A group of Instagram enthusiasts gathered at Spring Point Ledge Light in South Portland last month to take photos during what is called an Instameet. The gathering was held to coincide with what Instagram calls a WorldWide Instameet, which is when people meet at hundreds of gatherings around the globe on a single weekend to take photos and draw inspiration from one another.

Stephanie Cichowski of Freeport organized the Instameet in South Portland because she wanted to meet other Instagrammers in Maine. “I’m very excited about Instagram,” she says. “I connect with people all over the world but not a lot in Maine. I wanted to connect with people in Maine and make something happen here.”

A woman walks along the jetty under overcast skies at an Instameet at Spring Point Ledge Light in South Portland on Saturday. The Instameet, a gathering of photographers who connect via Instagram, was held to coincide with other Instameets being held around the world. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Cichowski

Jeffrey Simpson of Fryeburg, right, shares an image with Stephanie Cichowski of Freeport and Rod Pervier of Pownal.

Cichowski says that one of the big benefits of the Instameets is that Instagrammers get to learn from one another. “You get an opportunity to meet people and see how they approach their shot,” she says. “It’s great because people will share what apps they use and what processes they use.”

At the South Portland Instameet, 10 people participated and made images at the lighthouse, the jetty and nearby Fort Preble. A collection of the images reveals how each of the Instagrammers applied distinct creativity in making the images and also the range of photo apps they used to process them. Cichowski says the gathering was a success and plans to organize another Instameet in Maine soon.

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