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.

Spotlight: South Africa

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.

South Africa, the African continent’s southernmost country, boasts 11 official languages, three capital cities and some of the most photogenic landscapes in the world. Instagrammers both homegrown and from abroad have given outsiders a glimpse into this vast and diverse country, from the Namib desert in the northwest to the subtropical forests in the east to the coastline that stretches over 1700 miles (2700km).

Want an insider’s view of South Africa? Follow these locals to see the country through their lens.

• Ofentse Mwase, a cinematographer snapping photos from Johannesburg and its outskirts — @unclescrooch
• Alessio La Ruffa, taking beautiful photos in and around Pretoria — @alessiolr
• Ross Pickford, a software developer sharing photos from Cape Town — @roscoedude
• Gareth Pon, a filmmaker photographing Johannesburg’s cityscapes — @garethpon

To explore the country in depth, you can also browse the location pages for some of South Africa’s most popular destinations:

• Orlando Towers, art and base jumping at defunct nuclear cooling towers
• Lion’s Head summit, with a spectacular view of Table Mountain
• Cango Caves, beneath the Swartberg range near the town of Oudtshoorn
• Knysna Elephant Park, up close and personal with beautiful pachyderms

Spotlight: Iceland

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 island country of Iceland is best known for its volcanoes, beautiful waterfalls, northern lights and hard to pronounce, well, everything! It’s situated between the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge slices right through the center of the small island nation. Though it is only 103,000 square kilometers (40,000 square miles), there’s no shortage of photographic terrain.

Want a first-person tour of Iceland? We put together a list of some amazing Instagrammers from in and around the country.

• Hans-Olav, snowy scenery and daily life around Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavík — @solavander
• Sig Vicious, graphic designer with an affinity for architecture — @sigvicious
• Vala Halldorsdottir, biking and camping adventures around the island — @valahalldorsdottir
• Anna Sig, stunning nature photography — @annasig

To explore the country in depth, you can also browse the location pages for some of Iceland’s most popular landmarks:

• The Blue Lagoon, a beautiful geothermal spa situated in a lava field
• DC-3 Sólheimasandi, the carcass of a downed United States Navy plane
• Jökulsárlón, a 60-year-old lagoon lagoon filled with giant drifting icebergs
• Gullfoss Waterfall, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland

Spotlight: Amsterdam

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 Netherlands’s capital city, Amsterdam, is alive with sights and sounds. Hundreds of thousands of bicycles weave across the 1,281 bridges that span the city’s many canals. Amsterdam is lush with parks, classical architecture and plenty of museums that make it one of the most important art sites in Europe.

Want a first-person tour of Amsterdam? We put together a list of some amazing Instagrammers from in and around the city.

• Freek Geurts, the city through the seasons — @regalphis
• S Fennema, atmospheric shots and reflections — @sfennema
• Dirk Bakker, Amsterdam through patterns and lines — @macenzo
• Phil, film-inspired stills of daily life — @p_d_y

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

• De Riekermolen, one of Amsterdam’s most photogenic windmills
• The Rijksmuseum, home of the most important collection of classical Dutch art
• Magere Brug, one of the many beautiful drawbridges spanning the canals
• Amsterdam ArenA, home to Amsterdam’s football team, AFC Ajax

Spotlight: Moscow (Москва)

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.

Moscow is known for its extravagant side. The Russian capital is the most expensive in the world: home to the most billionaires, the costliest cups of coffee and—opening in the next few months—the biggest building in Europe. But Moscow is also experiencing a creative explosion, evident in the growing number of talented Instagrammers from the city.

Want to see Moscow for yourself? We’ve gathered together a group of exceptional Instagrammers who are snapping pictures from the heart of it all. Be sure to follow them:

• Ilya Mikhaylov, frozen moments from travels with friends — @russian_moscow
• Roman Palchenkov, media producer with an eye for angles — @palchenkov
• Julia Panina, snowscapes and cozy indoor scenes — @myatna
• Katia Mi, art director with crisp, minimalist still lifes — @katia_mi