit your pictures?

Adobe Photoshop Express and VSCO.
I rarely edit my pictures from my phone, because I regularly import photos from my phone to my laptop every week, then sort and edit it using photoshop and lightroom on my laptop, it makes things easier for me.

Tell us a little about your everyday. (Family, friends, work, etc.)

My everyday routine is quite boring, I’m currently living my uni life, working on my thesis, and do some freelance work on the weekdays, then I save the weekend for sleeping in, try to bank extra sleep after a hectic weekdays. Saturday is my favourite day, I eat cereal, listen to the music, watch youtube, keeping myself cozy and had a full day of ‘me’ time. Then on Sunday, I’ll spend my time with family or friends, but I don’t really like crowded places, so most of the times I prefer to stay at home rather than go out to public spaces :)

The post #ignt_patterns Winner Sam Alexander appeared first on IGNANT.

With our weekly Insta Fav Feature we offer you a chance to actively promote your own account to become a future Insta Fav on the blog.

Every Thursday we announce a certain topic via a hashtag, afterwards you’ll have 4 days to make a photo working with that topic and upload it to your Instagram using the hashtag. Who shot the best image will be featured as our Insta Fav in the following week. This weeks topic is #ignt_patterns and here are a few rules and tips:

– The goal this week is to capture a creative photo of the patterns found outside and inside buildings. Take a closer look at the buildings you pass every day, or take a look towards the ceilings or floors.
– Please only submit your own photographs to the project. Any image tagged until Monday is eligible to be featured right here.
– If you want to submit your photo, use the hashtag #ignt_patterns and upload your photo until Sunday the 15.03 on your Instagram account. Have fun and good luck, we can’t wait to see your submissions.

Jakarta-based Axel Oswith co-runs a creative space and studio called the taable together with Amanda Kusai that’s devoted to art direction and photography, with works at the intersection of art and design. They are always trying to transform the ordinary to something much more with their witty and clever interpretations of everyday.
He won the following feature with his picture for our last weeks topic #ignt_undercover. Thank you for all your submissions.

Follow: @axeloswith

When and where did you take the picture? Tell us a little about the idea behind it.

The picture was taken at the hallway of my campus on a sunny day. The idea behind it was inspired by Irving Penn as a tribute to his works that I have admired for quite a while.

Where are you from? How does that place influence the way you photograph?

Jakarta – Indonesia. Living in Jakarta all my life has made me realise that a lot of us are not familiar with the arts both locally and internationally, therefore this has probably inspired me to study various artists and help introduce it to the media in my own interpretation of what I think would be interesting for others.

Who and what are the things that inspire you?

I am inspired by simple everyday objects and the works of modern artists such as Andy Warhol, Marina Abramovic, and Wayne Thiebaud.

Your favorite instagrammers?

@amandakusai, @florenttanet, @brockdavis and @jamestolic.

Which Apps do you use to edit your pictures?

VSCO

Tell us a little about your everyday. (Family, friends, work, etc.)

My daily routines include sleeping late, planning the day’s schedule, and trying to develop a habit for healthy living and eating. During my free time, I engage my self in visual literature and news to keep up with the rest of the world. As for work, I co-run a creative space and studio called the taable with my partner Amanda Kusai, we are currently busily producing a couple of pieces for our exhibition next month that will be one of our first ever debut, we can’t wait to see how it unfolds.

The post #ignt_undercover Winner Axel Oswith appeared first on IGNANT.

With our weekly Insta Fav Feature we offer you a chance to actively promote your own account to become a future Insta Fav on the blog.

Every Thursday we announce a certain topic via a hashtag, afterwards you’ll have 4 days to make a photo working with that topic and upload it to your Instagram using the hashtag. Who shot the best image will be featured as our Insta Fav in the following week. This weeks topic is #ignt_undercover and here are a few rules and tips:

– The goal this week is to take a creative photo that plays with the state of being undercover either literally or metaphorically. Let your imagination run free.
– Please only submit your own photographs to the project. Any image tagged until Monday is eligible to be featured right here.
– If you want to submit your photo, use the hashtag #ignt_undercover and upload your photo until Sunday the 08.03 on your Instagram account.

Have fun and good luck, we can’t wait to see your submissions.

Berlin-based student of architecture and instagrammer @ellamsinger won the following feature with his picture for our last weeks topic #ignt_symmetry. Thank you for all your submissions.

Follow: @ellamsinger

When and where did you take the picture? Tell us a little about the idea behind it.

I took this picture a couple of weeks ago on the University campus in Adlershof. There is a wonderful ‘aerodynamic’ Park – an adventure play area for young and old – and a great spot to take some extraordinary pictures.
The sky, on this day, was grey and melted together with the concrete walls of the 17 meter tall ‘Trudelturm’. For me the perfect weather. All i had to do was look up at the tower and i had my shot of a man, walking up “the steps of eternity”, with the depressed touch of the grey sky and the concrete. Exactly my cup of tea.

Where are you from? How does that place influence the way you photograph?

I was born in Poland but came at a young age to Berlin. Here each day is full of changes and never boring. The everyday transitions and multi-cultural life in this city (building sites are a common occurrence here), make the journey to the boroughs a welcoming trip. Sometimes I spend hours alone, walking through the city looking for new and interesting subjects for my creativity. I either go to places where I have never been or I randomly take a walk to learn a little more about my beautiful city.

Before my studies began, I already had an interest for Architecture and Berlin was the perfect place for that. We have everything here, from modern skyscrapers made of glass to old “Stasi” living quarters. These extremes is what make this city unique and intriguing for me.

Who and what are the things that inspire you?

My inspiration and what I mostly like to photograph is my city and its architecture. Sometimes I have people laughing at my pictures because they say that Berlin looks so empty on them, but thats what I like about my photos – “Minimalistic views of the city”. For my pictures I like it when the weather is grey and depressiv instead of sunny and blue skies.

But Berlin is not the only place that inspires me, once in a while I need a little time out and i look for actual unpopulated locations. For short trips I usually like to visit Brandenburg. There you can find a bunch of little towns and of course a lot of forest. Though, I would like to say that Iceland was by far the pinnacle of my photographing experience last year.

Tell us what’s usually in your toolkit when leaving the house.

I always take my iPhone and of course my charger everywhere I go. Occasionally, I take my Fuji X-30 or my Analog Canon AE-1 for my more pronounced days.
Usually I also have paper and a pencil and something to read in my bag.

Your favorite instagrammers?

This question is definitely hard to answer since there are so many different and talented Instagramers.
There is for example @irina_jwd, @lindaberlin, @mhuergao, @konaction, @massju, @stina_valensina, , @mr_sunset … just to name a few.

Tell us a little about your everyday. (Family, friends, work, etc.)

I’m a student, so I spend most of my days in university. I also work at a lovely Cafe on the side. When I have time between studies and work, i like to go out with family or friends to different places to eat or drink. On other occasions, I take to the streets with my fellow instagramers and capture the city at its best.
Its nice to say that through instagram I have met a lot of interesting people as well as close friends.

The post Insta Fav #ignt_symmetry: ellamsinger appeared first on IGNANT.

Recently we introduced you to our new Insta Favs challenge that offers you a chance to actively promote your own account to become a future Insta Fav.

Every Thursday we announce a certain topic via a hashtag, afterwards you’ll have 4 days to make a photo working with that topic and upload it to your Instagram using the hashtag. Who shot the best image will be featured as our Insta Fav in the following week. This weeks topic is #ignt_symmetry and here are a few rules and tips:

– The goal this week is to take a creative photo that plays with symmetry. Let your imagination run free.
– Please only submit your own photographs to the project. Any image tagged until Monday is eligible to be featured right here.
– If you want to submit your photo, use the hashtag #ignt_symmetry and upload your photo until Sunday the 01.03 on your Instagram account.

Have fun and good luck, we can’t wait to see your submissions.

Valencia-based amateur photographer and student of architecture Daniel Rueda won the following feature with his picture for our last weeks topic #ignt_balloons. Thank you for all your submissions.

Follow: @drcuerda

When and where did you take the picture? Tell us a little about the idea behind it.
Well, my partner in crime @anniset and I are always trying to bring new and fun ideas to life with our images. So, when we decided to create a balloon-themed picture, I immediately started to think about the feeling of lightness you always get when you grab a balloon. As a kid, I used to think I could take off the ground if I would grab enough of them. And that is basically the whole idea.

I would grab Anna’s foot in midair so that we could fly away… Which sounds really cheesy now that I wrote it down! I also wanted to create a very geometrical 45-degrees composition, but timing the shot perfectly on frame while standing up or jumping would’ve been way too complicated, so I came up with this little idea. Laying down on the floor would do the trick more easily. That gave me more time to think about other important things such as the specific position of our bodies and the black and white combination of our clothes and the balloons as well. And that’s pretty much it! However, whenever I think in this particular picture I feel very thankful for Anna’s mother, she was the one patiently holding the phone up on the roof of her house and shooting as many takes as it took. So all the credits should go to her.

Where are you from? How does that place influence the way you photograph?
I’m from Spain. I was born in a town called Albacete but I’m currently based in Valencia. Therefore, it is never too cold to go outside to look for new adventures – and that is pretty cool, right?! But there’s pros and cons for everything. In my photography, I’m usually looking for an homogeneous and tender light, but here the sky is so clear that sometimes I need to wait for the last minutes of the day to catch that softer light of the dawn in order to get rid of that striking shadow behind me.

Who and what are the things that inspire you?
Pretty much everything really! It sounds cliche, but it is true! A movie, a book, a song, a person, a word! Everything can turn out to be a photo. Although I must say architecture it really is my thing. Clean and empty large spaces drive me crazy.

Tell us what’s usually in your toolkit when leaving the house.
There is one thing you need to know about me. I’m a a man to his backpack attached! But it’s filled up with goodies. I live a few miles from the inner core of the city so I have to spend a great deal of time a day in the subway train. And I hate wasting time! So if we ever came across in one of the wagons, I will surely be reading a book or watching a documentary on my iPad; my one and only true companion. Nor can I be separated from my sketchbook and, of course, my iPhone. I can’t image a single day without one of those.

Your favorite instagrammers?
That is the hardest questions you could ever ask me! I’m going to name just a few of them not to leave the question unanswered, but the complete list of my all time favorites will be found in my following list. There is a lot of talent down there!
I love @nunoassis and @catarinalamy use of space in architecture. @ejota_seventyeight and their kids will melt your heart. @huntgram is the most attractive fox ever, and also the best app to discover the most talented people in this app. Pilar’s feed is just beyond words. But if you are crazy about editing, you cannot miss Javier’s account. Enjoy!

Which Apps do you use to edit your pictures?
Same old, same old! I use the classic Snapped-VSCO combo for level adjustments, and sometimes I use Instagram’s own app for the latest minor tweaks right before sharing it.

Tell us a little about your everyday. (Family, friends, work, etc.)
I woke up early everyday (or at least I try!) and I get on the train to get to the city while swallowing the last drop of my coffee… I’m a soon-to-be architect, which means I spend most of my time working on my thesis project. But whenever I’m not struggling with architecture, I love getting involved into very different kind of projects. I’m an architectural photographer who loves making videos and crafting graphic and web design… And much, much more! I like to think of myself as a one-man band!
In my spare time I love wandering the city with Anna looking for new adventures, although I enjoy a lot going to the cinema or watching a documentary at home… Which may not sound so exciting, but I really love it anyway.

The post Insta Fav #ignt_balloons: Daniel Rueda appeared first on IGNANT.

Follow: @pamelaloud

Where are you from? How does that place influence the way you photograph?
I live in Toronto, Canada. Toronto is full of people hustling and finding ways to do what they love. I try to surround myself with like-minded individuals and apply that kind of passion to my own practice.

What are your favorite environments to shoot in?
I like playing around with hard shadows and natural light. Especially the harsh midday sun, where dark is just as important as light. I’m also drawn to clean backgrounds that allow for negative space.

What are the strengths of shooting primarily mobile? How does this affect your imagery?
When shooting with a phone, it’s very easy to move from concept to execution. The grid in Instagram lets you step back and look at your body of work as a whole. When I post, I think about consistency and continuity. The image quality from phones also forces you to get creative with editing.

Who and what are the things that inspire you?
I usually find inspiration when I’m not actively looking for it. I’ll think of a funny line or interesting visual while I’m biking or on the subway. I’ll then go back to it later to figure out how to make something out of it. Other then that, ideas pop up from visiting new places and spending way too much time on the Internet.

Favorite instagrammers?
Everyone I’ve collaborated with in my feed. I’ve also been feeling the graphic minimalism of @kwvvme, @_____NEVA, @pod_1, and @willyverse.

Tell us a little about your everyday.
I run my own business doing freelance photography and videography. On any given day I’m either shooting in the studio or on location, handling estimates and proposals, meeting with clients, or editing. Always editing.

Which Apps do you use to edit your pictures?
I use VSCO Cam and Mextures.

If you’d like to become a future Insta Fav, follow @ignant or post your profile in the comments below. We’ll look into it.

The post Insta Fav #99: Pam Lau appeared first on IGNANT.

Follow: @mentaylunares

Where are you from? How does that place influence the way you photograph?
I was born and raised in the city where I live, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires province, Argentina.
This is one of the most important tourist city of my country and in the summer arrive many tourists to visit its beaches. But I like it when it’s quiet, desolate between the winter cold and the wind from the sea. Then I take the opportunity to discover aspects of it that only found the citizens who live there all year.
Search that solitude think has influenced me a lot, and has led me to portray silent spaces with few people or some detail found.

What are your favorite environments to shoot in?
I love to portray nature, fog, sea. I’m a professional musician and really enjoy capturing moments of study, music scores and rehearsals.

What are the strengths of shooting primarily mobile? How does this affect your imagery?
Most important to work with the phone its that it’s an object that you carry everywhere and if you pay attention, there are always opportunities to find a beautiful photography. This habit usually reflects your day to day, personal routine and lets you create a closer relationship with followers. It is also very practical and allows you to work in the editing when you have little free time, no matter where you are, even in the taxi!

Who and what are the things that inspire you?
The spontaneous beauty of cities inspired me, find beautiful corners by surprise. Also the music I listen is very inspiring, I have a sort of soundtrack behind each of my photographs. Also I’m inspired by others instagrammers that I follow and admire.

Favorite instagrammers?
I have many favorites instagrammers and its a difficult decision to name just a few. These are the ones I like the most for their creativity: @sjkko, @belilabelle, @domingoxlatarde and for the climates captured: @catherinesomething , @nicolearcuschin, @vivaladiva_ and @annaremarchuk.

Which Apps do you use to edit your pictures?
For edit my pictures I use VSCO Cam and sometimes, if I think is necessary also use Snapseed.

Tell us a little about your everyday.
I live with my boyfriend who is also a musician, so at home there is always background songs. We have a black kitten that always accompanies me when I read, and sleep at our feet. I love biking and is my transport to the theater where I work with the local Symphonic Band. With our friends we love to get together for dinner and talk. We go to the cinema and recitals very often. My work as a musician makes me travel a lot and like to use it to find new places and photograph. Currently I spend much of my time in the creation of my blog which will be able soon.

If you’d like to become a future Insta Fav, follow @ignant or post your profile in the comments below. We’ll look into it.

The post Insta Fav #98: Paula Amenta appeared first on IGNANT.

Follow: @teresacfreitas

Where are you from? How does that place influence the way you photograph?
I grew up and lived all my life in Lisbon, Portugal, in a village by the sea called Cascais. The ocean’s blue is definitely a great inspiration to me. Twice a week I’ll take a walk by the sea, which means that at least once a week you’ll see a photograph in my profile featuring this natural element – normally in a surreal way because the sea is something that has a surreal beauty.
My first photographs have a more urban style and are inspired by Lisbon itself, many times called Portugal’s city of light. I think light is one of the most important and key aspects in taking a great picture, so every now and then I try to portray that in a very literal way.
Lately I’ve turned all my attention to portraits and surrealism, which are two topics that I love to match. The weather in my town serves as the biggest influence for this style. For example, if it’s sunny, I want to make light the primary subject in the portrait; if it’s too bright I want to hide from the light; if it’s cloudy I want to portray daydreaming; if it’s raining, the ambiance will be darker; etc.

What are your favorite environments to shoot in?
Most of my images are captured indoors, in the intimacy of my bedroom. This is the place where I feel the most comfortable and free to experiment. It has big white walls, a beautiful source of light and enough space to place colored cardboards around and any other objects I wish to feature. Outside I prefer natural environments, I am lucky enough to have the blue sea, the green forest and the colorful city just a few moments away from home.

What are the strengths of shooting primarily mobile? How does this affect your imagery?
I think the biggest strengths of mobile photography are it’s immediacy and ubiquity, as I believe many instagrammers will tell you. Phones are not something we choose to bring out for given occasions, they are on our person all the time. I think mobile photography can’t be explained like traditional photography, because this new photographic paradigm of “This is what I just saw” has a very different and powerful connotation, plus the ability to share it in the spectrum of distance has a great impact on the image itself and its meaning.
Although my latest images aren’t so much about what I am seeing, they are very much so about what I am thinking, and the spontaneous capturing of that thought. The ease in which I can capture a thought and rapidly share it with everyone else is the reason why mobile works so well for me. It’s not about photographic skills but rather the sharing of myself and the individual interpretations of others. That’s what interests me the most.

Who and what are the things that inspire you?
I study at Lisbon’s Faculty of Fine Arts and this has been the biggest source of inspiration through the years. All the images and artists that I’ve become to know are shaping my work. Sometimes it’s needless to say, but the surrealist painter Magritte is probably the most unconscious inspiration that I have. I do not think of him or his work when I have an idea, but my pictures almost always have a subtle or obvious hint of his style.
I am also very influenced by the cosmos and the images we see given by NASA and the Hubble Space Telescope or even vintage representations of it. The most beautiful thing we have in our lives is the universe, I think.

Favorite instagrammers?
That’s really a though call. I love so many different instagrammers with different styles! At the top of my head, I can name 6 instagrammers whose images have affected me in some way: marielleko_, voodoolx, amandakusai, mariana_msr, mentaylunares, gabriel_isak. However, all the instagrammers I follow are somehow my favorite, so check them out.

Which Apps do you use to edit your pictures?
​I use VSCO Cam for filters, photoshop for minor and quick editing (deleting a part of my body, normally!) and Sketchbook X to paint some stars and dust on top.​

Tell us a little about your everyday.
I work and study with images, one way or the other. Photography, design and illustration are my key interests. I love the support, specially regarding photography, of my boyfriend, my big family and my friends.
​I have said this once in an image​​​ about myself​​: My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been.​ And I’m not just talking about physical places, but imaginative ones too. I try to challenge myself everyday with my images.
I constantly have to deny myself of sweets during every single day of the year and my very unsuccessful moto is “tomorrow i’ll wake up early and”.

If you’d like to become a future Insta Fav, follow @ignant or post your profile in the comments below. We’ll look into it.

The post Insta Fav #97: Teresa Freitas appeared first on IGNANT.

Follow: @benjaminholtrop

Where are you from? How does that place influence the way you photograph?
I grew up within the countryside of the beautiful Pacific Northwest, specifically Washington & Oregon. I am the oldest of five kids and we lived on a farm where we could run wild, build forts, and make messes. I think this is the reason I am drawn to nature and the interaction of people within those natural environments. My childhood experiences of living off the land gave me a deep appreciation for food, resourcefulness, & craft which I feel is reflected within my photographic and styling work.

I am currently in Portland, Oregon and I have found that this city is filled with so many creatives and I am always inspired by their hard work and want for community. I think that Portland’s food & design scene has also given so many opportunities for creative collaboration. Also, Portland is smack dab in the middle of the Pacific Northwest and the landscape & greenery is breathtaking – which then you just want to photograph everything.

What are your favorite environments to shoot in?
Natural ones for sure BUT I think the one thing that I look for is the light. I love environments that let the subject(s) take precedence and I end up using neutral backgrounds. I also LOVE to photograph people among nature and botanicals.

What are the strengths of shooting primarily mobile? How does this affect your imagery?
One of the cool things about shooting mobile is the fact that you have a camera with you most of the time and because of that you are able to document things quickly. I love getting to know people on a personal level and I have found that taking a mobile portrait during or after have spending time with them has made each interaction more meaningful. Mobile photography has definitely made it easier to take those portraits.

Who and what are the things that inspire you?
Who – Historical photographers & artists such as Richard Avedon, Vivian Maier, Dorothea Lange Rembrandt, Matisse, & Joseph Cornell
Current Photographers – Parker Fitzgerald, Sally Mann, Annie Leibovitz, Tim Walker & Patrick Demarchelier

What – light, botanicals, poetry, fine art, interiors, birds, design, & fashion

Favorite instagrammers?
Ah there are tooooo many :) Here are my top 12:
@kessara, @nana_ha, @anotherfeather, @aguynamedpatrick, @kinfolk, @blnx, @mattscorte, @creelanejones, @amandajanejones, @mkmicho, @victorstonem, @local_milk

Which Apps do you use to edit your pictures?
I use VSCO Cam & Snapseed.

Tell us a little about your everyday.
9:00AM – wakeup (ok- I like my sleep and I’m more of a night owl)
9:15AM – check phone & email ( I just have to)
9:30AM – drink something – coffee or tea (not really a breakfast person)
10 AM – respond to emails and go over to do list for the day
11 AM – either take or edit photos
12 PM – meet or have over some friends for lunch (usually that ends up being a creative planning party)
1:00 PM – curate social media outlets (I’m kinda obsessed with pinterest)
1:30 PM – Check emails again (usually have to respond a slew of them)
2:00 – 5:30 PM – HARD CORE WORK TIME. Could be either doing photography, styling work, leading team meetings, go over editorial content & brand development, planning editorials, sourcing creatives or product for upcoming projects.
5:30 PM – Throw together a plan for dinner most likely around the plan that friends or family will come over.
8:30 PM – Check emails again (its never ending)
9:00 PM – curate social media outlets
9:30 PM – catch up some tv shows
10:00 PM – Check emails & do any pressing work or editing (yes again)
11:00 PM – Go over next day’s to do list
11:30 PM – read something (into the Wildwood Series as of late)
12:00 PM – Check email one last time & go to bed

If you’d like to become a future Insta Fav, follow @ignant or post your profile in the comments below. We’ll look into it.

The post Insta Fav #96: Benjamin Holtrop appeared first on IGNANT.

Follow: @anniset

Where are you from? How does that place influence the way you photograph?
I’m from Valencia, Spain, but my little secret is that I live in a tiny village really close to the city. Growing up here means being 5 minutes far from the Mediterranean, enjoying good lighting the 365 days of the year and being surrounded by soft colours façades and fields. So when I go out, I find myself dreaming new ideas to shoot here or there. Well, I confess it happens also when I’m working at home… I guess I’m the whole day dreaming.

What are your favorite environments to shoot in?
As you can imagine I shoot always outdoors, looking for a clean composition and natural light. It doesn’t matter if the idea I’m trying to catch is too crazy or weird and some curious people decide to observe during the shooting. I have fun during the process and I like to share that feeling. My neighbors are starting to get used to this peculiar scenes.

What are the strengths of shooting primarily mobile? How does this affect your imagery?
The immediacy. Having a camera always in your pocket makes you wander with the eyes wide open. I would even say, it is like seeing the world through new eyes because you pay attention to details that you never noticed before. It allows us to be more spontaneous, you never know where your day may take you.

Who and what are the things that inspire you?
I can’t exactly say what inspires me. A word can be enough to have thousand ideas. That’s why I like so much to play with the WHP that Instagram purposes every week. It is perfect to leave the creativity flow and to spend a good time with the ones you love, my family is always involved and asking what’s the next mission and it is also an excuse to look for adventures with my other half, @drcuerda

Favorite instagrammers?
This is the most difficult question because every instagrammer I follow has something special and the combination of their styles makes me enjoy checking Instagram. It is impossible not to get inspired by @drcuerda during our adventures. I am also curious about the ones that lives @lily__rose during her trips, I love to travel to Asia though @puanindya and @sadawayans‘ eyes. I’m always ready to cross the Atlantic and enjoy the clever and funny compositions of @llewllewtoo and @justinisjoy. Some other of my favorites have been Ignant’s selections like @piluro, @connortd, @annararo, @adriancanolo… And I could continue and make a long list but as I’ve said… you better check my following list that keeps growing. Instagram is full of creativity!

Tell us a little about your everyday.
These days I’m living an unusual day-to-day. I’m finishing the architecture degree so the latter months have been literally crazy. I’m designing a nursery school in India as my thesis, and I ‘m so excited! When I’m not that busy I’m always working in several things at the same time. Few years ago my friends and I created a collective named Crearqcio and we’ve been working together since then. We’ve done from an architectural exhibition to the construction of a monument for Fallas, the big fest of my city. I also collaborate in WAP Valencia: “We are places” showing through pictures the secrets that hides our city. That part requires getting lost with Daniel which is something I really enjoy. And my immediate future plans are related to illustration and design… first things first. But non stop!

Which Apps do you use to edit your pictures?
To edit my pictures I only use VSCO Cam and Snapseed. And sometimes a little last retouch with the Instagram app. The edition options are getting better little by little.

If you’d like to become a future Insta Fav, follow @ignant or post your profile in the comments below. We’ll look into it.

The post Insta Fav #95: Anna Devís Benet appeared first on IGNANT.

Follow: @adriancanolo

Where are you from? How does that place influence the way you photograph?
I live in Madrid, Spain. Although I love my city, I do not feel particularly attached to it. I love traveling and I feel influenced by the experiences I’ve lived in different cities and countries I have visited.

What are your favorite environments to shoot in?
As I said before, my greatest passion in life is traveling and discovering new places. When I’m traveling I like to photograph people traveling with me in different contexts, the local food and places that catch my attention, especially buildings with different/special architectures. I enjoy placing my friends in the same composition with the buildings or skylines at certain times of the day and play with symmetry, light and contrast of the object and the human figure.

When I’m not traveling, my photographs becomes nostalgic. I like noticing the little details of my daily routine. My friends, my girlfriend, my cats and magic spots of my house and my city, always paying attention on the natural light at that time. The photos I take are entries of what I consider my visual diary. If you put together all these pieces you can get an idea of who I am and how I live.

What are the strengths of shooting primarily mobile? How does this affect your imagery?
I think mobile photography has given us the magic of spontaneous photography. Many times, I found this moments that were worth photographing and I lost them because didn’t have a camera with me. With my iPhone I always have a camera in my pocket. I only have to take the picture, make a quick edition and share it with the world.

Who and what are the things that inspire you?
The most inspiring things are usually the simplest. I’m always listening to music and sometimes the song I’m listening takes me to see things differently. That’s why I usually add songs to my photographs to give them context. Another thing that leads me to take pictures is natural light and how it interacts with people and objects. I love the morning light through the windows and whenever I’m traveling I set an alarm to catch the “magic hour”, the time when the sun is about to set and everything changes color in a special way. I’m also obsessed with the geometric shapes and natural symmetry of things: walls, doors, windows, reflections … in contrast with the human figures and bold colors.

Favorite instagrammers?
I love all the pictures of @tiempodecerezas, she is my biggest inspiration and the other half of my visual diary, as I share everything with her. The creativity without limits and the colors of @annararo’s photos. @imartavargas beautiful images and the way she express her daily life in Stockholm. Smooth colors, great compositions and optimism of @piluro’s feed. And the sense of humor and funny compositions in @anniset’s pictures.

Which Apps do you use to edit your pictures?
I mainly edit with VSCO Cam choosing the filter that best fits with the pictures and making image adjustments if they’re needed. After that I can do some more local adjustments using Snapseed and if the image has any perspective issues, I recently discovered SKRWT, which works great.

Tell us a little about your everyday.
I live in a small apartment in the center of Madrid with Erea (my girlfriend) and my two cats, Nemo and Zissou (Erea and I created a hashtag for each cat #nemothecaptain & #zissouthecaptain to show pictures of our cats to our friends). I work as a personal trainer teaching video and photo editing but thanks to Instagram during this past year I have been able to partially make a living out of photography with Erea, making photo shoots, directing a music video and working with brands such as Reebok, Jameson, Audi, Movistar or Happy Socks. A few weeks ago I was invited to Antwerp to enjoy the city, meet new people and share my experiences through my Instagram feed. It was great!

Also, a few months ago my girlfriend and some friends encouraged me to start my own blog, where I share pictures taken with my cameras in my travels along with anecdotes that I like to remember. Only publish a few pictures with a little text accompanying the images, that’s why I decided to call it Momentos.

If you’d like to become a future Insta Fav, follow @ignant or post your profile in the comments below. We’ll look into it.

The post Insta Fav #94: Adrián Cano appeared first on IGNANT.

Follow: nana_ha

Where are you from? How does that place influence the way you photograph?
I live and work in Copenhagen, Denmark. Naturally, this is where I take the majority of my photos. Though my feed is very much characterized by a clean, Scandinavian aesthetic. I am always much more inspired to take photos while travelling; seeing new things, and talking to people about how life in their part of the world is like. I just got back to Copenhagen after three months in New York, and to be honest, this city doesn’t inspire the least these days. But I know it will come back, it always does.

What are your favorite environments to shoot in?
I’d like to think that my feed is a mix of a lot of different environments, but the truth is, I mostly shoot interiors. I used to have more Copenhagen in my feed, but lately, I am inspired by a more neutral color palette (and white), which is not always easy to find in the streets of Copenhagen.

But I shoot as I go; if a scene is there, I take a photo. It’s not always as arranged and organized as people think (except for when I post styled photos from my home; those are of course styled!), but I shoot whatever I like and whatever fits my feed. I feel I have become better at choosing what and what not to post. My photos are sometimes personal, but never private. They often show small scenes of my life, but I don’t use Instagram as a 1:1 reflection of my life – far from it. Mostly because I don’t need 100K people knowing what I am up to all the time – only if this is relevant of some sort or there is a pretty picture to be taken.

What are the strengths of shooting primarily mobile? How does this affect your imagery?
I only shoot with my iPhone for Instagram. It’s always with me, always super easy and ever since I got an iPhone 6 a few months ago, I have been even more statisfied with the quality.

Who and what are the things that inspire you?
Nature, beautifully decorated cafes and restaurants, open spaces, streets, houses, buildings. Simplicity.

Which Apps do you use to edit your pictures?
I use Afterlight and that’s it. As many others, I have flirted around with VSCO and a couple of other apps, but I have come to the conclusion that less is more. I never use any filters, just adjust the brightness, contrast and saturation. In my opinion, a well edited photo is one that does not look edited. It is, of course, because most photos benefit from a little help. But only a little bit!

Tell us a little about your everyday.
My days are pretty flexible, which I am very grateful for. I am still a student studying on my last semester and pretty soon, I am getting started on my master thesis. In reality, I was supposed to start a couple of months ago, but it seems like work always comes in way. I work as a journalist for the Danish food magazine Copenhagen Food and besides that, I do a lot of freelance work. So my days usually consists of researching, talking to people, visiting places, taking photos for guides to Copenhagen and of course, writing. As much as I enjoy taking photos, writing is my number one priority. I like to tell stories, and right now, I mostly tell them about food and travel. Maybe one day, I’ll tell somehing else.

Favorite instagrammers?
There are a whole bunch. Some of them are; @annararo for her simple creativity; @sundaysuppers for her photos of the Brooklyn studio that I miss a lot; @louiselj for her beautiful dark tones, @idalaerke for being one of the first Instagrammers interpret aesthetic onto Instagram and for inspiring so many people along her way; @_foodstories_ for being amazing food photographers, @kimothyolsen for being so true to his style and for playing with surrealism, @dantom for amazing nature and landscapes, @bythebrush for her dreamy universe, @oliviathebauth for her colorful and graphic universe. And I promise, there are so many more, this was not easy!

If you’d like to become a future Insta Fav, follow @ignant or post your profile in the comments below. We’ll look into it.

The post Insta Fav #93: Nana Hagel appeared first on IGNANT.