How to take good pictures in bright sunlight

Using a flash may seem counterintuitive on a bright day but it’s the perfect tool for overcoming harsh shadows subject’s faces. Stan Horaczek Bright sunlight is one of the most challenging weather conditions to shoot in. If you’re not careful, your photos can come out wildly overexposed, brutally underexposed, or way too contrasty and filled… Continue reading How to take good pictures in bright sunlight

Rankin’s flaming dandelions are the perfect metaphor for ‘an exploding world’

Rankin Rankin has photographed many of the big names in fashion, music, and society. Known for his portraits of Kate Moss, David Bowie, and Queen Elizabeth II, he is also at the head of a creative agency with dozens of employees. When lockdown hit in March 2020, and Rankin could no longer work in his… Continue reading Rankin’s flaming dandelions are the perfect metaphor for ‘an exploding world’

In a self-portrait series, Chinelle Rojas reclaims her identity

One of Rojas’ favorite portraits is this one, which she made with Prisma colored pencils. Chinelle Rojas In an age saturated with selfies, the art of the self-portrait can feel diluted at best, and an indulgence of vanity at worst. But for Florida-based creative Chinelle Rojas, it’s been an avenue for accepting her identity and… Continue reading In a self-portrait series, Chinelle Rojas reclaims her identity

This week’s reader-submitted Photos of the Day are a tour around the world

Kevin Kielty For this week’s Photos of the Day challenge, we handed over artistic license and invited readers to submit their favorite shots ever. The result did not disappoint and the winners took us on a grand tour of the world. Dripping glaciers in Iceland, the Florentine skyline, and a trek through the desert are… Continue reading This week’s reader-submitted Photos of the Day are a tour around the world

Faceless photography tips: Why anonymous photos can still be attractive to licensing clients

Faceless photos are trending—at least when it comes to photography. We’ve all seen the pictures: faceless figures in a vast landscape, tourists in straw hats gazing at iconic landmarks, and the famous #Followmeto theme, where all we see is someone’s back leading us into the unknown. When a photo is anonymous, we can’t identify the… Continue reading Faceless photography tips: Why anonymous photos can still be attractive to licensing clients

NFT trends: Character creation and NFT art

Earlier this year, the renowned Los Angeles photographer Parker Day collaborated with the NFT platform Quantum Art to bring her project ICONS to the blockchain. Featuring 200 portraits, the playful series saw Day collaborate with models to bring different “personas” or characters to life. The collection sold out quickly, with many collectors immediately identifying with… Continue reading NFT trends: Character creation and NFT art

10 Best Photo Effects to Create Blurs, Cracks, and Shattered Glass in Photoshop

Save yourself the trouble of learning every effect in Adobe Photoshop. Instead, use one-click actions that apply the same style with much less effort. In this roundup, I’m going to share ten of my favorite actions that simulate glass styles, including blurs, shatter, crack effects, and more, all from Envato Elements. Envato Elements is an… Continue reading 10 Best Photo Effects to Create Blurs, Cracks, and Shattered Glass in Photoshop

Why texture is important in your commercial content (part 1)

A few years ago, research by professors at the University of Washington Foster School of Business, Brigham Young University, San Diego State University, and the University of Illinois revealed that advertisements that trigger our sense of touch inspire customers to purchase products more quickly than those focusing primarily on sight or sound. Markets have long… Continue reading Why texture is important in your commercial content (part 1)

With thoughtful luminescence, Elizabeth Messina offers an intimate study of the female portrait

Messina is renowned for her stunningly simple portraits of women that convey depth and feeling. Elizabeth Messina Southern California-based photographer Elizabeth Messina is something of a legend. With her beloved Contax 645 and Fujifilm GFX100s, she has photographed for the likes of Tori Spelling, Claire Pettibone, and Brooke Shields—and that’s just to name a few.… Continue reading With thoughtful luminescence, Elizabeth Messina offers an intimate study of the female portrait

Antigone Kourakou’s surreal exploration of nature & humanity, plus five other photo books for summer 2022

From Antigone Kourakou’s “Transfiguration”. © Antigone Kourakou In this month’s photo books selection, we take a look at an expansive annotated selection of Alec Soth’s work; a collection of images by famous photographers all shot on “the other film” (Polaroid); flowers in contemporary photography; Antigone Kourakou’s surrealist B&W images of women and nature; Curran Hatleberg’s… Continue reading Antigone Kourakou’s surreal exploration of nature & humanity, plus five other photo books for summer 2022