Instameet
by Michelle Gilmore
Last month, about 20 “extreme photographers” as Saturn Antenna’s Margaret Grant described it, from Brisbane to Hervey Bay and plenty of locals, took to the beach for the first Canon Collective Instameet in town.
The plan was to photograph the horses, and capture the pink moon for Rainbow Beach Horserides full moon ride, listening to advice and trying the latest gear – we even snapped a sky dive!
Colin Baker, the Consumer Experience Manager for Canon, said “We get people to think about composition, and look at light.”
Set in the school holidays, their target market was youth to retirement, focusing on the camera you have already bought and getting great value out of the old, was the aim.
“Phones have really improved – more photos are taken now than ever before. It is a gateway into photography,” said Colin.
So why do people opt for a camera?
“The biggest reason is the zoom and depth of field, especially at night. When the sun goes down, the phones go away.
“To be recognised, in high-end Instagram – no one is shooting on a phone.”
The Canon Collective host Instameets, seminars and hands-on workshops and even quarterly festivals.
I asked what Colin recommended for Instagrammers? “One post per day – more and you have a higher risk of being unfollowed.”
You can find more tips on Instagram – @canoncollectiveofficial and @canonaustralia, there is also a closed Facebook group which is a great place to ask questions, share photos and hear about events.