Instagram is a lie. 

Instagram and all other platform have one issue: they keep you away from doing photography, or music or whatever, you have to spend an extremely amount of time to keep it running. Time you will loose doing the real stuff you like to do.

"do not resent growing old, many are denied the privilege". - Irish proverb

The irony of “liking” this video is not lost on me. However, it’s a solid message.

I'm closer to 70 than 60 and I believe I'm the best version of myself. I used to fret over age but realized it was just making me feel old. A bonus is that my photography is better than it has ever been. Be true to yourself, not the twenty-somethings that think they have everything figured out.

Instagram is a reflection of humanity, most easily identified when a photo of a good looking person gets 1000X more likes than a photo of a rare bird that took months to track and photograph ;)

A particularly good video. I liked this one a lot! As to age ... I live in London and I am 73 years old. I am a full-time teacher of Aeronautical, Engineering and Automotive training courses and I love it. I go out almost every weekend in London doinf street photography which I also love. I have NEVER, EVER worried about age, or growing old.

The KEY take away: “There are a good photographers then there are good Instagramers.”

I picked up my first camera in May 2019 at the age of 63. Became obsessed with IG and recently decided to funnel that energy towards yoga, indoor plants and publishing my first photobook, at age 65, which will be up on Amazon in July. I'm ready to start posting on IG again now that I've found some balance.

There must be at least one (million?) modern day Van Gogh with tremendous talent and nearly no likes on social media

50? Pah! I turned 61 last month - trust me, 50 is nothing! I was a professional photographer for ~20 years (20-40), and a professional woodworker for about the same. I started my RU-vid channel aged 56, and I went full-time last year, a little before my 60th. Instagram is great, I post daily to promote my RU-vid, but I don't think it's the platform to showcase 'serious' photography and I agree 100% that all these platforms that just show the end results - rather than the graft that's been put in - can give the wrong impression entirely. Great vid, thanks!

Best part about being in 50’s is that you don’t care.

Loved this perspective, Ted!

As a hobbyist, self gratification is always how I evaluate myself. I don’t have a single photo on my walls, and all my work is available for everybody for free.

Instagram was amazing at the start until Facebook took over and now it’s just a dogs breakfast

A photograph cannot be defined by the amount of 'likes' on Instagram, as long as the photographer loves it.

Instagram is dumb and toxic for the mind in general, but especially for photography. Usually, "likes" don't in the slightest sense correlate to how good a photo is. I've seen massive "likes" on so many +1000 saturation, +1000 contrast, photoshopped background (where the light is in the complete opposite direction to the foreground's light), and kindergarten level composition. Sometimes I wonder if people who like those photos are blind? Or maybe bots. On top of that you're looking at an ad every 3-4 posts. Seriously??? You probably get less ads from watching TV. Unless you're already successful (likely because you got fans from other platforms or started like 5-10 years back), I highly advise against putting effort into the platform. It's complete garbage, it warps your perception, it wastes your time, and it'll probably give you mental illness over time.

This is a great conversation. I'm 71. In my 20s I was a musician / composer and making a pretty good living at it. I got more serious about it and went back to school in my 30s. Midway through my 30s (1980s) I had to abort music and got a gig working corporate cuz I had a family. I stressed out so much over what success meant. Now, I simply enjoy being creative. I love photography, making videos, writing, creating music. I think I've learned that it is what it is, some 'make it' some don't through the weird lenses of our culture and media. It simply gets down to time. You only have so much it. How are you going to spend it? I'm no saint and I certainly don't have it all figured out, but I tend to follow my own advice and take the path towards my joy. Social Media is totally weird these days and your points are well taken. It's not like the online frontier of the 80s and 90s for sure. It seems now to be by default about branding. After all, we're all capitalist's and have something to sell is the Holy Chalice. This mindset, culture, platform politic, machine learned behavior, AI manipulation is becoming exhaustive and in the end destroys the creative process. So to your point about being 20 years old is well taken. Practice! Patience! Persistence! Right? No shortcuts...

This was so much more than the title suggested. One of my favorite channels, artists, creators, photographers, and thinkers. Great message, brother, cheers to more to come from you!

"Instagrams easy when you're in your twenties and cool and hip" Literally hundreds of millions of 20's something who's getting nowhere on Instagram : Am I a joke to you?

Three years to grow a little and not a single client, lots of effort and cero gain. Got much more from just studying, taking pictures and promoting myself the "the old way" bussines cards and face to face interactions... Still use it as a virtual portfolio...

Ted thank you. You are always right on point. You are one of the best speakers on this platform and your content is always extremely informative and thought provoking. I'm turning 75 in a short minute and believe me this social media challenge is extremely daunting to say the least. I've been looking through the lens since I was 13 because of my fathers love for photography. I called him a professional a mature because he never did it for money but just for the love. He had a dark room in the garage and loved printing his work just as much as shooting. Getting back to my point. I dabbled in my teens but never really got a real camera until I was 21 in Hongkong on R&R from Nam. I was a Navy Tugboat Man. Fortunately I landed a job out of High School at Warner Bros Studios which they had to give back to me after the war. Like you I was falling in love with being a musician and brought a Gibson 335 back home from duty. Working the studio and playing at night I was in the best of both worlds. I was falling in love with the motion picture process and the music revolution that was all pretty intriguing. Ok cut to the chase. I'm currently still in love with my music and all the more with photography. Here's why I related to this story because I'm old and tired and constantly challenged by possible impending health issues and the reality of the fright at the end of the tunnel. I'm not giving up. I won't give up I can't give up. I have to much to share with my family , friends and the art world that's surrounding us through social media. I need to leave some of what I've created as part of a legacy to prove I was here and contributed art that can live on forever. So to the folks who get frustrated with slow moving traffic.....Fuck That. You can't rush art. Just stays ted fast and never stop challenging yourself. Keep seeking new concepts and always try them out if they ring your bell. But most importantly never give up your vision because you think someone else has a better one. Your personal view point is worth everything. There is where you get to tell the joke. If you stay there the world will laugh the hardest right there with you. Stay well Ted please keep this wonderful platform alive and enriched with all your brilliance and excitement for the most powerful art form this planet has ever experienced. Thank you sir. Much love. Send a note if ever you care to. That would be grand. freddycoolpix@gmail.com

Even as someone you'd consider "young and hip", I get frustrated with the platform as well bc people my age think Instagram = photography, and a lot of those people don't exactly have talent, they just chase trends

Some people just put too much importance on social media. I just share my work on Instagram for others to see my images without any expectation of getting anything back from it.

Perfect perspective and it’s important we sit and reflect and make sure we are striving for the right things.

Photography in 2021 is no different than any other career has been the past two hundred years: it takes YEARS TO DEVELOP... MUCH SACRIFICE... and MANY 'RISKS' WITH NO OBVIOUS GUARANTEES OF SUCCESS... but this always weeds out the mediocre, the unresolved or those who simply don't have the staying power/determination. **Here's wishing you much additional on-going success, Ted!**

This is why I still love Flickr. I wish more photographers would move there.

I deleted every single social media a year ago. I went back to the basics, shoot and print.

Perfect timing my dude, I'm in my early thirties and needed to hear that. Especially from someone who's opinion I hold in high regard.

"In the real world" - this is exactly what Insta is not. Thanks for your words and saying it out loud.

Thank you for this Ted! I needed this as a good reminder! I am 23 and still have a lot to learn. I am approaching this next decade as a huge learning experience and soaking up everything like a sponge!

I’ve been struggling with getting older myself .. I think about it all the time … needed this Ted .. love you brother

I don't care about influencers, I follow selectively, I avoid bots and follow for follows. Working photojournalist, Instagram works fine to upload one image per day, from the dozens of photos I shoot daily. Those who care about my work follow me avidly, those who don't, I don't care about them. Glad my income doesn't depend on how many followers I have or how many likes I have.

Instagram sucks. Flickr is dead. I no longer share my photos online. I don't care what other people think of my photos anymore.

Ted, Love your videos. A certain part of this video struck me about someone being successful in real life in galleries and the like. It would be interesting to hear you talk about breaking into the field of photography per say away from social media since that seems to be what most people recommend nowadays. I am an engineering graduate from a technical school so I have 0 connections in the industry and have always found it very daunting as to how to even break in and get started.

You are becoming 50 this year and I am having my 6+th birthday tomorrow. We dont give up but we are making the best aut of it! And we don't let anybody dictake whate we have to aim for! Keep creating in your way, that is why we are coming to your channel!

You are right on. Glad you have spoken up. I am 66, lost my wife to a chronic illness, now retired but on another adventure. Just spent the morning up country doing some photography and absolutely loving it. Last week bought my first photo editing program and loving the journey. We have to be ourselves and not let social media influence us to be otherwise. Square pegs don't fit in round holes. Thanks for the great words!!!!

This was a really engaging talk. Well put-together, good presentation. Thank you for sharing!

Springsteen didn't know it, but he was talking about Instagram: "This whole world is out there, just tryin' to score. I seen enough, I don't wanna see any more."

Wonderful video I really enjoyed this opinion piece. The topic of how one shares their work and uses the reaction as a source of inspiration to fuel more work is a very important one. Glad to hear your take on it!

Brilliant! Love the personal perspective. Social media has a habit of putting a positive view out of other people without seeing their struggles. Thanks Ted for being so open

Heck yeah. I just turned 42 and I’m just starting to find recognition. It’s a little youtube, a little instagran, but it’s mostly me and getting my work in front of people printed. THAT ‘s the real world.

I've never liked Instagram as a place to showcase photography. I have many photographer friends who do that, but I don't get much satisfaction out of looking at a 2 x 2.5 inch photo on my cell phone screen, no matter how great the photo. It cannot be fully appreciated in miniature, so after a quick glance I move on. But Instagram has always been mostly about speed and quantity. When I want to view photos I would much rather see them on my computer monitor, enlarged, and take time to sit with and absorb what is before me -- much like sitting in a museum in front of a painting. I enjoy Instagram for the social aspect -- sharing quick pics with friends. But that's about it. Not my choice for sharing or viewing photography as an art form. Good video. Thanks.

This video is as real as it gets. I am 27 and i feel old and boring when on instagram and it got to the point where i simply left social media(except for youtube) almost 1 year ago and i never felt better. I am happy for yo that you find a chance to open up anout the age issue, i think it's just part of life.

Hey Ted, great vid. I just turned 58, I came to photography as a hobby and creative outlet about 2 years ago and I feel so excited about the future of making pictures, I’m currently making my first photo book, its a lot of work, curating, culling, editing sequencing etc etc - hard work is so rewarding. One of my favourite lines is “Life is a do it yourself job” meaning ....nobody is going to do it for you.

Social Media, at it’s best, provides vanity metrics on any content posted. Vanity. That’s it. Keep the metric by which success is measured in perspective to your personal reaction. ✌️

So many truths in this video. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I can relate to Manu of them.

Sometimes I'm guilty of getting frustrated because of social media instead of enjoying photography as my hobby just for myself and to create photographs for my own pleasure, maybe to put on my own wall and not to have something to post on instagram for the sake of numbers. Thank you for the reminder!

Needed to watch this one today. Been struggling so much with social media, specifically IG and the fact I came across this video today when I was ready to give up… means a lot

Sometimes it’s one’s own ethics that may prevent Instagram popularity. The person who is more willing to post soft porn images, for example, will have more views and likes than those who won’t.

Instagram is designed to make money and so it needs people scroll through this content as much time as possible. I know few photographers that are making beautiful imagesand they do photography for living. but they photos have on instagram max few hundred likes. They just dont have time to be on social media. Sometimes I have bad feelings too. Someone who is making overedited photos of their local area with 0 composition have grown much higher than me. But then I remember. I like being out and taking pictures more than sharing them. And whats the point beying famous when you are not happy doing it? Im much happier when someone who meets me in person will tell me that he likes my photos on their own. And my happiest moment while using my camera was pure offline. When I created a short music video on camp for kids with muscular dystrophy. At the last night of the camp I have played them this video on big screen. 50 people were watching it together. Kids and adults. I could everyone see interested for whole 3,5 minutes. And after that everyone literally thanked me for that video. Parents of these kids with hard life told me it means much for them since they can see on the video their kid happy enjoying that moment. The organization that organized this camp and is helping those people asked me for approval to present this video on their international presentation of organizations like this one. They showed me that they took it like a professional video. (It wasnt). Later they uploaded in on youtube and it has only around 4K views. But that very evening I showed it to them... their real reactions meant for me so much more than any likes on social media. Even from real photographers. I dint feel special. I felt useful. Thats why Im making photos and videos. To be hapier.

This is so true Ted. Age is coming for us all, hopefully, so we can't let it stop us. I have been dreaming of photography and video since my early twenties. Last year I turned forty and I took my first paid gig. I learned so much that I am now just pushing forward, but not rushing it. Life is great when you do something you love. Thank you for making such an authentic and great quality channel :) I enjoy watching and listening to you. Have a great weekend!

Phenomenal perspective, and thanks for being open and sharing. Turning 40 in a few months so this definitely hit close to home. Cheers

I'm about ready to quit Instagram -- not because I'm not "succeeding" on it (which was not the reason I joined it), but because there is just so much noise on it I don't care about: too many ads, "stories" I don't give a crap about, etc. I wanted to be inspired by other photographers, but mostly I just shake my head and go look at images on Flickr or something. If I were trying to drum up business via social media, I'm sure I'd think differently about it, but so far nobody has gotten any business from _me_ via their Instagram postings, so :shrug:

it's a 'marketplace' and microcosm of society - only a staggeringly small percentage will succeed at the highest level. most of that small few will have achieved their success for extrinsic reasons... ie, most that succeed will already have been wealthy/famous, had connections, etc. I don't think this necessarily correlates with how talented the person may be or how much work they may have put in. another factor is their (I would call it a lack of) ethics, and their willingness to do things that most otherwise "decent" people may not. wherever there is corporate money involved, it becomes a race to the bottom. people will do all sorts of stuff for fame - all in what amounts to be a myopic, reckless pursuit of short term profit. I feel at least a good portion of the people who succeed, weather previously famous or not, will have to distinguish themselves from the other worthwhile creators somehow. call me pessimistic but I don't think a lot of that stuff is likely to be decided in the healthiest ways. bottom line: capitalism destroys art (and everything else it touches) by turning it into a commodity; some thing with an arbitrary price to be bought and sold. you automatically price people out and exclude them.

Super stoked that you're finding your feet in the studio and making these videos 🙂 Thanks!

Thanks for this video, it really helped me to focus on do things, and not in thinking if im doing it right or wrong, or if im too old or whatever

I’m 62 and just beginning.😊📷🎞

The best idea I had last year was to totally quit instagram. I hope it works out for some people but for me, i don't miss it at all.

When you said : be patient , it takes time , I really needed to hear that . I’m new to posting on RU-vid and it feels like just getting monetised is something that’s impossible . It’s so hard not to compare yourself to others and feel like , you’ll never actually get anywhere . Anyway , great post , keep up the great work mate ! 🙏🏼

Thank you Ted, I just turned 30 and I'm scared myself. But thank you so much for making this video, gave me some inspiration. I can't give up because life has just started for me, everyone is different and we all have different paths. I made the mistake of comparing my photography to others and using likes and followers as a barometer to measure how good my photo is and that's just not the way about it. More Ted rants!! Haha. Great video man. It was needed to be said.

I have never understood the fear of turning 30,40,50… The day you turn 50, you are like the day before only a day older than yesterday.

I had two Instagram accounts and recently deactivated one (and almost the other one and facebook). I realised that the pursuit of followers is a dangerous trap, where the sense of your worth becomes based on the number of likes a post gets... I remember Flickr was almost as bad. I decided I wasn't going to commit the time to try and grow my following as ultimately for what purpose ? OK some desire the possibility of "fame and fortune" but honestly I am not one of them and perhaps I have finally realised I really have no desire to be.

Thanks for the Perspective, Ted. I’ll be turning thirty soon and I can completely relate to feeling unaccomplished. Thank you for the Perspective. I greatly appreciate it. I think you’re right. It’s never too late to start something your passionate about.

This is such a beautiful way of explaining real-life issues. Specially concerning social media and our inevitable aging lives. Thank you, for the gift of you!

Let's start with core questions: Why it should be so important to be successful on Instagram or other social media? Is it mandatory to have a lot of likes and followers? Do you really need it?

"Then I got my ass handed to me..." 🤣🤣🤣 reaching my 30s next year, I'm feeling the same and hoping for the best..

Mate, I so needed to hear this, thanks for sharing this great and personal insight about age. Greetings from Singapore!

I was always having the same fear of age and convinced that you can only grow up in Social media if you are in twenties but Honestly this video inspired me to continue in my RU-vid Channel despite the fact that I am in my forties. Thank you

In your fifties you will realize that time's running out. You can still achieve targets, but out of ten things you really really wanted to succeed at, you have time to resolve two or three only IF you're quick and lucky and stay healthy. And you finally learn that there are tons of things you can NOT "still achieve later", even if you live for another 50 years. Nobody became a professional surfer, tennis player, ski or car racer after the fiftieth birthday. And yes, if you move to another city or country, it's much harder to make new real friends then twenty years ago. and - last and perhaps least - young women do not even realize your existence anymore, not even if you were sitting in the same bus or so, lol

Don't worry about old age Ted, it doesn't last long.

The 3 second mini gallery (mobile phone screen) viewed by people who do not matter in your life.

Good insights! I recently had to sit my family down and tell them the reality of "selling" my photography work...it takes a lot of investment (time, money, etc.), and most of the work is not behind the camera or in Photoshop. I have a rewarding and good paying day job not related to photography, so even selling my photos successfully as a side-hustle would cut drastically into what I love...shooting photos. It's good to keep social media clicks in perspective.

So very well spoken Ted!

I’ve never used it or Facebook. RU-vid is #1.

It’s for this exact reason not too long ago I deleted my Facebook and it’s been liberating. And then to hear a story in last weeks video about Keith Carter making photos just simply for him! Great video again Ted!

Love the vulnerability here! Thanks for sharing with us. I’m in my 30’s and I needed to hear this! Appreciate it.

I saw a quote the other day - “sustained happiness comes from steady progress towards a goal, not reaching it.” And that really stuck with me. Your age is irrelevant - do what you love, share it with those you respect and your best work will always be ahead of you.

Great video as usual. As I said to my daughters a few years ago....Strive to be skillful, don't strive to be famous.

I've have a conversation about this yesterday with my lil brother, how social media see us & there we go a vid came out, highly appreciate it sir, many thanks 😊

Hey, thanks a lot for the video I would love to see that video on platforms for sharing and promoting our photography. Thanks for your content!! much appreciated!

Age is a number, nothing more. I'm late 40-sonething, going on 14, lol. Good video.

Facebook ruined it all from the instagram being a app for sharing photos to now reels videos and etc. The need for an alternative app is so much needed now dedicated to sharing photos only.

Thank you for this. Instagram can be kind of discouraging sometimes. I have to remind myself that sometimes it comes down to who’s better at marketing.

This topic you point out is so reassuring because is something that runs through my mind a lot. And in some point you begin to question about yourself and everything you socially and work related. I would love to hear your thoughts on 'being a instagramer and being a photographer'. Thanks for this video Ted.

Would anyone be interested in starting a discord channel to share our own work with people who appreciate it? Without all the headache of working the Instagram algorithm

Welcome to the 50's. And welcome agism.

The problem with great professionals like photographers and designers who ends up failing on Instagram is that what matters on Instagram is not their designing/photography skills, but their communication skills. Most of the people who are famous on IG are people who were already very famous outside of it. If you want to grow on Instagram you should improve your communication skills

Thanks Ted, enjoyed your video. Almost 60, I enjoy the engagement from various people who follow me on Instagram. I post what I like, regardless what is happening elsewhere. Getting to know the global village of people who enjoy photography is the reward.

Several hours work on a flawless Urban Landscape image = 4 likes. Crappy over exposed image of a half naked lass = 5,000 likes.

LOVE this Vid! The thing about age..... at 60 I retired and needed to take some photography classes. I walked into the class with tremendous apprehension and WHAT did I find.... all these young people saw me as an artist and they loved my work. I was accepted instantly when they saw my work!

I love binge watching your videos Ted. You inspire me so much

Really loving this video ... would love to see you make a video on choosing the right platform

Loved the video, man. I have the same type of age-based anxiety. Sometimes it feels as if I can't compete with older creators who have been doing their thing for a while, and then, I also feel like the young folk coming after me are gonna trample me, because they had earlier access to technology. So thanks for all that. I needed to hear it.

Hi Ted, a nice perspective full of wisdom, thanks for sharing it! I personally post my work on instagram without expecting to be liked by others, I share my work thats all and I like it.

You helped me so much !! Thank you 😊 keep sharing !!

Thanks Ted. I'm now 68 and - honestly - I don't care what anybody thinks about me! I've been through doing things to get acceptance or approval; got me nowhere, except frustration and worry. And today's obsession with celebrity and image is anathema to me. Someone said 'Comparison is the thief of joy'; I think that can be true when it comes to photography. I really enjoy making photos and I do it for me. If anybody else likes them then of course that is very nice; if they don't they still give me pleasure.

Spot on... Thanks for your rant Ted. I loved it.... and it means a lot !

I just turned 40 a few days back, and just like you said, it terrifies me; and more like I've been going through the different stages of grief. I've been under the delusion that while I see everyone I've known getting and looking older around me; that somehow I'm not getting or looking older too. But hitting 40 has almost been a mental breaking point out of nowhere, and having to face the reality that I am older (than I related myself too) and that regardless of my accomplishments and status, there are no do-overs & no take-backs. There's something therapeutic about hearing your take on it and knowing I'm not alone. Cheers.

Omg ur page showeD up in my feed . I'm so glad it did . Coming from AOL TO USB DRIVES AND IBM COMPUTERS TO LAB TOPS . SOCIAL MEDIA HAS HAD A BIG IMPACT ON OUR CULTURE . UR AMAZING FOR THIS . AND UR RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING U SAID .

Ted, you're going to be an old legend to us. I've been listening and watching you for many years.