Instagram Gets Modern

Instagram's new icon.

What does his mean for the hipsters? 

After years of waiting and hoping, Instagram gets a new icon and a mordernized interface. As one of my favorites in social networking, I'm pleased to see it moving forward... admittedly, I'm not sure about the icon. I don't think I'm thrilled with it but the hurrah over how "ugly" it is seems highly exaggerated. 

The interface is overall much cleaner and I could see these changes coming with some adjustments made in the app recently such as flatter, less colorful UI features.

Technology is like a fast moving river. One can try to swim against the current and fail. One can also get swept away in the flow of water into confusion; perhaps drown in it. Or one can navigate the river like so many pioneers before and use the waterways to one's advantage. 

My experience in the industry, many fight changes in technology and cause themselves much frustration and irritation. Technology is change. I have made my way navigating the technological river and built a huge skill set rivaled my few.  

For right now, the icon is fine and the interface is great. Besides, if a change in icon is the worst thing to happen to a beloved app, consider it a first world problem like having too many choices at one's favorite burrito joint.

The *real* problem is that the new icon doesn't go with any of the other icons on my home screen. 

Mirrorless Camera Myth as Debunked by Olympus

Many will speak of what you can and can't do with a camera. That a camera isn't "pro" enough, that is doesn't have the image quality of X camera, or speak of some other "can't" 'whatever' with Y camera because it doesn't meet something they have deemed as a baseline for all cameras.

I certainly don't subscribe to such things. Here is a quick read by the makers of one of the most incredible mirrorless systems around, Olympus.

 http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/myths

Micro Four Thirds vs. Medium Format (film)

A dark path one walks down when discussing technology with most photographers. This is especially true when comparing different brands, lenses, sensors, etc. I have my opinions on various technologies and such but, having worked in the technology industry for 15 years, my experience has taught me that there are few technologies that are inherently "better" than another but exist in a much grayer area.

It is no secret that one of my favorite cameras to shoot with is my Olympus E-M5 (Micro Four Thirds) camera. The quality is excellent from both a technical standpoint and imaging.

“Image quality is a multidimensional thing, some of which can be quantified and some not. Still, by no measure of image quality does a good Micro 4/3 camera and lens perform more poorly than a good medium format film rig, and by some measures it performs considerably better. My overall subjective evaluation is that the aggregate image quality of Micro 4/3 today, in film terms, falls midway between 6×7 medium format and 4×5-inch large format.

Almost everyone you can find who is still arguing that Micro 4/3 can’t match up to professional film has not done substantial amounts of serious work in both media. I believe the technical term is ‘talking through one’s hat.”

— The Online Photographer

The Online Photographer: Micro Four Thirds vs. Medium Format.

Let no one tell you your gear isn't "good enough" or that a "real" photographer would never use it or what you "should" be using. If they do, ignore them.