Please Stop Passing Off Your Composite Images as Photography

Composite images have their time and place, and they can be cool, but it’s not photography.

Photoshop lets us do many wonderful things. From simple edits to complex transformations, the software has been the birth place of some spectacular work. But we have to start making a distinction between photography and Photo-shopped/composite images which really aren’t photographs at all. They are great works of art in their own right, but it’s always important to be upfront about your work, especially now in the world of ‘fake news’ and ‘fake media’. Continue reading…

Tom Hegen Reveals the Abstract Beauty of Greens and Gardens

All photos by Tom Hegen. Used with permission.

Refreshing gardens and verdant locations are eye-catching on their own, but we can trust Tom Hegen to them to us in new and remarkable ways. Last time we saw him work with foliage; he transformed stretches of man-made forests into minimalist art. In yet another beautiful aerial series, the Munich-based photographer took inspiration from gardens, cultivation sites, and patches of green to reveal the abstract charm that can only come from the view above. Continue reading…

Klas Falk Photographs Today’s Swedish “Greasers” Subculture

All photos by Klas Falk. Used with Creative Commons permission.

Subcultures are fascinating documentary photography subjects to explore and shed light on, and there’s always one waiting to be uncovered. A perfect example is the dreamy series of Stockholm-based Klas Falk, which features today’s Swedish take on the “Greaser” youth subculture that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s. If you’re looking for inspiration on photographing unique and popular subcultures, this series could give you some ideas.

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Eolo Perfido’s Clownville Goes Deeper Than His Subjects’ Masks (NSFW)

All images by Eolo Perfido. Used with permission.

“The first instrument of the portraitist is not the light, or the lens, or the camera,” explains Eolo Perfido. “It’s the subject.” The French-born, Italian photographer is a deeply thoughtful creator. His series, Clownville, offers a dose of innovation, a slice of controversy, and a generous handful of compelling concepts. Whether you’re amused or afraid of clowns, he has brought art to life that you won’t be able to look away from. For him, the series is not just an example of the creative mind; it’s a metaphor of life. The work shows a person prepared to push boundaries. It may shock or it may delight. What is for certain, however, is that it will grab your attention.

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Andy Lee Showcases Beauty in Decay in His “Abandoned” Series

All photos by Andy Lee. Used with Creative Commons permission.

There’s always something about abandoned houses and even ruins that make them perfect subjects for emotive photography. In fact, that’s precisely why there’s a genre — urban exploration photography — especially dedicated to it. We’ve put the spotlight on several photo series set in these abandoned locations, and today, we’re adding the Abandoned series of Pembroke-based Andy Lee to the pile.

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André Josselin Highlights the Anonymous Faces of New York City

All photos by André Josselin. Used with Creative Commons permission.

In one of our recent features, Cologne-based André Josselin shared how New York City was his dream destination and, using his Leica M, André put together a visual love letter to the city. Well, aside from capturing all the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps, he also made sure to paint a picture of its people through some candid street portraits. New Yorkers certainly are among the favorite subjects of street photographers, and we’re definitely not complaining seeing more being added to the pile. Aptly titled Anonymous NYC, the collection of street portraits was taken using a Leica M10 with a 28mm Zeiss lens. It looks and feels like a continuation of the NYC Love Letter series, but with a more decisive focus on people. There’s also a more classic New York City street photography feel, even reminiscent of Bruce Gilden. More hustle and bustle, a close distance to subjects, but also more observant of the people he chose to photograph.

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Bruce Gilden Discusses His Coney Island Street Photos

For today’s street photography inspiration, we bring more Bruce Gilden stuff from his Coney Island adventures.

Whether you’re already familiar with the bold street photography of Bruce Gilden or still familiarizing yourself with his work, it’s always engaging to look back at some of his best known sets. There’s no one that can tell us the most interesting details and stories about his photos than the photographer himself, so we take once more to Gilden’s Vimeo page to revisit his snaps, this time to listen to his commentary on his Coney Island project.

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Dramatic Black and White 4×5 Portraits by Andy Lee

All photos by Andy Lee. Used with Creative Commons permission.

Large format remains the imaging format of choice for many portrait photography projects today, given the outstanding resolution and the impressive amount of detail it renders. If you’re learning about this format now and would like to get inspired with some fine examples, Pembroke-based photographer and creative director Andy Lee has some dramatic 4×5 portraits for you to check out.

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Watch This Wildlife Photographer Get Squished by Curious Baby Elephant Seals

Being a wildlife photographer comes with many dangers, so we suggest taking on the task only when you’ve watched this video!

So, you want to be a wildlife photographer? You’ll definitely have to be aware of the many dangers that come with the job. Surely, you’ve heard of what happens when you get too close to wild animals — like getting chased by angry lions and elephants, close encounters with creatures that get too curious, and polar bears trying to break into protective enclosures (to state a few). But perhaps there’s nothing quite like being mauled by the cuteness of baby elephant seals while out in the field.

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Jeff Rothstein’s Five Decades of New York Street Photography are Magical

All images by Jeff Rothstein. Used with permission. 

“… the most memorable was the shot I took of Muhammad Ali,” says Jeff Rothstein. “Unfortunately the negatives are long gone, but luckily I still have a print I made at the time.” A true New Yorker, Jeff has been shooting street photography for over 50 years. He has seen it all – times change, attitudes evolve. For the younger generation, Jeff’s street photography allows them to see what the world was once like. For the older generation, his work offers a comforting dose of nostalgia. In each frame that he develops, you feel the love he has for the place he calls home. What is most evident when speaking to Jeff is his passion for the craft. He has the energy to create, to document, and to tell the truth. 50 years on from his first roll of film, Jeff shares with us the photographic fire that’s still burning strong.

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Philip Goldberg: Evoking Emotion Through Street Photography

All images and text by Philip Goldberg. Used with permission.

I’m Philip Goldberg, raised in the Detroit area, lived in Costa Rica and China for a combined total of about 35 years, and now back in Miami. There are certain constants in our lives. For me, photography has been one of them, from looking at photos of my parents when they were young, being raised on Life and Look magazines, and watching movies. I took my first courses in college, and used the weekends and some weekdays to shoot, then spent the remaining time in the darkroom, of course. I shot mostly black and white as color was confined to slide film, and color was expensive to develop and print.

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Skanda Gautam’s Fascinating Street Captures of Nepal Festivals

All photos by Skanda Gautam. Used with Creative Commons permission.

Kathmandu-based photojournalist Skanda Gautam is one of our go-to photographers whenever we get curious about life in Nepal. It’s easy to see why with some of his work we’ve previously featured. We’re adding one more to our pile of favorites of his: the beautiful Culture Series in Nepal, which showcases some fascinating scenes during festivals in Nepal in February. If the country is still on your to-visit list, we’re sure these photos will inspire you to keep an eye out for the next festivals!

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JP Stones Recreates Indigenous Aztec Myths with Cinematic Portraits

Fascinating Aztec myths come to life through cinematic portraits in JP Stones’ latest cultural workshop project.

It’s been a while since we last placed the spotlight on the stunning portrait photography project and workshop of Mexico-based JP Stones, which showcase the rich and vibrant Aztec culture. He has since continued with the project, adding another dimension to it with a current focus on recreating Aztec myths. If you’re just as curious as we are about this latest development, we’re sure you’ll be impressed and inspired!

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Mary Ellen Mark: On Poignant Portraits and Portrayals

If you have a growing interest in portrait photography with a documentary goal, the work of Mary Ellen Mark is definitely among those that you should study.

We’re sure that a fair number of photographers out there are interested in street portraiture and documentary portraits, so it’s only proper for us to bring some inspiration from Mary Ellen Mark. The late American photojournalist remains one of the most important and prolific documentary photographers of her time, best known for her poignant portraiture. During her 2013 lecture at the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design of the University of Michigan, Marks presented some of her most unforgettable projects shot in India, Mexico, across the US, and Iceland and talked about the stories behind them.

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This Panoramic Photo was Shot with Multi-Plate, Multi-Lens Daguerreotype

If you’re looking for novel and challenging ways to create your next panoramic photo, the “antorama” will certainly be of interest to you.

Today’s technology has given us many ways to create panoramic photos, but we bet that all of you are yet to try shooting with this technique. San Diego-based Anton Orlov has been busy experimenting with some daguerreotype techniques, but there’s one project that he was able to do successfully. He recently shared with us the results of an interesting panoramic photography method that he developed himself: the “Antorama.”

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This Could Well be the First Handheld Wet Collodion Selfie Ever

Ever wondered if it’s possible to do a handheld selfie with wet collodion?

We’re big fans of pushing the limits of photography regardless of the medium, so imagine our wonder when someone answered with a resounding yes! Last time we shared some cool stuff from San Diego-based Anton Orlov of the Photo Palace Bus, it involved a 4×5 camera with an f0.7 lens. Recently, he got in touch with us and told us about his recent projects, including what is most likely the world’s first handheld wet collodion selfie ever. But wait, doesn’t wet collodion involve an achingly slow exposure time and sturdy tripods? Well, that’s what he sought to address to create his unique selfie!

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Every Woman I Know: A Sad and Honest Look at Sexual Violence

All images by Alyssa Meadows. Used with permission.

”…very rarely are the brave women who speak out doing so with any expectation of reparations – we know the odds are against us.” These are the worrying words of Alyssa Meadows as she opens up about victims of sexual violence. After almost a decade working as a photographer, all whilst being deeply concerned about women’s issues, Alyssa has been able to bring the two elements together. Her project, Every Woman I Know, takes a brave and honest look at the range of examples of sexual violence women have experienced. In this portrait series are women Alyssa knows personally. And whilst they share their story, she also shares hers. Through public and anonymous portraits, and with the use of the written word, she has created a photography project that aims to educate and give a safe space for others who may wish to come forward and discuss their experience. Two years after starting it, we spoke to Alyssa to learn more about this ongoing series.

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Owen Harvey’s Skins and Suedes Shows Modern Attitudes To Subculture

All images by Owen Harvey. Used with permission.

“…with various approaches, in various locations, that’s when it can often feel it’s most interesting and genuine,” says Owen Harvey when speaking about creating his project. “These sort of situations are when I work most freely and just photograph what excites me…” A photographer who gravitates toward subculture and human behavior, Owen has excellently documented youth and identity in the UK. Immersing himself in the movement that is the Skins and Suedes, Owen’s series took him to a variety of social events and locations, from the beautiful Brighton beach to boozy weekends in Blackpool. Speaking to Owen it’s evident he has a deep understanding of the psychological element of documentary photography. He gets what makes people open up. He empathizes with them; he wants to understand. To portray who they are, he creates a space in which they can be themselves.

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Oscar Lopez’s Stunning Black and White Architectural Photography

All photos by Oscar Lopez. Used with Creative Commons permission.

Much of the exemplary architectural photography we’ve seen is done in the style of minimalist and contrasty monochrome, with an emphasis on urban geometry. In his Waterfront Cityscapes series, however, Germany-based Oscar Lopez shows us a more calming take on the tried and tested style by combining long exposures and punchy black and white imagery. If you’re looking for more ideas and inspiration for your next shoot around a harbor city, this body of work makes a great study.

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Martin Parr Chats with Bruce Gilden in the Latest “Sofa Sessions”

Martin Parr and Bruce Gilden discuss some of the most important topics on the latter’s photography, including personal inspirations and his well-known use of flash.

Esteemed photographers like Martin Parr are often the subjects of documentary films and interviews about street photography. But in the brand new video series of the Martin Parr Foundation, he sits down with fellow photographers to talk about their work, inspirations, motivations, and other photography topics. In the latest episode, it’s the turn of fellow Magnum photographer Bruce Gilden to have an insightful “Sofa Session” with Parr. This episode is definitely a favorite of many, with two street photography and documentary photography giants exchanging thoughts and insights on the craft. If you’re curious about Gilden’s work and methods in the streets, you definitely have to sit down and pay attention to their chat!

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Matt Porteous Sheds Light on Sustainable Fishing Practices in Oman

All photos by Matt Porteous. Used with Creative Commons permission.

If you love photography projects that combine travel and documentary photography, we’re sure you’ll find this series by Matt Porteous poignant and wanderlust-inducing. In his personal photo journal, the London-based photographer and filmmaker shared what he discovered when he tagged alongside Ocean Culture Life to find out more about the sustainable fishing practices in Oman. To give context and background to the series, Porteous tells us what makes Oman a place of interest for him and his group. “One of the only countries in the world to keep their fish resources at a constant, the Sultan of Oman banned trawler fishing and dredging 15-20 years ago. No close-shore commercial fishing is allowed, enabling villagers to catch the fresh higher numbers of fish in local waters,” he wrote on the project description. With this interesting fact, he also stressed that fisheries continue to be the country’s natural resource. In fact, their goal is “to create a profitable world-class sector that is ecologically sustainable and a net contributor to Oman’s economy,’ by 2040.

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