instagram: Visiting the World’s Remote...

Visiting the World’s Remote Locations with @JoshuaCogan
When Joshua Cogan (@JoshuaCogan) completed his graduate work in anthropology, he knew academia was not the place for him. Instead, he picked up his camera and set out “to document vanishing cultures and enrich our understanding of social issues through photography and new media.”
Joshua’s work as a photographer has taken him to some of the most remote parts of the world. Fortunately for everyone else, he shares his travels through Instagram.
“I really appreciate having an open platform to share ideas and to start conversations from,” says Joshua. “Whenever I go to a new place, I try to think about a mini-narrative that I can take my Instagram followers on, something that helps them be part of the story that is actually happening at that moment, not one that has been overly refined or smoothed out.”
As a professional photographer, the immediacy of Instagram is both a challenge and an opportunity. “There are some limitations to what shows well on Instagram, so thinking about framing and composition are key when using it to tell stories,” Joshua says. “I really enjoy pushing the constraints to challenge myself into making better and better images.” At the same time, he says, “I can spend days and weeks after a project picking just the right image, and polishing a story, but I think there is nothing that replaces being there, and Instagram gives me the chance to share that feeling.”
Currently, Joshua’s documenting life in Ketchikan, a small town in southeast Alaska, on which he comments, “While I’ve traveled to many places around the world, Ketchikan continues to offer lessons about the interaction between culture and environment.”
Alaska isn’t all Joshua has in store: “The fall is shaping up to have some good adventures right now. I am preparing for some trips to visit traditional artists in Kenya, a journey in November to China and I’ll sprinkle in a few road trips throughout the US as well.”
To tag along on Joshua’s adventures, follow @JoshuaCogan on Instagram.