Inspiration

Failing to succeed doesn't mean failing to progress. I think for many of us the last few pandemic years have spotlighted this sentiment, especially as when it comes to photography “success” is already such a broad and nebulous concept.

Cancer took my mother away. I was in a downward spiral until a chance encounter with nature set me on my path to recovery. I began photography as a means of prolonging the serenity I felt when surrounded by nature.

Niels de Kemp has found his dream job: in addition to making a difference in the community as a police officer, he also gets to produce video and photo content for the task force's online presence.

Donal Boyd brings nature — alive and flourishing — to your doorstep. As a conservation photographer, his mission is to advocate for wild spaces and animals by displaying their immaculate beauty.

Using conceptual and satirical photographs, a Swedish artist illustrates what he sees as the dark side of society's relationship with technology.

The photographic master Henri Cartier-Bresson made some key observations about photography, translated as “the decisive moment” which is often (incorrectly) characterized as: "capturing an event that is ephemeral and spontaneous, where the image represents the essence of the event itself."

Lorenzo Poli, the Sony World Photography Awards 2022 winner of the Landscape category, discusses the motivation behind his environmentalism-inspired "Life on Earth" series.

Filmmaker Vadim Sherbakov experimented with mixtures of inks, alcohol, soaps, and other elements which resembled the deep colors and playful shapes of cosmos for his latest creative macro film, "Velocity."

Photographer, artist, and activist Benjamin Von Wong believes that the fear of irrelevancy in the social media age can actually be a fuel that empowers photographers to become more creative and impactful -- the same way Wong has experienced as much in his career.

Photographer and filmmaker Clay Cook has captured the humanitarian efforts of former NFL player Chris Long's organization Waterboys, which helps East African communities gain access to clean drinking water.

The photographer Dorothea Lange once famously said “A camera is a device that teaches you to see without a camera.” I always loved this quotation. Once you get good at shooting, you start to see the world like a photographer — you notice things, you notice light, you look slower, you take pictures in your mind. The camera saves them, but even without one, you see differently.

If the number of obituaries written about someone is any measure of their impact on society, Janet Malcolm was a heavy hitter. Google lists more than 40,000.

I drove 5,200 miles around the country after my junior year in college. And I brought 20 rolls of film — 720 images in all — which was a lot in 1984. I felt like a pro, traveling with a “brick” of Tri-X. When you shoot film you try hard not to waste frames; it’s a natural force function that filters out some of the more idiotic shots you might take.

Like many photo and video creatives, the team at Syrp Lab has a lot equipment that takes up an obscene amount of space. In this seven-minute video, the team shows how it turned a dark and cluttered room into something organized, functional, and fashionable.

One of the reasons we pursue landscape photography is to connect with nature. Many photographers cite calmness, a sense of peace, and inspiration when they are surrounded by stunning scenery. I am one of them. Unfortunately, it is increasingly common that the encounter is modified by some human-made element.

Combining hyperrealism photography with fragments of mundane and ordinary places, photographer Connor Daly has created unique images that blend the real and the imagined.

If the weather forecast shows clear skies and bright sunlight, it doesn't mean photographers should abandon their plans for a landscape shoot. Photographer Michael Shainblum has shared tips on how he leverages these weather conditions to come home with a successful set of photos.

London-based photographer Alixe Lay specializes in capturing interiors and infusing them with an ethereal spirit through her signature style.

Writer and experimental filmmaker Gavin Heffernan has published a night sky timelapse created from various locations in the Mojave desert and unusually leverage a full moon to illuminate the scene for a surreal result.

One of the more divisive positions that I find in photographers is their rationale for, or dislike of, black and white photography. “I love color,” I hear often. “I’m all about the colors.” Absolutely, color is cool. But I think the arguments in support of black and white are strong (some better than others!).

I was struggling through Caesar in 10th grade Latin class when I first heard the term “synecdoche” (although the term is from the Greek) — it’s a figure of speech where a part of something is used to represent the whole. Today, familiar synecdoche include “threads” to mean clothing, as in “dig these new threads I’m wearing.” Or “boots on the ground” when talking about soldiers. Or “she got a cool set of wheels” to mean a new car.

Blessed with clear skies and soft sunlight, photographer Michael Shainblum visited Death Valley National Park where he captured the captivating sand dunes from early sunrise into the evening.

In the face of adversity as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a local ethno-photographer Anna Senik has taken up arms and enlisted as a soldier but hasn't given up on her love for photography.

In a partnership with WaterAid, Nigerian photojournalist Etinosa Yvonne has released a series of diptychs that highlight the importance of collecting water in the daily lives of men based in north-eastern Nigeria communities.

My particular interest in photography aims for hitting certain notes in the image, regardless of content. So whether I’m shooting landscapes or my garden, friends at a party, or my kids on vacation, I’d say the approach is consistent.

The Internet is a treasure trove of information, but photography books are still a fantastic way to both learn about photography as well as be inspired by the work of leading photographers.

Filmmaker Antoine Frioux is known for smooth, tracking shots of freestyle skiers. He usually uses gimbals to capture his footage but was given the opportunity to try replicating the footage with the DJI Ronin 4D.

During his trip to Kauai, one of the many islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, photographer Michael Shainblum captured his journey using a mix of wide-angle and telephoto lenses, making the most of the diverse natural beauty of the area.

Although timelapse is a genre still largely dominated by men, these five talented women are worthy of your attention, especially today on International Women's Day.

I’ve often been asked that question and it’s relevant, so let’s examine it for a while. Let’s start at the very beginning -- the actual exposure of a negative.

White House and New York Times photographer Doug Mills has captured seven different presidents through his lens. In a short video interview with Today, he discusses his time behind the lens covering some of the most powerful people on Earth.

When not covering presidential rallies for international news agencies I also photograph artists, especially ballet. I've been photographing the professional ballet company of Charlotte, North Carolina, for 17 years now.

As a landscape photographer attracted by rare and spectacular natural events like active volcanoes, eclipses, or solar storms, the Yosemite Firefall has been on my photography bucket list since a long time ago.

The World Photography Organization has revealed the finalists and shortlisted photographers in the Professional competition for the Sony World Photography Awards 2022. This year, the Professional competition received over 156,000 images -- the highest number of entries in the history of the awards.

Photographer Joshua Singh became captivated with the way fog transforms San Francisco and now his portfolio heavily centers around the weather condition that defines the City by the Bay.

Annice Lyn is a professional photojournalist who was once a figure skater at the national level. She was the first and only Malaysian female photographer whose work was accredited for the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, 2018.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But I wonder, what else do “they” say? In order to find out, I’ve culled together the best photography quotes on the subjects of photographs, cameras, inspiration, and more, as said by some of history's most famous and talented photographers.

Photographer Kurt Arrigo has wanted to free dive with humpback whales since he was 10 years old. 40 years later, he finally got the opportunity to make that dream a reality.

Photographer and artist Darren Pearson has released a stop motion project called "Fiat Lux." It consists of 686 individual photos, all of which were meticulously light-painted and shot across multiple locations.

PhD astronomer and photographer Sean Goebel has published an incredible timelapse of Yosemite National Park filled with stunning scenes captured across 11 years.

Photographer Seb Agnew has created a photo series about people deeply lost in their world and unaware of their surroundings. To tell these surreal narratives, Agnew used intricate set designs, lighting, and carefully crafted compositions.

The annual Underwater Photographer of the Year (UPY) competition has announced this year's winners across numerous categories that all celebrate the best photography taken beneath the surface of the ocean, lakes, rivers, and swimming pools.

In December of 2020, scientist and photographer Nathan Myhrvold captured over 100 meteors from the Geminids along with five other showers with a custom-designed, four-camera panoramic system. Afterward, they were animated together to show how they fill the night sky.

Photography, like all art, is subjective. However, one of the most common questions I see from people starting their photography journey is "how do I know when I’m getting better?" While the idea of ‘better’ is also partly subjective, improvement is still something every photographer strives for, and there are many different ways we can assess our own growth.

Interested in the inner workings of musical instruments, photographer Charles Brooks created a photo series that shows the inner structures of pianos, cellos, flutes, and other instruments from an entirely new perspective.