Shit’s about to get real intense in here. Put on your boxing gloves and get ready to throw your most creative kicks and punches – this isn’t summer camp anymore, this is the Styling Competition on instagram!

Yes, there’s such a thing. And even though it isn’t an official competition (it should be!), it’s sooo fun to watch, especially if you’re a styling geek like me (you totes are).

The ringleaders happen to be some of my favorite instagrammers and bloggers. Man, they are fierce!

I’m not sure who started it, but I’m going to assume it was design blogger Josefin Hååg? Who ever did it, BRAVOOOO, we are cheering for you. We should totally create official teams and have a styling olympic medal ceremony, yes?!

Follow the action on instagram and cheer for your fave by searching with the tag #StylingCompetition

Photos: 20KVadrat, A Merry Mishap, Annaleena Shem, Andlyyli, Hildemork78, elveravanschaik

Hey fellas! It’s been a while since my last Blog Labs post. Now that Instagram has video everyone seems to be all over it, so I think it’s a good time to create a little guide to make the most out of this new feature.

Aside from any cyberspace wars that may be brewing between colossal social networking companies (cue Twitter and Facebook), it’s clear that video is the way to go. This not only applies to blogs but also to apps. First came Vine, now it’s Instagram’s turn. I’ve seen mixed comments about it, and to be honest I’m still on the fence – not sure if I’m digging it 100%.

For the last couple days I’ve been taking notes about things that bug people and things that seem to work really well. So without further ado, here are the Do’s and Dont’s of Instagram Video:

DO practice before creating your first post: take a few minutes to play around with the filters, buttons, timing, etc. Get to know the ins and outs in advance.

DON’T post the very first thing that pops in front of you: chances are it’ll be a less than attractive video of you flushing the toilet or chewing an apple. Honestly, do we need to see that?

DO continue to curate your feed: this comes back to don’t post the very first thing that pops in front of you. When taking a video, keep in mind your overall aesthetic. Don’t spoil your feed just so you can jump on the hype train.

DON’T drunk post: it seems pretty fun at the time, but the next day you might feel Instagram remorse. Admittedly, I’ve posted a few “mildly tipsy” videos on Vine and felt that way, so take it from me. Don’t do it!

DO mix your content: try to post videos with images in between, breaking up your content will keep your feed interesting. Even better: post one cool photo and follow-up with a “behind the scenes” video.

DON’T spam the world: yes, that concert was unreal but it sounds like a bunch of cats scratching a chalkboard ’cause the recording quality of our phones – as smart as they can be – isn’t Beats-by-Dr-Dre-approved. Keep it simple. If you’re freaking excited about something, take a bunch of videos, then go home and choose the best one.

DO get creative: one thing I’m loving is how people are creating so many stop-motion videos. There’s lots of planning involved, but the results are usually amazing and super fun. Wanna go above and beyond? Do a 15 second short film! Now that’s a challenge. Maybe give your Instagram followers an inside look at your studio, or tease them with snap shots of your next project!

So there you have it. Pretty basic stuff, no? So basic, we sometimes forget about it. These tips are not meant to prevent you from posting whatever the hell you want. They are meant to help you create quality content, especially if you use Instagram for your blog or brand. Remember, continue to curate your content, including any videos. Take this as my two cents; advice from a spectator that has been stalking several feeds.

If you want more tips check out these posts (some are for Vine, but same thing, it’s all video):

- The ultimate guide to Vine by Photojojo.
- 10 iPhone apps to make your videos shine via Vimeo.
- How to embed your Instagram video via Mashable.
- Instagram’s weekend hashtag project ft. several videos by different users.
- 11 brands already using video for Instagram via Social Fresh.
- Video kill the Instagram star, a fun read by TechCrunch.

So, let’s take it to the comments. Are you totally sold on this new feature? Or do you think it’s all becoming a big mash of messy things?

By now you may know about my Instagram obsession, right? The city walks, the workshops – even my side banners are instagram photos! Well, I must admit that if there was a support group for this app, I’d be in it.

I know there’s a lot of debate out there about “is Instagram killing photography?, is it all fake?” and to that I say – NO IT AIN’T and get over it. Instagram lets people share amazing images that otherwise we would not be able to see. It opens a little window to everyone’s creativity, how bad can that be? Plus, it’s all about the people! The app is just a tool.

Lately I’ve been following the feeds of a few peeps, you know, I do my daily check ups on their account and I always find something beautiful. Today I’ll share with you some of my latest favorites! (which was kinda hard to choose cuz I got so many) If you’re into art, design and photography, then you should definitely follow these fine fellas. Give it up for the 6 instagramers on the watchlist!

1: @michaelnewsted – Michael has quite the feed with over 1,700 photos – all of them documenting precious moments with friends

2: @kaketeiruhoshi – I know little about this iger – what I do know is that her feed is a visual feast

3: @monbraee - Erica has a great eye for soft-mood photos and pretty vignettes

4: @thecuisinerd - Shazam! Lots of pretty food on this one. Kristin – aka The Cuisinerd – will make you lick your phone screen – that good!

5: @artchang - Startup founder / photographer / software engineer. Uh. Wow.

6: @hitchdesign - Megan’s graphic design skills and good eye for styling can be spotted throughout her feed. Just look at the picture above!

Got any other great Instagramers we should follow? Tell us about it on the comments below! Even better, leave your instagram handle so we can find you.

source:  amlamster

Hey guys!

How was your weekend? I hope it was fantastic!

Over here we had the 1st weekend with NICE weather and you can only imagine how crazy we all went over that. Patios opened, beaches were packed, beers were foaming, butts were tanning – oh the  joy of sunlight.

Today I am mixing things up a little bit. I am adding a “the week in images” post where I’ll be sharing a few pics from my personal feed. I know it’s not the usual art post, but I wanted to add a little personal touch to the blog. Hopefully it’ll inspire you to discover new places in your area!

Let’s get the camera roll..ing. Oh snap, see how I did that? It must be the sun.

all images (except banner): me!

You may know by now that I am a bit obsessed with Instagram – so for today’s Artful Friday I picked one of my favorite photo apps as the spotlight of the feature. You know which app I’m talking about?

Picfx!

This powerful little app has the awesome ability of mixing effects and letting you choose how much you want to apply for each of them – so smart!

I went down to the root of Picfx and, guess what? I got an interview for you with one of the Co-creators, yah! Say hello to Ben Bradley – a.k.a Ben Curious - one of the guys behind this marvellous mobile editing tool.

 Most of my work a year ago was very heavy texture based. I wanted textures that where not available at the time. Co-creator David Boyes of Active Development and I sat down and discussed making an app to fill this niche.

What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?

Creating awesome filters that people love. Still trying to do it!

Did you have any previous experience with photography?

I have always loved taking photos, it’s only been in the past few years that I have started taking it more seriously. I’m snapping photos every time I leave my house. I carry my iPhone everywhere, + my SLR most places.

What’s your secret behind building a strong community online?

Talk and interact as much as possible. I’m always looking around Instagram to find picfx users, to get their thoughts and comments about the app. We have always had a great response and being active on Instagram has helped us get the users what they want. We have also started putting together a few brief tutorials which people have responded well to, so more of those to come!

Do you have any new developments coming for Picfx?

We are currently working on an update for Picfx right now. It will include a whole range of new filters that I personally think are the best we have released. Really interested to see how people respond and use them.

What are some of your favorite creative apps?

Picfx, Picframe, PicBoost, Filterstorm, Cross Process, Blender, Decim8, Slow Shutter

Your favorite blogs?

iso50, 13thwitness, Trashhand, Hallwood, Booooooom.

Thanks a lot for the fantastic app Ben and for sharing your words with the peeps of the Artful Desperado.

Folks, you go get that app because trust me, you’re in for a real good photo treat. Have a great weekend! And please, if you have any other cool apps you’d like to share, leave them on the comments below :)

all images: Ben Bradley