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!
Ahmed Saeed (@ahmed_saeed)
Saeed, 29 year old, an interior designer with a huge passion for traveling, was one of the first Egyptian Instagrammers to be suggested and featured by Instagram.
“I have been trying to travel more lately, and I was traveling through Iran when it happened. I had no access to my e-mails because it’s all blocked in Iran. I couldn’t understand what was going on as I was getting lots of followers each day,” he told us.
“Later, Instagram featured one of my photos from Iran on their weekly best grid and I found out I have been added as a suggested user while I was there. I guess the fact that I was in Iran at the time drew their attention to my photos,” he explained.
Saeed, who mostly uses his iPhone camera to capture those gorgeous shots, likes to call his Instagram account a travel journal as he posts extensively when he is traveling.
#spammingyoufromlondon” (Via)
He thinks being featured by Instagram puts some pressure on you: “You feel like you have to rise to the occasion, but after a while you chill. I mean, it kinda made Instagram not so much fun with the massive attention, but now I’m over it.”
Saeed is looking forward to his solo exhibition and is grateful for the people and the places he came to know through Instagram.
#SpammingYouFromJordan” (Via)
“Sometimes Instagram is inspiring to me, especially when I’m planning to travel. I check photos of the places I’m going to, find out about new venues and things to do,” he said.
I chewed 1000 years old pieces of ice yesterday 🙂
#spammingyoufromiceland” (Via)
“Honestly, I’m mostly interested in people who travel and share their experiences through Instagram,” he said. “There are so many people who are doing amazing long trips around the world, it’s always interesting to follow their tracks and sort of provoking, too, but in a good way.”
WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss the first featured Instagrammer from Egypt: @ahmad_abi