Like it or not, instagram reels are here to stay. From whimsical collage reels, reels of a few seconds of mundane moments, ‘before and after editing’ clips, and videos with lots of photos playing at ultra high speed, photographers are finding new ways to showcase their works in a new medium. This medium caught my eye as it seems to make people unable to appreciate the works in detail, but in fact it makes photographer’s works even more accessible in the age of consuming ‘content’ at a high speed, and giving viewers a new aspect to appreciate their works by creating ‘impression’ or ‘vibe’, amplifying the visceral side of appreciating photographs.
The change of displaying photographs
Before the age of social media, photography, or other forms of art, were supposed to be consumed, and created at a much slower pace. They are displayed in art books, galleries, prints, and websites. People usually gave more time to view the works. But with the rise of social media, the distribution of photography is at an unprecedentedly high speed and volume. With the help of algorithms, more people get to consume quality photographic content. The scene of platforms of photo curation is burgeoning. Users are constantly bombarded with images. Photographers do not only need to produce works of high quality at a faster speed in order to keep up with the pace, they also have to produce eye-catching content to attract viewers.
The new opportunity
Reels are both a challenge and an opportunity for photographers – on one hand they may have to post more ‘behind-the-scene’ or ‘personal’ content to build connection with the community, which some may find it difficult to do as they feel the process is personal and private to them; on the other hand they can share their works in a different aspect with a more stimulating and attention-grabbing medium. Sure, showing a series of photos to tell a story, for comparison or contrast, can be done in conventional media like photo books and prints, but with movements and audio involved, it makes the presentation of work even more impactful, eye-catching and maybe more easily digested.
The impression or details?
How about the reels that flashes images at split seconds or a few seconds of a single footage? The former seems to make it hard to focus on one image, and the latter may not be able to tell a story. That was what I thought too, until I chatted with my mom on this topic – ‘it is all about impressions’, she said. And then I understood the appeal of this type of reels. Reels aren’t designed to be lengthy and for detailed viewing in the first place, it’s about grabbing attention. They’re for mostly lighthearted subjects and designed for a casual and playful setting. The medium itself has already given the viewers a set idea of types of content to be consumed, and way of consuming the content. This is where high speed videos of snapshots, which are frequently seen in lifestyle reels, and reels of several seconds, recording one scene, make sense. The photos or footage don’t have to be the best batch, but some decent or above average snapshots will suffice. Also, they don’t have to be completed pieces of work on their own. With the music, it is to create an impression, a feeling in certain scenes. It is about gathering mundane moments and appreciating the surroundings. Photographers utilize this format to showcase their work in a more casual setting, and also connect to the audience in a more visceral manner. After all, moving images are highly appealing and people usually remember things as a whole and the feelings associated with them, not the details.
Reels may not be a way to view photos in detail, but they act as a complementary medium to display images and tell stories in a different aspect, and somewhat frees photographers from the idea of what makes a certain piece of work ‘makes the cut’. But this won’t lower the quality of the work, it will let photographers view their work in a new angle. The emergence of reels is a reminder for the creatives to experiment with different ways of storytelling, even when one is dedicated to one medium.