Since Facebook announced its intention to acquire Instagram for $1 billion on April 9, the number of Instagram users photo-sharing service's app has skyrocketed from nearly 40 million to 50 million and is currently growing at a rate of about 5 million per week, reports Mashable.
That's quite a feat for the young, two-year-old Instagram, and, at this point, we can only imagine how much more it might grow now that it's married to Facebook.
For those of you who aren't familiar with the app but would like to get to know it, fear not: Instagram's Support Center has provided some great tips on how to use the service and how to find the right Instagram users to follow.
After checking to see whether any of your Facebook or Twitter friends are using Instagram, a great next step is to use the "Suggested users" feature to discover some of the service's favorite users. Then, make sure to look through its Notable Users Directory to view some of the top users posting photos related to fashion, food, music, news, and more. There are also featured users and photos on the Instagram blog.
To help you get started in finding the right Instagram users to follow, we've compiled a list of 19 of the best of them. Flip through the slideshow below to view some of their most stunning photos and vote on which one is your favorite.
Did we leave out your favorite Instagrammer? Want to suggest another user we should include? Tell us about them in the comments and include a link! You can also tweet their username to us @HuffPostTech or email us: technology@huffingtonpost.com. We can't wait to see what you've found.
Loading Slideshow
Dustin Vaughn-Luma
Check out more of UX designer Dustin Vaughn-Luma on Instagram <a href="http://instagr.am/p/JKOx3/" target="_hplink">@dvl</a>, and make sure to stop by his <a href="http://wanderingpixel.com/" target="_hplink">website</a>, too.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Even <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/home/index.html" target="_hplink">NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center</a> uses Instagram to share lots of amazing space-related photos. Follow the center on Instagram <a href="http://instagr.am/p/JQbmP/" target="_hplink">@nasagoddard</a>.
Zak Shelhamer
View some of Zak Shelhamer's professional photography work on his <a href="http://photosbyzak.com/" target="_hplink">website</a>, and make sure to follow him on Instagram <a href="http://instagr.am/p/JLOO92yOc5/" target="_hplink">@zakshelhamer</a>.
charity: water
Follow <a href="http://www.charitywater.org/" target="_hplink">charity: water's</a> efforts to bring clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries by following it on Instagram <a href="http://instagr.am/p/HhWIbLmhE_/" target="_hplink">@charitywater</a>. And make sure to visit the organization's <a href="http://www.charitywater.org/" target="_hplink">website</a> to learn more.
Tim Landis
Medical supply delivery man Tim Landis has a good eye for great photo ops. Follow him on Instagram <a href="http://instagr.am/p/YrXUo/" target="_hplink">@curious2119</a> and check out more of his photos <a href="https://populagram.appspot.com/user/curious2119" target="_hplink">here</a>.
[via <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/06/the-art-of-instagram-spot_n_1257529.html#s667120" target="_hplink"><em>Huffington Post Arts</em></a>]
Rich Nacin
Follow this talented professional photographer on Instagram <a href="http://instagr.am/p/HKr3qGE60w/" target="_hplink">@richnyc</a>, and make sure to check out more of his creative snapshots on his <a href="http://www.richnacin.com/" target="_hplink">website</a>.
Carmyn Joy
View more of Carmyn Joy's photographic work by following her on Instagram <a href="http://instagr.am/p/HhnBmMxUn4/" target="_hplink">@carmynjoy</a>. And make sure to check out her professional work on her <a href="http://www.carmynjoy.com/index2.php#/home/" target="_hplink">website</a>.
Chris Connolly
User experience and mobile designer and developer Chris Connolly is quite an accomplished iPhone photographer, too. Follow him on Instagram <a href="http://instagr.am/p/CyOTO/" target="_hplink">@chrisconnolly</a> and view more of his cool photos <a href="http://populagram.appspot.com/user/chrisconnolly/1?size=l" target="_hplink">here</a>.
Ana Barros
Follow Ana Barros on Instagram <a href="http://statigr.am/p/676486921_3289494" target="_hplink">@anasbarros</a> and scroll through more of her amazing phone photos on her <a href="http://opeixecru.tumblr.com/" target="_hplink">website</a>.
Tyo Guritno
You can follow Tyo Guritno on Instagram <a href="http://instagr.am/p/BB2Eh/" target="_hplink">@tyoguritno</a> and check out more of his awesome photos <a href="http://instagrid.me/tyoguritno/" target="_hplink">here</a>.
Serdar Ozturk
Follow Chicago-based photographer/videographer Serdar Ozturk on Instagram <a href="http://instagr.am/p/JV2cmmN2tf/" target="_hplink">@trashhand</a> and scroll through more of his beautiful photos by visiting his <a href="http://blog.trashhand.com/" target="_hplink">blog</a>.
Brenton Little
Follow Brenton Little's beautiful photos on Instagram <a href="http://instagr.am/p/HxNKh2ujPx/" target="_hplink">@brenton_clarke</a> and check out more from the graphic designer on his <a href="http://www.brentonlittle.com/http___brentonlittle.com/brentonlittle.html" target="_hplink">website</a>.
Patricia Abi-Rached
Filmmaker and photographer Patricia Abi-Rached is a frequent and talented Instagrammer -- follow her on Instagram <a href="http://instagr.am/p/Ikt_u4C19z/" target="_hplink">@patriciaar</a> and browse through some of her professional work on her <a href="http://www.seventyfour59.com/" target="_hplink">website</a>.
Eelco Roos
Check out more of Eelco Roos' stunning Instagram photography <a href="http://statigr.am/croyable" target="_hplink">here</a>, and make sure to follow him <a href="http://instagr.am/p/j4b7X/" target="_hplink">@croyable</a>.
Keepsy
As might be expected from a photo bookmaking service, <a href="http://www.keepsy.com/main/home" target="_hplink">Keepsy</a> has an Instagram account filled with eye-catching images provided by its co-founder Blake Williams. Follow Keepsy on Instagram <a href="http://instagr.am/p/JUnbEOoQBj/" target="_hplink">@keepsy</a>.
Johnny Lace
Check out more of Johnny Lace's stunning Instagram pictures on the photographer's <a href="http://johnnylace.com/" target="_hplink">website</a>, and make sure to follow him <a href="http://instagr.am/p/Jpu_z9orFG/" target="_hplink">@johnnylace</a>.
Robin May
Follow this Toronto-based Instagrammer <a href="http://instagr.am/p/JdPyJiE2_7/" target="_hplink">@robinmay</a>, and check out more of her amazing photos <a href="http://web.stagram.com/n/robinmay/" target="_hplink">here</a>.
Øystein H
You can follow the talented Instagram photographer Øystein H <a href="http://instagr.am/p/PMpym/" target="_hplink">@oyshal</a> and view more of his pictures on his <a href="http://oysteinh.tumblr.com/" target="_hplink">website</a>.
Daniel Waldron
Follow this visual designer and frequent Instagrammer <a href="http://instagr.am/p/JlzGMVAa50/" target="_hplink">@dew</a>, and check out more from him on his <a href="http://danielwaldron.com/" target="_hplink">website</a>.
ALSO ON THE HUFFINGTON POST
Companies insist Instagram will stay the same after Facebook's biggest acquisition ever.
The Huffington Post | By Courteney Palis Posted: 05/02/2012 11:37 am EDT | Updated: 05/10/2013 10:58 am EDT