Motif analyses Instagram hashtags to reveal the Seven Modern Wonders of the World

In the modern age of Instagram, millions of holiday-makers from across the globe load their holiday photographs onto the social networking site. Motif, the easy-to-use app that integrates with Photos on your Apple computer, and which is soon set to launch on iOS

for iPhone and iPad, analysed every famous landmark hashtag since the launch of Instagram in October 2010. This analysis uncovered the world’s most Instagram-worthy tourist attractions, based on the number of times the hashtags have been used globally.

The research looked at the cities around the globe that were tagged the most, along with the top tourist sights. According to Instagram, London is the most popular city in the world, with a total of 126 million hashtag instances since Instagram began. London was closely followed by New York City, Paris, Dubai and Istanbul.

When analysing the top sight-seeing spots, the Eiffel Tower takes the pole position, followed by Times Square and Big Ben. The 7 Modern Wonders of the World according to Instagram hashtags are:

Rank	Hashtag	Number of times used
1	#eiffeltower	5,849,737
2	#lasvegasstrip	4,802,560
3	#timessquare	3,949,217
4	#burjkhalifa	3,502,116
5	#grandcanyon	3,433,049
6	#bigben	3,007,317
7	#londoneye	2,980,066

Craig Bauer, Motif’s Managing Director, said: “Over the past two decades, how we take and interact with photographs has changed dramatically, and this applies in particular to travels and holidays. As we move further into the digital age, where photographs are taken on phones, viewed on screens and shared on social media platforms like Instagram, there’s greater convenience in capturing memories than ever before.

“However, convenience comes at a cost. With the days of developing images, cataloguing them in albums, or keeping them in a shoe box, behind us, an all-digital flow of images creates new problems. Once the holiday is over, it requires endless scrolling on screens to relive your most treasured travelling memories. Capturing your travels in a photobook or an annual calendar is the perfect antidote to this, helping keep your travels alive.”

As part of the research, social media influencer Amber Doig-Thorne (Instagram: @amberdoigthorne) spoke to Motif about her favourite travel destinations, and how she takes the perfect Instagram snap: “My favourite tourist landmarks would have to be St Paul’s Cathedral in London or Universal Studios, Orlando. They both have such lovely atmospheres – St Paul’s feels very calm and peaceful, whereas Universal Studios feels so energetic and exciting! I really love the contrast in atmosphere between these two locations. They both also provide plenty of opportunities for a great photo – St Paul’s from the ground and from nearby rooftop bars, and at Universal Studios, there are 2 separate theme parks with plenty of themed sub-sections where you can take a variety of fun photos!”

Top tips for the prefect travel picture on Instagram
If you’re planning a trip to one of the 7 Wonders of the Instagram world, how do you take the perfect picture? Motif’s expert photographers provide some top tips below.

Every trip is its own experience. A vacation to the Cyclades offers a sense of respite, while Tokyo’s Shinjuku district is neon lights and frantic energy. New York City is a feat of city planning and human activity, while a cabin by Lake Bled is engulfed by natural surroundings.

Nothing captures a trip’s individuality better than architectural photography. It not only chronicles where you’ve been, but shows those places through your eyes, in ways only you can depict.

Here’s Motif’s tips to take the best photos for Instagram and your travel photobooks:

• See the trip through your eyes: You don’t have to take countless photos of the best-known spots. Take that picture of the lovely cafe you find serving local delicacies. Travel is about the unknown as much as the known.
• Let the light guide you: Light is the essence of all good photography. Before shooting, explore how light conditions impact the subject you are photographing. Perhaps return during the “golden hour”, which will add a warmness to the image. 
• Find a fresh angle: Taking a shot of a well-known sight head-on can look good, but the best vantage may not be the obvious one. Explore different angles.
• Frame the picture: Finding novel ways to frame a picture can draw attention to your subject.

Influencer Amber Doig-Thorne (Instagram: @amberdoigthorne) adds: “If you’re looking to take a great photo, my top tip is to be prepared! Have a rough idea of what type of photo you'd like to take – lighting, time of day, angle, framing etc – and that will ensure that when the perfect moment comes, you're ready to take that Instagram-worthy picture! If you’re happy to wake up at 5am in the morning to beat the crowds to get the perfect photo, that’s great – but I know most of us like our lie ins! Personally, I never wake up early to get the perfect shot. Instead, I make sure I know exactly what type of picture I'd like to take and then will wait for the perfect moment to capture the scene.”

After your travels, you’ll have a lot of beautiful memories in your photographs. These can be put into a professional photo book. Motif pairs state of the art printers with high-quality resources to ensure your photos look their best and are preserved in binding that lasts forever. With a Motif photo book, you can share your experiences with friends and family and revisit your trip time and again.

The top 20 tourist sites around the world

Rank	Hashtag	Number of times used
1	#eiffeltower	5,849,737
2	#lasvegasstrip	4,802,560
3	#timessquare	3,949,217
4	#burjkhalifa	3,502,116
5	#grandcanyon	3,433,049
6	#bigben	3,007,317
7	#londoneye	2,980,066
8	#louvre	2,897,989
9	#goldengatebridge	2,645,651
10	#empirestatebuilding	2,598,694
11	#towerbridge	2,127,742
12	#sagradafamilia	1,830,206
13	#statueofliberty	1,820,337
14	#colosseum	1,552,294
15	#machupicchu	1,539,713
16	#tajmahal	1,260,502
17	#cntower	1,249,873
18	#buckinghampalace	1,127,083
19	#acropolis	1,109,978
20	#arcdetriomphe	948,133

Source: TravelDailyNews International