Mark Twain once said:
“There is no such thing as a new idea…We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope. We give them a turn and they make new and curious combinations…”
Now a sobering Instagram account called@insta_repeatdemonstrates just how right he was. In a modern world where we have unprecedented access to the world, not only via faster and better transport methods, but also by virtual ones, social media is full of photos from around the world.
This account shows that despite the sheer volume of these images, a staggering amount of them are eerily similar. Imitation may well be the greatest form of flattery, but sometimes we’re just reproducing exactly the same snap for the sake of likes.
Come with us as we journey through some of our favourites.
120 canoes
Some of Insta Repeat’s images feature more than just a selection of 12 images. In some cases, the account has collected a mass of similar images to prove just how unoriginal human beings can be. Inthis particular one, there are no less than 120 different people sitting in a canoe.
Phones in the wild
If you’re worried about not being original enough, why not take two devices so you can snap a photo of your phone taking photos? Surely that one hasn’t been done? Well, unfortunately, it has,at least 60 times in fact.
A trip into ice caves
Another stunning image that’s been done over and over again. It seems that even travelling into the depths of an icy cavern isn’t enough to be original. Especially if you stand in the centre of the frame too. Insta Repeat has collected48 people doing exactly this pose.
Red houses
Surely an unusual sight in the middle of nowhere could qualify as original? Apparently not.This post shows 72 red housescaptured by different Instagrammers. There’s no denying the views are stunning, but they’re far from unique.
Torches into the sky
This post shows a collection of60 different peoplecarrying their own personal sources of light pollution. Because nature and a starry sky aren’t nearly interesting enough to stand out from the crowd.
Standing by the dock of the bay
There’s no denying, some of these photos are fairly awesome. Utterly moody shots of our world wonderfully captured for everyone to enjoy. They’re not even ruined by the fact that they’re appearing over and over again on Instagram and elsewhere. In this selection, a lone individual stands on an empty dock looking off into a calm bay, lake or river.
Tent holes
Shots taken from inside a tent are becoming a bit of an Instagram cliché. It’s no surprise to see that Insta Repeat has a selection of these images - even split into different coloured tent holes withblue,yellowandredall making an appearance.
Moody wooden pathways
There’s something about an empty path stretching off into the wilderness that’s utterly appealing. We’re sure that’s what these Instagrammers thought when they snapped the original photos, but even if the path is empty they weren’t the first people to take the photo.
Film isn’t dead
Digital photos of people taking photos with traditional film cameras or just cameras in general. Imagine the hilarity of coming across these folks taking pictures of each other in the middle of nowhere all for the sakes of some likes.
A series of photos featuring disembodied hands holding various different mugs centred in outdoor locations. A keen eye will notice that some of these photos even include the same style of cup. Is that a trend in itself?
