Birmingham skyline more photographed than Glasgow, Oxford and Bristol

Researchers at image monitoring platform Pixsy have discovered that Birmingham’s skyline is among the most popular in the UK among instagrammers.

The study has analysed thousands of shots posted onto the social media site from across the UK and around the world.

And when it comes to Britain, Birmingham is ranks in the top 10 most photographed city skylines - with 3,281 posts, beating the likes of Glasgow, Oxford and Bristol.

Birmingham’s eye-catching Library and Hall of Memory in Centenary Square are among the most favoured spots caught on instagram.

The city’s transforming skyline - including its cranes - is also another popular shot, alongside it’s iconic Selfridges building, currently undergoing a bit of maintenance ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

Pixy has rated 20 UK cities as being the most photographed.

Overall Birmingham is place sixth, with London coming top.

You can see the full list here:

1. London: 269,786 posts
2. Liverpool: 10,715 posts
3. Manchester: 10,019 posts
4. Edinburgh: 8,268 posts
5. Bath: 6,992 posts
6. Birmingham: 3,281 posts
7. Glasgow: 2,422 posts
8. Oxford: 1,312 posts
9. Leeds: 1,296 posts
10. Bristol: 1,001 posts
11. Belfast: 910 posts
12. BrightonandHove: 710 posts
13. York: 644 posts
14. Sheffield: 558 posts
15. NewcastleuponTyne: 399 posts
16. Cardiff: 355 posts
17. Portsmouth: 351 posts
18. Aberdeen: 205 posts
19. Kingston-upon-Hull: 188 posts
20. Leicester: 139 posts

If you fancy yourself as an instagrammer and believe you too could take some stunning shots of Birmingham, then Pixsy has got some great tips for capturing a wonderful winter skyline suitable for amateurs and experienced photographers alike.

Here they are:

1. Consider your vantage point:"When photographing a cityscape or skyline, arguably the most important aspect to get right is your vantage point. You may need to head out of the city to find a suitable angle that’s wide enough to take in the entire view. Take a look at the city map and check for any hills, parks, or even islands outside of the city limits and take the trip to see how the view looks. You may even find a new favorite spot that you would never have come across otherwise!"
2. Try to align your schedule with a winter sunset:"You should be aiming to take your skyline image during the “blue hour” – the time when the dusky blue sky hasn’t gone completely dark, but the city lights have already come on and created an attractive twinkle."
3. Pack suitable photography gear and keep it protected:"A wide-angle lens will be invaluable in taking the perfect skyline shot, and a tripod will be hugely useful in preventing any blur (and stopping your arms from getting tired!). Depending on the location and weather, you might want to consider waterproofing measures to protect your equipment. If you’re planning to head off the beaten path, make sure to invest in suitable photography insurance, so you’re protected if anything should happen to your camera."
4. Put your camera’s features to use:"Try to use a manual focus when taking a skyline shot to avoid inaccuracies in the automatic settings, which might set the focus on the wrong building or even zone in on something as small as an animal or a passing truck in the foreground and ruin your image. A long exposure will allow you to capture plenty of light and could even create some pleasant light trails from cars which add to the atmosphere of your photography. Most importantly is to experiment and try a number of different lenses and exposures until you find the perfect settings for your ideal skyline picture."
5. Protect your work:"When you do get that perfect shot, make sure to monitor it if you post it online; this will help you avoid your image being used elsewhere on the internet without your permission."

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading. BirminghamWorld is Birmingham’s latest news website, championing everything that is great about our city - reporting on news, lifestyle and sport. We want to start a community among our readers, so please follow us on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram, and keep the conversation going.