Place you live: Portland, Oregon

Place your Instagrams were taken: Most of my images were captured right here in PDX, though quite a few are from the parks and forests in the area.

Can you sum up PDX? Portland definitely has a reputation. It’s considered by many as the “hipster” mecca; a place where bearded flannel-types, vintage clothing, organic coffee, and the undeniably eccentric reign. It’s easy to poke fun at our city’s behavior, but it’s most advantageous to embrace the quirkiness. PDX is full of stunning waterfalls, dripping ferns, towering trees, and inhabitants that thrive on the outdoors.

What is a perfect day in Portland? Any day that involves brews and BBQs.

If Portland was a person or character who would it be and why? Portland would most definitely be the Lorax, an environmentalist with one impeccably styled mustache.

How long have you been using Instagram? I signed up for Instagram 174 weeks ago, says my first image. So roughly three and a half years ago?

Do you shoot with your phone or other cameras or both? I primarily shoot with my iPhone (all images I post on the ‘gram are from my phone), though I do use my DSLR when I make a day of shooting.

What is your editing process? After capturing the image, I throw it into the VSCOcam app. I’ll pick a filter (most often the F1 or F2 preset, though it varies), and I’ll usually make very slight adjustments to the exposure, contrast and sharpness. Once the image appears as I’d like, I open up the Whitagram app so that my picture maintains a 4:3 ratio inside of the Instagram square.

Do you create images outside of Instagram? It depends on the image I’m trying to capture. I use the iPhone camera app primarily, but I find myself using alternatives like ProCamera when I need a little more control over focus and exposure.

Has Instagram/phoneography affected how you shoot? Absolutely. I’d say that the iPhone and Instagram kicked my dedication to photography into gear. I had taken a few photo classes in my younger years but I rarely kept my camera on hand. After getting my first iPhone, I had a camera in my pocket at all times. That changed everything. My friends have to slap the thing out of my hand these days.

Can you give a couple tips to aspiring Instagram photographers? Take a stroll! If I need to be somewhere, I’ll try and give myself the time to reach my destination by foot. I find that walking gives a photographer the time to really soak up their surroundings and capture moments they might otherwise miss. Also: keep snapping. I often take 10, 20, 50 pictures of the same subject and pick my favorite out of the group.

Who are your three favorite Instagrammers? Though she doesn’t use Instagram for photography, my talented friend @rachelryle shares incredibly imaginative, hand-drawn stop motion videos from her drawings. I’ve always been a fan of @kevinruss – one very gifted travel photographer. I also thoroughly enjoy the fun-loving wordsmith @_mattsteele_. His captions are just as delightful as his images. Check ‘em all out.

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@megaguire

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