Soooo…what’s this bot/app/whatever about?
To be honest 99.999999% of the world's population will find it utterly useless - however, if you ever asked yourself:
- Why do all photos on Instagram look the same
- Why do all my own photos look the same 

And you enjoy being tortured/challenged - then continue reading

Ok, so Svetlana doesn’t tell me how to take better photos and she’s kind of a pain - exactly why would I use this app?
Valid question, Svetlana simply exists to prove that creative expression is not about filters and effects - but the decision you make the second before pressing the capture button.

But why can’t I take as many photos as I want of something?
We tend to “shoot for coverage” meaning a bunch of photos at once and leave the decision-making process until afterward. However, that means hundreds of photos to scroll through which often becomes overwhelming and we simply give up. Svetlana turns that process around and forces you to think before you shoot.

Is that really necessary?
Perhaps not but it’s an interesting exercise.

Can’t she be more aspirational and encouraging instead?
That’s what parents are for. Besides, there’s a million “healing stones” type of apps. Svetlana is for the 0.0001% of the world’s population who feel that approach to be superficial and disingenuous.

But why does she have to be so strict?
Svetlana believes that great art is the result of great suffering, so she makes you suffer… for your own good. And she’s not strict, she’s just honest...and a bit stoic.

Why did you name her Svetlana and not something more tech-y
The name is in honor of my stoic third-grade gymnastics teacher Svetlana who thought that shortcuts are for lazy people.

Ok, so what’s next?
Svetlana is still in beta, the next step is to add plugins.

Plugins?
Yes, plugins that break your derivative feedback loop.

Derivative, What!?
For instance, spend some time on Instagram and you start seeing variations of the same photos over and over again. Chances are that intentionally or unintentionally you’ve been taking similar-looking photos because that’s what you’ve been exposed to. That’s your derivative feedback loop kicking in. But what could your photos look like if breaking free from it was possible?

I don’t know…
That’s the whole point. Svetlana helps you, or perhaps makes you take photos you’ve never taken before. Not better - just different.

So I just download the app?
You request a beta invite here.