Instagram cliches gallery

As a moderator for @IGBoston, I review scores of photos daily to possibly feature in our Instagram feed. This city has no shortage of places to take original and beautiful photos—but a few spots seem to get more than their share of attention. Case in point: Acorn Street on Beacon Hill, said to be one of the most photographed streets in America. It’s fair to say that if you want to ‘gram the cobblestone lane, you may have to wait your turn.

Anyone who stumbles upon the Brattle Book Shop, tucked away on a side street in Downtown Crossing, may be tempted to think they’re the first photographer to discover it. But a location search on Instagram reveals that sometimes dozens of nearly identical photos of the outdoor shop are posted in a single day.

The Boston Public Library has a collection of around 23 million items. By my very rough and not at all scientific calculations, if half the people who posted photos of Bates Hall actually checked out a book during their visit to the BPL, there would be no books left in the library.

Until recently, photos were prohibited throughout the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Now that they allow cameras in the courtyard, the spot has quickly made its way onto the over-grammed list. Using Instagram’s location search, I counted 60 photos of the courtyard posted on a recent Sunday. (FYI, the museum still prohibits the use of selfie sticks.)

Even during the day, the neon lights of the Paramount Center on Washington Street attract Instagrammers like moths to a flame.

You can often tell that you’ve committed an Instagram cliche from the comments people leave on your photo. Look for things like, “Love that place!’’ or, “My favorite spot!’’ instead of actual compliments. It’s your followers’ way of politely saying, “Yeah, I took that shot, too.’’ Photos from Fan Pier are frequently accompanied by such notes. Though the pier is a popular spot, catching Instagrammers here during the day can be difficult: The preferred shot is a long-exposure taken at night.

Judging by the dozens of shots from the Prudential’s Skywalk Observatory uploaded to Instagram each day, the $18 adult admission fee isn’t too steep for Instagrammers seeking eminently “likable’’ photos of the city from above.

While the popularity of the Charles River Esplanade is seasonal, no list of the most over-grammed locations would be complete without it. In the summer, it can be hard to take a shot of a sunset here without getting someone else in the photo taking a picture of the sunset.

Moral of the story: If you’re going to commit an Instagram cliche—such as uploading a shot of the “Make Way for Ducklings’’ sculpture in the Public Garden—do so with the knowledge that many others have gone before you. And be aware that the list of hackneyed locations is growing all the time—runners-up for this unofficial list of the most over-grammed spots in Boston include the Charles River from the MIT Sailing Pavilion, the Christian Science Plaza, the Chinatown Gate, the Charles River from the BU Bridge, the trellis in Christopher Columbus Park, and the Zakim Bridge from the Charles River Locks.