As the curator of Instagramers USA (@IGersUSA) and a moderator for Instagramers Boston (@IGersBoston), Franklin resident Marianne Strong cares as deeply about the growing community of Boston photographers — of which she’s an avowed, enthusiastic member — as she does the remarkably radiant landscapes and locales captured on her personal account (@marianne_strong). She spoke from Tokyo, where she’s vacationing and bringing followers along for the ride.
Q.What is it like to be so involved with the community aspect of Instagram?
A. I moved to Boston a year and a half ago and didn’t know a single person. And I really found a home in the Boston Instagram community, and a large part of that was the IGers community, which is where I found some of my closest friendships since I moved to the area. So it’s more than taking pictures and it’s more than hashtagging a hub; it’s a true family. Most of my photographs are shot with friends whom I formulated through that connection and interaction.
Q.What attracted you originally to the app?
A. There was something about the concept of sharing beauty and capturing travels, adventures, and experiences in a photograph. I loved that concept, and the simplicity of it. I’ve only been doing it for the past two years, but I love traveling, so for me it was also an opportunity to connect with people who had my same interests.
Q.You’ve taken on leadership roles somewhat quickly, given how recently you became a community member. What led to you to that?
A. Just my love of the community — I’ve tried to be really supportive of [community-related] events and the photographers. When you take a genuine interest in something, that’s meaningful to people, and it also builds a level of trust and confidence in others when you’re sincere in your interactions.
Q.What is your approach to photography?
A. I’m an adventurer with a camera in my hand. I always chuckle when someone asks about photography, because taking photos never was about photography for me. It was so much more about the experience. ... Each photograph, for me, is a representation of a memory shared with people, like a bookmark in my life. I also love shooting with people who are so much more talented and skilled that I feel like I’m just constantly learning. So each photograph is about a friend teaching me to shoot the moon, something I’ve never done before, or a friend showing me how to shoot a bird, despite me never having seen that kind of bird before.
Q.Your Instagram features very vivid landscapes from all over the world. What draws you to those subjects?
A. I absolutely love architecture and bridges — the structure, the creativity, the intellect that goes into their designs, I’m fascinated by it. I joke with people that it’s so simple to shoot, but I also find so much beauty in it. That’s something about traveling the world — seeing the architecture and landscapes that are always changing and varying in different countries and cultures.
Isaac Feldberg can be reached by email at isaac.feldberg@g lobe.com, or on Twitter at @i_feldberg.
