WHY AN ONLINE CARNET ? A SELF-REFLECTION ABOUT THE INSTA-XIETY

As a photographer, I love sharing the pictures I take, showcasing my vision of the world and the little things you might not have noticed. However, I always strive to keep things professional. For instance, the fatty, greasy hot-dog I ate last night won't be published on my website but will appear in a story on Instagram.

Still, I need to have an Instagram account...What happened to my @annedmy that I carefully built over the years, as if it were going to be the holy grail of my photographic ascent, mixing in personal snippets to pique my followers' curiosity? So, in two clicks, I suspended it (just like national service in France).

This is the moment when you let out a cry of horror, "But why did she do that? Woe unto her!"

Well, in recent months, I've been feeling increasingly anxious with this app and less and less satisfied by consuming the lives and creations of others ... When you're constantly consuming other people's creations, you don't always have the mental space left to make your own and I needed space.

But it's not just about creativity. Have you noticed how hard it can be to see all those people you know (or don't know at all but you follow them) doing fun and interesting things in their lives, all these well-dressed people living in dream homes with ocean views, with decorations worthy of AD (or Popeye Magazine, depending on my mood), the athletes, the creatives, the intellectuals and it makes you feel bad about your own life? - Aaaaahhhhhh - After hours of self-reflection, I don't want to feel that way anymore. Even more than that, I no longer want to be part of this game because, yes, I too contributed to it by posting stories about my outings, my meals, my travels, this was clearly a show-off . Somewhere on this Instagram web, it surely hurt someone.

From a photography standpoint, I no longer want my photos to be analyzed and evaluated by people who only view them in a newsfeed sandwiched between an nobody's selfie and an ad for a cat bed. I want something better, even for my fatty, greasy hot-dog from another day.

Here we go—after 2 minutes of reading and 379 words,  Instagram suspension is the reason for this carnet! I want a place where I feel safer, where people visit because they choose to, not because I'm just another story they swipe past in 0.5 seconds. Most importantly, I still want to share my camera roll, but in a more relaxed and mindful way.

On this carnet, you'll find photos (way more than in this first billet) of travels, places, BTS of my work and more. I want it like a "Carnet de Voyage" or Travel Notebook. And above all, I would like it to be a place of exchange, sharing, and kindness.

It would be wise to question whether I should create a disguised Instagram, as it will involve sharing things that perhaps other people do not have or cannot access. Yes, I agree, but the approach to visiting this journal will be completely different. We've become a somewhat (a lot) lazy society. We want access to everything instantly, and coming to a website page, to a travel journal, and taking the time to read it requires willpower and determination (just kidding) :)

Goodbye INSTA-XIETY and welcome my Carnet de Voyage.

PS: Since Instagram and I have parted ways, I feel secure (a very strange sensation), more centered and focused. I'm curious to know your relationship with Instagram and if you, too, have clicked on SUSPEND or are considering it :)

ADDENDUM: After 2 months of this self-reflection about Instagram and anxiety, I still feel the same…but unfortunately I’m sure now how we (freelance photographers with no agent) are dependent of it.

I had to reconnect my account to get some visibility but I promised myself to use it, just to post my work and do nothing else.

I would love to have your thoughts about it ✍🏼