Top Ten Instagram photos of 2012

Time to take a look back at some of the fun I had with my iPhone in 2012. I’m a big fan of mobile photography and happy to see that Instagram became available to Android users in 2012. Instagram also reversed its silly attempt to own your images after a public outcry that made their heads spin. Power to the people!

I don’t consider Instagram to be a great photo app but it is a really nice social media platform where we can share mobile photography. The one thing I can’t stand about Instagram and certain Instagram users, is that they use it to share DSLR images as well. Isn’t that why we have Flickr, 500px, and other sites like this? I really wish that Instagram would ban the sharing of non mobile images but that ship has sailed.

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In no particular order here my Top Ten Instagram photos of 2012

“Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world.”

~George Bernard Shaw

Window or aisle?

Window please. Yup, that’s always my choice. Otherwise I’d miss out on views like this stunning view of the Alps while flying from Germany to Italy.

“Adults are obsolete children.”

~Dr. Seuss

Ahhh to be young. While I was at this park just outside of Boston to photograph the public art, I came across this guy making bubble art for the kids. It was mesmerizing to see the billowing bubbles wafting in the air and equally enchanting to see the glee on the children’s faces. The bubble man packed up just a couple of minutes after I arrived. Timing is everything.

“There are no lines in nature, only areas of colour, one against another.”

~Edouard Manet

I always have my phone with me but not a camera. In fact, I’m as likely to have a camera on me in everyday situations as I am to be wearing lederhosen, clown shoes, and a sombrero. I’ve tried carrying it around with me but it’s far too cumbersome. The phone is there, easy to slide in a pocket and makes the iPhoneography I do more spontaneous than my traditional work. In short, I have fun with it and don’t take it too seriously.

This tree just blew me away as I walked by it while running errands. In a few days the striking colours would be gone and I may never have seen it.

“For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.”

~Leonardo da Vinci

Look up. Great advice for photographers and travellers. Life doesn’t just happen in front of you so take a moment every now and then to look at the world from a different perspective. The easiest way to do that is to simply look up. This was one of my favourite moments in 2012. My mind drifted away for just a brief time after I witnessed these beautiful birds in flight. I was at peace and it was good.

“You may have the universe if I may have Italy.”

~Giuseppe Verdi

This show was put on in my honour during my first visit to Umbria in Italy! Okay fine, mine and about 300 other people who were attending the TBU conference in Assisi this spring. This was followed by an awesome dinner and a few days of exploring the region. Can I please go back now?

“I don’t call myself a Buddhist. I’m a free spirit. I believe I’m here on earth to admire and enjoy it; that’s my religion.”

~Alice Walker

During my exploration of Chicago I stopped at Union Station with Darris Harris a local architectural photographer to get a few shots and was captivated by this young carefree woman who was dancing with a hula hoop under the giant American flag. The word “freedom” is so overused in America (and misunderstood) but this scene always makes me think of that word.

Thanks for making me smile Tori

“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.”

~Jack London

Words fail me when it comes to describing the majesty and beauty of Iceland. From the very small like this plant to the wide open panoramic vistas there is beauty, unimaginable beauty around every corner.

You should see it for yourself and I’ll be offering you a chance to do that very soon. Stay tuned!

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add colour to my sunset sky.”

~Rabindranath Tagore

Being at the right place at the right time, I love it. This was not one of those moments though. I was most certainly not in the right place but it was the right time. The sunset overhead was turning out to be insanely beautiful and I had no good vantage point to get a nice photo. As the sun set, so did my hopes of getting a nice shot. As I ran around rather frantically — which is not the proper way to enjoy a sunset — I finally came upon this stunning sunset view. Note to self: Don’t give up while there’s still a chance to get your shot.

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.”

~Maya Angelou

While we didn’t speak the same language as Sha’ban, everyone in my workshop group in Jordan just loved our new friend. With a few basic words, gestures and lots of “Bedouin whiskey” (tea), we all had an awesome time communicating with Sha’ban at the Captain’s Camp in the desert of Wadi Rum. I’ve never seen anyone smoke so much in my life and even I broke my almost 5 years of no smoking to enjoy a lemon mint shisha this day. I blame Bedouin peer pressure

As we left Sha’ban sure got his share of hugs from everyone in the group and I could see tears welling in his eyes. See you again soon Sha’ban!

“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.”

~Langston Hughes

This one was my favourite Instagram photo of 2012.

As I was walking along the banks of the River Thames with a friend, we came upon a young boy feeding bits of bread to the seagulls. There were dozens of birds swarming around and while I was trying to get a photo of parliament with my DSLR the birds kept flying through the scene. When life hands you lemons…

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Ken Kaminesky is a Canadian lifestyle and travel photographer. Follow him in his quest to take over the world, one photo at a time! Ken Kaminesky Travel Photography Blog