art

Why Every Photographer Should Shoot Film, Even in 2021

There are countless distractions that often hinder our creativity and photographic expression. The pressure and comparison that comes with social media can make digital photography end up feeling like a burden: Each shot must be better than the last and a photo with subnormal likes is a failure.

Make It Your Own: Why I Laser Engraved My Camera

As photographers, we are immersed in a world of creativity, expression, and individuality. Our craft is one that we pursue in hopes of creating something that evokes emotion and thought, insight and so much more. So why are our cameras so... boring?

Why NFTs (Probably) Won’t Make You Money in the Long Run

Over the last few weeks, it seems like the world wide web has been swamped with both explainers and critiques of Non-Fungible Tokens, or NFTs. It’s a pyramid scheme! It’s the next thing in Fine Art! It’s an ecological disaster! I am making so much money!

The Art of Accepting Failure as an Artist

The Internet gives the illusion that everybody can be “somebody”. It surely has opened the door for some, but the hard truth is that most of us aspiring artists (including us photographers) remain largely unnoticed for our entire lifetimes, even with the mighty power of the Internet and social media.

Largest US Art Museum May Sell Off Art to Pay Bills

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc across the economy, and one niche hit particularly hard has been the world of museums, which has seen ticket sales plummet due to lockdowns and people staying away from indoor spaces. Now the largest art museum in the US is facing a massive budget shortfall, and it's looking into selling art to pay bills.

Photographer Slices Up a Leica for Art

For his new project titled Heisenberg Objekt No. III, award-winning photographer Fabian Oefner has created an unusual scupture by slicing up quite an expensive "raw material": a pristine Leica M6 rangefinder camera, which costs around $2,500 to $3,500 used.

Learning to See Again

Crash! I tentatively turn my body in the direction of the sound already aware of its cause. There, a few feet away in the rocks, lay one of my cameras, its lens akimbo.

Photographer Gets Death Threats Over Utah Monolith Photo in NYTimes

Ross Bernards left Vail, Colorado, in June of 2018 to live the #VanLife full time to provide flexibility and more opportunity to "explore the most photogenic and best-kept secrets of North America" and its iconic landscapes. He feels most at home and a tremendous sense of peace with his feet firmly planted under the stars.

The Problem with the Utah Monolith

Just the other day, a tall metal “monolith” was discovered in the Utah desert. From what I have learned, this tower of shiny metal was placed in a very out-of-the-way location sometime in 2016 (based on its sudden appearance in Google Earth images in that time frame.) In the ensuing week, this object has created quite a public stir and generated even more theories about its origin.

Photographers Raise Over $90,000 to Help Their Out-of-Work Assistants

Several big name photographers are using their art to support a critical part of our creative community: their assistants. By selling limited edition prints, photographers like Tim Tadder and Erik Almas have raised tens of thousands of dollars to help get their crews through this difficult time.

These Before-and-After Images Reveal What Goes Into My Photo Art

As a digital artist, I create images that are optical illusions, interesting concepts, and fantasy worlds. For this, I have to have tools to achieve my visions and this is where my retouching background comes into play.

Why Artists are Never Happy: A Candid Message for Creatives

Whether you're a photographer, a filmmaker, a YouTuber, or a painter, this latest video by Kaiwan Shaban will probably hit home on some level. It's an honest, candid message for artists of all stripes who struggle with the fact that they are never quite satisfied with the work they are creating.

Are Street and Documentary Photography Art?

I think the question of whether something is or is not "art" is a bit disingenuous, often used more as a tool for gatekeeping than true analysis or critique. There is no objective standard for what makes something enjoyable as a piece of art, whether that's a photograph, music, sculpture, or a blade of grass in a field.

Why I’m Hanging Up My Cameras to Become a Conceptual Artist

After 14 years as a professional photographer, I've decided to become a real artist. The pieces above, which I’ve birthed over the past 72 hours, show what I’m evolving into as a creator. I present to you my Suspended Sustenance, Part 1 (foodstuffs, wood, paint, tape, 2019).

Beautiful Image of Turtle Embryo Wins Nikon Small World Photo Contest

Nikon has revealed the winners of the 45th annual Nikon Small World photomicrography competition. The photo contest features images that "showcase a spectacular blend of science and artistry under the microscope," and as usual, this year's winning images are just plain spectacular.

Why Ego is Crucial for Photographers, and How it Can Get in Our Way

Photographer Sean Tucker's latest video is a departure from the gear or technique videos that typically make the rounds in the photo world. In fact, it's not even specifically about or for photographers. It's for all artists, and it's about the importance of understanding (and balancing) your ego.