Threads

Now you can find me on Threads too. Not entirely sure how I'll be using it just yet (if at all), but I'm intrigued enough to give it a try. Don't forget to say hi so I can follow you back!

Own the platform

Things are changing, as they always do. And we humans hate change.

It feels like it was yesterday when we were all hating on social media, while mourning the old platforms. It is 2022, and here we are, hating on TikTok and VR, mourning platforms like Instagram and Twitter.

I have no idea what the future will be for those platforms; I really hope I don't end up having to use VR glasses to share my photography and enjoy the work of fellow photographers.

No matter what the future will bring, this is a good moment to be reminded of the importance of having your own platform.

Lately, I've been trying to consolidate all my sources of inspiration in a RSS app. Instagram doesn't allow this, so the photographers who share their work exclusively on that platform are out; Twitter is playing nice... for now; but the ones that work the best are regular old websites and blogs.

Relying on social media to connect with peers and share your work was a great idea; exclusively using those platforms was a very bad idea.

I get it, a blog can be boring. It can feel like you are talking to no one. If you think the engagement is low on IG, just wait until you post on your own website.

And yet, I believe it's very important to have your own place, your little home in the Internet. Very few people will show up, but those are the ones that really matter. And of course, we can keep using social media and whatever platform comes next to reach new people and invite them to come over and look at what we have to offer.

If you don't have a website, I deeply encourage you to create one. Keep it simple. And then share it with all the people you've connected with over the years, so they know where they can find you in case the metaverse doesn't cut it for you.

On social media for photographers (and how I use it)

Social media is probably the most powerful tool creators have to show their work today. There's nothing even close to its reach and convenience.

But with great power comes great responsibility, and social media apps come with plenty of dangers we should be aware of.

I personally try to focus as much as I can on the platforms I do control (my website and newsletter), and use social media as a tool to get new eyes to see my work, keep people updated, and to let everyone know where else they can find me. Relying solely on social media is a trap, it's not under your control, and it's not under your own terms.

I also schedule my posting on social media, so I don't have to open the apps to share my work. I don't even need to have the apps, since I do all of this from my computer.

How I make an image: an overview of my photography process

In this video, I give you a quick overview of my whole photography process. From the very beginning, when the image is just an idea, to the very end, sharing those images online or making a print.

I broke my camera, new lens, and some Q&A

A month ago or so, I dropped my camera while taking some test shots. I had to send it to be fixed, and it's finally back! In this video, I also talk about a new lens I bought, and answer some of questions I was asked on Instagram.

Bringing the newsletter back

In this day and age, sharing your work online is easier than ever. Making meaningful connections is getting harder, though.

Social media has changed the world in many ways, some good, some not so good. Thanks to these platforms, I was able to reach thousands of people, connect with other photographers and artists, and discover so much great art.

I like to use social media. I don’t like when that happens the other way around. I don’t want to spend a second trying to figure out how to beat the algorithm and reach those who followed me because they were interested in what I create.

It’s time to bring the newsletter back. It might sound old-fashion at this point, but I believe it’s the best way we have to really connect with each other. No middlemen involved, humans and non-humans.

One email, once a week, where I’ll share all the work I publish on my Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. So you don’t have to use those platforms to see what I’m up to, and even less, to connect with me. Simply reply to that email and we’ll be talking!

And of course, you can unsubscribe at any time.

If you are interested, please join us:

Hint, don't show

I try to add as much mystery as I can in my images. I want them to be on the edge between reality and dreams, if you will: the viewer decides what they are looking at.

I often wonder if by sharing so much of my process (YouTube, Instagram stories...) I might be destroying part of that mystery.

Should I retreat into the shadows and share only the final image? Or should I keep sharing my journey as a way to inspire others?

I believe there's a balance to be found here as well: hint, don't show; inspire, don't keep it to yourself. You'll find me out there, looking for such harmony.

Where does "aows" come from, anyway?

This is a question that comes up every once in a while.

Years ago I decided that I wanted an email address like adrian@otero.com. It looked cool, I guess.

otero wasn't available in any of the major domains, so I started to look for alternatives. I eventually found ws. This is the domain for the country of Samoa and I guess they weren't selling many because they started promoting it as an acronym to website.

adrian.otero.ws

adrian - otero - website

That was the idea. I liked it.

Today, I don't know of anyone using that domain in that way.

Anyway, about that time, Twitter launched and I had to get a username. I went for "adrian otero ws", aows. I loved how short it was.

Over the years, I kept using the same username in every social network and platform I signed up for, including Instagram. That's where my photography career started, and since I couldn't find a better / easier username I stuck with it.

And this is where aows comes from.

Going through a compositional phase?

A few days ago, I realized that my last images on Instagram were very similar to each other. Compositionally, I mean.

The subject was different, the location was different, the time of the day they were taken was different.

The composition technique was the same, though: a line going through the frame -in this case from top left to bottom right- splitting it in two, one part being empty (and dark) space and the other showing the actual subject.

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Those subjects are as different as the Golden Gate bridge, Mt Hood, a lighthouse, a vulture and a deer. For some reason I decided to frame them all the same way. And they all are very recent images of mine.

Was it just coincidence? Maybe a "compositional phase"? Is that even a thing?

Photographers: it's 2018

If you make photographs for yourself and have zero interest in sharing your work with anyone, then skip this post.

If you are already sharing your work online, then skip this post.

For everyone else: you better start sharing your images online if you have any interest in doing something with your photography.

We can hate Instagram and Facebook as much as we want, but that won't change the facts: people spend a big part of their days online, on IG, FB, Twitter and the rest of the social media family. Yes, even LinkedIn.

Are you at a public place now? Look around. Not only are most people on their phones, you are too.

Want your photography to be seen? Stop waiting for people to get to you, you have to go to them.

It's 2018, after all.

For the love of square: it's #squaretember!

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I love shooting square, so of course I had to talk about this new initiative by @andrewmcclees to promote the square format.

During this month of September, @squaretember will be featuring some of the images shared with the hashtag #squaretember.

The only requirement: the photographs have to be shot natively in square format, no cropping.

Go ahead and share your square images!