8 images of the Black Country like you've never seen it before with IgersBlackCountry
Who would believe some these stunning snaps of the Black Country were snapped on a mobile phone?
Budding David Baileys have been capturing landmarks and scenes from Smethwick Galton Bridge to Warley Woods, Mary Stevens Park in Stourbridge and Wolverhampton's waterways.
Instameets, where photographers from keen amateurs with their mobile phones to enthusiasts and professionals, gather at a location to take pictures. Now a group has started in the Black Country.
And their rapidly expanding social media following are helping spread the word - and the pictures - to people far and wide.
Abi Garvey (@abigarveyphoto) Ed Brown (@notthetalkinghorse) and Steve Spencer (@stevie_spencer1973) established the IgersBlackCountry group on Instagram at the start of 2017 and it already has more than 700 followers.
Black Country in pictures - 8 images to feature as photo of the day from the IgersBlackCountry group
The friends were inspired by the success of the Instagramers of Birmingham group (IgersBirmingham) ran by Beth Astington and Fraser McGee.
The trio met on one of the group's Instameets, where photographers from keen amateurs with their mobile phones to enthusiasts and professionals, gather at a location to take pictures.
And they decided that it was time to highlight the best of the Black Country.
If you fancy having your work featured as the group's photo of the day upload your images of the Black Country to Instagram using the hashtag #igersblackcountry
"A year on and several meets later we got chatting about having a day out, originally to go out looking for snow over Clee Hill in Shropshire but we ended up staying local around Stourbridge," Abi said.
"We had such a good fun day and got talking about doing more stuff together, sharing our love of all things photography.
"One thing lead to another and we decided that we’d definitely meet up to do it all again and to try and pull together other people from around the Black Country who share our passion for photography and love of the area."
The group decided to showcase the eight pictures to show off the Black Country
Steve said: "The eight images we’ve chosen here are a selection of those featured as our photo of the day.
"Who’d have thought the canals could look so beautiful bathed in the setting sunlight or that a concrete multi storey car park in Halesowen could be something you’d want to have as a piece of artwork on your wall.
"We really love how they show off the area and the talented folk that live here."
Instameets are also publicised on the group Instagram page, on its Facebook page IgersBlackCountry or on its Twitter account @IGBlackCountry
Ed said: "To get involved – you can follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
"Every day around 6pm we feature a photograph taken within the Black Country area with the aim of promoting and celebrating the area and showcasing our industrial history, beautiful scenery that can be found here.
"We also hold photography meets in the area where we all come together to take photographs, meet friends old and new and generally have a good old time.
"We’ve done three meets so far, one in Stourbridge, one at the Black Country Living Museum and one at Sandwell Valley.
"We’re planning another event for the autumn time, details of which will be released soon."
