Instagram’s Treasure Hunters

3 Feb 2021

Occasionally, I take a photo that I feel really pleased with, and if I’m honest, the reason I’m happy with it is because it feels like a photo that I might ‘like’ on Instagram.

Is that a funny thing to say? It’s not news to anyone that imitation (very different from coyping) is very a valuable learning tool, and getting the opportunity to see the world through other peoples’ eyes on Insta has definitely helped me learn a great deal about how to notice, compose and frame my own photographs.

In that spirit, here’s the work of a few talented Instagrammers whose posts inspire me as I go about my day, noticing the world around me.

I’ve been following Jonathan Lo of @happymundane for years. He has a gift for framing colour and shape compositions using the Southern Califormia light as it falls on neighbourhood buildings. I’ve learned a lot from his pics.
IMHO, @brandonlavender is the ultimate visual treasure hunter, because of the way he finds absolute gold in places and scenes around his Baltimore neighbourhood that most would discard as quite irredeemable. Compositions, shadows, crops.. oh my gosh, I’m crushing!
Cape Town designer and photographer @gabrielleguy has a similar talent for composition and shape-hunting, and if you’re able to get your hands on any of her own photography publications, you can pore over them away from Instagram too. Gabby’s wicked eye for framing suburban architectural detail has me simultaneously wincing and yearning.
Kim Wlavisch Bukshteyn, AKA @sublurb is another suburban treasure hunter, across the pond in the suburbs of Melbourne, where the most mundane dwellings and details become something worth noticing. Check out the book too, called The Burbs.

Some treasure hunters do their noticing through a viewfinder, others do it through their pens and pencils.

Shaun Gaylard of @blankinkdesign has been working on a mammoth project, spending a full year creating 365 architectural drawings of South African buildings. It’s been great to follow on Insta, and now it’s a book too! Find out more here.
@xee_summer (she of the amazing illustration style and colour use!) has been taking the time to draw some of her favourite places around Cape Town lately. This is one of my faves too, Xee!

Do you have a favourite Instagram treasure hunter too? Someone whose work inspires you to go out and do some treasure hunting of your own? Let me know!

And if you’d like my tips for how to LOOK better, in order to see more treasure,  take a look at my article here.

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