Image via Complex Original
A lot of unskilled photographers can make their images look professional with the help of Instagram filters, but that doesn't mean that their photos are actually artistic. At the same time, many professional photographers, designers, and artists use Instagram as another creative outlet and have taken to the social media platform like flies to a lamp. Whether it's in their composition, subject matter, or use of color, these Instagram users rise about the rest. Sift through the photographic clutter with 50 Actually Talented Photographers You Should Be Following on Instagram. This is who you really want on your iPhone feed.
Etna_11
Followers: 32,258
Photos taken to date: 773
Swedish photographer Jeanette Hagglund takes photos of sleek, minimalist skyscrapers and prefers to shoot them from a variety of unconventional perspectives. Some of her latest photos, for instance, feature perfectly symmetrical buildings shot alongside one another from the ground level. Others show close-ups of the modern structures. The angles she works from while capturing these buildings forces viewers to reexamine the seemingly stagnant structures around us.
Realkmorr
Followers: 3,757
Photos taken to date: 1,435
Kevin Morris lives in Toronto, but he's a well-traveled photographer whose images have been featured in major travel and design magazines. Able to discern beauty in the everyday objects around him, Morris captures things in a way so viewers can also recognize the allure in the mundane. Right now, Morris is working on a side project documenting 1,000 Toronto homes, which you can also track on his Instagram. Unlike many architectural photographers who choose to portray stark, modern buildings, he chooses to immortalize seemingly ordinary, rustic brick houses (along with scenes from rural life). There's an element of escapism and authenticity to his work you don't find on anyone else's Instagram.
Brandon_schulz
Followers: 13,199
Photos taken to date: 654
Judging from his photos, Brandon Schulz is passionate about exploring and recording his adventures through Instagram like the rest of us. But unlike any traveler's log, Schulz's Instagram photos are carefully contemplated to frame and embody the places he has gone and the sights he has seen. Many of his photos depict the serene mountains and lush greenery of Seattle, where he lives.
Janske
Followers: 119,503
Photos taken to date: 501
Though Janske Kaethoven photographs ordinary objects that we might find in our own homes, she somehow manages to strip away the layers of familiarity and warmth from her images. Her photos of a typewriter on a writing desk or a plate of fresh-picked blackberries feel faraway and obscured, yet they compel viewers to ponder the motivation behind these photos. Though her renderings depict desolate landscapes and lonesome objects, her photography also exhibits a sense of freedom and wanderlust.
Hirozzzz
Followers: 254,868
Photos taken to date: 1,338
Tokyo-born Hiroaki Fukuda has chronicled his travels across the world by way of Instagram. Currently touring Canada, Fukuda has been snapping photos of snowcapped mountains and the breathtaking, tranquil waters of Lake Moraine. Before that, he traveled to the vineyards of Spain and the summit of Mt. Fuji. Though he takes many shots of the same place, each photo is distinct and remarkable in its own way, as Fukuda incorporates various angles and compositions into his work. These snapshots bring a sense of adventure to our daily lives.
13thwitness
Followers: 392,174
Photos taken to date: 1,273
Timothy McGurr is never in one place for too long. The photographer, better known as 13th Witness, takes us around the world to Beijing, where he found the construction site of an abandoned theme park, and to places closer to home, where he captures the scaffolding and subway platforms in New York. No matter where McGurr finds himself, however, his photos depicting urban life transcend location to convey a sense of energy and connectivity.
Adamsenatori
Followers: 870,939
Photos taken to date: 311
Adam Senatori is unique from many other photographers in the fact that he's also a professional pilot. Integrating both his occupation with his penchant for photography, Senatori offers viewers glimpses of the world that we otherwise would never be able to see. Through Senatori's photos, we can see the farmlands of Wisconsin, rivers in Hawaii, and the tops of trees in the autumn from a bird's-eye view. There's something majestic and awe-inspiring about these seemingly simplistic compositions.
Othellonine
Followers: 105,767
Photos taken to date: 523
Othellonine, better known as Scott Rankin, is a Vancouver-based, self-proclaimed "photo adventurer" who wanders his city armed with a camera. Though his photos of Vancouver's mountains and fireworks at the annual Celebration of Lights portray some epic scenes he's encountered, Rankin recognizes the fact that it's the little things in life that count. His photos of rustic homes and tiny gourds signify this wisdom and reveal his eye for form.
Brockdavis
Followers: 154,991
Photos taken to date: 314
Although Brock Davis is not a photographer per se, the photos and videos he shares on Instagram reveal his creative process. He's able to see and make art out of popcorn kernels and chocolate chips, unassuming objects that others might overlook. And while his creations may seem puzzling at first glance, Davis's captions provide context and prompt us to never lose our sense of play or imagination.
Revizack
Followers: 3,056
Photos taken to date: 358
Revizack's Instagram contains some of the most Tumblr-friendly images. With his photos of dainty latte art, Ferris wheels, and colorful fruit, Revizack's photo diary makes his home of L.A. look like a paradise.
PalomaParrot
Followers: 290,524
Photos taken to date: 815
For Paloma Parrot, less is more. She teases her followers with a bare minimum view of her subjects. While her photos have an air of enigma to them, they're inviting and full of energy. Her portraits, for example, often consist of obscured faces or figures turned away from the viewer, evoking a sense of playfulness. On the other hand, her still life images zero in on objects placed at dead center, forcing viewers to confront bold pinks and blues—colors which seem to be a trend in many of her images.
Reallykindofamazing
Followers: 72,703
Photos taken to date: 1,004
Currently on a tour of the 50 states with his friend Theron Humphrey and Maddie the coonhound, Garrett Cornelison has done everything from hiking the glaciers of Alaska to discovering the creatures of New Mexico. His photos encapsulate his stay in each location, sometimes featuring the people he meets along the way.
Edroste
Followers: 709,189
Photos taken to date: 2,349
Ed Roste may be the front man of the band Grizzly Bear, but he's quite the photographer as well. While his band is touring, he never lets a photo opportunity pass him by. His Instagram is a chock full of moments he's experienced or witnessed in life, whether it is while on tour in Dublin or returning to his home city of New York.
JungleTimer
Followers: 51,477
Photos taken to date: 3,052
Lisa Weatherbee is an editorial photographer from New York, and her Instagram is an extension of her impressive portfolio. Her photos tell the story of her daily life, featuring things like items she found in Chinatown for five dollars, her cat, and her favorite dishes.
HelenaDagmar
Followers: 16,827
Photos taken to date: 2,187
Perhaps the best thing about the Instagram of professional photographer Helena Price is that she shares sneak peeks of the shoot she's currently working on with her viewers. And when she's not working, she's taking pictures and posting snap shots of moments in her life. All her images maintain an aesthetic that make them worthy of a spread in a magazine.
BenjaminEdward
Followers: 106,999
Photos taken to date: 1,145
It's evident from his Instagram that Ben Edwards knows what makes a good photo. The Minnesota-based photographer recently completed a project for Explore Minnesota, creating gorgeous shots of the area's foliage for their "More Fall Colors" project. But his other visually-appealing images, with their unusual lighting and composition, command our attention too.
JaredChambers
Followers: 273,474
Photos taken to date: 1,176
Jared Chambers is a California-based photographer, whose latest photos of current day L.A. take us back through a time warp. Chambers plays with lighting and exposure to drain the color from his images so they resemble faded photographs from yesteryear. His older photos, whether landscapes or portraits, also exhibit his less saturated yet homely style.
Ddent
Followers: 67,748
Photos taken to date: 1,329
While life as a city dweller may be restless and full of excitement, Daniel Dent's Instagram makes all of us long for the great outdoors or a cozy home to retreat to. Dent documents his outdoor escapades and all the little things in life that we all love so much.
Hokaytokay
Followers: 73,476
Photos taken to date: 5,376
There's a whimsical, dreamlike quality to Amanda Jasnowski's photos. Her Instagram, which also serves as a photo diary, contains images representing split seconds from her everyday life in Brooklyn. Her photos of shoes stuffed with posies, the morning light, and the commonplace objects like a plastic bag are able to transcend their white borders.
Colerise
Followers: 955,371
Photos taken to date: 578
Cole Rise is a photographer and pilot currently living in San Francisco, but his journeys have allowed him to produce a portfolio of the most epic pictures, some of which you can get a peek of on his Instagram.
edeani
Followers: 597,711
Photos taken to date: 1,515
All of Ike Edeani's pictures are unique from one another, it's hard to pinpoint one encapsulating style. But perhaps that's just a testament to Edeani's skill. From still life images and landscapes to portraiture and concert photography, he's done a bit of everything.
DearLeila
Followers: 230,701
Photos taken to date: 2,227
You could say Leila Paterson is something of a hopeless romantic. A professional wedding photographer, her commissioned works look like photos that have come straight out of a fairy tale. Her Instagram, on the other hand, reflects her personal life, including her travels, her current home in London, and Hawaii, the place she was born and raised.
ByTheBrush
Followers: 135,050
Photos taken to date: 441
Laura E. Pritchett is actually not known for being a photographer but a painter. She does, however, take a bunch of stunning photos, which she uploads onto her Instagram. The best, however? Many of the portraits she takes are also the source images she uses when creating her life-like paintings. See for yourself here.
BethanyMarieCo
Followers: 110,470
Photos taken to date: 966
Bethany Olson is a Seattle-based photographer who broke into the fashion photography business through her own hard work and resourcefulness. Her Instagram, on the other hand, consists mainly of scenic, outdoor shots, but if you look closely at some of her work, you can pick out a sartorial element in her photos.
DankHole
Followers: 447,041
Photos taken to date: 1,648
Dan Cole's Instagram is a mishmash of open-air vistas with the grittiness of urban life. His picturesque photos and unconventional angles are so impressive, it's hard to believe they were all taken on an iPhone.
ThugLifeForevs
Followers: 191,820
Photos taken to date: 1,520
We imagine that Emily Blincoe is extremely organized. Instead of relying on the lens to compose her images, she arranges the objects to be photographed by size, style, and color. Anyone with OCD will fall in love with this Instagram.
Finn
Followers: 327,727
Photos taken to date: 772
This Welsh photographer gives us a view of the chilly north from the comfort of our iPhones. He captures snowy mountains and icy trees, making us yearn for crisp winter days when we never thought we could.
DanielSeunglee
Followers: 52,617
Photos taken to date: 510
What stands out in Brooklyn-based photographer Daniel Seung Lee's Instagrams is the color blue. His bright photos center around the color, which acts as an anchor for his charming compositions. From urban scenes to natural landscapes, his shades of blue ground his images.
Brenton_Clarke
Followers: 156,373
Photos taken to date: 2,886
Besides boasting an extremely impressive Instagram, Brenton Clarke is also a fan of design, which is apparent in his images. He casts his subjects in striking compositions, playing with light and texture in challenging ways.
KyleSteed
Followers: 168,285
Photos taken to date: 1,573
Kyle Steed is a quirky illustrator who claims he doesn't like writing about himself in third person on his website and instead offers a recipe for bacon in place of a biography. It's impossible not to like someone like that, and his Instagrams, like his personality (or so we imagine) are a mix between his oddball humor and his artistic talent.
CubbyGraham
Followers: 766,794
Photos taken to date: 1,638
A self-proclaimed "New York Based Explorer," Cubby Graham likes to have fun with his Instagram pictures while still maintaining an editorial aesthetic. He snaps pictures of a boy in a pool, a Ferris wheel, and an order of In-N-Out fries all with the same patient lens. Graham seems to find the perfect moment in each of his images.
Croyable
Followers: 439,919
Photos taken to date: 865
Eelco Roos is a Dutch photographer, but you wouldn't know it from his globe-trotting Instagram. He captures majestic scenes of mountains and lakes from across the world. His Instagram seems like a guidebook to the most beautiful places in the world, and he transports us to uncharted territory.
Joshua_Allen_Harris
Followers: 88,438
Photos taken to date: 951
Joshua Allen Harris walks the line between brilliant color and moody portraits. His images of people are often from behind, shaded, or in silhouette form, obscuring their identities. At the same time, he gives energetic attention to the vibrant colors in the surrounding landscape, photographing sunsets, streetlights, and incredibly green blades of grass.
HeySp
Followers: 565,341
Photos taken to date: 1,545
Crafty lady Sarah Palmer makes us want to run our fingers through all the odds and ends of her photos. She makes everything from gummy letters to colored pencils look like perfectly arranged tableaus. The delight she takes in everyday objects is contagious.
BenjaminHeath
Followers: 695,414
Photos taken to date: 1,203
Los Angeles-based photographer Benjamin Heath likes to play with light. Whether it's the golden tones of dusk or the blues of twilight, Heath shows us that light comes in many forms. He captures slivers of light poking through a bridge and blinding chiaroscuro streaming through a window.
WithHearts
Followers: 312,247
Photos taken to date: 1,188
Often featuring hazy cityscapes or foggy scenes of nature, Cory Staudacher's Instagrams are full of white. While his images are not overflowing with vibrant hues, they are piercing in their lack of color. Both dreamy and chilling at once, Staudacher's photos have a powerful hold over the viewer.
JayZombie
Followers: 236,869
Photos taken to date: 2,236
Based in San Francisco, Jessica Zollman's Instagram pictures alternate from striking images of nature, like ice caves and waterfalls, to vibrant photos of people. Her portraits seem to tell the stories of her subjects, and her landscapes are breathtaking.
_GabrielFlores
Followers: 130,407
Photos taken to date: 650
Gabriel Flores is another photographer who likes to use the landscape's natural lines to present an image that seems to be running away from the viewer. Unlike Horine, however, his images are much darker, playing with the velvety greens and dark greys of the city's landscape.
SamHorine
Followers: 349,486
Photos taken to date: 2,761
New York-based photographer Sam Horine captures city on his iPhone often with a singular perspective. His favorite composition seems to be shooting parallel lines so they look like they are fading off diagonally into the distance. The technique harkens back to perspective lines in panting, and the worlds captured in his photos always seem to be leading beyond his frames.
Trashhand
Followers: 303,887
Photos taken to date: 1,100
If you're an architecture nerd, Trashhand's Instagram is perfect for you. He is a talented architecture photographer that can make any boring basement seem like a grand palace. The square composition of the Instagram photograph makes it easy for him to create an ideal one-point perspective, giving the illusion of grandeur to his photographs. He has a keen eye for interesting compositions that take advantage of the light and architecture to create an even more dynamic image.
Luciomx
Followers: 76,757
Photos taken to date: 914
A photographer from New York is bound to have inspired photos of the urban landscape, and Lucio Bracamontes is one of the Instagram users that has mastered the city. He managers to capture very crisp images—even his blurriest photographs seem calculated. We also love how his photographs of the New York reveal the city's mood without being overbearing or cliché. In fact, he makes the city seem emptier than it actually is, which allows the viewer to appreciate the New York's architecture.
Curious2119
Followers: 604,520
Photos taken to date: 1,751
Who needs to go outdoors when you have Tim Landis' Instagram? This guy has a penchant for nature photography that makes you reconsider deleting every picture of tree he ever took. He has a great knack for lighting, so he uses it to make every photograph seem spectacular and magical, even if it is just a boring tree. We wish the outdoors looked like this every time we left the house.
Pketron
Followers: 834,726
Photos taken to date: 2,997
Born in Taiwan and raised on the Navajo Nation in Arizona, Pei Ketron provides a diverse perspective on different corners of the world through her camera lens. With each photograph she writes a little caption that provides some context to the image. Ketron sees these images as a story that needs to be told rather than only an aesthetic experience (although her images are just as beautiful on their own). Her images give us a glimpse into the little pockets of the globe.
Dirka
Followers: 207,380
Photos taken to date: 1,307
Dirk Dallas' Instagram makes us incredibly sad that the weather is getting colder and the chances of us visiting the beach are slim to none. His feed reminds us of the majesty of California's landscape through his exciting and unusually composed photographs. Some of his images are so stunning you have a hard time believing that they were taken on an iPhone. Dallas has a keen eye for artificial and natural architecture while managing to make the two feel as though they can be the same thing. That takes some serious skill.
Alice_Gao
Followers: 788,764
Photos taken to date: 2,107
Are you a foodie with an intense eye for design? Look no further than Alice Gao's Instagram, which is full of delicious treats that also feed your eye with her keen talent for minimalism and still life. It's not every day that you can make Honeycombs Cereal look that delicious. Gao definitely knows how to create a fresh color palette that can inspire your everyday wardrobe. It's also hard not to keep scrolling down her aesthetically pleasing Instagram feed. It's as addicting as the buttery croissants she's always eating.
ChrisOzer
Followers: 570,756
Photos taken to date: 1,020
Chris Ozer, a Brooklyn-based photographer, has a wide variety of photographs on his Instagram that show his artistic talent. He has a great eye for symmetry and composition, so every photograph looks perfectly calculated without trying too hard. His portraits and landscape photographs all have an ephemeral quality, as if you're looking into someone's memories. His Instagram makes us feel a bit nostalgic for a time when things were more peaceful and quiet.
ThisWildIdea
Followers: 616,875
Photos taken to date: 2,760
It goes without saying that the Internet is a safe haven for animal lovers. If you're one of those pet freaks, you need to follow ThisWildIdea. Theron Humphrey, the man behind the Instagram, is a dog rescue advocate who uses his social media presence to promote animal rescue and adoption. It's hard not to want a puppy when you see so many adorable photographs of these creatures everyday. We love how every image is a bit tongue-in-cheek while maintaining a genuine and very personal presence.
PaulOctavious
Followers: 502,531
Photos taken to date: 3,720
Paul Octavius is a wonderful photographer from Chicago. His Instagrams range from personal journals of his life to behind-the-scenes shots of his professional shoots. What we love the most about his Instagram is his impeccable eye for geometry. He finds patterns in everyday things that most wouldn't notice and uses them as a tool to create the perfect image. His trained eye makes his Instagrams seem more like masterful compositions and less like photographs for social media.
Moneal
Followers: 570,961
Photos taken to date: 1,520
Michael O'Neal, or Moneal for short, is a San Francisco-based photographer who captures high contrast and dynamic images in his life as he works freelance jobs and hangs out with his friends in the hip city. He is equally as talented in portraiture as he is with landscape. O'Neal captures singular moments, as if he takes his pictures when time stands still for a millisecond. We love his consistent color palette of cool, crisp colors.
EverydayDude
Followers: 55,168
Photos taken to date: 1,251
EverydayDude, or Aaron Durand, uses his Instagram to take us through his life, whether that means shots from the workday or pictures of California's scenic landscape, and he never fails to add humorous captions. Sure, it's not that hard to take good Instagram photos if you're surrounded by beautiful things, but EverydayDude's use of dynamic composition, lighting, and subtle filters makes his images appear effortlessly beautiful. His Instagram appropriately captures the subtleties of everyday life. It doesn't hurt that he works at Twitter, so his social media skills are more than amateur.