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This blog article from 2016 has been kept live for archival purposes.
If a tree falls down in a remote forest… and no one is around to Instagram it… did it actually happen?
Sometimes the Instagram community can be overbearing especially when looking for new people to inspire you. That’s why I thought it would be a good idea to put together 47 inspirational Instagram accounts to follow.
These are a handpicked sample from my Instagram feed and I’ve tried my best to organise them into their specialisms. There may be some crossover and I mean no offence to those that don’t like to be defined as a certain “genre”.
I can assure you all these Instagram artists fit into the categories of creative and inspirational.
The minimalists
The simple aesthetics of open spaces, clean lines and how people interact in the spaces. Often a muted pallet interspersed with a pop of colour.
Bright, vivid pop art that’s a treat for the eyes and will also make you smile.
Elements of street photography and architecture bound by the self explanatory comment in their bio; “love shadows”.
A lovely muted pallet which gives each photo a calm, dreamlike quality.
Bright and colourful photos of architectural elements, wall art, walls without art (but somehow art in themselves) and sometimes floors, all with a minimalistic twist.
Wanderlust and travelling adventurers
Brandon says he’s always looking for the next big adventure… I’m hoping he’s also looking for someone to at least help carry his bags (hint, hint!).
Blurring the lines between work and life, Alex is both adventurer and photographer capturing life as it unfolds in front of him (jealous).
The Netherlands and beyond, each photo making you want to book a plane ticket.
From her travels you get to see everything; fantastic landscapes, food, people, objects, some minimalism thrown in there too, making you want to go experience it all for yourself.
From Wales out to pretty much every corner of the globe, Finn takes you on a journey; rather than just documenting his travels he manages to immerse you in each location.
The food pornographers
Amongst his many achievements and prolific work he’s brought Jamie Oliver’s food to life in his recipe books. Being a ‘foodie’ myself I obviously love foodporn photos, but I also like the “behind the scenes” snippets David posts on his Instagram feed.
I can’t recall seeing a photo of him, but based on the amount of glorious breakfasts, lunches, dinners (and snacks in between) that fill my feed everyday..  it would be an unjust world if he was not overweight.
A true creative not only with the photography, but also in the cooking and preparation of the subject matter as well.
In case you’ve not guessed it by the Instagram name, there’s a further clue in her bio: “breakfast lover from Sweden”. The most important gram of the day!
The first person I found making super cute bento box food for their kids and makes me wish I had the patience to do this for mine (just don’t show them this account). Too cute to eat…. ?
Very fine artists
Katie has a couple of Instagram accounts where she shares her prolific work. Sometimes they’re collages, sometimes paintings (including on herself), sometimes mixed-media and video. It’s all wonderfully colourful, kitsch, occasionally funny, always beautiful and (I mean this in the best possible way) nearly always beautifully bonkers!
Mix media; still life, collage artist, graphic designer, photographer, satirist and pizza aficionado.
His work has a graphic design, pop art feel and most of it has a witty theme that could have placed him in the comedian category.
Painter of mainly portraits with a pop art/graphic design look. Often gives out clues on his feed of where to go collect free pieces of his work he’s hidden.
Using only images taken from London’s free newspapers he painstakingly cuts out elements to combine into out of context collages. Funny? yes, but in a world of digital, Adam is like a wonderful analogue island.
Those that loiter on the streets and car parks
Fellow commuters are his favourite subject matter, beautifully captured and post processed and often captioned with an in-depth narrative and back story. Great photos along with a great sense of humour. If you’re on a train and spot him… don’t fall asleep!
Armed with his iPhone, Adam captures mostly black and white snatched observations and moments from the world around him.
Citizen journalist, publicity photographer and National Portrait gallery exhibitor Honey Salvadori; I love her Instagram feed as it’s full of interesting people, with a quirky edge.
Showcasing classic American car design as found on the street corners and carparks of Seattle, captured with a great cinematic feel.
Sometimes looking like a step back in time to the Las Vegas of the 1950’s, Edgar also finds beauty in the rust and decay of the classic cars he photographs.
The architects
Could also be described as a minimalist a wonderful turquoise background is overlaid with architectural elements that could be mistaken for space craft.
Another potential minimalist, but with the repeated patterns of high-rise buildings the scale of some of his photos is anything but minimal.
Brightly coloured, architectural details and buildings shot from aesthetically pleasing and sometimes mind bending angles.
Morocco (and beyond)Â seen in a different light away from the tourist trail and through the eyes of an architect.
A bit of a different account to the others as this is more a collective under it’s account name hashtag, but still.. I DO have a thing for walls and this account might make you think differently. Definitely not watching paint drying.
The people
Other-worldly underwater portraiture. I’m not sure how long she spends on dry land, but I’d bargain it’s not a lot of time.
OK, so the ‘people’ she photographs is herself (or more specifically at the moment, her hands), but each image has a conceptual, dream like quality that makes them intriguing.
Mostly photos of her son, but no two image the same and all captured with both a natural and high art aesthetic… real life, but done real well.
Maybe it’s being a Dad myself, but this is another family photo album but these have a dreamy, cinematic feel to them, like there’s a narrative running in the background.
Less of the real world (well… not the world I orbit) beautiful men and women, captured in powerful, emotive scenes (although the “man with octopus on face in bath” is less beautiful and more terrifying to me).
The humourists
Satire presented in a pop art format. Bright, colourful, sometimes dark humoured and puerile… could also be a description of me as well as this great collection of work.
Another collective account and if you’re not a parent this one might be wide of the mark, but the bio says it all: “Why your kid can’t eat your terrible food”.
If the account title leaves you confused then maybe this one is not for you: “Half man, half horse, half crazy. Bad at math”.
As I mentioned on my I see faces blog it makes me laugh when I spot them, but I take comfort in knowing there are others out there.
OK, so these weird and wonderful animations might freak you out rather than make you smile, but it’s still worth a look and a follow. If you’re a fan of the work of then this will be right on your button, or… under your foot (tenuous).
Those that refuse to be pigeon-holed into a specific genre, but are well worth a mention
Part art, graphic design and illustration all combined to make images that are cinematic with a narrative; sometimes double exposed and conceptual, portraits or just stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures, but no matter what the subject.. always visually stunning.
Minimalism, portraiture, street, the occasional classic car and definitely also “has a thing for walls”.
A graphic designer which shows in the framing, layout and style of his photos. Worth mentioning the great beard (especially when decorated with flowers).
Conceptual, dramatic, cinematic, minimal, humorous… and possibly some more unspecific genre defining great images. Coincidentally also sporting a decent beard.
A diverse mix of subject matter; portrait, still life and minimalism but all treated with a fantastic and distinct style of photography that’s consistent through all her photos.
And… let’s not forget:
Beautiful imagery handpicked from the growing ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏcollection of over 82 million images, showcasing some of the great creative talent on board.
Showcasing and celebrating those that make the weekly #gridofgreatness along with other creative highlights from the Stockimo community of mobile phone photographers.
Apologies to the “also rans”
To all those IÂ haven’t featured, I love you all equally so please don’t be put out (or unfollow), but if I follow you it does mean that I find you inspirational.
There’s always going to be diversity and difference of option, so who inspires you?
Share your top Instagram follow suggestions in the comments below.