Jess Macdonald

Miss Underground recently hit the Instalimelight with a feature on Instagram’s main blog, feed and across it’s social networks. Prior to this, her work capturing the world beneath London in London’s Underground transport systems, had gained a sizable cult following. Jess Macdonald, the photographer behind MissUnderground is a long-term Instagramer being one of the founder members of Instagramers London and UK, two communities she now Co-Manages.

“You have to love your photographs or no one else will!”

You’re a central part of the London and UK Instagramer community – co-managing IGers UK and IGers London – has being part of it and the global Instagram network improved your work as a mobile photographer?

Through my community and the contests we have run over the last 2 years I have learnt a lot about photography and what makes a good photograph – composition, subject etc. Also, through meeting people in my community, I have learned tips on apps and how to take better photographs.

Having captured so many great moments on London Underground, which other cities would you love to shoot underground?

I would love to go to Berlin, Vienna and Moscow and I would need a week in each city. They are all so different in style to the London Underground but I would love to capture them empty.

“13th Witness was a totally charming guy and I was captivated by his view on the world. “

You often get requests from mobile photographers to join you on ‘photo-missions’ under the streets of London – which have been your most memorable?

I always enjoy meeting other mobile photographers and by watching them take pictures of the underground with me is a complete thrill. I got completely blown away by Chris Connolly (@chrisconnolly) and we got so obsessed getting Kings Cross empty we missed the last tube! 13th Witness (@13thwitness) was a totally charming guy and I was captivated by his view on the world.

With your work with IGers UK and London, you often work with brands – which have been the most enjoyable, and which types of brand-partnership work best with engaging your community?

The best brands to work with are the ones who take your advice and understand we have knowledge on how to get the most engagement and content. Brands that understand how Instagram works and use Instagram properly, not just to back up another social media platform.

If you could give just 3 tips to a new mobile photographer – what would they be?

• First of all find your style or your passion – you have to love your photographs or no one else will!
• Then follow people who inspire you and learn from them – their view on the world could affect the way you see things.
• Finally don’t be frustrated at your work – if it’s good enough people will follow you and the more you do it the better you will become.

You have a unique style, which other mobile photographers do you most love the work of?

I like different styles of photography for different reasons – I love a lot of street photography particularly Thomas_K (@thomas_k) and I’m completely in love with Dopez (@dopez) and her work in NYC. I also love themed Instagram feeds such as the wonderful Martin Reisch (@safesolvent), Payphones (@payphones ) and my guilty pleasure is the T-Rex adventures with Osnuflaz (@osnuflaz).