Spotlight: Bangkok (กรุงเทพมหานคร)

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

In 2012, Bangkok, Thailand, proved to be one of Instagram’s most photographed cities. More photos were shared at Suvarnabhumi Airport than anywhere else in the world!

With such a vibrant Instagram community, how could we not do a Bangkok spotlight? To get a local’s perspective of Bangkok, be sure to follow these Instagrammers:

• Athipan Wongsuebyut, graphic designer with a keen eye for patterns and close ups — @awnoom
• Diawdd Pongsakorn, black and white photographer — @diawdd
• @woody_chai, urban movement and architecture — @woody_chai
• Zcongklod Bangyikhan, magazine editor-in-chief and cycling enthusiast — @zcongklod

The Making Of: @PhloemStudio’s Hand-Built Furniture

Phloem Studio (@phloemstudio)—named after the vascular structure of plants—is the Portland, Oregon-based creation of furniture designer and craftsman Benjamin Klebba.

From its North Portland workshop, Phloem produces beautiful, hand-crafted furniture and documents the process through Instagram. Says Ben, “I post pictures of designs coming together, furniture parts in process, the finished pieces, as well as things that catch my eye in everyday life.” Instagram is also a source of daily inspiration. “I’ve found many creative types out there who I admire,” Ben says.

To add a regular dose of furniture envy to your feed, follow @phloemstudio on Instagram.

How I Shoot: Danny Clinch’s Concert Photography

Want to view more photos from Bonnaroo? Visit the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival location page and the #trueroo hashtag.

Danny Clinch (@dannybones64) has photographed musicians and documented their performances since the mid-1980s when he was an intern for Annie Leibovitz. Along the way, Danny has captured Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, Tupac Shakur and Björk in his signature unobtrusive style. He posts some of those intimate, modest moments on Instagram and even shared a few of his concert photography tips with us:

• Try to find a point of view that is different from the people around you.
• The most interesting photograph is not always of the lead singer at the microphone.
• Watch what happens between songs.
• Try different angles. The view from the furthest seat in the house can be as rewarding as the front row.
• Develop relationships with people in the music industry—both venue employees and band members—for behind-the-scenes photo opportunities.

Starting tomorrow, Danny will be photographing the four-day Bonnaroo festival (@bonnaroo) in Manchester, Tennessee. Follow him and performers like The XX (@the_xx_), Reggie Watts (@reggiewatts), Porter Robinson (@porterrobinson), Alana Haim (@babyhaim) and The National (@ntnl) for a behind-the-scenes look at the music and comedy festival.

Exploring Japan’s Modern Ruins with @neji_maki_dori

For more photos from abandoned sites around Japan, be sure to follow @neji_maki_dori on Instagram.

Tokyo-based Instagrammer @neji_maki_dori has been exploring abandoned buildings in Japan ever since his first visit to the ruins of a sulfer mine in 2006. “The overwhelming scale, inorganic and deserted feel, moldy smell and excitement were all very refreshing and inspiring to me at the time,” he says. “I’ve been captivated by ruins ever since.”

@neji_maki_dori sources locations from printed materials about abandoned sites and the collective knowledge base of his fellow explorers. From mines and towers to apartment blocks and even a larger-than-life building in the shape of a cow, his adventures take his followers through some of Japan’s most forgotten places.

The Art of the Post with @nasyakopteva

To see more of Nasya’s beautiful post creations, follow her on Instagram @nasyakopteva.

Nasya Kopteva (@nasyakopteva) made her first mail artwork at the age of five. “My grandmother let me paint old Soviet envelopes. In those opened envelopes, I saw small houses and added doors, windows, fences and whole rooms inside. When I remember those post cities, I feel happiness. What wonderful things an open-minded child can create!”

Nasya still makes mail art today but sends the letters to just one recipient, her friend Sasha. “We exchange painted post stories and try to surprise and delight each other.” Nasya and Sasha share some of their most beautiful creations on their blog (www.fishmailart.com) and on Instagram. “I am a completely visual person. For me, Instagram is the most convenient way to freeze moments and share visual information–energy, feelings and beauty—with others who are in search of it.”

Capturing ‘Out Cold’ Commuters with TIME’s @PatrickWitty

Patrick Witty (@patrickwitty) spends his days editing and curating photos as TIME magazine’s international picture editor. But in late March, Witty inadvertently embarked on his own photo series when he began documenting fellow commuters that had seemingly fallen asleep on the subway.

“One morning I was on my way to work, standing directly in front of this woman with incredible hair—an explosion of color and texture, the white earphone cord dangling below, so I took a picture. She was fast asleep so I haphazardly captioned the picture, ‘Out cold on the 2. #commute.’ I took another one the next day and it sort of snowballed from there.”

Despite the appearance that the people in his photos are sleeping, most are actually engrossed in their mobile devices. “I’m not sure people realize this, but most of these people are not asleep. They are looking down, lost in their phones or tablets. And I’m doing exactly the same thing. So they are self-portraits in some ways,” says Witty.

What’s been the reaction to Patrick’s photos? “Most people find them humorous, some find it odd, some depressing. I think they are all of these things. I’m definitely not trying to make fun of anyone… It’s a testimony to the subway’s diversity and individuality.”

Join Patrick’s daily commute by following him on Instagram: @patrickwitty.

Shooting the London Tube with @missunderground

To see more photos of the London Underground, follow Jess on Instagram: @missunderground.

In 2011, Jess Macdonald (@missunderground) snapped her first photo of the London Underground. Quickly, the beloved Tube’s architecture and tunnels became a favorite scene for Jess and her followers on Instagram. “I got more engagement on my Underground pictures so that’s when my feed became solely Underground shots.”

Her iconic photos have drawn a global audience and have also introduced Jess to new friends in London. “I love posting my photos on Instagram, reading and responding to all the comments I get and forming friendships with users from all over the world. I have met some wonderful people, made some best friends and met my boyfriend through the Instagram Community here in London.”

Want to shoot your local subway like @missunderground? Be sure to follow Jess on Instagram @missunderground and try out her tips: “Assess your space. Be sure to work with the lines, the artificial light and play with reflections.”

In the Artist’s Studio with @MelKadel

Mel Kadel’s serene, sepia-tinged drawings are characterized by repetitive patterns and varied but recurring characters.

It’s hard to imagine how such precise and delicate drawings are created, but through her Instagram feed, @melkadel, Kadel brings people into her Echo Park, California, studio for an up-close glimpse.

“Art-making is a quiet and personal process that I love to show snaps of from under my drawing lamp,” says Kadel. “I like the intimacy of showing something while it’s being made.”

Follow Mel’s account for photos of both her process and the lives of her rich characters: @melkadel.

Staying Connected while Deployed with @jgboyer

To view more of Justin’s scenes from his deployment, follow him on Instagram: @jgboyer.

National Guard Soldier Justin Boyer (@jgboyer) shipped out to Afghanistan in November 2011 and stayed for a full year. While in Kabul, he was a member of a Brigade Movement Team that drove higher-ranking and non-commissioned officers in armored vehicles to visit Afghan Police Headquarters, coalition bases and Afghan public works projects in the Kabul City District.

Justin shared photos of these trips and his daily life in Afghanistan on Instagram: “I usually shot with my iPhone because it easily fit in my pocket. It was unobtrusive and shot well enough to capture the scene,” he says. “Whenever I pulled my DSLR camera out, the kids and adults alike would go wild…It was much more subtle to use my iPhone. I wouldn’t have been able to get some of the pictures I did without it.”

Sharing these moments on Instagram allowed Justin to stay connected with loved ones. “While I was overseas, Instagram was a way for me to stay sane,” he explains. “I could easily communicate what it was like over there to my wife and share my perspective with the world. My brother was in Afghanistan at the same time as me. He was across the country and we never saw each other, but we were able to share our experiences on a daily basis via Instagram.”

Justin is now back in his hometown of Salt Lake City awaiting to hear if he’ll return to Afghanistan. Follow him @jgboyer to view more moments from his last deployment and daily life in Salt Lake.

Follow the UEFA Champions League Final on Instagram

See more photos from the game by browsing the Wembley Stadium location page.

Tonight, German rivals FC Bayern (@fcbayern) and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Championship, the most prestigious club competition in European football. The annual Champions League Final features the two best teams from the 53 full-member associations, and this year’s winner will take the trophy from 2012 champions Chelsea (@chelseafc).

To get a first-hand look at the game, browse the #UCLfinal hashtag and be sure to follow these players:

• David Alaba, FC Bayern — @da_27.
• Xherdan Shaqiri, FC Bayern — @shaqirixherdan.
• Felipe Santana, Dortmund — @fesantana27.
• Leonardo Bittencourt, Dortmund — @leobittencourt32.