Have you ever felt your photography takes a backseat when you're with others? I booked a solo overseas trip to reconnect with my photographic passion without the constraint of expectations or fitting in with the needs of others. This article might be the push you need to go on your own solo journey of discovery.
On February 23, 1945, during the Battle of Iwo Jima, six men—five U.S. Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman—raised an American flag atop Mount Suribachi. Joe Rosenthal, a photographer with the Associated Press, happened to put himself in the right place at the right time. With one click of the shutter, he captured a fleeting moment of unity and grit that would echo far beyond the war: the raising of the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima.
You’ve booked the trip, packed your gear, and mapped out every perfect shot—but what if the best photos are the ones you never planned for? The magic of a photo trip isn’t just in the locations; it’s in the unexpected moments, the wrong turns, and the stories that unfold when you stop chasing perfection. Before you overstuff your itinerary and your camera bag, here’s what you should do (and avoid) to make your next photo trip unforgettable.
Set aside the rush of daily life to unwind with a photobook that invites you into California’s diverse landscapes. Lukas Felzmann’s Across Ground beckons photographers and art lovers to sit down, silence distractions, and immerse themselves in its poetic exploration of nature and culture. This article offers reasons why you might want to make a peaceful retreat into the pages of this photobook.
After nearly 20 years of traveling and photographing the outdoors—both as an enthusiast and a professional—I’ve noticed a frustrating trend: people leaving behind their crap (both literal and figurative) and showing little regard for the environment.
Paris has long been a city associated with romance, art, and everyday wonder. Few have captured its essence as beautifully as Robert Doisneau—the "poet with a camera." His images of bustling streets, playful children, and fleeting moments of love continue to define the soul of post-war France. In a world increasingly obsessed with high-stakes visual storytelling, Doisneau’s work reminds us that beauty is often found in the ordinary.
Have you ever had a brilliant photography idea but didn’t know where to start? Planning a photography project isn’t just about taking great pictures—it’s about crafting a vision, telling a story, and making your work unforgettable. If you’re ready to turn your creative spark into a masterpiece, this guide will show you how to bring it together with these eleven steps.
Canadian photographer Greg Girard left Vancouver in the 1970s to explore Southeast Asia with his camera. His colorful, atmospheric landscapes showed us a very different and unfamiliar part of the world that, for Westerners at that time, was much less traveled and even less well known.
Mastery of the camera, a keen photographic eye, and excellent timing are all prerequisites for being a good portrait photographer. But there’s another quality that is much harder to come by and less often talked about, yet it can distinguish a great portrait photographer from a good one.
In one of the most inhospitable regions of the world, where life exists on a knife’s edge, Ragnar Axelsson has spent four decades photographing the beauty of its frozen landscapes and, more recently, the impact of climate change on the lives of the hardy people who call this frozen wilderness home.
The Decisive Moment is arguably one of the greatest photography books ever published, featuring photos from Henri Cartier-Bresson that capture the precise instant when all elements in a scene come together perfectly to create a powerful and meaningful image.
Photographer Martha Cooper has made a lasting impact on both the world of photography and the art world as a whole. Renowned for her documentation of urban street art and graffiti culture, Cooper's career reflects her deep passion for storytelling and her remarkable ability to capture everyday moments. Her work transcends photography, serving as historical records of cultural movements.
Born in Baltimore in 1943, Cooper began her career as a photojournalist, working for various news outlets. However, it was her groundbreaking book, Subway Art, co-authored with...
Cityscape photography is a genre that many photographers either embrace or shy away from. Its real-world, unpredictable nature can be both exciting and intimidating. But what happens when a world-class landscape photographer dives into this style—and does so in the bustling streets of New York City? You might be surprised by the results.
If you're into shooting video, you may have heard of or even used a Pro-Mist filter. But have you ever thought about using them for photography?
How many times have you watched a film about a photographer where the actor clearly has no idea how to use a camera? It's an unforgivable mistake, and one Kate Winslet was sure not to make in her new film, Lee, about the photojournalist Lee Miller.
In 4 Minutes is a captivating short film by filmmaker Adam Holmes of Focas Media, in collaboration with renowned photographer Simon Murphy. This thoughtful piece explores Murphy’s Photoautomat project, offering an intimate look at the creative process set amidst the vibrant and gritty streets of Berlin.
Bill Brandt, a notable photographer of the 20th century, left a lasting mark on the world of photography. This German-born photographer's contribution to photography was his ability to elevate the mundane and the ordinary into something extraordinary. Whether on the streets of London during the blackout of World War II or in the stark landscapes of northern England, Brandt had a keen eye for uncovering the poetic and the surreal in the everyday.
Ever wonder what it’s like to do bird research in the Amazon jungle?
Saul Leiter, an American photographer and painter, is now widely regarded for his pioneering work in color photography. Although he initially pursued a career in painting, Leiter’s introduction to photography came in the early 1940s when he moved from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to New York City. Here, he befriended Richard Pousette-Dart, an Abstract Expressionist painter and an early adopter of photography. Encouraged by Pousette-Dart, Leiter began to explore photography, soon finding a passion that would redefine his artistic career.
Is buying a Leica akin to strutting around with the latest ridiculously priced Louis Vuitton handbag? Is it all hype and image? Is it mandatory that Leica owners place their camera on the table in a coffee shop and spend more time taking photos of it—with their phone, I assume—than actually photographing with it?
In 1968, a Brooklyn, NY-born photographer released his photobook titled, The Bikeriders.
With a history spanning over 130 years, the Hungry Ghost Festival in Bukit Mertajam stands as one of Malaysia's most significant and enduring cultural events.
In the heart of Ecuador's Chocó rainforest, a mission to save the critically endangered brown-headed spider monkey unfolds. Led by conservation photographer Jonas Paurell, this gripping documentary captures the raw beauty and challenges of rainforest conservation.
For all things photography, documentaries offer a unique window into the lives and works of iconic photographers. They reveal the stories behind their most famous images and the people who shot them. Here's a list of seven compelling photography documentaries that every photographer should watch.
Island Darkroom presents CEARNS, an exhibition featuring the work of award-winning Isle of Lewis photographer Deljeem Rai. This event marks Deljeem Rai's first solo exhibition and his debut showcase on his home island.
Showing now in her hometown of New York, the first major retrospective in the United States showcasing the work of the late photographer Vivian Maier. This article discusses the extraordinary story of one of the greatest photographers of the twentieth century and how her work was only discovered after her death.
In the days when film was king and gasoline cost less than 50 cents a gallon, photographer Rick McCloskey captured a vibrant car culture on the streets of LA in glorious black and white. Equal parts art and historical record, McCloskey’s work is a visual feast for street and film photographers alike.
In a thought-provoking TED Talk, artist-photographer Felisa Tan takes us on a journey through her life and the profound lessons she has learned through photography. With over 15 years behind the camera, Tan’s insights offer a unique perspective on how photography can help us appreciate life’s beauty and complexity. Her poetic narrative, paired with captivating images, challenges our preconceptions about photography and invites us to explore universal truths often overlooked in our daily lives.
Tan begins by sharing her early struggles with understanding her place in the...
There are very few professions where you get to shoot zombies for a living, but production photography is one of them. If you’ve ever wondered what production photographers do and whether you might like to try it for yourself, then read on because this article was written just for you.
