Through My Lens : Recently On Instagram

Spring flowers, pink flower

The recent news of Instagram changing their algorithm has gotten some people all worked up. I don't particularly like or know what the change will bring but I certainly don't appreciate the mass hysteria and all the posts from panicked users asking people to turn on post notifications. I won't be putting up one of those nor will I be turning on any post notifications. Considering I feel like my feed is being spammed by anyone who posts multiple times in a row, I definitely wouldn't want a notification every time someone posts. I don't have notifications turned on for any other of the social media apps that I use either since I prefer to browse them at my leisure.

I've read several articles about the changes just so I could understand what is actually happening. First of all, Instagram has already stated that the change has not occurred yet. It is slated for the coming months and users will be notified beforehand. Basically once this change rolls out, instead of a chronological order, your
 feed will be based on the likelihood of your interest in the content, your relationship with the poster and the timeliness of the post. This new feed will still effectively contain all of the posts from everyone you follow, it will just be in a different order.

So instead of asking people to turn on notifications, which could likely end up with people getting annoyed by too many notifications, it would be better idea to start engaging more with the Instagram accounts you currently enjoy with likes and comments while encouraging your followers to do the same with your posts since Instagram will be tailoring your feed based on your activity. Genuine engagement is always better anyway.

Anyway back to our regularly scheduled programming. Hello April! March was a good month and I was more than happy to welcome spring and get out a little more. Here are a few  highlights from last month. To see more, click over to my Instagram feed and if you like what you see, please follow along.  

Grand Army Plaza looking pretty magical at twilight.
Grand Army Plaza New York
A stunning view of the Met Life Building in the evening.
Met Life Building New York, Park Avenue, Park Avenue NYC
An incredible 33 foot stainless steel sculpture by artist Tom Friedman on Park Avenue.
Park Avenue, Park Avenue NYC
A simple organic salad of avocado, black beans and kale that I've been eating alot lately.
Salad, Organic salad
Eating salads more often allows me to indulge in pizza like this.
Pizza, Prince Street Pizza, Spicy Spring Pizza
I was recently introduced to these BioRepublic Sheet Masks. Learn more about them
Sheet Masks, Natural Sheet Masks
Admiring the pretty pearlescent case of my new Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion. I haven't actually opened this yet but I'll do a review of it here when I've had a chance to use it.
Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion, Cushion Compact
As a photographer, I have several running personal projects and one of them is a series of self portraits.

32 comments

Beauty Unearthly said...

Lovely pics dear! Have a great Friday! xx

Anonymous said...

I agree with your opinion about Instagram. The 'turn on notifications' is putting me off. Like you, I will just leave things as they are. That pizza looks so delicious and irresistible.

Luxessed

Ivana said...

Your Instagram photos are always a little ray of sunshine to me :) And I totally agree with your philosophy - the mass hysteria is pretty annoying, and I'm not going to spam my phone with any notifications - I'm already distracted enough. I think that honest and genuine engagement is always way to go, and that's what I'm planning to do myself!
Have a lovely day, Rowena!

Coco said...

Amazing pics! great inspirations!!
Baci, Valeria - Coco et La vie en rose new post

Doctor Anne said...

I didnt know you were a photographer, no wonder your pictures are so amazing.
And I am with you on the Instagram issue. No notifications turned on on my phone.

Linda, Libra, Loca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking

Paola Lauretano said...

I love your pics Rowena.... totally agree with your IG opinion!
Kisses, Paola.

Expressyourself

My Facebook

Jackie Harrison said...

All l know for a fact IG is always making changes to try to make it difficult to engage and they did something to it some of us notice the difference than in 24 hrs it went back to normal after the complains.I always engage with my fellow followers some people do not engage they just post just like some blogger if you do not come to them they won't come to you never understood that, I find ridiculous! I believe we should support each other. Great images now I want pizza for dinner.

Lilli said...

Lol cant be more agreed with you Rowena! When I saw all those posts to turn on the notifications I was truly annoyed! Btw, your pics are very lovely, that pizza made my tummy rumbles! The self portrait project sounds already interesting, that photo is whimsical and magical! Happy weekend dear! xo

Emmylou said...

Your Instagram pics always amaze me, Rowena! Just gorgeousness all around:) And yeah....I don't get that whole Insta hoopla as well. I thought it was just me!

Elle Sees said...

i totally agree. nothing has happened yet, yet ppl are acting like it's the apocalypse. i'm not turning on anyone's notifications. i am very active liking posts and commenting when i can add to the convo.

Stella said...

haha I admit I did that too with the notifications.
I got kinda annoyed by Instagram and their inconsistent policy (it was supposed to start this week). I think they may be taking this back, as so many people gave negative feedback. I liked one tweet saying "why fix somethind that doesn't need to be fixed".
Anyway... I always enjoy your food and city shots.
Happy April!
PS. Still watching Descendants of the Sun (I'm on 6th ep)
💋
Stella from a Looks & Travels

Stanislava E. said...

It was about time for someone to say it and I thank you, Rowena! That Instagram hysteria really pissed me off, and seeing posts like "Turn on notifs" was so so so annoying! You said it all, I have nothing to add, except that I won't do it either, and I won't turn notifs for anyone. On a side note, your Instagrams are always so pretty and interesting to follow. I like the salad, and it'd be interesting to know about this new project:) Happy Friday, Rowena!xo

Gabrielle said...

Your advice on how to approach and deal with the Instagram changes (perhaps on the horizon?) are very good, Rowena. I agree people shouldn't be asking others to turn on their notification, it seems a little drastic. On a brighter note, I truly admire your food photography!

Gabrielle | A Glass Of Ice
x

FASHION TALES said...

I look at it this way, I know how I follow and I know what posts I want to see, and certainly don't want to be inundated with some who post 5-10 times a day or more. I am so busy these days, and take my time when I get around to liking and commenting, I don't like feeling stressed about such trivial things. :)
On a side note: I live on kale, so the salad is definitely a win for me here. Happy weekend Rowena.
Sassy Palate Ventures

Sunstreetbymonica said...

You are an amazing photographer Rowena, your photos are always incredible:)
I'm so happy that this beautiful season is finally here!
You're right about IG, it's so annoying when every other post is a spam.
Have a beautiful weekend:)
xxM
sunstreetbymonica.blogspot.com

Shireen L. Platt said...

Ohh, I know that mass hysteria that you're talking about, my feed is filled with 'Turn on notification' posts but you won't see one from you. I agree with you on concentration gore on interaction but sigh, so much to do with so little time and frankly, I haven't had much time to concentrate on IG at all. :-(

Shireen | Reflection of Sanity

Ivana Split said...

yes, there is too much mass hysteria. I know that people don't like changes but even if changes were as dramatic as some fear, one could still count on those who really want to follow them to do so. You know what I mean? Anyway, well written.

Your photography is pure magic. I love that self portrait.

buffalo journeys said...

Beautiful photos, especially the MetLife building, just stunning.
I've noticed the instagram hysteria and was wondering what that was about. I'm still living in the stone ages, no IG :)

Valerie said...

I totally agree with you on the Instagram mass hysteria...I would prefer if people just focus on interacting with their followers instead of focusing on a changed algorithm! Also I'm loving your self portrait...beautiful photo!

http://roadesque.com
http://ourruins.com

Margaret Dallospedale said...

So beautiful pics my sweet Rowena
kisses
Maggie D.
Fashion Blog Maggie Dallospedale fashion diary

Lenya said...

Have I ever told you that I love your photos, Rowena, now you know. That last self portrait pic is just STUNNING! Happy weekend, doll enjoy the weather. Sun is shining ;)
hugs
Lenya
FashionDreams&Lifestyle

Kelly said...

What beautiful shots, I love the cherry blossoms!

xx Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes

Midnight Cowgirl said...

Turning on notifications would definitely be annoying. That pizza looks good :)

Anonymous said...

You have such a talent for photography! <3

ALLIE NYC said...

Yes this whole IG thing is just another annoying hiccup b/c it is now owned by FB. An app I despise. I never have problems with any other app but FB but now that IG is owned by FB I guess we can it to the list. I guess we will see how this all pans out.

Allie of ALLIENYC
www.allienyc.com

Elisa @ Crazy, Amazing Life said...

I agree, I won't be subscribing for notifications on any IG accounts either, no matter how much I like them! Instead, I am decluttering my current list of follows, and making sure I like or comment more regularly so the new algorithm hopefully picks up on my favorites (the Facebook one frankly excludes way too much).

Oh man, that pizza looks gooood. I no longer eat pizza much, because I have celiac and also cross-react to corn, which is in most GF pizza crusts :-(
But now I really really want some! maybe I should try to make some at home with quinoa flour or something.

Wishing you a great week ahead!

Beauty Follower said...

Avocado salad with a big slice of pizza mmmmm!

http://beautyfollower.blogspot.gr/

Blackswan said...

Awesome photography, dear! Love every bit of it! xoxo

Effortlesslady said...

Amazing photography skills as always! Love your photos.
www.effortlesslady.com

A Very Sweet Blog said...

Rowena, you couldn't have said it better! LOL People keep posting those notes and I'm so sick of them. Hysteria has occurred (unnecessarily). I don't want to be notified either. I like who I like.

I am always amazed by the gorgeous skyscrapers in New York! They are stunning. I love those statues.

http://www.averysweetblog.com/

Jenmarie said...

Basically, I am choosing to follow someone on MY account than I want to see everything from them. I don't want Instagram to choose what it thinks I want to see. I follow people for a reason. I heard it happened last week but then saw their announcement saying it didn't. I wish whatever they were doing could be stopped.

With that said, I love your Instagram and always have. Your photos are always so delightful!

Vanessa N said...

UGH, MTE on the Instagram hysteria. Do people even see the "turn on notifications" option when they click on the dots? Because I didn't/don't, and just assumed that everyone else assumed that others could see it. Plus, I'm pretty selective about who I follow, so it means I genuinely want to see everyone's photos on my feed.

Mmmm pizza. Mmmm salad. I actually can't stand avocado on anything unless it's on toast or in guac. And I'm eagerly waiting for the cherry blossom to arrive. Unfortunately, Toronto is expecting more snow tonight :(