Justin Bieber has quite the following on photo-sharing network Instagram, but what about the hidden gems out there that have used it as a platform to showcase their talent and exactly what the app can do?

If you’re on Instagram or in the photo industry and you haven’t heard of Craig Howes, now is the time to come to the party. The 28-year-old Capetonian has become the most followed South African on Instagram, with 90,000-plus followers – and that’s just on his personal account.

We have been lucky enough to get an exclusive interview with the cameraman himself. Below you can see everything that inspired this photography mogul. From his day job, to his favourite reflection pieces – this is an interview that any aspiring photographer could learn a thing or two from.

For 8-5 during the week, I’m a portfolio manager for an unsecured loan portfolio. Outside of that, I’m normally surfing, kite surfing or mountain biking.

A good one. Haha, I don’t know if you can really put a name to the style. I cover everything from Street, Event, Fashion, Swimwear, Landscape, Sunset Silhouettes and of course Artistic.

An iPhone is the tool of choice 80% of the time, it’s always on me and the quality is amazing. I’ve blown pictures up for exhibitions that have been shot on my iPhone and the results are phenomenal. However for certain types of photography such as fashion and extreme sport I use my DSLR Nikon 7000. A GoPro is also very high up on my Christmas wish list.

For Instagram I shoot purely with my iPhone. I can generally edit the pics in applications (on my iPhone) such as Snapseed and Filterstorm (which is like photoshop for iPhone) in between two – 30 minutes. I publish my work on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook – and soon a blog – all with my iPhone.

I actually have seven accounts. The biggest being @craighowes1 (90 000+ followers) @howes_bw (58 000+ followers) @cityofcapetown (40 000+ followers). In short the separation is to cater for different styles and my ADD. The long answer is that @craighowes1 is my account, I do with it what I please… no rules no boundaries. @Howes_bw is a purely black and white gallery that is obviously BW but also a lot darker (in both senses of the word). The pictures carry a lot more emotion and meaning. @cityofcapetown although it is my account – I feel that its my responsibly to show the city in the best way possible. The pictures are more landscape orientated and journalistic. I also do features and challenges on that account with the aim to inspire, build awareness and grow the Instagram community in Cape Town, and South Africa for that matter.

At first I was completely against it. Especially because 99% of Instagram users use the feature really badly – no one wants to see a video of a dog licking its… tail. But that said, there are a handful of artists out there that are producing mind blowing videos. For me personally it has added another dimension to Instagram (a good one) that is challenging my creativity and I’m thoroughly enjoying it. To add to that from a @cityofcapetown perspective, I have been able to show off the city to the world in a way that I could never have done before.

Here are all the details you need to know to view Craig’s photography and join the band of followers he has already gleaned.

To access the official Howes Photography Facebook page, click here.

Craig Howes official Instagram – @craighowes1, click here.

To follow the rest of his accounts, click the appropriate handle.

• @cityofcapetown
• @coloursplash_legends
• @wackywinefest
• @howes_sky
• @howes_edit

Bought to you by SA Camera