Most folks only know Memphis for Beale Street or Elvis’ iconic home of Graceland. But locals like photographer Connor Ryan know that this Tennessee city has a visual style that inspired artists, musicians and photographers long before visitors started snapping selfies with their smartphones.

For an insider’s perspective on what to see in Memphis, we asked Ryan to share some of his favorite places to shoot as well as his tips on making the “Home of the Blues” the perfect backdrop for a social media story.

1. Farm to photo at Shelby Farms

One of Ryan’s favorite places to find a variety of subjects to photograph in Memphis is Shelby Farms, an expansive urban park that houses beavers, deer, horses—even bison.

You could take a riverside walk at Tom Lee Park, or travel just a bit inland and see a side of Memphis most people never see: Shelby Farms. Located in the middle of the city, it’s one of the 20 largest urban parks in the U.S. It was first used in 1825 as a space to teach practical and cultural skills to former slaves who had bought their freedom. From 1929 to 1964, it served as a penal farm; then, in 1970, the city reopened the park and preserve for the region’s natural habitat. Enjoy hiking and biking along the Wolf River trails that run through the city. The natural forest and wetlands are also home to beavers, deer, turtles and birds, as well as a bison herd. It’s just like visiting a working farm right in the middle of the city, Ryan says, with tractors and corn fields.

“If you’re shooting wildlife with a smartphone,” says Ryan, “use an included or attached telephoto lens, which can work better for long-distance shots. For less blur, try shooting quick-moving animals with the sports or burst mode so you can select the best from a series of shots.”

2. Bring your drone to Mud Island River Park

The Mud Island Amphitheater stage has featured such artists as James Taylor, Journey, Beck and Robert Plant, and is also a great place for a wide angle photo.

Despite its name, Mud Island is technically more a peninsula than an island, nestled between the Mississippi River to the west and the Wolf River to the east. Only a little over a mile from downtown, Mud Island River Park is a treat to visit, where you’ll find a museum, delicious Memphis food and an outdoor amphitheater.

“You can see really good views of the city skyline from the River Park,” Ryan says. “I've taken a lot of my best photos over there.” And if you’re a fan of drone photography, Ryan recommends giving it a try here: “It's a good place to launch the drone, too.”

3. Scale the tenth tallest pyramid in the world

One of the most unique features of the Memphis skyline—and one of its greatest photo subjects—is the Pyramid shopping center, lined with hundreds of reflective glass windows.

One unmistakable landmark on the Memphis skyline is the Memphis Pyramid. Built originally in 1991 as an arena with 20,142 seats, it’s now a megastore, established in 2015 with a shopping mall, a bowling alley, archery range and more. And it’s typically cited as the 10th-tallest pyramid in the world. Another fun fact: The pyramid was built as a nod to the city’s namesake in Egypt and makes for a unique image on your Instagram feed.

“Shooting large, glass buildings like the Pyramid from the ground can be hard,” says Ryan, “because you have to factor in the building’s angle and reflection. Shoot when there is less sun to avoid harsh light and try shooting from the building’s corner using a wide-angle lens so that the building doesn’t lean. If you have a drone, take a low-angle shot from above to capture a reflection of the colorful sunset rather than the surrounding city.”

4. Capture the pink and orange sunsets in the “Home of the Blues”

Positioning sunrises and sunsets behind your photos can add a dramatic element to the simplest shots, like this silhouette image of the Elvis Statue just off Wolf River Harbor.

With three large bodies of water converging here—the Hopefield Chute, Wolf River Harbor and the Mississippi River—you have a chance to catch some pretty dramatic Memphis sunsets. Ryan recommends checking out the Memphis Bridge as a great spot to capture those true colors, with #nofilter necessary.

“Once you find the sunset you want to shoot,” says Ryan, “be sure to move the camera and capture it from several locations nearby, both high and low. You’ll be able to capture a diverse range of interesting images from the same sunset. Just make sure your exposure is set for the sky rather than the ground.”

5. Go on a tour of the city’s numerous murals

Murals can present an opportunity to tell a simple story about a subject, like Connor’s image of a deteriorating seven-story mural at Crump Boulevard and Kentucky Street showing how time and the elements can affect outdoor art.

Someone who’s not from Memphis might tell you to put Beale Street or Graceland on your list of what to see in Memphis. But art is a major part of Memphis, says Ryan, and the downtown area’s street murals are worth a tour.

“When shooting a street mural,” says Ryan, “do some research about the piece first to share with your audience. Try capturing meaning using the weather or composition of your shot. And if you have a polarizing filter, use it to reduce glare from glossy, painted surfaces.”

6. Take photos that tell the Memphis story

Sometimes images that focus directly on one subject—like this one of an operating vintage 1920s trolley car from Melbourne, Australia—can help your Instagram feed tell a story in a way that a selfie can’t.

Memphis is filled with historical subjects—including an operating fleet of restored Australian trolley cars dating back to the 1920s—so try incorporating more stories and less selfies into your photos. How? Pick one subject for your photo and don’t let anything else compete with it. And make sure that whatever your subject is in your photography, it is very obvious as the focal point.

“For example, if you’re taking a photo of a building, you don’t want another building to be prominent,” Ryan says. “You want the focal point of your photos to be clear, in-focus and drawing the most attention. If you’re shooting a subject with a light or dark color, try placing it against a contrasting background so it stands out.”

Ready to plan a photo tour? Grab a camera, head to the southwest corner of Tennessee and check out our Memphis travel guide for even more incredible places to visit. Start planning your trip to the “Home of the Blues” today!