Inspiration

Abstract Portraits of Couples Sleeping in Central Park

Sheep Meadow in New York City's Central Park is a popular spot for sleeping and sunbathing, sometimes drawing tens of thousands of people per day. For his project "Sheep Meadow: Vertical Abstracts," photographer Michael Massaia shot candid portraits of people who are deep in sleep, creating surreal images of intertwined human bodies suspended in darkness.

20 Inspiring Quotes About What Photography Is

Photography allows one to capture the world around them with the press of a shutter. From a scientific perspective, it is the act of recording light either electronically or chemically. However, this tells us nothing about the heart of photography and what it truly means to us on a personal level. We have assembled a list of 20 great quotes from notable photographers, past and present, that answers the simple question: “What is photography?”

A 4K Timelapse of the Calbuco Volcano That Exploded Over Chile

When the Calbuco volcano in southern Chile erupted back in April, one photographer captured footage from the moment of explosion and another one managed to shoot a short time-lapse sequence of the plumes. German time-lapse photographer Martin Heck of Timestorm Films just released an amazing video of his own.

Raccoon Photographed Riding on an Alligator’s Back

Remember that photo of a weasel riding on a woodpeckers back that went viral earlier this year? A similarly strange wildlife shot has emerged, and this one is making the rounds on the Web as well. It's a bizarre photo of a raccoon riding on the back of an alligator in a river.

The Tesseract Scene in Interstellar was Shot Using a Physical Set

It's always neat when photographers and film directors opt for creative and ambitious physical sets and effects rather than relying primarily on computer generated imagery. One interesting recent example is the mind-bending tesseract scene in the hit movie Interstellar. Rather than portray time as a dimension using CGI, director Christopher Nolan and his crew built a giant and complex physical set.

A Surprise Proposal Shot as an Explosive Action Film

When Seth McMurry proposed to his girlfriend Cymber recently, he partnered up with his brother Andrew to capture the whole thing in a creative and unusual way. Instead of settling for a standard hide-in-the-bushes photo or video, Andrew convinced Cymber that he was shooting an action movie and needed her and Seth to help out as actors.

Portraits of the Disappearing Tribes of the World

Photographer Jimmy Nelson spent three years between 2010 and 2013 visiting some of the indigenous cultures found in the furthest corners of our planet. His goal was to capture portraits of the disappearing people groups and to preserve glimpses of their rites, customs, and traditions -- photos that he hopes will remain even if these cultures fade away.

Photographer Captures a Humpback Whale Fight Up Close

Underwater photographer Karim Iliya was shooting in the ocean off the coast of the island of Vava'u last August when he had a magical (but scary) encounter with humpback whales. After jumping into the water, Iliya found himself in the midst of a battle between four humpback males that were fighting for one lone female.

BTS: Photographing the 2015 Champions League Final

What does a day of covering one of the biggest events in soccer look like? Chief photographer Joel Marklund of the Swedish photo agency Bildbyrån recently photographed the 2015 Champions League final match between powerhouses Barcelona and Juventus. In addition to shooting with his DSLRs, Marklund used a small action camera to document his day from waking up at 3:55am to catch a flight to getting in a car to leave Berlin the next morning.

Former Time CEO Ann S. Moore on Art Galleries and Advice for Photographers

Ann S. Moore is one of the most powerful women in the world according to Forbes and Fortune Magazine. Graduating from Vanderbilt University in 1978, Moore climbed the career ladder leading exciting positions including being the publisher of Sports Illustrated for Kids and People Magazine. She was crowned People Magazine’s president in 1993 and become the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Time Inc. in 2002.

The American Southwest in B&W

From the days of Jack Kerouac to the culture of Route 66, it is common knowledge that America is best experienced from its roads. That’s why I decided to grab a friend, rent a car and head off into America’s beautiful southwest to see what all of the fuss was about.

POV: Photographing World Leaders at the G7 Summit

The 41st G7 summit was just held in Schloss Elmau, Germany, where a group of the world's most powerful heads of state came together to talk about economic issues. If you've ever wondered what it's like to work as a photographer in a room with presidents, prime ministers, and chancellors, we've got a first-person view for you to experience.

Kate Middleton Shot Her Own Royal Baby Portraits

Did you know that quite a few members of the British royal family are passionate photographers? This past weekend, Prince William and Kate Middleton released a set of four portraits showing their two children. Rather than hire a photographer for the occasion, Kate, a photography enthusiast, shot the royal baby pictures herself.

This Amazing Photo Shows a Surfer Above Water and Photographers Below

Photographer Sash Fitzsimmons captured this amazing photograph this past winter while working with surfer Billy Kemper off the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. It shows Kemper catching a wave above the surface of the water while a team of surf photographers point their cameras at him from below -- Fitzsimmons straddles the divide, capturing both worlds in one shot.

Idiot Box: Portraits of Kids with Eyes Glued to a TV

In any given week, the average US child will watch more than a day's worth of TV. This subject is the focus of a new photo series by photographer Donna Stevens called Idiot Box. It's a set of portraits showing blank expressions on kids faces as they watch television in a dimly-lit room.

A Magical Then-and-Now Journey Through Portland

"Then and now" photo projects are all the rage these days, but the video above puts a unique spin on the idea. It's titled "Yesterday's Tomorrow: A Portland Journey," and is a magical tour of Portland, Oregon, with vintage photographs weaved into modern day video of different places in the city.

The Center-Framed Style of Mad Max: Fury Road

Yesterday we shared some interesting before-and-after images showing the visual effects work that went into the hit Hollywood movie Mad Max: Fury Road. Here's a second look at the film from a different angle: the composition. In the 1.5-minute video above, editor Vashi Nedomansky explores how keeping all the action in the center of each frame made the shots so effective and easy to follow.

Before and After Comparisons of the Visual Effects in Mad Max: Fury Road

One of the big Hollywood blockbusters to hit the silver screen this year has been Mad Max: Fury Road, which has gotten rave reviews, with many praising the insane and complex visual design of the film. If you were wondering what some of the shots looked like when they were originally captured on camera, here are some before-and-after comparison images showing those shots next to the final frames after visual effects were applied.

TED Talk: Jimmy Nelson on Shooting Portraits of the World’s Vanishing People

Photographer Jimmy Nelson has spent years traveling the globe in a quest to document the world's most fantastic indigenous cultures before they and their way of life disappear. In the 17-minute TED talk above, Nelson shares some of his best large format portraits and some fascinating things that he has learned along the way. (Note: there's a bit of nudity in the photos).

Light Painting with a Giant 2-Foot Ball of Steel Wool

Steel wool is often done by lighting a small ball of steel wool on fire and then swinging it around in a long exposure photo while it burns. But what happens when you take it to the extreme? The folks over at Joby recently decided to see what you get when you burn a giant 2-foot ball of burning steel wool.

What It’s Like to Swim with Millions of Jellyfish

Ongeim'l Tketau, or "Jellyfish Lake," on the island country of Palau is a place you need to add to your underwater photography bucket list. The waters are famous for the millions of jellyfish that migrate across the lake on a daily basis, which provide for incredible views that many have captured on camera.

Five Tips to Help You Take Your Street Photography to the Next Level

The art of street photography can be an extremely rewarding experience for photographers who are looking to capture the current state of the human condition. Candid street photography has allowed artists to capture the nature of the world and reflect on how society truly acts when it does believe it is being watched. If you’ve begun your venture into the world of street photography and already have a good handling of the basics, here are some tips to take your work to the next level.

Chris Burkard on the Joy of Photographing Surfers in Freezing Waters

Chris Burkard is a California-based surf photographer who has shot for some of the biggest companies and publications in the world. After years of shooting on popular, sun-soaked beaches and making a living through his "dream job," Burkard began to yearn for beaches that weren't dominated by tourists and the comforts of civilization. So, he began traveling to remote -- and often frigid -- shores around the world for surf photos that are off the beaten path.

How to Get Squirrels to Use Props in a Photo Shoot

Freelance photographer Max Ellis of Teddington, UK, has received quite a bit of attention as of late for his ongoing Squirrelismo project, which features portraits of squirrels posing with various props. We caught up with Ellis to find out the secrets behind his viral pictures.

Starry Self-Portraits with the Northern Lights

Finnish photographer Tiina Törmänen wanted to capture how small and fragile humans are in the unfathomable expanse of space, so she shot a series of stunning self-portraits showing her silhouette dwarfed by a backdrop of stars and the Northern Lights. The series is titled "Wanderer."