The Most Photographed Architecture in America, According to One Study

From skyscrapers and museum buildings to cathedrals and historical structures, architecture plays an important part in where we choose to travel to. If you think about the tourist attractions in your nearest city, there’s a high chance that it will involve at least one magnificent piece of architecture that people flock to snap a photo and marvel in the impressive design. But which is the most popular piece of architecture in America right now?

A new study from online art and design marketplace SINGULART has revealed America’s most photographed architecture, taking into account Instagram data and the number of posts across relevant hashtags.

In first place is the Brooklyn Bridge, having received 3.5 million posts under the hashtag #brooklynbridge at the time of the study. Whether stood under it, in the middle of it, or the classic perched on the edge of it pose that graces many Instagram feeds.

In second place is another bridge, but this time on the West Coast: the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The iconic red structure had 3.1 million Instagram tags at the time of the study. Taking the bronze medal is the Empire State Building, following up closely behind with three million posts. From exterior photos to snaps taken at the very top, the 102-story Art Deco skyscraper is a popular pick among both tourists and locals.

For those looking to up their game in photographing architecture, professional photographer Gregory Herp, who focuses his work largely on architecture, shared his top tips with SINGULART.

“Look around you and look for another angle, try to get on a roof on the other side of the street, or shift your position completely by incorporating one or more elements into your composition that will reinforce your image,” he says. “It’s not just a matter of standing at the bottom of a building, looking up and taking a picture! I have to look for my point of view, make these lines and volumes the actors of my image. Architecture is fascinating if I can make it bounce off something else in my composition.”