Instagram Blog

Tokyo Skytree Turns One See more photos of the Skytree by...

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:00:00 -0700

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Tokyo Skytree Turns One

See more photos of the Skytree by browsing the 東京スカイツリー (Tokyo Skytree) and 東京スカイツリー天望デッキ location pages.

One year ago today, the Tokyo Skytree (東京スカイツリー) officially opened to the public. Standing 634 meters (2,080 feet), the Skytree is the tallest tower and the second largest structure in the world. The Skytree took four years to build and in the last year alone over 6.3 million people visited the tower—many capturing the experience on Instagram.

Spotlight: Melbourne Since launching, we’ve seen Instagram...

Wed, 22 May 2013 01:01:05 -0700

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Spotlight: Melbourne

Since launching, we’ve seen Instagram spread from our headquarters in the Bay Area to every corner of the globe. In this series, Spotlight, we’ll highlight top users from countries and cities with thriving Instagram communities.

The city of Melbourne—Victoria’s capital and the second most populous city in Australia—was deemed the most livable city in the world two years in a row, causing a plethora of artists to move into the city’s limits. Due to the ever-changing skyline’s modern, cutting-edge designs and its diverse, historical architecture there is never a shortage of photographic inspiration.

Want to view Melbourne from an insider’s perspective? We put together a list of some amazing Instagrammers from in and around the city.

Kamil Sharaidin, Malaysian architect and photographer living in Melbourne— @kamilsharaidin
Farrah Allan, wedding photographer — @farrahallan
Stephanie Stamatis, stylist and designer with an affinity for rustic greenery — @stephanie_somebody
Cleo Coppinger, model and photographer documenting her day-to-day adventures — @cleocoppinger

To explore the city in depth, you can also browse the location pages for some of Melbourne’s more popular landmarks:

The Arts Center, known for its easily recognizable and iconic spire
Federation Square, a civic center and structure with unique and beautiful architecture
Eureka Skydeck 88, the highest public vantage point—285 meters (935 feet)—in the southern hemisphere.
Melbourne Cricket Ground, the tenth-largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, and the largest stadium for playing cricket.

The Beautiful Minimalism of @katia_mi For more beautiful black...

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:01:00 -0700

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The Beautiful Minimalism of @katia_mi

For more beautiful black and white photographs, follow @katia_mi. Black and white not your thing? Visit her second account, @katia_mi_, for her color photos.

Moscow, Russia-based art director Katia (@Katia_mi) isn’t trying to create a mood with her photos. “I have no mission, no reason. This is an internal dialogue. Feelings are much more interesting than ideas,” she says.

In her day-to-day, Katia works as a versatile designer, working on interiors, jewelry, women’s accessories and even communication design. And while her career requires her to tailor her art to the needs of her clients, her Instagram account allows her to express her own daring thoughts.

“Most photographers believe that details are the most important things in a picture. In black and white, I get rid of details and put sense in shadow.”

Though shadows are her specialty, Katia also has a second Instagram account, @katia_mi_, where she posts some of her photos in color.

The French Open on Instagram See more photos of Roland Garros...

Tue, 21 May 2013 02:00:37 -0700

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The French Open on Instagram

See more photos of Roland Garros by browsing the Stade Roland Garros and Le Roland Garros location pages.

Today marks the start of Roland Garros (@rolandgarros), also known as the French Open, one of the most prestigious events in the world of professional tennis. The clay court tournament has been held in Paris since the late 1800s and is named after Roland Garros, a beloved French fighter pilot in World War II who frequented the tennis stadium where the Open is held.

Two hundred and fifty-six players—128 men and 128 women—will compete for the singles and doubles crowns over the next two weeks. Want to get a first-hand look at the tournament? Be sure to follow these Instagrammers:

Men’s Doubles #1 Bob Bryan — @bryanbros.
Women’s World #3 Victoria Azarenka — @vichka35.
Men’s World #6 Tomáš Berdych — @tomasberdych.
Women’s World #1 Serena Williams — @serenawilliams.
ATP, the men’s professional tour — @atpworldtour.
WTA, the women’s professional tour — @WTA.

Tornado Strikes Moore, Oklahoma An EF-4 tornado struck Moore,...

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:33:00 -0700

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Tornado Strikes Moore, Oklahoma

An EF-4 tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma today, causing widespread damage across a 20-mile path throughout the Oklahoma City suburb. The tornado has claimed at least 37 lives with many more injured and has left thousands without power.

Our thoughts go out to those who have been affected, and we hope those in the Oklahoma City area stay safe in the upcoming days. You can find more information on how to help the tornado victims here.

Weekend Hashtag Project: #WHPputaplaneonit Weekend Hashtag...

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:24:00 -0700

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Weekend Hashtag Project: #WHPputaplaneonit

Weekend Hashtag Project is a series featuring designated themes & hashtags chosen by Instagram’s Community Team. For a chance to be featured on the Instagram blog, follow @instagram and look for a photo announcing the weekend’s project every Friday.

This weekend’s tag was #WHPputaplaneonit, which asked participants to capture photographs of airplanes. Every Monday we feature some of our favorite submissions from the project, but be sure to check out the rest here.

The Week on Instagram | 79 News The Next Web:...

Sat, 18 May 2013 21:45:35 -0700

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The Week on Instagram | 79

News

The Next Web: Instagram’s Photos of You Section Has Been Turned on for Everyone
The Verge: Sketching Instagram: co-founder Mike Krieger reveals the photo app’s humble beginnings
Condé Nast Traveler: Instagram Photos from our Fashion Shoot in Ireland: Travel With Us

Get Involved

Weekend Hashtag Project: #WHPputaplaneonit. View photos from the last project, #WHPmotherlylove.

Around the Community

The World’s Most Beautiful Museums “In poetically well...

Sat, 18 May 2013 12:01:00 -0700

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The World’s Most Beautiful Museums

“In poetically well built museums, formed from the heart’s compulsions, we are consoled not by finding in them old objects that we love, but by losing all sense of Time.” - Orhan Pamuk

In honor of International Museum Day, we assembled a list of our favorite museums around the world. Museums house the world’s treasures—be they artistic, scientific or historical—and in turn they are often designed to reflect or enhance the collections they host.

See more museum photos from across the Instagram community by browsing the location pages for these museums below.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art - New York City, United States
Museo Guggenheim - Bilbao, Spain
The J. Paul Getty Museum - Los Angeles, United States
State Hermitage Museum (Госуда́рственный Эрмита́ж) - St. Petersberg, Russia
New Museum (@newmuseum) - New York City, United States
Museum of Islamic Art - Doha, Qatar
Jardines et Musée de Claude Monet - Giverny, France

Follow the @Eurovision Song Contest Live on Instagram For more...

Sat, 18 May 2013 06:13:44 -0700

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Follow the @Eurovision Song Contest Live on Instagram

For more photos from tonight’s final at the Malmö Arena, visit the location page.

Tonight, the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest will come to a close and officially name a winner. The annual competition pits the top songs from countries in Europe against one another on live TV for a shot at the crown of most popular song. The city of Malmö, Sweden, had the honor of hosting this year’s contest since a Swedish song, “Euphoria” by Loreen (@loreenofficial), won last year.

Eurovision (@eurovision) has been sharing photos from the rehearsals, press-conferences and semi-final competitions leading up to tonight’s main event. Be sure to tune into their account for more behind-the-scenes content and check out photos from competitors:

Hungary’s ByeAlex — @byealexittvan
Sweden’s Robin Stjernberg — @stjernbergrobin
The Netherlands’ Anouk — @anouk_goldilox
Ireland’s Ryan Dolan — @ryandolanmusic
Finland’s Krista Siegfrids — @kristasiegfrids

This Weekend’s Hashtag Project: #WHPputaplaneonit Weekend...

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:49:23 -0700

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This Weekend’s Hashtag Project: #WHPputaplaneonit

The goal this weekend is to capture photographs of airplanes mid-flight. Some tips to help get you started: keep your eye on the sky, venture to an airport of any size in your area and, finally, be patient while waiting for the perfect photo opportunity!

PROJECT RULES: Please only add the hashtag #WHPputaplaneonit to photos taken over this weekend and only submit your own photographs to the project. Any image taken then tagged over the weekend is eligible to be featured right here Monday morning!

A Trip to Salvation Mountain Browse more photos on the...

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:01:00 -0700

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A Trip to Salvation Mountain

Browse more photos on the Salvation Mountain location page.

If you ever visit Niland, California, a desert town of just over 1,000 people in the southeasternmost corner of the state, you’re sure to find Salvation Mountain. The giant, bright relgious tribute is made of over 100,000 gallons of paint and stands 50 feet tall by 150 feet in breadth. Artist Leonard Knight started building the mountain in the 1980s and lived there for 30 years, passing days adding to and caring for his life’s work.

Since Knight, now 82, entered into a long-term care facility in late 2011, concern has been raised for the future of the site. Without constant upkeep, the harsh environment can quickly erode the fragile mountain made of clay and paint. Learn more about the fight to save Salvation Mountain here.

Celebrating Food Revolution Day on Instagram Are you...

Fri, 17 May 2013 02:00:42 -0700

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Celebrating Food Revolution Day on Instagram

Are you celebrating Food Revolution Day in your area? Share photos from your activities with the #FRD2013 hashtag!

Today marks the second annual Food Revolution Day, a day of action to highlight global food issues and raise awareness of the importance of good food and better food education.

Chef Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver) started Food Revolution Day in 2012 as a way to spur impactful conversations and community action around supporting local food options and developing basic cooking skills to maximize sustainability and nutrition in the food we eat.

Encouraged by 2012’s enthusiastic reception, Jamie, the Food Revolution team and more than 550 ambassadors around the world are leading more than 1000 events and initiatives today. You can join in the fun by finding an activity in your area, going to a farmers’ market or just cooking a healthy meal at home.

Share photos from your own Food Revolution Day with the #FRD2013 hashtag and be sure to follow Food Revolution (@foodrev) and Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver) on Instagram.

Instagrammers Participate in #biketoworkday Are you planning to...

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:01:00 -0700

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Instagrammers Participate in #biketoworkday

Are you planning to bike to work tomorrow? If so, be sure to share your Instagram photos with the hashtags #biketoworkday and #fromwhereibike.

May is National Bike Month, and tomorrow, May 17, is the League of American Bicyclists’ official Bike to Work Day. Many commuters around the United States will forsake their cars tomorrow in favor of cycling to promote environmentally friendly transportation and healthy living.

Can’t get enough cycling in your life? Be sure to check out these great Instagrammers:

The Bicycle Academy, English bicycle workshop: @thebicycleacademy
Bradley Wiggins, Tour de France and Olympic champion: @bradwiggins
Rapha, cycling accessories company: @rapharacing
David Aaron Roberts, LA bike-portraitist: @slvrlyt
Steiner - Argon 18, Swiss cycling team: @steiner_argon18

Experiencing the X Games through Instagram Can’t make it...

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:07:00 -0700

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Experiencing the X Games through Instagram

Can’t make it to Barcelona? Tune in by following @xgamesbarcelona, searching the #xgamesbarcelona hashtag and browsing the X Games Barcelona location page.

Starting today, some of the world’s top extreme athletes will converge on Spain for X Games Barcelona. If you can’t be in Spain this week, you can experience the X Games through your favorite athletes’ Instagram feeds, as well as @xgamesbarcelona.

Athletes

Motocross

Nate Adams (@nateadams741)
Tarah Gieger (@giegsey)

BMX

Kevin Robinson (@krobbmx)
Steve Mccann (@stevemccann)

Skateboard

Pierre Luc Gagnon (@plgsk8)
Nyjah Huston (@nyjah_huston)

Rallycross

Tanner Foust (@tannerfoust)
Brian Deegan (@briandeegan38)

Locations

Anella Olímpica: Street skateboard & BMX
Palau Sant Jordi: Big air skateboard, BMX and motocross
Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys: Dirt track rally and moto-cross

Reminder: Photos of You

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:06:19 -0700

Two weeks ago we launched Photos of You, a new way of sharing and discovering stories on Instagram. Since then, many users opted to turn the feature on early, and we’ve already seen people across the community doing amazing things. For great examples of how people are using Photos of You, check out New York photographer @joshuabgeyer, skateboard manufacturer @strght and singer/songwriter @edroste.

We wanted to take a moment to remind you that—if you haven’t turned it on already—your Photos of You section on Instagram will become visible today to those who can currently see your profile.

Remember, you can easily adjust your settings so nothing appears on your profile until you approve it. To learn more about how Photos of You works and how to control your visibility, check out help.instagram.com.

On the Road with Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste For more photos...

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:31:00 -0700

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On the Road with Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste

For more photos from Ed and Grizzly Bear, follow him at @edroste and be sure to check out Ed’s Photos of You section on your mobile device.

In addition to being an avid Instagrammer, Ed Droste (@edroste) also happens to be a songwriter and singer in Grizzly Bear, an indie-rock band from Brooklyn, New York. The band has been playing shows across the United States after the debut of their latest album, and Ed has been sharing his behind-the-scenes perspective of life on the road as they go.

Midway through their tour we launched Photos of You, providing Ed with an incredible new view of Grizzly Bear’s life on the road—the fans’ perspective: “I’ve always used Instagram as a public photo album of my travels, and the Photo Map is one of my favorite elements in terms of remembering exactly where I was when I took certain pictures years ago, but with Photos of You I get a whole new perspective on tours and my journeys, which is really cool to see.”

Ed’s Photos of You section has not only given him the opportunity to view photos of the band’s performance from the audience’s perspective, but it’s also allowed him to re-connect with Grizzly Bear fans. “I love meeting people as much as I can after shows. Naturally, I can’t document and remember every person I meet, but this has definitely jogged my memory on meeting some really lovely and cool fans and conversations.”

What have you discovered through Photos of You? Starting tomorrow, the Photos of You section will be visible to everyone who can currently see your profile. Read more about Photos of You here.

The 66th Cannes Film Festival For more photos from the Cannes...

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:44:00 -0700

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The 66th Cannes Film Festival

For more photos from the Cannes Film Festival, keep an eye on the #cannes2013 hashtag and the location pages for 2013 Festival de Cannes, Cannes Red Carpet and the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès.

Today marks the rainy beginning of the 66th Festival de Cannes, one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. Over the next ten days, nearly 100 films of all genres will be screened throughout the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès for the invite-only attendees, but only twenty are considered “In Competition” for the coveted Palme D’Or awarded to the director of the best feature film of the competition.

As celebrities and industry luminaries arrive to the waterfront red carpet by yacht and explore the festival, follow along on Instagram with these confirmed attendees.

Claire Julien (@clairejulien), actress
Amitabh Bachchan (@amitabhbachchan), Bollywood actor
Canal+ (@canalplus), French television channel
Sonam Kapoor (@sonamkapoor), Bollywood actress
Kylie Minogue (@kylieminogue), musician
Francisco Costa (@costafrancisco), Calvin Klein fashion designer
Justin Timberlake (@justintimberlake), musician
Hollywood Reporter (@hollywoodreporter)

Designing Instagram’s Logo You may have noticed in last...

Tue, 14 May 2013 05:01:00 -0700

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Designing Instagram’s Logo

You may have noticed in last week’s update that the Instagram logo got a fresh look. Mackey Saturday (@saturday), a designer and typographer from Denver, Colorado, is the creative force behind Instagram’s logo.

An avid Instagrammer, Mackey committed himself to creating a logo that would resonate with the community: “My hope is that the new design maintains all the excitement and delight that Instagram has had from the beginning, but with an even more polished finish,” Mackey says.

Mackey spent countless hours collaborating with our team until the final design emerged. “I want people to know and see that every last detail is always being considered and that this is a place where they can confidently create and share new memories for years to come. I’m honored to have a part in helping further those moments and hope that this piece becomes synonymous with fond memories, joyful emotions, and thrilling aspirations for the community.”

See more of Mackey’s design work at his website and learn more about the process behind the Instagram logo on his Dribbble profile.

Weekend Hashtag Project: #WHPmotherlylove Weekend Hashtag...

Mon, 13 May 2013 09:54:00 -0700

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Weekend Hashtag Project: #WHPmotherlylove

This weekend’s tag was #WHPmotherlylove, which asked participants to document what motherly love means to them in honor of Mother’s Day. Every Monday we feature some of our favorite submissions from the project, but be sure to check out the rest here.

Celebrating Mother’s Day with @Sueshine Years after her...

Sun, 12 May 2013 06:30:32 -0700

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Celebrating Mother’s Day with @Sueshine

Years after her adoption from a South Korean orphanage, Instagrammer Sue (@sueshine) discovered she had the autoimmune disease known as Lupus. The affliction practically destroyed her kidneys at a young age and years later when she discovered she was pregnant, both she and her husband knew they had a challenging road ahead of them. Her daughter, Sammy Lu, was born weighing less than 3 pounds, but Sue recalls that their struggle to bring Sammy into the world “was beautiful because my husband, my baby and I all fought together like warriors on a battlefield that refused to give up on each other. She was itty bitty but she was a fighter.” Sue’s condition improved after a kidney donation from her husband, who was miraculously a perfect donor match.

Two years later, it was confirmed that Sammy was autistic, but this was a hurdle Sue could overcome. “Raising an autistic child has pushed me to be creative and create a creative environment for Sammy. The scenes I capture are a combination of Sammy’s imagination and mine. It’s a peek into our Never Never Land; the place where silly, exciting and impossible things can happen.”

Sue shares photos of Sammy’s world on Instagram. Her photos capture the moments of calm, joy and wonder Sammy experiences as she interacts with the whimsical scenes that Sue carefully crafts with love.“It’s given me a place to show my life and most importantly Sammy’s life. Now it’s evolved into wanting to show a side of autism that is real and beautiful. That my daughter is more than a cute face, she has depth, hopes and struggles. To think that Sammy has strangers cheering her on, enjoying the small glimpses into her life and wanting the very best for her future is a wonderful thing that has come from the Instagram community.”