Check In: The Windy City

Instagram is a place for travel envy. For the past three hours I have been excitedly scrolling through portraits of the city of Chicago. I’m moments away from finally boarding my delayed flight. These are some of my favorite captures of “Chi-Town” (does anyone actually call it that?) shared on Instagram this week.

Note: The Chicago photo captions keep mentioning Spring’s arrival, however, the forecast reports 40 to 50 degrees. Eek!

 

piadanza
Corncob Tower

garlicksauce
The Lakefront
Third straight spring in Chicago, first time seeing the sun.

mrjoekoo
Skydeck Chicago

twistedjane
Monroe Harbor Promenade
#Chicago #nofilter

benvoran
Finally Spring

julie_grace
The world famous Chicago Theater. #chicago #architecture #marquee #vacation #beautiful #reallyjeffdunham

l9ha
* * * و مَا زلّتُ أحِّبُكْ 🌹.

zackclarkpatterson
Skydeck Chicago
High. #chicago #skydeck

makalexey
Berghoff Catering & Restaurant Group
German style

stinkysuitcase
Hello midnight slices of #Chicago deep dish pizza. My kind of town. #travel #usa

oliviadangelo
D’Angelo Penthouse
good morning

esteeveeen
CTA Bus Stop 449
Had to #makeportraits during a chasing light sesh yesterday with some friends

kg_o
#Waves

daveknows_
Metra – Van Buren Street

jdsutter
The Bean, Millennium Park
Symmetry

cccorddd
CTA – State/Lake
Goodbye #Chicago. ✌️great time.

 

Here’s a photo too cute to leave out.

hcdarling
The Field Museum
🙂

 

My co-worker and I will be visiting Chicago for about 24 hours. Any MUST SEE suggestions? Tweet them to me!

InstaSimple: Pablo Alarcon

pabloaalarcon: Stay zesty. 🍊 #replacemyeyeswith #colormesquare So I have to 1. Say congrats to @emilyareti for becoming a suggested user 2. Say thanks to @emilyareti for making #replacemyeyeswith cause I’ve been having so much fun with it lately.

@Pablo Alarcon

Chipotle Crew Member & Graphic Designer

Trabuco Canyon, CA

850+ Followers

Time to add a little bit of COLOR to your life. Pablo’s Instagram feed has more than a pop of color. He and his photo buddy Trevor are redefining what makes a photo “interesting.” Color. Play on words. VSCO Cam puns. They’ve got it all. Make sure to check in on some of the hashtags Pablo is contributing to, and don’t forget to follow him and his IG crew.

Describe your Instagram style. 

I try and keep my posts fun and minimal I’m a graphic designer and I try and show that through my uploads.

You are an avid #selfie poster. Do you capture your own portraits or do you have an Instagrammin’ partner-in-crime?

I take most of my #colormesquare portraits myself. But @trevorchilton is my IG partner and real life best friend. We’re always out and taking photos of eachother.

What’s your favorite Instagram upload from your feed?

pabloaalarcon: 💡#makeportraits

All time favorite would have to be my “light bulb” photo, mostly because it was the beginning of my #colormesquare series along with the overall look and feel of my feed.

Who’s your favorite Instagram user to follow?

Honestly @jermzlee, I love that fact that he can make such amazing photos with very minimal effort and still be fun and engaging.

What kind of photo will you always “like” when it shows up in your feed?

Oh, this is a tough one. Probably a 50/50 between an on the table coffee photo and a portrait with a witty caption.

What hashtags do you use? 

Well my most used hashtags would have to be #replacemyeyeswith and #colormesquare.

pabloaalarcon: Processed in steak sauce. #meholdingsomething #colormesquare A little vsco humor this morning.

#colormesquare started with just my first few posts where I used poster board as my backdrop and just had fun with the photos. Later I chose to reveal the hashtag and I couldn’t be happier with the results, over 170 uploads were made with the my hashtag with in a matter of weeks. I love seeing how people are having fun with color.

pabloaalarcon: The city that I love. #objectsandmoments #replacemyeyeswith

I have to give all the credit to @emilyareti for #replacemyeyeswith. She made the hashtag and her cousin @trevorchilton introduced me to it. I’ve had so much fun with it and I owe a lot of my posts to that idea.

pabloaalarcon: 🙏 #doityourselfemoji

#doityourselfemoji was a forgotten hashtag by @dschwen, I’ve been following him for months and I really admire his feed so I thought I would give it a try myself.

Anything else you’d like to talk about?

I really hope people enjoy reading this and getting the chance to understand the users behind the little squares we double tap everyday along with inspiring others to #justgoshoot and be creative with their posts.

The New Popular Page: Post More Portraits

On Valentine’s Day, Instagram’s Explore page was plastered with photos of couples kissing and tacky, heart-shaped frames layered on top of heart-shaped chocolate cake. Can someone please tell Justin Beiber we don’t want to see a crappy selfie of him alone with roses? Where’s the skilled photography? Where’s the romance? Where’s the beauty?

Try exploring #PostMorePortraits. On Valentine’s Day, Instagram was loaded with portraits of lovers, friends and special someones framed with care and love. Here are a few of my top picks:

gregmills_: Will you be my Valentine @_michelleromeo? ❤️

keithlds: @carlxlouis suited up for last night’s junior-senior prom.

dumbcouch: Becca “beezysneezy” Moyer | #vsco #vscocam #bestofvsco #makeportraits #postmoreportraits

mighele_: Oh dear yellow man!

markinthewestvillage: I’m so glad to get to spend some time with my good friend @sarawoods42 today!

pabloaalarcon: My rose colored glasses. 😍 #replacemyeyeswith #colormesquare

clairebusler: Wicker Park prowling with this beautiful woman today. A store owner joked that she was my mentor and I was her protégé which was mildly obnoxious but IT’S KINDA TRUE OKAY. Thanks for being a phenomenal big sis, ya dingus. LOVE YOU MEAN IT #est2005

thomgregory:
️️Self portrait 🌿 And today is my birthday guys !! Finally ✌️ @nataliazubiaur And @its_timmy

youngmoneypizza: 💝
@awhlaurena is my valentine everyday

ferdinandchoffray: #postmoreportraits #makeportraits #portrait #vscocam #iphoneonly #instagood #bestoftheday #bestofvsco #justgoshoot

bnpuff: Explored Chicago with my valentine.

taylorashton_: The more I get to know this guy the more I realize how great and perfect God’s timing really is. #mcm #hubby

corneliusmar10: Who needs any other valentine. Not me.

themorrillofthestory: The snow has been falling relentlessly these past few hours. Nonetheless, Orpheus is on the road to Indiana for our first tour together! #allowmetointroduce my “little brother” @bradybunchesofoates I can’t help but smile when I am around him. He is kind, creative, fun loving and wicked talented! Glad I got this quick shot in at the rest stop. Check out that fro 😍

 

Instagram is becoming a romantic avenue for photographers. Did you hear about the couple who met on Instagram and later married (if not, grab a tissue and read this). Check out their Valentine upload:

denislafargue: This girl deserves to be treated like it’s Valentine’s Day every second of every day. I’ll gladly do that till the end of time, love you @elizabeth_wisdom 🌹

I was so happy to see lots of love in my feed this weekend. Did you take a portrait of your Valentine? Get to it!

The New Popular Page: Halloween

Truth is, I’m a Halloween hater for all the usual reasons. I’d much prefer to buy myself a bowl of candy and roast a pumpkin instead of carve one. But one highlight of Halloween is seasonal vibes taking over. It’s time to appreciate the falling leaves, incorporate butternut squash into every dish, and burrow in quilts at the end of the day all while Instagramming. Exploit those endless Golden Hours and photographic babies at family gatherings.

Here’s a compile of exceptional Halloween-inspired Instagrams today (sexy-costume free):

holsamanda: Happy Halloween! 🎃👻 // #fromwhereiread

kapumm: Treats only, no tricks today;)🎃 #halloween #vsco #vscocam #minimalism #vscoapp

jaclp: Happy Halloween 👻 #mexturesapp #vscophile #vscocamfeature #vscovibe #vscoism #vscoapp #vscolover #afterlight #vscodaily #instavsco #vscofilm #mextagram #vscogram #vscocamedit #vscomoment #vscoiphone #myvscolife

nazyxo: Zanzibar, Tanzania
Knock, knock… Anybody home?! 👻

dashable: Jenny Jumped Stockholm,Sweden Vsco•G3

morleyrobert: Happy Halloween from @awhlaurena! #vsco #vscocam #50moreportraits

maddiehayes: Happy Halloween from the cutest pumpkin around!

parkeretc: Trick-or-treat! #parkermae

yo_knee: Mellow Mushroom Pizza
whatta fun night to work. I’m dressed as an Indian & another server as a cowboy! Come say hey & eat some pizzzaaaa

czarinamv: Guess who won today’s Best Costume? It’s TinkerBielle!! 😜💚 #stagetitaforever

//

InstaScape: Gabriel Edwards

gabege (9 months ago): Me in the redwoods, playing with my new iphone tripod.

@gabege

Medical Student

Portland, OR

18,000+

September is fading in the rear-view mirror, but signs of Fall are slim in the Golden State of few seasons. Luckily Instagram is packed with falling leaves and cable-knit sweaters. Instagrammer Gabriel Edwards shares breathtaking landscapes when he catches a moment to explore the West Coast between attending Med School and memorizing flash cards. He explains why simple photos are great to share and how using Instagram can expand your social network IRL.

How long have you been using Instagram?

My first upload was on November 7, 2010: a terrible close crop of my then-girlfriend’s face.

Describe your Instagram style.  

Over the time that I’ve been posting on Instagram I’ve gravitated towards landscape shots. Ideally in heavy fog or magic hour. I try to keep the editing to a minimum. I’m a med student and study most of the time, so I never really know when I’m going to have a chance to go out and shoot. When I’m do, it’s usually spur of the moment and I’m by myself, just me and my car. As a result, there aren’t usually people in my photographs.

Three of your most inspiring settings to shoot?

San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, and Glacier National Park in Montana.

gabege (9 months ago):
I mean, c’mon.

What’s your favorite Instagram upload?

I was driving back to Portland from San Francisco this past winter and stumbled upon this spot. Even though it was January, the weather was sunny and mild, which is kind of rare in this state. Sometimes you see things that blow you away but your photos don’t do the sight justice. Sometimes you take pictures of stuff and think “whatever,” but then it turns out to be a great capture.

Who’s your favorite Instagram user to follow? 

@hirozzzz. He lives in Japan and posts amazing photos, especially from his most recent trip to Canada. He also seems like a super nice guy.

gabege (2 months ago):
#vscocam

What kind of photo will you always “like?”

Craggy mountain ranges and rugged coasts will always do it for me.

How has your life changed since using Instagram?  

I was on the suggested users list for a year, back before they made it a rotating gig. I reached 86,000 followers, and then culled it back to 18,000 using a website that identifies inactive users (which was most of them, it turned out). I’ve met awesome Instagrammers in person, and have gotten to go shooting with them. In fact, I’ve going to camp with some of them this week. It’s been a whirlwind.

gabege (2 months ago):
#vscocam

InstaPug: Beau Balek and Tofu

ondeathbeds: Happy dudes.

@OnDeathBeds

Dog Handler/Musician

Long Beach, CA

600+ followers

There’s no better feeling than to log on to Instagram and see pictures of dogs. If you disagree with that statement, you are a monster. Seriously though, #pugsofinstagram is practically a cult, and Beau Balek is the king of pug photos. Not only does he handle pugs on the daily, his pup Tofu is a majestic subject for photography. Here’s what Beau has to say about capturing precious moments of his Long Beach dog life.

ondeathbeds: Far fucking out. #pug #pugsofinstagram #space #picfx #joshuatree

What does your Instagram handle mean?

Taken from the title of a book by Wes Eisold (singer of bands Cold Cave/Some Girls/American Nightmare).

Describe your Instagram style.

I wouldn’t say I have a style really. More often than not, it’s a picture of my dog Tofu, but I guess I sort of use it as a photo journal in a way, but I don’t just throw any random photo up.

Name three of your most inspiring subjects or settings to shoot.

My dog Tofu (x3)

What’s your favorite Instagram upload?

What photo editing apps do you use?

Sometimes I will use InstaFrame for sizing, but nothing for filters, etc.

How has your life changed since using Instagram?

Not at all really, except that I may have made a few acquaintances just by mutual love for pugs.

Anything else you’d like to talk about?

How bout them Dodgers?

ondeathbeds: Oh, Tofu. #pug #pugsofinstagram

Check In: The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge

//

puffpuffpa55: #baybridge #SF #bayarea #olloclip
#instagram #instagrammers #instalove #instamood #instagood #like #comment #shoutout #iphoneography #androidography #filter #filters #hipster #contests #photo #ig #igaddict #photooftheday #insta #picoftheday #bestoftheday #instadaily #instafamous #popularpage #popular

Of course the Golden Gate Bridge is a California favorite, but today old Goldie stepped out of her Instagram spotlight for her Oakland to San Francisco sister, the Bay Bridge. After 11 years of construction and billions of dollars, the Bay Bridge was upgraded with earthquake safe lanes for Bay Area commuters. Oh, and she’s gorgeous.

The composition of the photos are unreal when iPhonographers include the old Bay Bridge in the frame as contrast. Apparently a handful of commuters have already been cited for “distracted driving” on the bridge to capture a photo, but after looking at the collection on Instagram– snapping a picture may be worth the risk of a ticket.

jackrudy: The Bay Bridge. $6.2 Billion. Totally worth it. #caferacerclub #hondacb

outlaw__: I have a new admiration for the old bridge from this new perspective… #baybridge

itskeilayo: In with the new and out with the old..🌉😱 #inwiththenew #outwiththeold #newbaybridge #oldbaybridge #onmywayhome #beautifulbridge #sideviewmirror

arph_oakland: she’s a pretty thang

the_kas: Old meets new

sunkat7: #baybridge #urbancyclist

born2wice: #nofilter on the #baybridge this evening 🚲🌉🌅

omorogbe: The new Bay Bridge… #oaklandloving #sanfrancisco #baybridge #bayarea #bike #bicycleride #nofilter

wardeaux: Had to go over it again!!! #baybridge #sf #sfbaybridge #bridgeisopen #itsopen #nocal #california #bayarea #sanfrancisco #secondtime #bridgeporn

yojeffho:
#takemetothebridge

ktj2002: What now?

Check out more photos of the new Bay Bridge here.

The New Popular Page: Outfit of the Day

jesskuuh: 🌼

The street style community is a dominant force in the interwebs. From fashion blogs to style inspiration Pinterest boards, there always seems to be a selfie involved. Lots of fashion and style junkies use these hashtags to share photos of their daily digs: #wiwt (what i wore today), #ootd (outfit of the day), #hotd (hijab of the day), #fashionblogger, #lookbook. Some rep brands hard by hashtagging #jeffreycampbell and whatnot.

Here are some of my favorite style shots uploaded to Instagram recently. Mirrored photos are popular, try using apps like Photo Reflection or Mirrorgram to get a similar effect.

izziechanmei: Today on Fashion Suicide. F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S-I-T-Y! #ootd #wiwt

austin_xo:🍦

fiercefantasy: Flexing in my backyard. #ootd #wiwt #solefest #fashionblogger #miamifashionblogger click to see the brands I’m rocking 🙂 #nastygal

monlinglee #colorindex #vintage #dc #alley

meganthropus: Laras and Beni wedding. Beautiful wedding. W/ my twin @farahsabiilaa ♥ #hijabchic #hijaboftheday #hijabeauty #hotd #ootd #bandung #bestfriend

stephanievalenzuela Outfit of the day: F21 top | H&M leather shorts | Air Max 90’s 😎 #ootd #wiwt #fashion #airmax #nike #blogger

zarrieff_nasir Goodbye Langkawi 🙂 #prettyboy #makeup #mens #mensfashion #fashion #fashionista #travel #langkawi #malaysia #malay #iphone5 #asian #asia #beach #yacht #ootd

lisa_emmer ootd! have my maths test today..wish me luck! 🍀 #igdaily #instagramhub #style #michaelkors #me #girl #instagood #summer #jj #instagramers #fashion #igaddict #love #instadaily #nofilter #all_shots #zara #light #picstitch #ootd #instamood #webstagram #pretty #bestoftheday #statigram #igers #iphonesia #picoftheday #wiwt #photooftheday

enumlikedenim: #ootd #ootdshare #ootdmagazine #hotd #potd #wiw #wiwt #lotd #outfitoftheday #hijab #hijabswag #hijabstyle #style #trendsetter #fashiondiaries #instastyle #igerscanada #floral #instagood #insta #love

carissasays: Today I am monochrome #ootd #wiwt

clarechanwm: Blogged about my last 2 days in Tokyo! http://www.mypinkpot.blogspot.com #outfit #ootd #hervelvetvase #ralphlauren #louisvuitton #givenchy

jtotheahey: By sisters’ request. “Pretty little angel eyes” (old song) hype on lookbook.nu/look/5022948 #sockhop #dots #dress #denim #jacket #wedges #satchel #wiwt #ootd #vintage #style #50s #lookbook #preppy #petstagram loltags

mrs_kli: 👟#good#morning#vans#cologne#sun#legs#brown#style#jeans#iphoto
#snapshot#instagood#picoftheday#instamood#instadaily#follow#igdaily
#iphonesia#instalove#webstagram#igaddict#igfame#instastyle#tbt#ootd
#botd#taptofollow#followme#bestoftheday

astridsylvest: #ootd #going #to #exam #nervous #dont #want #to #just #wanna #lay #in #by #bed #fuckingAT #AD

xkyd: Hello to my fat calves and 1/3 of my too bright #ootd . #Wednesday #wiwt #instasg #stripes #coltrane #jefferycampbell

evelinevon: Today’s outfit with my favourite white sunglasses. #best #pants #glasses #loafers #outfitoftheday

tasyanoni: Another daily outfit #iphonesia #instadaily #instaphoto #ootd thkyou @vncoshop

What’s your favorite hashtag to follow on Instagram?

Check In: The Canals of Venezia

zexyfox: #Venezia #Italia #Venice #Italy #mytravelgram

Watching travel television shows has probably ill-informed me of what’s really going on in Venice. Pasta? Gondolas? That’s pretty much all she wrote. I’ll know better once I visit this summer, but I wanted to grab a glimpse of daily life while browsing through Instagram.

hyery0412: Woke up at 6am for this view on the top of San Marco’s bell tower, only to have stayed for 5 mins because it was bloody freezing! #Venice

bloomdiva: Feels like its just for me! Early morning reward #venice #italy #venezia #italia #ipic #tripnerd

bloomdiva: Ingresso #venice #italy #venezia #italia #ipic #tripnerd

mbese83: Venezia “13 #love #instagood #tweegram #me #instagramtagsdotcom #instamood #cute #tbt #iphonesia #summer #igers #picoftheday #girl #instadaily #instagramhub #beautiful #iphoneonly #bestoftheday #igdaily #jj #instatags #picstitch #sky #follow #nofilter #happy #fashion #sun #fun #instagramers

pollypichem: А, еще вот эта не выложилась. Круть же!

hibernian
Santa Maria della Salute (2) #instamasterpiece #instagramopolis #instamillion #instagramhub #instagramers #instamood #igaddict #ig #jj #jj_forum #statigram #photooftheday #picoftheday #bestoftheday #bestpic #popular #allshots #italy #venice #santamariadellasalute #church

chrissiekoh: #burano #house #blue #window #architecture #pretty #venice #venezia #italy #canal #europe #wanderlust #vacation #instatravel #instadaily #travel #holiday #instagood #picoftheday #photooftheday #beautiful #scenery

llanska: #bellini #itsstarted

drwheaton: Cheaper by the dozen. #shrimp #venezia #wheatalia2013

meizam
Chi va piano…🐌 Tsunade é fiera di me oggi. 😄 #Venice #slug #animal #running #morning #ベネチア #イタリア #今日 #水曜日 #水

piticitron: #venise #bridge #beautiful #sky #picoftheday

pointedneedles: #venice #italy #iphone #canal #sunset #boat #gondola #tower #terracotta #water #photooftheday #instacool

che13

annaeo60: An evening in #Venice

I’m really digging the domination of blues and yellows in the city.

What’s a colorful city you’ve seen in your Instagram feed?

The New Popular Page: From Where I Stand

aaput: 🍍 Tropical.
#whpfromwhereistand #fromwhereistand #fromwhereistandnow #fromwhereonestands #fromwhereistandblended #vsco #vscocam #vscophile #vscomoment @fromwhereistand

Like any other normal human being, I commonly snap-judge individuals by the shoes they are wearing. So you can imagine how fun it is for me to browse through the From Where I Stand hashtag on Instagram. Photos tagged with #fromwhereistand usually portray the location the shooter is at, but has less to do with prominent places and more with floor design, a hip ensemble, impressive heights, or adorable puppies. Either way, it’s a field day for those, like me, love to ponder shoe choice (or lack there of!).

kelsbe: Trompin around on a rainy spring morning, hoping that my frost bitten little flowers survive! #fromwhereistand #flowers #zinnias #hunter #aprilshowers

amber_waves_ofgrain: #yellow #dandelion #green #fromwhereistand #macro #focus

soupatraveler: Good Morning! Picked up a little garden goodness yesterday! #fromwhereistand #themugchronicles #anaussieslife #rodgersworld #adogslife #miniaustralianshepherd #urbangardener

ferrysienanda: #fromwhereistand 🌞

hey_gina: hey@instagram, we have all the time in the world. where shall we go? ]}

cebraderayas: #fromwhereIstand

tawwni: i love rainy days 💦

_heystephanie: Today is the kind of day to play it safe. But peeking over isn’t that #dangerous, is it? #projectlife365

robinmccauley: #fromwhereistand

wantheng: #fromwhereistand

_cmoney_: #fromwhereistand #willistower #searstower #willis #skyscraper #chicago #chitown

gregorywoodman: 💀 #fromwhereistand after I pushed @brenna_marriie and @erickimberlin #deadstagram

gijanice: #fromwhereistand…

sondrewright: Rainydayzz |#FromWhereIStand | 2013

hamtagger: Looking down at me looking up at myself.

Check out more #fromwhereistand photos shared on Instagram or in the Flickr community. There’s even a fromwhereistand Instagram account dedicated to sharing its favorite photos tagged with the hashtag.

What is your favorite hashtag to follow and contribute to?