“Centralia” Uncovers the Survival of Indigenous People in Central India

Centralia is a docu-fiction photography project that sheds light on the little known conflict between the indigenous peoples of central India and the Indian state.

Whether you’re looking for a new photo book to add to your collection or simply want to support an impressive photography project, today’s featured body of work is worth checking out. Titled Centralia, this long-term, ongoing series chronicles Poulomi Basu‘s journeys deep into the forests of central India to reveal the little known conflict that has indigenous people fighting for their survival.

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Fantasy Meets the Mundane in Georg Aamodt’s Cosplay Series

All cosplay images by Georg Aamodt. Used with permission.

“When I’m photographing people, I tend to let them be aware of their own emotions,” says Georg Aamodt as he describes how he connects with his subjects. A versatile photographer, Georg regularly shoots fashion, editorial, and portraiture. But it was one of his personal projects we found ourselves drawn to. COSPLAY: Ideality of Reality experiments with the realms of fantasy and the everyday world. Suspending the otherwise mundane, he captures his larger than life subjects in a way that tells an intriguing story. From his own admission, the work wasn’t only a showcase of his creative capabilities, but also a journey of his own exploration.

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Opinion: We Really Need to Stop Saying ‘Gear Doesn’t Matter’

Cameras and lenses may just be tools, but the belief that gear doesn’t matter is ludicrous.

As photographers, we’ve likely said, or have heard someone telling a new photographer, or perhaps even an experienced photographer, that ‘gear doesn’t matter.’ Those four little words that are so quickly spoken can be some of the worst advice you or any other photographer can give or receive because ultimately gear does matter in photography, just like the type of equipment for many different activities matters. Continue reading…

Tobias Friedrich Reveals the Surreal Creatures of the Deep in “Blackwater”

All photos by Tobias Friedrich. Used with Creative Commons permission.

We often hear that we’ve barely scratched the surface when it comes to exploring the depths of our oceans. That statement can easily make anyone with a wild imagination and penchant for fantasy imagine just what kind of creatures lurk in the darkest depths of our oceans. Fortunately for us, there are bright and brave minds like German underwater photographer Tobias Friedrich, who work hard to show us some of what we can find down there.

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This Adobe Lightroom Shelter Pets Campaign Is Super Adorable

Sheltered pets deserve glamour snaps too, so we tip our hats off to Adobe for taking the initiative to do this super adorable campaign!

We spot a lot of cool photography projects during our usual rounds on Behance. But once in a while, we come across projects that just makes us go “awww!” We recently came across the Picture Me Rescued campaign Adobe Lightroom did in collaboration with talented photographers and set designers for this year’s National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day last April 30th. Los Angeles-based Julia Galdo shared some of the snaps they took, and we’re sure you’ll love the fun and energy in this project!

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ILFORD Shares How Their Prized Black and White Films are Made

If you’ve ever wondered how your favorite 35mm and 120 ILFORD black and white films are made, the company shares it all in their recent short film.

It’s always fascinating to learn about how our favorite things and everyday tools are made. For some photographers that includes their go-to film stocks. Black and white film photographers are definitely in for a treat, as ILFORD recently shared an official peek inside the HARMAN technology factory in Mobberley, England, where the ILFORD and Kentmere product lines are made.

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Doll Photographer Sharon Marie Wright Brings Her Subjects to Life

All images by Sharon Marie Wright. Used with permission. “They either think I’m crazy or are fascinated and we end up chatting,” explains Sharon Marie Wright as we discuss the response people have to her art. “I’m okay with either scenario: you have to be if you are in public playing with dolls, right?” Doll photography may be quite a niche, but for Sharon, it has become her bread and butter. Through her powerful and creative photography, she has managed to bring her dolls to life. She makes them part of a story, gives them a narrative, and allows the viewer to be fully immersed in the fantasy. Her series, Zombies + Dolls = Your Worst Nightmare, is a surreal take on blood and gore. She has taken a child’s plaything and turned it into a monster – and we love it! Continue reading…

Julieanne Kost Gives Us a Stunning Bird’s Eye View of Iceland

All photos by Julieanne Kost. Used with Creative Commons permission.

Our recent fascination for breathtaking aerial photography continues today. This time, we turn to the work of California-based Julieanne Kost, who recently shared the abstract beauty of Iceland’s landscapes as seen from above. Whether you’ve been looking for inspiration or great examples of aerial photography, or like seeing well-known travel destinations in a new perspective, we’re sure this series is worth checking out.

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The Poignant Story of the World’s First Staged Photograph

Learn about the unexpected story behind the first staged photograph and its creator, Hippolyte Bayard.

The staged photograph has long been part of photographers’ tools for creative expression, but how far back it goes is probably not known to many. Thankfully, Vox producer Coleman Lowndes has the answer for us, as well as the dismal story behind what is now called the world’s first staged photograph. In a Darkroom episode, he shares the events that led to its creation by a French artist and experimenter named Hippolyte Bayard.

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Street Photography Globetrotter Polly Rusyn Uses Vibrant Colors

All images by Polly Rusyn. Used with permission.

“It’s a very big part of my life,” explains Polly Rusyn, as we discuss the influence travel has had on her creativity. A true globetrotter, galavanting from one destination to the next, Polly is flying the flag for street photography around the world. Her vibrant and energized work is almost a metaphor for herself; positive and full of enthusiasm. And although color is certainly the main character, her photographs have plenty of supporting roles within them that make for some awesome street photography. Because of her dedication to travel, we were worried we would not be able to connect with her. But luck was on our side and we were able to squeeze in a catch-up just before she flew off again.

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Phoebe Jane Barrett Creates Tender Moments with Her Portrait Photography

All images by Phoebe Jane Barrett. Used with permission. 

Phoebe Jane Barrett creates tender photographs. When we look at her work, we don’t see personas or facades, we see authentic humans. Achieving this is no easy feat. And it’s clear she has the skill to connect with people. This is why it came as a surprise when she said, “I definitely lean more towards introversion.” “After a while, I felt the pull to challenge myself and push myself forward, collaborate more and focus on a variety of subjects and genres.” It’s a challenge that paid off as her work is a great example of powerful portraiture.

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John Lewell’s “Street Photography is Cool” Is a Deep Dive into the Art

If you’re looking for some in-depth reads on street photography, this eBook should keep you occupied.

A huge chunk of learning street photography comes with practice, but it does help to get inspiration and tips from photo books and references on the topics from both established and budding street photographers. There’s already a lot of those out there, but if you’re open to checking out eBooks, among your options today is Street Photography is Cool by John Lewell.

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Tobias Friedrich Reveals Greenland’s Stunning Shades of Water and Ice

All photos by Tobias Friedrich. Used with Creative Commons permission.

“Just the tip of the iceberg,” so a famous saying goes, and this featured series offers a glimpse of what underneath the all the ice exactly looks like. In his hypnotic series titled Shades of Water – Ice, German underwater photographer Tobias Friedrich takes us to the frigid waters of Greenland to show us the otherworldly beauty that lies beneath the icebergs and the frozen surface. If you’re passionate about underwater photography, you’ll find this especially fascinating.

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Marina Weishaupt Showcases the Dreamy Layers of Bavaria

All photos by Marina Weishaupt. Used with Creative Commons permission.

Mountain scenes are among the classic subjects for landscape photography, and it’s definitely not surprising why. Jagged slopes, gentle curves, snow-capped peaks,  misty views — all of it are enough to charm anyone who loves to capture nature’s towering wonders.  Case in point is another series we’re adding to our growing roster of exemplary landscape photography projects. The spotlight is once more on Marina Weishaupt, who we’ve previously featured for her breathtaking photos of the snowy Piz Feiss in eastern Switzerland. This time, she brings us the dreamy layers created the mountains of Southern Bavaria.

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Sebastian Baumann Explores the Line Between Childhood and Adulthood

All photos by Sebastian Baumann. Used with Creative Commons permission.

Childhood is one of the most fascinating topics to explore through conceptual photography, as evidenced by many of the projects we featured. Joining our roster of favorite bodies of work on childhood is a thought-provoking portrait series by Hamburg-based photo artist and fine art photographer Sebastian Baumann, whose interest in the subject was sparked by a question: “What becomes of early dreams, hopes, and fears once we grow up?”

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The Female Gaze: Polaroid Nudes by Kirsten Thys van den Audenaerde (NSFW)

All Polaroid photos by Kirsten Thys van den Audenaerde. Used with permission.

Not so long ago, we got in touch with Brussels-based freelance photographer Kirsten Thys van den Audenaerde to share with us her insights on Polaroid as a popular medium today for fine art nude photography. Since discovering Polaroid accidentally three years ago, she found it the perfect medium for nude photography, especially for the authenticity that it imparts into her work. Her artsy Polaroid nudes are indeed a testament to the dreamy aesthetic that the medium has become well-known and loved for; but above all, she sees each photo as a one-of-a-kind piece of art. We’re sharing the full interview below, in case any of you have been interested in what she has to say about Polaroid nudes, the response to her work, and the role of social media in her decision towards this very specific genre. And of course, more of her dreamy nude snaps!

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Child Labor Ended in the US Thanks to This Photographer

These photos taken by Lewis Hine from the early 1900s to the early 1920s effectively ended child labor in the US and remain an important reminder of the power of photography.

While there are now many iconic images demonstrating the power of photography, the earliest examples remain some of the most compelling. In the latest episode of the Darkroom video series by Vox, we are reminded of the photos that were instrumental to ending child labor in the Unites States.

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Aurélien Buttin Shares His Nostalgic 45 Days in Georgia

All photos by Aurélien Buttin. Used with Creative Commons permission.

We have featured a fair bit of impressive travel photography in the last couple of years, all executed with different focus, style, and approach. If you’re into this photography genre and would like to get some inspiration for narrative styles, you’ll like the recent addition to our roster of favorites: the Georgia travel diary of French lifestyle and travel photographer Aurélien Buttin.

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Kevin Krautgartner Reveals the Pastel Beauty of Australia’s Salterns

All photos by Kevin Krautgartner. Used with Creative Commons permission.

If aerial photography is your passion and you’re looking for more impressive work to inspire you, we’re sure the work of German fine art, architecture, and landscape photographer Kevin Krautgarner fits the bill. In his two-part series titled Australian Salt, he gives us a bird’s eye view of the colorful salt evaporation ponds in Australia. Aerial photography brings to our attention some of nature’s most mesmerizing shapes and patterns. But in this case, we’re all eyes on the surprisingly artful colors we don’t usually associate with the process of salt making.

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Does Photography Really Mean Anything to Anyone in the Digital Age?

In the digital age, photography is a shadow of its former self, but we can help change that.

Photography, since the dawn of the digital camera and the smartphone, has evolved into an art form that can be accessed by anyone, at any time. Without thinking about it, we can grab our cameras, rattle off pictures at a furious pace, and share them with the world in seconds. But how much do you care about the photos you’re taking? Do they really mean anything to you? Do you really care about other digital images you see on a daily basis? Join us after the break as we explore this a little more. Continue reading…

Watch the Hubble Ultra Deep Field Get Printed in Color Carbon Transfer

An image as stunning and historic as the Hubble Deep Field deserves to be printed in an equally exquisite and meticulous Carbon Transfer printing process. 

The Hubble Ultra Deep Field is one of the most iconic and mind-blowing photographs ever known to man and thus deserves to be printed in the most fascinating and artistic processes still around today. Whether you’re interested in traditional photographic printing methods, a fan of all things space, or simply an advocate of printing photos, we’re sure this video of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field being printed in Color Carbon process will amaze you.

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