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Did you ever scroll through Instagram photos and get a nagging sense of deja vu? There is a reason why. Insta Repeat is an account dedicated to highlighting the 'visual sameness' of many Instagram pictures, tracking the trending hashtags of influencers who see where the likes are and follow along to the same places, strike the same poses, and take identical nature photos.

An anonymous 27-year-old from Anchorage, Alaska, is the brains behind the Instagram trends account. The filmmaker and artist told Photoshelter that “A purpose of Insta Repeat is to critique originality in media creation through the lens (pun intended) of this one ‘genre’ of Instagram photography accounts.”

Living in Alaska, a vast wilderness where so many 'adventurers' come to explore, she was struck by how the same few places and scenarios kept showing up again and again on her feed of beautiful pictures. “I have noticed it in general on a lot of different platforms and media and have been guilty of it myself for sure,” she told Bored Panda. “Artists and creators fall into patterns. But I think that what is happening on Instagram is more extreme.”

She seems to enjoy the irony behind these aesthetic pictures, often tagged with trendy slogans about 'authenticity' and 'creative living,' when contrasted with almost identical photos of other people claiming much the same things. It turns out that while many people may believe that they are pretty special, they are, knowingly or not, following a generic formula that has been laid out and done countless times before. “I chose the outdoorsy type to focus on because I see it a lot because of where I live but more importantly because I think think the "genre" celebrates a "free" and "authentic" lifestyle that is antithetical to the sameness of all the photos.”

It's certainly a fascinating idea and one that exposes some truths about the influencer 'game' that is being played out. She has attracted some negativity for this, but she says the page is not meant to criticize or belittle anyone. “I am interested in exploring the choice to make an image that has, in essence, already been made.”

“The most amazing thing that has happened since starting the account is people engaging in critical debate on originality and the creation of media. There are some really in-depth discussions going on in the comment threads.”

Scroll down to check them all out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!

More info: Instagram

#1

Tent Hole

Tent Hole

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Caroline Huot
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I actually think these ones are awesome. A glimpse of very different scenery.

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#3

Back Of Head With Outdoorsy Hat

Back Of Head With Outdoorsy Hat

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Tony Moon
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is an "outdoorsy" hat? no, that's a felt hat that people don't realize is useless in a rain storm.

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#4

Feet In Front Of Horseshoe Bend

Feet In Front Of Horseshoe Bend

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#5

Person Centered Inside An Ice Cave

Person Centered Inside An Ice Cave

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#6

Standing On Top Of A Car In The Wild

Standing On Top Of A Car In The Wild

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#8

Person Centered Inside This Particular Cave

Person Centered Inside This Particular Cave

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Holl Balls
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My ex was so proud of his “unique” photograph of himself on a large overhang on the Appalachian. Then a year later we saw at the dmv a plate for hikers with a drawing of a man sitting at the edge of the same cliff, same pose, and I laughed.

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#9

Posing In Front Of Starry Sky With A Headlamp

Posing In Front Of Starry Sky With A Headlamp

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Tony Moon
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

By far the best shots of the whole series. At least these have interest, and not every one of them is a morph of the one prior to it.

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#10

Person Centered Rowing In Canoe

Person Centered Rowing In Canoe

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William Teach
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, in all fairness, it wouldn't be easy to take this photo anywhere else, would it?

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#11

Hand On The Steering Wheel

Hand On The Steering Wheel

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#12

Person Alone, Centered, Looking Up In A Slot Canyon

Person Alone, Centered, Looking Up In A Slot Canyon

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#14

Person Walking In The Center Of A Lonely Road

Person Walking In The Center Of A Lonely Road

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#15

Standing On A Rock In Front Of Water

Standing On A Rock In Front Of Water

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Lyndsey
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How can you see a rock on the water and NOT step on it? I'll be playing hopscotch on the rocks for sure.

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#16

Person Centered In Front Of This Particular Row Of Trees

Person Centered In Front Of This Particular Row Of Trees

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#17

Standing On A Van In Front Of Aurora Borealis

Standing On A Van In Front Of Aurora Borealis

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#18

Forward Facing Medium Shot Windy Hair

Forward Facing Medium Shot Windy Hair

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#19

Person Centered On A Green Pointy Ridge/Mountain

Person Centered On A Green Pointy Ridge/Mountain

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#20

Red House

Red House

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#21

Person Centered In Front Of A Waterfall

Person Centered In Front Of A Waterfall

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#22

Person Sitting Alone In Front Of A Lake

Person Sitting Alone In Front Of A Lake

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#23

Wooden Path Centered

Wooden Path Centered

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#24

Person Centered In Front Of Waterfall

Person Centered In Front Of Waterfall

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#25

Vertical Phone In The Wild

Vertical Phone In The Wild

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tarebear
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why take a picture of your phone taking a picture?.....Also would this be phoneception, photoception, wildernessception, or wildphonephotoception?

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#26

Skateboarding Person On Lonely Road

Skateboarding Person On Lonely Road

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Caitlin Smith
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, should they be riding on a NOT lonely road? Also it is very hard to snag a skateboarding pic from any other view.

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#27

Person Centered In Front Of A Forest

Person Centered In Front Of A Forest

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#28

Feet In Front Of A Waterfall

Feet In Front Of A Waterfall

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#29

Centered Bridge

Centered Bridge

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Magdalina777
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are cool. If you manage to catch right the centre of it oooo this is good. The symmetry becomes mesmerizing.

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#30

Person Walking On A Centered Wood Path

Person Walking On A Centered Wood Path

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Maria Campbell
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah, I see I spoke too soon in an early posting. Seems they DID do the centred person on the centred walkway after all. I just knew they couldn't help themselves!

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#31

Passenger Side Window

Passenger Side Window

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tarebear
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I NEVER put my feet out the window and I don't let my passengers do it either. If you have ever seen Deathproof you will know that doing that is the quickest way to loose a leg if you're in an accident... um spoiler alert maybe but not really :-)

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#32

Person Centered On Path In The Woods

Person Centered On Path In The Woods

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#33

Medium Close Up Back Of Girls Head

Medium Close Up Back Of Girls Head

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#34

Person Standing In The Middle Of A Centered Snowy Road

Person Standing In The Middle Of A Centered Snowy Road

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#35

Person Standing In The Middle Of A Winter Road

Person Standing In The Middle Of A Winter Road

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K. LNU
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Are the last two supposed to look like they are peeing on the yellow line?

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#36

Windy Hair In Front Of Landscape

Windy Hair In Front Of Landscape

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#38

Person Running In The Center Of A Lonely Road

Person Running In The Center Of A Lonely Road

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Maria Campbell
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Finally they made their escape from the serial road killer who picks up random hitch hikers. Run, people, run be free!

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#39

Person Centered In Front Of Waterfall

Person Centered In Front Of Waterfall

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Sian Houle
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The second on the top with the black Assassin's Creed pose is Gooseberry Falls, Minnesota.

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#40

Person In Front Of Waterfall

Person In Front Of Waterfall

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JillVille
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Icelandic Waterfall. So beautiful. My photos of this one don't have either of us in them. Just our Travelling Lego person :) I think it was Goth Guy's turn at this one. Banana man was on a rest day.

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