7 photographers to follow on Instagram

With genres ranging from wildlife and landscape to still lifes and travel, here are seven photographers we’ve spotted in recent times.

From pops of color to the return of the flash, Instagram has helped usher in some of the biggest photography trends of the year. And, as we face new challenges around the world, it has also served as kind of a global dashboard. In March, the live stream on Instagram saw a seventy percent increase in views over a month, while some projections predict that Instagram will see the biggest gains due to our time spent on social media.

As many of us have had to stay at home, photographers and artists of all genres have creatively pushed and inspired us in the process. Here are just seven photographers we’ve seen in recent times, with genres ranging from wildlife and landscapes to still lifes and travel, and everything in between.

Court Whelan: the wildlife photographer

Beyond his work behind the lens, this Boulder, Colorado-based photographer also holds a doctorate. in ecotourism and entomology, serving as an expedition guide for Natural Habitat Adventures, a travel partner of the World Wildlife Fund, and exploring the seven continents for the sake of sustainability.

His Instagram the diet includes mind-blowing encounters with the most extraordinary creatures on the planet, from the mountain gorillas of Rwanda, the elephants of Namibia and hippos of Uganda to the sun bears, orangutans and western tarsiers of Borneo, a species he has spent nearly two decades pursuing.

“I’m an avid conservation biologist, and one of the things I find most valuable in photography is paying attention to things little known or seen on our planet,” Whelan tells us. “The more my wildlife photography is exposed, the more I feel like we are doing to save the species in question.”

“As author and environmentalist Aldo Leopold said, ‘You can’t save what you don’t like, and you can’t love what you don’t know.’ Photography introduces animals to people and hopefully encourages us to fall in love, which hopefully inspires us to help save our wild world.

For this photographer, Instagram has been the perfect place to share some of the stories behind his images. “This platform allows the photographer to add personality and charisma to their photos through captions and short stories,” he says. “It allows more connections than ever before when it comes to showing people the world through your eyes.”

Plus, he got some unexpected opportunities through his Instagram account. “One of the coolest was a dance company in New York who contacted me to use some of my photos as a digital background (via a projector) behind their ballet on conservation and sustainability,” recalls- he. “As my photos turned behind the dancers, their choreographed ballet would change. Imagine, one second an orangutan and then a swan.

Pro tip: “I think it’s essential for emerging photographers to choose wisely what to share, but they also realize that Instagram is a great place to experiment with different photos. Images that you might not even have put as your album highlights from a particular project may be the most popular photos in the set. It’s also about consistency – plan things so that you deliver high quality photos as often as possible. ”

Marianna Jamadi: the travel photographer

Basically, this photographer and writer is a storyteller, and her inquisitive mind and unquenchable thirst for adventure has taken her to some of the most magical places on the planet. She left New York in 2013 to embark on a unique backpacking trip around the world.

Her Instagram the foods take us off the beaten track and through the colorful streets of Baja California, the temples of Angkor Wat, the shores of the Peruvian Amazon, the sands of the Gobi Desert, the moonlit cabins of Colorado and the sunny landscape of Joshua Trees National Park.

“My Instagram feed represents a collection of memories that I want to share and also document personally,” says Jamadi. “Professionally it can be a quick glimpse into the type of work I do and sort of a portfolio of work for potential new clients, but I like to share my work, mainly because it can bring the world to anyone. who, anywhere. Especially now when travel has changed around the world, we can travel digitally to other parts of the world through Instagram. “

For a photographer in perpetual motion, still images serve as an anchor for her memories, a reminder of slowing down and flight into the unknown. To this day, many places she has visited remain, in her own words, “etched in my bones.” She says, “My favorite shots are those that include adventure and inspire travel and movement.”

Pro tip: “I like to see my grid before posting because I think of Instagram as a collection of images as opposed to singular posts. Usually, when users access your profile, they see the most recent nine to twelve posts. If it seems overlooked, then it’s less likely that people will want to follow you. Think of it as kind of a first impression. “

“I use UNUM, which is free to play, to see what the grid looks like before I post. I also use borders through the VSCO app, just because I think it frames images well. I also love the Unfold story layout app which can make your stories look more editorial. ”

Karolis Janulis: the aerial photographer

Born on the Baltic Sea coast and currently based in Vilnius, Lithuania, this self-taught photographer has traveled his country and the world with his drone, hot air balloon, aerial glider, etc., turning cities and forests into abstract aerial views. He has always been drawn to little-known and unknown places, traveling off the beaten track to reveal the beauty of the natural world created by man from above.

Janulis was one of the early pioneers in drone photography, and he was also one of the first to adopt Instagram. “It was one of the first social networks where I started to share my photograph,” he recalls. “It was still a new tool at the time, but I realized I could use it to show my art to a large global audience.”

“Soon it became the main place where I shared my work. I posted almost everyday, added all the right hashtags, and was able to reach a community of aerial photography enthusiasts from all over the world. It was a great springboard for me. I still have photos on my Instagram of my first flights, so that also serves as an archive. “

Today, its stream is home to silky Baltic seascapes, lush vegetation, scenes of the Spanish coast, and colorful urban geometries. Even after all these years on Instagram, he continues to push himself out of his comfort zone, challenging himself to explore new territories – and reach new heights.

Pro tip: “My only advice is to be yourself and post photos that express your personal point of view. I want to see more originality! It’s hard to find really interesting artists with a unique perspective. Let your creativity run free. It’s not the tools or equipment that make a great photographer, it’s your point of view. “

“If you showcase interesting photographs consistently and keep going for a long time, you’ll be noticed at some point by the right groups of people. I got so many emails from people saying they found me on Instagram and liked my feed. Your feed is part of your portfolio, so keep it professional and use it to express yourself. ”

Dolphia Nandi: the still life photographer

This Boston based photographer and computer engineer has been an artist since the age of three, when she first started painting – a lifelong influence that you can still find in her rich, colorful and wonderfully illuminated still lifes. On her Instagram feed, you can find a range of seasonal delicacies, ranging from farm-fresh cherries, hand-picked raspberries and coconut yogurt popsicles to cashew and nutty blondies. coconut, rangoli / mandala sugar cookies and his mother’s signature rasgulla.

“I do mini-projects all year round,” she tells us. “For example, during the summer, I work on frozen desserts. In the winter, I work on cookie and cookie jar projects. During Diwali, I present exotic Indian dishes. Instagram really challenges me to work and brings out the best in me. I meet new people in my niche and it motivates me to work harder, as well as pushing my limits in my photography skills. I always try to outdo myself and constantly push myself to get better. “

Nandi shares her creative inspiration on Instagram, but she also uses the platform to learn from others. “I think Instagram is a great place to get inspired,” she says. “For example, I take inspiration from portrait photographers and still life artists and often use it for my food photography. I always give credit to the source, if my photo is inspired by someone else. Nandi Instagram Pet food reminds us of the power of food to foster community and connect us to what matters most – especially during quarantine.

Pro tip: “I wish more photographers would share their struggles, like behind the scenes content showing the thought process behind creating a photo. I want to see everything that made for a stunning image. Use your feed to showcase your best work, then use the stories to show off those behind-the-scenes details, like purchasing, setting up, editing, and more. ”

Tim Melideo: the lifestyle photographer

This editorial, fine arts and lifestyle photographer is also the creative spirit behind Stay classic, one of the first fashion blogs devoted to men’s fashion; the Coyote House, a farm located at the intersection of Pioneer Town and Joshua Tree; and Off the Highway, an organized boutique of vintage treasures.

His Instagram feed combines his passions for photography, style, good food, landscapes and desert architecture, making it an ideal one-stop-shop for artistic inspiration. Browse his collection for modern takes on the New Topographics movement, pioneered by Stephen Shore and Robert Adams, vintage-inspired road trips through the American West, nostalgic storefronts, homemade recipes, style tips and more .

“I’ve been on Instagram since day 10, so I’ve seen it go through a lot of changes,” Melideo tells us. “Initially, it was just another place to post random photos for friends. But, after Facebook bought it, it became much more of a tool for promoting yourself and making money from posts. “

“Without Instagram, I don’t know what I would be doing right now. It has allowed me to make a living creating content for brands myself, as well as having a way for brands and people to contact me, to work directly with them, for them. I also met a lot of great friends and business associates. “

“I’ve done several more Instagram-oriented projects that use popular hashtags to increase my reach. I currently have a series I’m working on with interiors of real estate sales, for example. When posting these photos, I use hashtags focused on home decor and vintage decor, as well as the art related hashtags that I typically use for my fine art posts on Instagram. ”

Pro tip: “I always tell people to just post quality content that is relevant to you, that will help define your flow and make you stand out. This is also true outside of Instagram. Also, to help get an audience on Instagram, you need to interact with other accounts and use hashtags. You cannot be passive and expect to attract a large audience. ”

Ivan Kmit: the landscape photographer

This photographer and travel blogger got his start working for a local newspaper in Ukraine, first as a writer, composer and designer, and finally as a photographer. Over the past eight years he has done just about every genre of the book – from portraiture to still life – but he has found his calling in landscapes. These days it can be found hiking and camping in lush and wild places all over its country and far beyond.

A visit to Kmit Instagram feed will take you on a journey from the peaks of the Carpathians and the French Alps to the idyllic villages of the Faroe Islands to the black sand beaches of Iceland, and more. For this artist, no weather is bad. Fog and snow offer new opportunities for breathtaking and pictorial images. Although he joined Instagram relatively recently, Kmit has built loyalty by regularly posting beautiful work and hosting photo book giveaways and keepsakes from his adventures around the world.

“I’ve been most inspired by the feedback I get from people, like when someone prints one of my photos and shares a photo on the wall, or when another artist using another medium draws a picture inspired by my photo and send to me, ”he tells us. “I was also invited to participate in a charity exhibition for sick children and I was very moved when they sent me pictures of this exhibition.

Kmit has always felt driven by an innate sense of the urge to travel, but recently he has also taken to heart the importance of preserving and protecting remote places – especially those overrun by tourists with cameras. “In the past, mysterious and inaccessible places have been photographed so much now, and it’s a shame,” he says. “I’ve seen so many pictures of the same place now. I would like to see something new – something unexpected. I always appreciate photographers who really stand out from the mainstream and develop their own style. “

Pro tip: “Be honest and open with your followers. Share your skills. Tell the stories that took place offscreen and find new ways to bring value to your audience. My goal has never been to gain as many followers as possible at all costs, which in fact can be seen from my numbers. My advice is simple: create thoughtful and exclusive content, and be very careful with the selection of photos you post. ”

Rachid Dahnoun: the adventure photographer

This Californian outdoor photographer has traveled to some of the wildest corners of the natural world, from gentle tropical forests to rugged winter landscapes. A look at her Instagram feed will take you on adventures near you – around Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Mountains, and far past the pink beaches of Indonesia’s Komodo National Park, the uninhabited islands of the Flores Sea, the “solar powered super trees” ”In Singapore’s South Bay Garden, the hidden gems of northern Morocco, and more.

For much of the year, you can find Dahnoun backpacking over rugged terrain, traveling hundreds of miles documenting remote backcountry lakes and hidden alpine gardens. For lovers of the night sky, it offers stunning views of the Milky Way from some of the most iconic parks in the American West. He has also worked with leading conservation organizations including the National Parks Conservation Association, the Conservation Fund and the Trust for Public Land.

For Dahnoun, Instagram serves as a vehicle for connecting with others and raising awareness of the beauty of the natural world and the road less traveled. “Instagram is where you can always find my latest work,” he tells us. “When I shoot a new work, both personal and on mission, this is usually where it gets published first.”

“Instagram is the place to be right now if you’re a creator. I don’t know a single publisher, marketing manager, or ad agency that doesn’t use the platform to spot talent. Often a potential client will consult. my Instagram long before I visited my website. ”

Pro tip: “It’s really easy to be cataloged on Instagram with your work. Creatives, myself included, tend to post content that they think will work well with their audience. I would love to see people take more risks with content they are passionate about, even if it might not generate as many “likes” in the short term. ”

Cover image by Smit.

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