9 Instagrams You NEED to Follow

While perusing my Instagram feed on my photography account (zachrielle_photo), I have come across some really extraordinary work. Some photographers out there are REAL GEMS.

Other photos I scroll through are okay (if even that, sometimes), but they get hundreds or thousands of likes. I refuse to click that little heart button out of pure stubbornness. At the same time as seeing these photos, I see some real gorgeous work that has less hearts clicked. It boggles my mind how this happens. Are the “okay-photo” accounts paying for their likers? I call those cheaters.

Therefore, I’ve decided to showcase some of the accounts that I believe should have more love. Go love them.

(These aren’t in any specific order)

Ready to be amazed?….

1. Fieldgurl

I mean is this from Jurassic Park? Or maybe it’s a scene from an urban-Hogwarts train ride? It can’t be real, right? IT IS.

2. PeaceInArtPhoto

I feel so at peace when I look at this. Can’t you just feel that mist flowing over you? I CAN.

3. SethVDL

This is fake. JUST KIDDING! I can’t look away from this one. It’s perfection.

4. ekl222

This reminds me of some sweet romantic story. The purple hue makes me feel thankful for some reason.

5. bakersamantha

Artsy? Check. Colorful? Check. Geometric? Check. Urban? Double check.

6. ancient_sky

So I first saw this and thought, “Not real” but is in fact VERY REAL! It’s actually a national monument, fancy, huh?

7. gsolvang

Yes I know. Speechless over this beaut. Those colors are on point. Everything about is on point, actually.

8. jrice.photography

First, how does one even think of such a great position for a photo?! But she nailed it. And the lighting, magnificent.

9. alpine_amy

Definitely thought this was from a post card until you notice her entire Instagram feed has photo like these. YAS.

So you’re welcome for making you wanderlust. And you are all very welcome for showing you how to make your Instagram feed much more beautiful and colorful.

xOx

Travel, it says a lot about you

I recently was beyond lucky enough to travel to the Grand Canyon. I cannot explain the feeling of standing on those billions of years old rocks. (Yes, I said billions.)

But what I learned from this trip out to Arizona is that there is so much out there for us to discover. We are all so wrapped up in our personal worlds that we don’t give a second thought to what else may be out there for us. We become so tied down to where we live for school or live for a job that we don’t realize there are more option than one.

We think we know beauty based on where we grew up. Tennessee’s mountains are so different from Colorado mountains. The North Carolina beaches are radically opposite of Florida’s Gulf Coast beaches which are different from California’s sandy seaside landscapes. If you think you’re “tired” of nature, you are just bored with what is around you. Get out and explore.

We learn so much about the planet when we travel, but also we learn a lot about ourselves. If you take a moment to sit silently, soaking in the sounds, smells, and sights, you will find yourself in an earthly heaven.

I have some stubborn friends who say where they live is the only scenery they need; they don’t care about visiting the West coast, East coast, the North or the South. I’m sad for them. Their closed-mindedness is unfortunate. I’m sad they cannot appreciate a beauty that isn’t theirs. It also says a lot about their character: they are unable to see the other side of things. If people don’t feel it’s necessary to travel, learn other cultures or ways of life, to see things not familiar to them, then these are people are afraid of change, who are unable to accept something different.

I’m just glad I’m not like that. Nor is my family. Thankfully I have been raised to appreciate all things natural, all things beautiful, all things different.

Thanks Mom and Dad.

@zachrielle_photo on Instagram

xOx