Instagram is the only social network that has managed to create its own true community. The people behind Instagram were smart enough to encourage Instagrammers to challenge each other visually, resulting in Instagram’s eminent growth in a relatively short time.
With their weekend hashtag projects, featured users, suggested users and Instameets, they’ve ensured massive user engagement and lots of alluring shots.
I talked to the 11 Egyptian Instagrammers who have been specially featured and suggested by the official Instagram account to unravel the secrets of their photo successes.
We’ll be featuring them all this week, stay tuned!
Eslam Muhammad (@eslamuhammad)
Eslam, is a 23-year-old Business Administration graduate. The wanderer, as I like to call him, is definitely one of my favorite Instagrammers, with his graceful shots and relevant captions.
“I never thought I’ll be a suggested Instagrammer, I just post what I like and that’s all,” he eplained. “I did this ‘Side-notions’ series and I think it was pretty creative for my mind as well as the ‘Frame’ series, those projects might have been the reason why Instagram noticed my pictures.”
Odds. A photo posted by Back and Forth. (@eslamuhammad) on
Eslam uses his iPhone camera and calls his style “bits of all”, but now he’s focusing more on doing photo series and documenting places and events.
He’s against the use of Instagram for advertising and prefers the artistic side of it.
Out of food. A photo posted by Back and Forth. (@eslamuhammad) on
“It’s quite difficult shooting in Egypt sometimes, particularly in Cairo,” he says. “People are pretty xenophobic and get paranoid easily and act as if my camera is weapon.”
“Honestly, I sometimes get jealous of those Instagrammers who weren’t recognized by Instagram,” he continued. “It gives them more freedom and space, but as a suggested person you feel like your profile doesn’t belong to you anymore.”
Flesh and bones. A photo posted by Back and Forth. (@eslamuhammad) on
He is very passionate about Instagram and believes it adds an extra sense to his eyes.
“On Instagram, I feel like I’m on a cultural roll and I’m trying to not let it take me by storm,” he says. “It’s really daunting. Beautifully daunting.”
It happens… A photo posted by Back and Forth. (@eslamuhammad) on
Instagram made Eslam look into art-related vacancies. He would love to pursue a career in photography and videography. He’s currently preparing his first exhibition with other photographers, although he doesn’t like to define himself as one.
WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss the other featured Instagrammers: @ahmad_abi, @ahmed_saeed, @ddinaali, @daniahany_ and @dishahisham