The protests [in Turkey], which started as an effort to save Istanbul’s Gezi Park from redevelopment, have grown into an ongoing anti-government demonstration directed at Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s leadership. They quickly spread to other cities as well, like Izmir and Ankara, Turkey’s capital.

For the past two weeks, social photography has shown how popular tourist spots in Istanbul, like Istiklal Street and Taksim Square, have been transformed into urban battlegrounds.

Earlier this month, Erdogan criticized the role social media played in publicizing the protests,calling social media the “worst menace to society.” Erdogan blamed Twitter for distorting the events taking place around Taksim Square, where violent clashes between police and protesters erupted.

This week, police again used tear gas against demonstrators, attempting to disperse them. And on Wednesday, Erdogan gave demonstrators a 24-hour warning, telling them to end protests. (Our colleagues over at The Two-Way blog are monitoring the latest events.)

It’s hard to gauge from the outside what might be distorted on Instagram. But it offers a new perspective on the protests — and the lives of the photographers.

Via Instagram, Insight Into Turkey’s Protest

Photo Credit: Serkan Bac and Engin Iriz

“When I shoot, I have an out of body experience,” Amelia [Coffaro, a freelance photographer who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 28] says. “I don’t feel afraid to know what the doctors are going to say.” By using Instagram, she feels that she has a more immediate and direct connection with others, allowing them to see her experiences in real time.”

Amelia’s friend and fellow photographer Elizabeth Griffin has also been documenting Amelia’s journey. Elizabeth’s photos combined with Amelia’s Instagram shots allow the viewer to not only see the struggle of a cancer patient from the outside, but also to feel and witness the struggle through the eyes of the patient herself.

The project, which they call “Project Amelia,” is meant to challenge assumptions about cancer — and to put a frame around the struggles faced by women with breast cancer.

Capturing Life With Cancer At 28

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Griffin and Amelia Coffaro

audiovision:

Brad Puet never considered himself a photographer before he got an iPhone in 2009.

Now, he has 36,000 Instagram followers, teaches photography at a community college in Seattle and leads We Are JUXT, a photography collective with 40 members from all over the world.

See more of Puet’s images at KPCC’s AudioVision.

If nuclear concerns haven’t pushed North Korea back to the front of American consciousness, Dennis Rodman’s recent visit has. It’s a reminder of just how rare an opportunity it is to meet with the North Korean leader; NPR’s news blog says Rodman is “the only American to have met and talked with Kim [Jong Un].”

Just setting foot in North Korea is a feat. But as chief Asia photographer for the AP wire service, photographer David Guttenfelder (who snapped this photo of Rodman at an airport) goes every few weeks. And in recent months, he has made a few dents in Korea’s historically iron wall by posting photos — in real time — to Instagram. But back in 2000, when he went for the first time, mobile phones were not allowed at all.

“Not only could I not bring a phone but I was told not to take pictures from a moving bus,” he says via Skype from Tokyo, where he’s based. “They put sheets over the windows of my hotel room so I couldn’t see outside. I had this strange feeling that nothing was real.”

A lot has changed since then. “Fast forward to February,” Guttenfelder says, “and suddenly I’m standing in Pyongyang and can send [photos] straight to Instagram or … straight to the office.”

Live From North Korea, An Instagram Feed

Media Credit: David Guttenfelder

kpseesee:

We’re addicted to Instagram over at KPCC. Together with Instagram Lovers Anonymous, we’re sponsoring a monthly contest. A new theme is presented each month.

October’s contest entitled, “Express Yourself” comes to an end today. See the finalist and vote for your favorite now.

Don’t forget to follow @KPCC and @IGLA on Instagram.

onthemedia:

So Iran’s Supreme Leader just got an Instagram account. With any luck, #iranstagram will start trending shortly.

Instagram on Android: Favorite Follows

Now that Instagram is available for Android users, who are your favorite people to follow?

John and Becky were interviewed in an article by Slate photo editor, Heather Murphy, about Instagram and journalism. 

Slate: In Defense of Instagram: News Photography Goes Well With Vintage-Filtered Cat Pics

Photo By John W. Poole/NPR

-Emily

Chemistry for sale at Penn Camera in DC. (Kainaz Amaria/NPR) via Instagram

Ice fishing shelters on Highland Lake in Andover, NH. The lake froze only about two weeks ago says fisherman Dan Shaw. He’s fishing for lake trout. While NPR is fishing for Republican primary storylines in New Hampshire. (John W. Poole/NPR) via Instagram