Inspiration

Vision: The Most Important Skill in Photo Editing

I don’t know about you, but even though I’ve been photographing for almost fifteen years now, sometimes I feel stuck when deciding which editing direction to take with some of my images.

Picture Styles and Losing My RAW Religion

Twenty years ago, I was just starting to make some headway as a film-shooting stock photographer. It was a fun time, but the digital age soon dawned. I shot JPEGs on maybe my first day out with a digital camera, and then I was onto RAW.

How to Take Great Landscape Photos Close to Home

In my dream I’m standing on the rim of a deep, verdant canyon. Far below, a river glinting crimson and gold in the setting sun snakes toward jagged mountains dusted with snow. My camera’s viewfinder perfectly frames this epic vista in the wilds of northern New Mexico.

Johnny Martyr on photographing comedian Nikki Glaser

How I Shot Nikki Glaser’s Tour Promos on B&W 35mm Film

Recently, I took tour photos at the Lyric Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland, of my favorite comedian, Nikki Glaser. Nikki's team is using my photos to create graphics that she shares on social media to promote The Good Girl tour.

Sandra Bartocha interview on nature photography

The Emotion of Nature: Sandra Bartocha’s Creative Photography

German photographer Sandra Bartocha has been making fantastic and ethereal nature photography for many years and is among the most creative landscape photographers working today. PetaPixel chatted with Bartocha about her interesting techniques, artistic vision, and the importance of authenticity in photography.

Motion Emphasizing Stillness in Photography

Breaking a pattern can work to bring attention to that pattern. You may not notice how quiet it is until some subtle noise disrupts that silence, reminding you of the context it is punctuating.

Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2023

Jaw-Dropping Climber Portrait Wins Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2023

A woman won the grand prize for the first time in the 17-year history of the Red Bull Illume Image Quest contest, the world's largest action sports photo competition. Australian photographer Krystle Wright wowed the more than 50 contest judges with an incredible photo of climber Angela VanWiemeersch scaling a cliff in Long Canyon, Utah.

Photographing Idaho’s Picturesque Sawtooth Mountains with Matt Suess

With each passing year, more photographers find themselves exploring the endless miles of pristine rivers, remote backroads, and stunning landscapes of Idaho. Even with the influx of tourism, Idaho still has plenty of solitude for those who seek it. OM SYSTEM Ambassador and photographer Matt Suess recently traveled to the state's Sawtooth Mountains in search of portfolio-worthy images and a distraction from an unexpected change in his personal life.

NANPA Showcase 2024

The Splendid Nature Photos That Won NANPA’s 2024 Showcase

The North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) has announced the winners of the 2024 edition of its flagship photo contest, the NANPA Showcase. Featuring 24 beautiful winning images across six categories, the 2024 Showcase delivers some of the most spectacular nature photography of the year.

Photographing a Local Protest Against Foreign Conflict

Over the last month, communities around the world have felt passionate responses to the developing conflict in Israel, Gaza, and surrounding areas. As simple or complex as one might find the hostilities in the abstract the ripples of geopolitics affect us all, sometimes very obviously, and sometimes subtly.

Light Painting Under Red Skies on the Salt Flats of Uyuni

We recently visited the Salt Flats of Uyuni in southwest Bolivia for the fourth time, having previously visited in 2015, 2017, and 2018. What a big surprise! We were not expecting to see the colors that we did.

Photographing Mushrooms in Their Natural World

I’ve taken quite some mushroom photos over the last few years and most of them were done with my macro lens. Mushrooms are often tiny, and it’s very inviting to single them out with a beautiful soft background. I wrote a specific article about this back in 2020.

Why Your Photos Suck… (And How to Fix Them)

Do your photos suck? Feeling discouraged by your photography lately? Not making the progress you expected? The good news is, it’s completely normal — all photographers grow at different rates and hit speed bumps along the way.