#underdog in Spokane, Washington, USA
Instagram photographer Cory Crawford calls his home town of Spokane “the underdog.” Its a city in the Pacific Northwest of the US that is often overlooked by the shadow of Seattle. One look at Cory’s beautiful Instagram will leave you craving a visit to Spokane. His landscape/nature shots are off the charts. Be sure to follow Cory here: @coryacrawford
Place you live: Spokane, Washington, USA
Place your Instagrams were taken? Most of the photos shown were taken in my hometown, Spokane, Wa. A couple others were taken in some of my favorite spots very close to Spokane including Palouse Falls, a tree grove about ten miles east of town, and some various lakes in the area.
Can you sum up Spokane? The place I live is wonderful. We have warm (sometimes hot) summers, a typically short but sweet autumn season, and a winter long enough to be enjoyable but also make you excited for summer again. We have mountains, lakes, waterfalls and the incredible rolling hills of the Palouse within an hour of our city, making it a great centralized location for some cool photography opportunities.
What is a perfect day in your spot? My favorite type of day (especially in winter) starts out nice and foggy, only to have the sun cut through the mist and transform the day completely. It’s also nice when there’s color in the sky. We have a lot of dull grayness during the winter.
If your city was a person who would it be? I’d call Spokane the underdog. Although it sits in the shadow of Seattle and is therefore often overlooked, it has a lot to offer to tourists, sportsmen, city and country folk alike.
How long have you been using Instagram? I’ve been on Instagram for about a year and a half but I started taking it seriously about a year ago.
Do you shoot with your phone or other cameras? I just shoot with my iPhone 5! I’ll be purchasing a big boy camera as soon as I make a decision on what I’m looking for.
What is your editing process? I use snapseed, vscocam, and photoshop. I will typically use Snapseed for basic adjustments such as brightness, contrast, and saturation before using vscocam to give the photo a certain mood. After vsco I use photoshop to add some finishing touches to the photo.
Do you create images outside of Instagram? I shoot for both Instagram and my Society 6 account that allows me to sell prints of my photos. If you haven’t checked it out yet, I highly recommend the website. They even sell phone cases and pillow covers!
Has Instagram/phoneography affected how you shoot? Since Instagram actually got me into photography, it changed a lot! It’s opened my eyes to see the world in a whole different way. Due to the compact size and ease of use, I’ve found that shooting with phones allows for a whole new kind creativity in the photography world. Although I believe (and hope) that they will never take the place of professional cameras, I think shooting with phones is a great way to kick start photography as a hobby that can possibly end up being a career.
Can you give a couple tips to aspiring Instagram photographers? Follow people who’s feeds you would like to emulate. The more good photos you see in your feed, the quicker you can develop an eye for it. Also, don’t be discouraged or overexcited about likes. Certain types of photos get more likes than others, regardless of the quality. Focus on taking photos that you like, learn from the best, and don’t be afraid to try something new!
Who are your three favorite Instagrammers? @jaredchambers, @alexstrohl, and @jermzlee
Name:Cory Crawford
City:Spokane, Washington
Best place to eat:
Best place to drink:
Best outdoor activity:
hiking, skiing, or swimming in the beautiful Couer D’Alene Lake
Must do:
Ride the gondola over the falls in the heart of downtown Spokane.
Local tip:
It’s pronounced “Spo-can” not “Spo-cane.”