F*ck Instagram and others. Use Glass.photo
— By ttyrex
“For years, it felt like we didn’t have a true home for our photography online — so we built one ourselves.”
That’s how Tom Watson, founder of Glass.photo, introduces the platform — and honestly, he’s absolutely right. From the moment I started using Glass, it felt like the natural home for sharing my photos.
Why sharing Photos ?
As an amateur photographer in the age of social media, I often get asked: Is this just a pure ego trip?
Give me a chance to explain…
Sharing photos is a way to connect with others — whether it’s casual viewers, pro photographers, or potential clients (if you’re lucky enough to make a living from your passion). Just knowing that someone has seen your work, appreciated it, or left feedback can be highly motivating.
It’s similar to being a music producer in your bed room: you create to express yourself first, but also to be heard and probably experienced !
We’re talking about Art
Sure, I’m not the best, but I have a deep love for it. Honestly, it’s no different from creating watercolors or drawing. For some strange reason, photography has been pushed out of the art world in the minds of most people, likely due to the rise of smartphones and the constant stream of pictures we see on our screens all day long.
I know it might sound a bit arrogant, but people must understand that there’s a distinction between simply capturing memories with a cellphone and taking a photo 😄
Why should I pay for this?
It’s no longer a secret that platforms offered for free are essentially advertising companies, which is no longer acceptable in today’s connected world. Intrusive technology has become too risky for the environment we live in. Paying for a service is, therefore, a reasonable alternative. The only downside is that US dollars can quickly become expensive for non-US users, especially when it comes to annual fees.
Escape the algorithm
While Instagram doesn’t publicly disclose all the specifics, the algorithm tends to prioritize content that generates engagement (likes, comments, shares, saves) and fits into trending topics or styles. Photos with higher contrast or more vivid colors often stand out more in the feed.
Also, Video content, especially Reels, is currently prioritized by the algorithm to encourage users to stay on the platform longer. Exploring the brain’s addiction to short videos is an interesting topic, but that’s a discussion for another time 😄
Anyway, the algorithm-driven approach is killing creativity and increase a more conformist environment among users. Even more concerning, many people end up adjusting their style just to fit what the algorithm favors, hoping to be seen. Human faces, for example, tend to perform better because they’re more relatable and engaging — the same goes for (supposed to be) aspirational content like the famous van life…
As a result, platforms like Instagram are becoming less welcoming to photography enthusiasts, and in my opinion, regular users should consider deleting this sh*t too.
The endless loop of visual repetition
Numerous artists and researchers have explored this topic, consistently revealing just how superficial and fake Instagram can be.
It’s become so predictable that AI models can estimate how many likes a photo will get just by analyzing low-level visual features like balance and curvature.
I also recall an exhibition from 2018 in Paris titled Multiplicity by Moritz Stefaner. The project analyzed 25,000 geotagged Instagram photos taken in Paris, using a neural network to cluster them based on visual similarity.
It showed how users often take nearly identical photos, artworks, and everyday moments, exposing repetitive visual patterns.
You can read more about this experience here.
Who is behind Glass?
Back to Glass, I spent some time listening to that podcast below. It is helpful in understanding the reasoning behind choosing a paid service for example or how many folks run it. (3, Yes, just 3!).
Features and roadmap
Glass takes a different approach compared to typical social networks. They didn’t just drop a “like” button — they renamed it to “appreciation” to better reflect a real support and provide a commenting system to encourage real interaction (feedback, or questions about settings and hardware — photographers are known to be geeks).
For me, Glass feels like a small, organic farm run by a passionate team, while IG, 500px, and Flickr are like Walmart, focused on trading your clicks for profit.
One last thing I really appreciate is the feature/feedback roadmap. It lets you request your dream feature and upvote others, guiding the developers to the topic they will work on next. Still like the food chain — having a direct short link between the farmers and the consumer is better.
Welcome to an Ad-Free World
After reading the Fstoppers article “Has Photography Sold Its Soul?” I felt sad to realize how much photography—once considered an art—has become a consumer-driven market. We’re pressured to blindly buy the latest cameras, lenses, and accessories.
Far away from all this YouTube videos showcasing the latest Canon or Sony unboxings, Glass feels like a zen refuge with no Ads or “influencers”. While browsing by lens, I have discovered many stunning photos taken with old or regular lenses… Yes, the photographer is the true artist, not the f*cking gear!
See you on the other side !
That’s all folks, and of course, if you decide to give Glass a try, feel free to check out my gallery at glass.photo/ttyrex. However, I highly recommend exploring the Monthly Favorites, like Blue Hour — which is sublime ❤️
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🤖 Please note that I have used ChatGPT to help with my English in this article. If you come across any words that seem off topic or like a hallucination, please let me know. Thank you.