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Photographer Scans 5,000 Public Instagram Accounts And Recreates Their Photos In A Controversial Project
Instagram is a huge part of many people's lives - sharing memorable, fun or unique moments has become a norm and it's getting harder and harder to surprise anyone with the things you share.
LA-based photographer Reza Bahram started her project "ReCognition" to "re-create some of the craziest moments of people’s lives". She looked through around 5000 public Instagram accounts and chose the most creative, dramatic, and authentic photos. The artist explains that she wanted to show the real emotions hiding behind the shared filtered selfies.
“I want to be more authentic on social media and follow more human stories,” Bahrami said to PetaPixel. “People often find it uncomfortable being themselves on Instagram and I want to move beyond the fakes selfies and challenge others to express their tears, anger and the idea that we don’t need to be superhumans."
Even though some people loved the idea and the message behind the project, others were fast to point out the lack of creativity and talent, accusing the author of copying the ideas of others. Also, using pictures of other people without them knowing might be a potential threat to one's privacy.
Nevertheless, Reza is continuing with the controversial project and is planning on recreating many more crazy and real moments.
More info: Instagram (h/t PetaPixel ; Medium )
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Richard Campbell 8 years ago
i call this one 'scattered spaghetti'. whoa dude! you just blew my mind!
Marty BlackEagle-Carl 8 years ago
nice action shot.... i always love those fast shutter action shots
adoracat 8 years ago
Sometimes it's religious reasons...some people's faith requires it. Sometimes it's comfort reasons, because athletic shoes give better support than, say, house slippers. And sometimes it's just because you don't feel like dressy shoes and it's laundry day and the skirt was CLEAN, LOL!
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#2
#3
Arend Kant 8 years ago
Even if it's really s****y, it´s probably still good enough for cooking.
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Richard Campbell 8 years ago
when you can't tell which one is the original and which one is the copy, does it even matter? probably no.
#4
Misterscooter 8 years ago
I like this one, that is the next scene in the story, not just doing it again in a similar way. Although, shouldn't the orange be cut?
RaroaRaroa 8 years ago
Not important, but isn't one a lemon and one an orange?
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piggy panda 8 years ago
i love the little bit of blood on the knife 'cause in the first one it looks like they are going to cut their finger!
#5
endelbendel 8 years ago
With the verical from the tree and the diagonals of the left tree and strap, adds artistry to something blase. The right shoulder medalion is out of place and serves to discredit the idea of symmetry. Content muted in the simulation that is over-exaggerated in the original.
Jose Ventura 8 years ago
well I'm sure it took a lotoutof you to think,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololol
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Full Name 8 years ago
Left is a selfie, right is "I'm pointing my phone at the camera that's shooting the photo."
Alia Gail 8 years ago
I think they’re taking a photo in a mirror, not of another camera
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Denise Frenette 8 years ago
she did this whole series just so she could show off in this one. :D
endelbendel 8 years ago
The original pose has nearly parellel lines within the confined space which makes the image more interesting. The simulation is different and ineffective.
Full Name 8 years ago
Not only that, but the fact that the one on the right is too polished takes away from it too. It appears she lit the hallway in behind her to made her stand out more from the background, and the hallway and foreground room have the same colour temperature which is also different from the original. There are tons of differences, most of which take away from the "authenticity" of the original selfie. To each their own though.
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endelbendel 8 years ago
Again, the copy is less attentive to structure. Thrusting forward the bill deadens the meaning achieved in the original.
Walt Livingston 8 years ago
She seems pretty clearly doing HER RIFF ON the originals, not carbon copies... which would have been kinda lame. Also, with originals and covers both, much of of the meaning is dependent on ehsst the viewer brings to the moment.
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endelbendel 8 years ago
There are many differences here. Just for one, the angle. The original by looking down objectifies, one could say commodifies the person and the ruined environment in which she is placed. Symbolically it is her own ruination to come when maturing as a female she will spill her own blood. The second is a sort of after picture, straight on to the human subject so the facial expression and her feelings , tho enigmatic, matter over the same tisket-a-tasket spillage. The first uses color for the raw unavoidable redness of coming physical function. All emotion is bled out of the b+w which intensifies the value and subjectivity of the face as a clue and contact point or point of entry for the viewer into the work. This distinction run thru the entire collection.
Achim Krull 8 years ago
All this to explain/justify as art what is at best a boring snapshot?
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Михаил Мамишев 8 years ago
on the left girl's back: "sobriety is awesome!" on the right some generic label with barcode. what's the point?
Aahzmandus Pervect 8 years ago
The point is that this is stupid and unnecessary project, not controversial in any way whatsoever.
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#10
Cheese 8 years ago
I'm struggling to recognize which is the original and which is the recreation ::))
Cat person 8 years ago
I'm pretty sure that the one on the left is always the original
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endelbendel 8 years ago
In this one the would-be artist misses poetry of the reflections of the shapes of puzzle pieces by the parsley.
#11
Santino Marazzo 8 years ago
Don't need to go any further. There is no artistic value in these photos. Give it up.
#12
Alia Gail 8 years ago
uhhh? how did this happen in the first place? she looks so happy about the blood lol
Bobbi Newell 8 years ago
I thought maybe it's a little girl who lost a tooth?
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#13
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#15
Denise Frenette 8 years ago
okay. that's enough for me. Not feeling the creative vibes if they be there.
Aurelia Grey 8 years ago
All these re-created photo's feel snarky and pompass. For a person so condescending it'd be interesting to see their own original work.
Data1001 8 years ago
You're right, they don't really have an artistic vision of their own -- which makes the whole project seem like the photographer couldn't think of anything to do, so they just did mediocre copies of existing photos, without adding anything new or interesting.
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#16
Patricie Sh. 8 years ago
I think it's the solution for self-hurting people. It's commonly suggested by psychiatrist as a "first step". Instead of cutting your arm in pieces you do this, or wash your hands in cold water, or smack your wrist with a hairband... It doesn't do damage but it hurts.
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What do you think ?
Ayla Fecero 8 years ago
I don't get it...the recreations don't seem to be making a statement of any kind, they aren't "better" than the originals...what's the point?
Here to Troll 8 years ago
I don't think I could've phrased it any better.
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Sergiu Vlad 8 years ago
So this is where we're headed as a society? This is considered "art"? Wow. This is....no, just no. And the fact that this (sh)art made it to BP is even more tragic. WTF people? Seriously?
Ayla Fecero 8 years ago
I don't get it...the recreations don't seem to be making a statement of any kind, they aren't "better" than the originals...what's the point?
Here to Troll 8 years ago
I don't think I could've phrased it any better.
Load More Replies... Sergiu Vlad 8 years ago
So this is where we're headed as a society? This is considered "art"? Wow. This is....no, just no. And the fact that this (sh)art made it to BP is even more tragic. WTF people? Seriously?
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