Deep gratitude to two of my friends, Andrew A. (@universal_panic) and Mackenzie S. (@pineandcrave), for showing me the light and motivating me to get on Instagram. Yes, I admit it, I eschewed this particular social medium for too long (“devalues photos” … “even more time on our phones” … “nothing’s left to the imagination”), but where I once was blind, I now can see. Or, better: Where else can I see (in a matter of minutes and scrolls) everything from classic, perfectly crafted photos from road trips in the U.S. Southwest (@matthewehrmann) to inspiring pictures posted by an organization that’s working to invest in the dreams and businesses of coffee farmers in Rwanda (@kulaproject)?

And yes, there’s also the personal reach, and the gratification that comes from having your images shared and seen by so many that might otherwise never have seen them. Not only by one’s “followers,” but through permitted reposts and repurposing of photographs, including two of my own travel shots shown here: blue footed boobies in the Galápagos (above), posted by Lindblad Expeditions on its website and the Scat Jazz Lounge (below), posted by the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau on FortWorth.com.