Background information
digitec photo competition: Our favourite portraits unveiled
by David Lee
Swissinstameet: An afternoon with 200 Instagram freaks
20.9.2019
Translation: machine translated
Swissinstameet brings together amateur photographers, vloggers and models. Participants can gain experience and make contacts. But above all, it's simply fun. I attended a meeting.
I'm already sweaty when I arrive at the Royal cinema in Baden. On this hot September Sunday, this is the meeting point for the ninth Swissinstameet, which is easily recognisable from the gathering of people with cameras or unusual outfits. Around 200 people come together for an afternoon of varied photo sessions. They have been running for almost two years and are a success.
No wonder: a meeting like this offers opportunities that are otherwise rather rare. I actually like taking photos of people, but most people don't like posing in front of the camera. Especially not if they have no control over what is published and where. It's different here. At Swissinstameet, you register as a model or photographer/vlogger; the models naturally want to be photographed. Photographers can also be seen in a picture from time to time. That's part of it.
Nobody pays anything for it, nobody gets anything for it. It's an easy way to gain experience, but also to make new contacts and exchange ideas.
Here we go
The meetings take place at a different location each time. Baden seems perfect to me: The old town, the Limmat, the Casino Park and the industrial area offer plenty of variety, and everything is close together. The organisers have identified some interesting spots in advance and linked them to Google Maps on the website. The whole pack is divided into manageable groups at the beginning and each group can freely choose one or more locations. The group I join goes to the Atrium Hotel Blume first. We can enter the atrium without further explanation - the organisers have also clarified this beforehand.
Every meeting has a given topic - this time it's "Space". The topic literally offers a lot of room for interpretation, but even so, at first I don't have an idea in the hotel that would really fit. Except for this: squeeze as many people as possible into the antique lift and take a picture of it. My first attempt yields nothing useful. The second attempt doesn't take place because the lift drives away - someone actually wants to use it.
At some point, I tell myself that it doesn't really matter if something fits the topic. The main thing is that there are good pictures. The others also seem to have this attitude.
Only those who want to win the contest should probably stay close to the topic. Yes, there is a contest, Sony is sponsoring a camera as first prize. But more importantly, Sony is bringing cameras and lenses that you can try out.
Well organised and still enough freedom
After a short break, things continue in the same style, except that the groups are no longer predetermined. They form spontaneously. The ratio between photographers and models is not regulated by quotas; according to the organisers, it balances itself out quite well. There are more photographers than models, which is certainly better than the other way round.
Eddy wants to photoshop Glenn as a reflection in the image of Laura Isabel. Or vice versa. The models have to pose in exactly the same place. I'm curious to see if that works. Update: It worked
Skateboarder Fabian Doerig is also taking part in this Swissinstameet. This allows for action shots and therefore even more variety. Also great: work colleague Denny Phan has been lugging around a flash unit with tripod and umbrella the whole time and I get to experiment with it too.
With this stunt by Fabian with Noë, I expected it to be repeated countless times. But it wasn't repeated once. After the first attempt, everyone was happy.
Bad weather is not a problem, by the way. There is enough space and photo opportunities indoors; moreover, many even hope for rainy weather, which can make for very good photos. Swissinstameet founder Matthias Rossini says: "We've had bad weather before, even hailstorms at our event in Bern. That's why we always look for a suitable venue so that there's enough space and photo opportunities inside. If the weather forecast is bad, we inform our participants to prepare accordingly and adapt our event programme accordingly."
Today, however, the weather is so nice that the sun is almost disturbing. We should actually be back at the cinema by 5.30 pm. We overrun a little because now, towards the evening, the light is getting better. That's my only criticism of this event: it should be scheduled a little later so that the participants can take advantage of the evening light and, ideally, the "blue hour".
Officially, the event ends with a concert by one-man show Gian. Unofficially, the photography continues afterwards. The room is completely dark and the fog machine has left its mark. Nevertheless, many people just can't stop. Someone takes a photo of the disco ball. That's just the way it is: Photography is addictive.
The easiest way to find the final results of this event is via the tag #swissinstameetbaden.
David Lee
Senior Editor
David.Lee@digitecgalaxus.chMy interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.
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