As I said before, I’m not a social media person. I often find myself questioning whether I should try harder to be on those platforms and what they could possibly give me.
In an age where photos are posted daily (hourly? Minutely? Secondly?) on platforms like X and Instagram, it’s easy to overlook the deeper intentions behind each image. I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on this: why people take the photos they do, how they approach it, and what they see in those images. And as I’ve navigated these thoughts, one platform has kept me coming back: Substack.
Now, I’ll admit it: I’m not exactly sure how to view Substack as a photographer. After all, it’s primarily a writer-orientated platform. But there’s something compelling about it, and I’m trying hard to see it as a place where photography can thrive, in its own unique way.
For one, there’s one glaring issue that irks me: Substack still doesn’t have a photography category! How is that even possible? A platform that houses countless writers discussing their craft, reflecting on their processes, and sharing their expertise somehow still overlooks an entire medium of storytelling. But, that aside, Substack draws people who are deeply invested in the idea of process, and that’s why I’m still here, still trying to make sense of this space for my own photographic musings.
What fascinates me most about Substack, especially when compared to other platforms, is how it attracts writers who are eager to dig deeper into their experiences. While sites like X and Instagram are often more focused on quick snapshots and immediate reactions, on images that will bring the most amount of “engagement” and likes, Substack is home to those who want to present their photos, explain the decisions they made, and analyze what’s behind each image. It’s a space where storytelling and self-reflection can accompany the visuals, offering readers more context about the photographer’s journey, not just the resulting image.
It’s not enough to simply take a photo and upload it to Substack. Here, there’s a greater emphasis on the meaning behind the photo. How did the photographer come to take that image? What was their intention? What personal history or emotion are they capturing in that moment? Substack’s power lies in the way it encourages people to pause, reflect, and share the inner dialogue that led to the image being created.
To me, that’s the most valuable part of Substack. It’s not just a photo dump, it’s a platform for sharing personal insights into the act of photography. It’s a place where creators can step back and analyze their work, offering readers a chance to connect with the why behind the lens. For me, photography isn’t about just producing beautiful images; it’s about processing the world around me and reflecting on my experiences through the lens. Substack gives me the space to write those reflections, even if the medium I’m working with is predominantly visual.
On substack, I want to see good photos with a an explanation of how they came to be. After all, I want to learn how to be better from others’ experience. But I also want to see “bad” photos and why they exist. If I wanted to see only the best of what somebody can do, I’d be on IG scrolling past hundreds of photos a day without really paying attention to them until one is flashy enough that I spend 4 or 5 seconds looking at it. I want to see your worst. I want to see your messed up photos. And I want to know why.
I hope to see Substack grow as a space where photographers feel comfortable sharing their thought process as much as their photos. While it may not yet be a “photography” platform, it’s undeniably a place where the art of photography can be explored beyond the surface. And maybe, just maybe, that’s exactly what I’ve been looking for: a place where photography isn’t about instant validation, but about digging deeper into the process and sharing those reflections with a community that values the story behind the picture.
I obviously continue doing all that on my personal sites (e.g. http://photoni.st) because I’m not entirely sure of the long term strategy Substack will follow (after all Facebook didn;t start as a billionaire’s platform). But I double post to test Substack and the community there.
So yes, I’m trying hard to see Substack as a good place and this short text is part of me trying to convince me of it. Maybe, in time, the platform will officially recognize photography as a category. But even if that never happens, I’m here for the stories behind the photos, the thoughtful reflections, and the deeper conversations. Because that, to me, is what photography is all about.
#Photography #Opinion #PhotographyTheory #Theory #IMayBeWrong #Substack