Interview with Portrait & Street Photographer Lee Jeffries

by Geta Movila

Happy to announce that our new series of interviews with inspirational photographers from around the world opens up with Manchester-based photographer Lee Jeffries. After training his lenses on sport events, he changed the direction of his photography to artistic and intimate portraiture. Best-known for his Lost Angels project, Lee is currently immersing himself into street photography. Let’s find out more about the story behind his photographic journey.

Selfie © Lee Jeffries

GM: Could you please tell us about your first encounter with photography? What made you start as a photographer?

LJ: I first picked up a camera to shoot products for a cycling business I ran. As time went on those shots became more artistic and I found myself exploring other subjects too. I think everybody now knows the story of me being in London and meeting a young homeless girl… it was at that point that I honed my interest in portraits.

Michelle © Lee Jeffries

GM: Many of the portraits you take are so emotionally charged. How do you interact with your subjects?

LJ: I’m very much a project based. I have to go to areas and completely immerse myself in the community. I’m not there to take photographs actually, more to experience the beauty of people who live there. I spend all my time with to the point where I’m effectively accepted as being part of that community myself. The photographs I make are very much the final piece of an emotional journey. I’ve said it many times, in a strange sort of way I fall in love with the people I meet. Knowing I may never see them again I use the photograph as an avenue to let go… say goodbye if you like.

GM: Light and shadow play an essential role in your photographs. How do you achieve that powerful contrast?

LJ: I’m not so great at teaching technique. I think the biggest piece of advice I could offer in this respect is to experiment. Try different things with your camera and of course the available light. Having the ability to interpret a situation in terms of the light and shadow presented to you (I never create my own light) can only be learned with experimentation and then experience.

Covent Garden © Lee Jeffries

GM: Is there any editing software you prefer? How much time do you spend on retouching your shots?

LJ: I’m emotionally involved with every image I release. For that reason I can linger over the processing for quite long periods. Not because I’m necessarily doing anything to the image… more the fact that I find this time “with the image” really quite self-fulfilling both emotionally and intellectually.

GM: What camera gear do you currently use? Do you take with you any additional equipment on a shooting day?

LJ: Nikon D810E. Nikon 24mm lens. Nothing else.

GM: Where do you find inspiration? Could you name a few photographers that you consider influential for your style?

LJ: Stephen Vanfleteren and James Nachtwey. It’s not their technical skills I find influential… more the fact that they “get it”. They “feel” their subjects. They have an inherent understanding of what lies beneath their subject matter and because of that they can eloquently present something that’s meaningful to all of us. I hope very much my images do the same.

GM: How would you define your photography in three words?

LJ: Emotional. Religious. Human.

GM: If you could start again as a photographer is there anything you would do differently? Are there any sectors you’d like to explore more?

LJ: Life “happens” and my photographic journey is no different. It’s been born of experiences and from pieces of people I love. I’m happy for it to be out of control in this way… It makes everything pure and ensures it comes from the right place.

GM: If it weren’t for photography, what else would you do?

LJ: I’m actually a full time accountant… so if it wasn’t for accountancy I would be doing much more photography ;-).

GM: Any words of wisdom for photography enthusiasts at the beginning of their journey?

LJ: I was just having this same conversation with a school pupil. Yes, learning the technical skills is very important….but be resolute on how you combine those skills with your own artistry. Artistry is inherent and can sometimes be stifled by over emphasis on the text book approach. Be confident in what you want to show and how you want to show it.

GM: What’s next for you in photography? What are your future projects?

LJ: Done work for Terry Malick. I’ve taken on a few commissions too, the cover image for Gin Wigmore’s new album for example. I’m never happier than when I’m out on the street so there will be plenty more to come.

Thanks to Lee for sharing his photographic experience with us.

Discover more of his work on his 500px.com page, as well as on Facebook. Feel free to leave a comment. Feedback is always welcome :).

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: interview with Lee Jeffries

Street Photography Projects You Should Take a Look at

by Geta Movila

Whether they document everyday life or major events, street photography projects are challenging and sometimes socially-engaged. Street photographs are powerful mediums dealing with and showcasing human condition at a certain point in time. Experts make a distinction, though, between street photography and documentary photography, the second one overlapping with photojournalism. Documentary photographers often deal with complex sociological and political aspects. Street photographers, on the other hand, are simply inspired by urban environments and public spaces. Most of street photography enthusiasts carry their cameras with them everywhere, taking pictures anywhere, at any time. This post is dedicated to our favorite street photography projects encountered across the web. Feel free to come up with other names and captivating stories.

Street Photography Project: #Je Suis Charlie

Photographer: Fábio Costa (Paris, France/ São Paulo, Brazil)

Project Location: Paris, Vincennes

Fábio Costa’s project #Je Suis Charlie captures fragments of the demonstrations on the streets of Paris after the 7 January massacre in which twelve journalists from the Charlie Hebdo newspaper were killed. These photographs not only that document an important moment of solidarity, but are a sign of solidarity themselves.

fabio costa's street photography project je suis charlie

#Je Suis Charlie © Fábio Costa

Other Projects to Follow: Brazil World Cup

Web Location: You can follow more of Fábio Costa’s street photographs on his official website.

Street Photography Project: está cayendo (It’s falling down)

Photographer: Alison McCauley (Geneva, Switzerland)

Project Location: Havana, Cuba

This street photography project took the Geneva-based photographer Alison McCauley in the Old and Central Havana. As her official website reads, ‘these photographs are born from my desire to see what living inside the crumbling grandeur of Havana’s buildings looks like. I knocked on doors and begged permission to photograph the residents and the interiors of their homes. I photographed inside almost a hundred different homes’. As you can imagine, these images show a decayed world, neglected places and people who neglect themselves.

esta cayendo © Alison McCauley

Other Projects to Follow: Postcards from Utopia, on the threshold, Khlong Toey

Web Location: Discover the story behind these impressive projects on Alison’s website.

Street Photography Project: Baltimore Folk

Photographer: Patrick Joust (Baltimore, Maryland)

Project Location: Baltimore, Maryland

What makes Patrick Joust photography unique is that most of his street photographs are captured with film cameras. Baltimore Folk shows the photographer’s perspective on life and people of Baltimore City.

baltimore folk street photography project

Baltimore Folk © Patrick Joust

Other Projects to Follow: The Photographer as Hero, Black and White Baltimore, ‚surreal density’.

Web Location: Discover more inspiring street photographs on Patrick Joust’s website.

Street Photography Project: What is a Dream?

Photographer: Umberto Verdoliva (Treviso, Italy)

Project Location: Italy

Umberto Verdoliva is the author of various street photography projects. With a passion for the humanity surrounding him, he transforms ordinary life into meaningful, and sometimes filled with poetry moments. Photography is for Umberto a medium of exploring and better understanding the world around him.

what is a dream street photography project

What is a Dream? © Umberto Verdoliva

Other Projects to Follow: Looking for Eyes, Mental City, Just Like You

Web Location: Umberto Verdoliva Photography Website

Street Photography Project: Belgrade

Photographer: Lukas Vasilikos (Athens, Greece)

Project Location: Belgrade, Serbia

Lukas Vasilikos is an award-winning street photographer. His ‘improvised’ photographs document the street of European cities, both in black & white and color. Most of his Belgrade street images are captures as a play of lights and shadows. Behind his vision is his interest in exploring darker sides of life like crisis, loss, angst.

Belgrade © Lukas Vasilikos

Other Projects to Follow: Istanbul, Athens, Poland, Lisbon, Greece

Web Location: You can view more of this prolific street photographer’s work on his official photography website.

Street Photography Project: Vanishing Phones

Photographer: Arindam Thokder (Bangalore, India)

Project Location: Bangalore, India

Vanishing phones is a street photography project about the yellow public phones omnipresent in Indian cities. These photos were taken on the streets of Bangalore. Arindam Thokder, the author of the project, explains why and how he began photographing the yellow phones:

‘With the mobile phone revolution and its easy affordability, everyone has now at least one and sometimes two mobile phones. This certainly is drawing a curtain over the yellow pay-phone’s future. The shop keepers, who used to make 250-300 Rupees of coins each day, inform me that it’s now even hard to get 20-30 Rupees a day out of these phones. Lately I have noticed them vanishing from many places. I decided to document this swiftly disappearing phenomenon and life around these pay phones, before they vanish from the landscape of urban life completely.’

vanishing phones street photography project

Vanishing Phones © Arindam Thokder

Other Projects to Follow: Durga Puja, Rash Mela.

Web Location: You can view more of Arindam’s street photographs on his official website.

Street Photography Project: Unusual Banality

Photographer: Julien Legrand (Lille, France)

Project Location: France

Julien Legrand’s photographs showcase moments of everyday life. Most of them are centered around pedestrians. As many other street photographers, Julien Legrand operates spontaneously, without any interest in recording particular moments or places, preferring to free himself from any aspects other than imagination. The reason behind his street photography projects is keeping in touch with everything around him.

unusual banality street photography project

Unusual Banality © Julien Legrand

Other Projects to Follow: A moment alone, Underground life, Hand of a story, Barcelona

Web Location: Check out more of Julien Legrand’s street images on his photography website.

Street Photography Project: the city is like poetry

Photographer: Dimitri Mellos (New York City, USA)

Project Location: New York City streets

Dimitri Mellos has a captivating, poetic perspective on street photography. Born in Athens, but currently living in New York City, Dimitri studied philosophy and psychology and started photographing in 2008 with little formal instruction. His aim is to know life by means of photography. His project, the city is like poetry, captures everyday moments and usual people passing by the streets of the city. Is it life, is it poetry? Take a look and see it for yourself.

the city is like poetry street photography project

the city is like poetry © Dimitri Mellos

Other Projects to Follow: Urbis et Orbis, imagined communities, Fashion perpetrators

Web Location: More photographs by Dimitri Mellos can be found on his official Website.

Street Photography Project: My Splendid Mirage

Photographer: Ed Peters (New York, USA)

Project Location: Manhattan, NY

Ed’s street photographs of Manhattan are ‘emotional reactions to the city’. The project is inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald description of Manhattan as a ‘splendid mirage’, which he finds an ‘apt term, for like a mirage the urban space stubbornly refuses to reveal all of its mystery and meaning’. My Splendid Mirage features Manhattan with its architecture, people, and public art in a personal, original manner.

my splendid mirage street photography project

My Splendid Mirage © Ed Peters

Other Projects to Follow: Beyond the Indus, Southern Proximity.

Web Location: More street photographs taken by Ed Peters can be found on his official website.

Image Sources: All photographs in this article are owned by the photographers listed above and protected by copyright.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: street photographers, street photography, street photography projects

Inspirational Portrait Photographers You Should Follow Today

by Geta Movila

What does it take to be one of the greatest portrait photographers in the world? Skill? Talent? Inspiration? Courage? These are all features you are about to discover at our favorite portrait photographers. Some of the professionals featuring our list are world-famous, some are well-known in smaller circles, some tell cultural stories, others more personal ones. But they all have something in common: a unique, thought-provoking and sometimes truly mind-blowing perspective both on the art of portraiture and life.

Our list of portrait photographers you should definitely know about is open to other entries as well. There are, of course, many more portrait photographers worthy of praise and admiration. That is why we cheerfully encourage our readers and followers to reach out to us with any thoughts, ideas or suggestions. Feel free to add names and stories to our lists of inspiring photographers from around the world. Write your own list and send it to us to be published!

Portrait Photographer: Adrian Blachut

Location: Warsaw, Poland

Bio: Adrian Blachut is a Polish fine art portrait photographer who started his career in photography in 2007 after graduating economics and logistics. He is currently based in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, working as a commercial photographer and videomaker. His series of black & white portraits entitled ‘Faces’ is focused on what eyes say about people. You should definitely take a look at these expressive, intense photographs created in a classical artistic fashion.

‘Faces’ Project © Adrian Blachut

Website: Adrian Blachut Photography, Facebook Official Page

Portrait Photographer: Lee Jeffries

Location: Manchester, United Kingdom.

Bio: Seeing the street portraits signed by Lee Jeffries you would say he has studied photography for his entire life, but he did not. Lee Jeffries is an accountant currently living in Manchester. He became a self-taught and self-funded photographer about 7 years ago. The subjects of his portraiture are homeless people from various corners of the world. He started his photographic project entitled LOST ANGELS with the photograph of a woman praying in Rome, but his first street portrait was the one of a homeless girl on the streets of London.

This brilliant portrait photographer’s work is seen not simply as photojournalism or street photography, but as powerful spiritual iconography. What makes these black & white images of homeless people stand out is the photographer’s use of lights and shadows, as well as the powerful emotions behind the shots. His portraiture work is so emotionally charged that he even declared that: “When I’m talking to these people, I can’t then leave that emotion, so when I get back to my computer so emotionally involved, sometimes I will start to cry when processing the image”.

His work has been featured in top lists of street and portrait photography across the web and praised in major publications such as Time, the Independent, Guardian and Huffington Post.

New York by Lee Jeffries portrait photographer

New York © Lee Jeffries

Watch more of his images in this video.

Website: Lee Jeffries Portrait Photography on 500px.com, Lee Jeffries Photography Facebook Page.

Portrait Photographer: Cato Lein

Location: Stockholm, Sweden.

Bio: Born in Båtsfjord, Norway, Cato Lein is currently based in Stockholm, Sweden. He is one of the most prominent and acclaimed Swedish portrait photographers, having worked for many publishing houses and magazines in Scandinavia. However, his photographic projects took his around the world. He is now working on a project in Poland. He has also exhibited portraits of Polish and foreign writers and translators in the past.

Cato Lein’s portrait photography is highly original, intense, and even provocative. His passion for powerful black & white imagery is his trademark. As concerns the way he approaches the art of portraiture, he says that:

“I often do two takes, one for the client and for myself. With my own, I test the limits of the possible – see how far I can go. This shot shows the person portrayed in a new way, never negatively but not flatteringly either. That’s what lots of my pictures are like: I’ve pushed the look in a direction that ends up surprising the models. Mostly, they like what I do and respect my artistic freedom.”

Norman Manea by Cato Lein portrait photographer

Norman Manea © Cato Lein

Website: Cato Lein Photography on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr.

Portrait Photographer: Jimmy Nelson

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands and Ibiza.

Bio: Jimmy Nelson is a British photojournalist and photographer who traveled the world to document and photograph some of the most fantastic tribes left on the planet today. His vibrant and intriguing portraits of indigenous people taken in more than 44 countries around the globe have conquered our attention and admiration. Find out more about his stories and journey in Europe, Africa, South America, Asia and the South Pacific from his speech at TEDx Amsterdam.

before they pass away photo by jimmy nelson portrait photographer

‘Before They Pass Away’ Project © Jimmy Nelson

Website: Jimmy Nelson Photography.

Portrait Photographer: Nina Mašic-Lizdek

Location: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bio: Nina Mašic is a 24-year-old photographer and retoucher currently based in Sarajevo. She sees photography as a means of exploring and experiencing life with more intensity. Her images reveal different aspects of the world around us in pure beauty.

photo by nina masic portrait photographer

Photograph by Nina Masic

Website: Nina Mašic Photography, 500xp.com Page, Facebook Page, Instagram.

Portrait Photographer: Maja Topcagic

Location: Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bio: Maja Topcagic is the second portrait photographer born in Bosnia and Herzegovina featuring our list. She is currently working as a computer science teacher in Bihac, but also freelancing for Trevillion Images, 500px.com, Art+Commerce/Vogue Italia, and WIN New York.

She began her journey as a photographer at the age of 19 and since then she has invested energy both in hes passion for mathematics and photographic art. ‘Math and art are soulmates, and using these very natural things for a human being we can describe our world and our mind’, she says. It is better to let her images speak for themselves. Let’s take a look at one of her beautiful, dreamy portrait.

blossom by maya toccagic portrait photographer

Blossom © Maja Topcagic

Website: Maja Topcagic Portfolio, 500px Page.

Portrait Photographer: Lisa Kristine

Location: San Francisco, California.

Bio: Lisa Kristine is a highly appreciated humanitarian photographer. Part of her praised work showcases aspects of modern day human enslavement. She has also gained international recognition for capturing portraits of indigenous people from over 100 countries in six continents. ‘Few artists know how to capture the diversity and dignity of indigenous people. Lisa Kristine’s portraits exquisitely convey their silenced messages’, says Cosette Thompson, from Amnesty International. Lisa has explored the world in search of people, places and stories, creating unforgettable and meaningful images.

freedom, ghana by Lisa Kristine portrait photographer

Freedom, Ghana © Lisa Kristine

Website: Lisa Kristine Photography.

Portrait Photographer: Annie Leibovitz

Location: New York City, NY.

Bio: We have already featured Annie Leibovitz in our top fashion photographers list, as well as in out 10 famous photographers you should know about, but it is simply impossible not to mention her again as one of the most talented American portrait photographers today.

Meryl Streep photo by Annie Leibovitz portrait photographer

Meryl Streep © Annie Leibovitz

Website: Annie Leibovitz Photography on Tumblr.

Portrait Photographer: Joe McNally

Location: Ridgefield, Connecticut.

Bio: Joe McNally is an internationally acclaimed American photographer, author and instructor, listed by American Photo as one of the 100 Most Important People in Photography. He has worked as a photojournalist for 30 years now and shot cover stories for Time, Newsweek, New York, Fortune, Men’s Journal, National Geographic, LIFE and many more. He is the author of the first all-digital coverage of the history of the National Geographic, called ‘The Future of Flying’.

One of his noteworthy projects we want to bring into view is ‘Faces of Ground Zero’, created soon after the 9/11 tragedy, which is a collection of monumental, life-sized portraits of the heroes of September 11, 2001. As the official page of this projects reads, the photographs show ‘McNally’s brilliance as a photographer and his humanity in capturing everyday people in these historic moments’.

face of ground zero by joe mcnally portrait photographer

‘Faces of Ground Zero’ Project © Joe McNally

Website: Joe McNally Portfolio, Faces of Ground Zero Project.

Portrait Photographer: Katarina Smuraga

Location: St. Petersburg, Russia.

Bio: Born in Vitebsk, Belarus, Katarina Smuraga is currently based in St. Petersburg, Russia. The images she creates are genuine and vivid, disturbing, yet refreshing. Katarina’s photos portray sensitive subjects and have an incredible emotional power.

photo by Katarina Smuraga portrait photography

Photograph by Katarina Smuraga

Website: Katarina Smuraga Photography on Flickr.

Image Sources: photographs featured in this article belong to the portrait photographers listed above and are protected by copyright.

Filed Under: Blog, Get Inspired Photography, Portrait Photography Tagged With: portrait photograhy, portrait photographers, portrait photographers around the world

Nature Photography Winners of National Geographic Photo Contest 2014

by Geta Movila

National Geographic Photo Contest is an annual competition bringing into view world’s most brilliant images. In 2014 both hobbyist and professional photographers around the globe have submitted more than 9,200 entries in three photo categories: People, Places and Nature. We’ve chosen to present best nature photography submissions as a source of inspiration and delight. Let’s check out Nat Geo editor’s favorite pics and find out more about these amazing nature photographers.

Nature photographer: Nicole Cambré

Nicole Cambré is the winner of National Geographic Photo Contest 2014 in the nature photography category. Her image of the jumping wildebeest also won the nature category of the 1X Photo Awards 2014 and the first prize in the wildlife category of the Monochrome Awards 2015.

Nicole Cambre Nature Photography Winner Photo

Nat Geo Photo Contest 2014 Winning Image in Nature Photography Category © Nicole Cambre

Photo Location: North Serengeti, Tanzania.

Nature Photography Entry Description: ‘Jump of the wildebeest at the Mara River’

You can follow Nicole’s photographic work on her Facebook page or website.

Nature photographer: Christian Miller

Christian Miller Nature Photography Honirable Mention Nat Geo Photo Contest 2014

Nat Geo Photo Contest 2014 – Honorable Mention in the Nature Photography Category © Christian Miller

Photo Location: Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Flynn Reef, Australia.

Nature Photography Entry Description: ‘On a windy day right after a Cyclone passed the far northern Great Barrier Reef I took some friends out to the reef. Never before I saw that many glass fish on this particular coral ‘bommie’. Just when I setup my camera, this Napoleon Wrasse swam right through the school of fish building a living frame.’

Check out Christian Miller’s incredible nature photos on his 500px page.

Nature photographer: Prashant Meswani

Prashant Meswani nature photography honorable mention nat geo photo contest

Honorable Mention in the Nature Photography Category of Nat Geo Photo Contest 2014 © Prashant Meswani

Photo Location: Richmond Park, London, UK.

Nature Photography Entry Description: Stag Deer Bellowing in Richmond Park

Other beautiful nature photography examples signed by Prashant Meswani can be found on his 500px page.

Nature photographer: Henrik Nilsson

Honorable Mention in the Nature Photography Category of Nat Geo Photo Contest 2014 © Henrik Nilsson

Photo Location: Boundary Bay, BC, Canada.

Nature Photography Entry Description: ‘A wild short eared owl completes a shoulder check in case something was missed. Northern harriers were also hunting in the field and these raptors will often steal a kill from the owls.’

Henrik Nilsson’s nature photography is focused on wildlife. For more inspiring images, take a look at his website.

Nature photographer: Zik Teo

Honorable Mention in the Nature Photography Category of Nat Geo Photo Contest 2014 © Zik Teo

Photo Location: Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania.

Nature Photography Entry Description: Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania, is the world’s largest inactive volcanic caldera. It is a collapsed volcano that harbors a range of African wildlife that live in relatively close proximity and competition of each other. Zebras are amongst the most common animals in the crater along with wildebeest, gazelles, hyenas, and lions. On a clear day, a 360º view of the crater rim can be seen whilst being inside.

If Zik Teo’s nature pic has captured your interest, visit his 500xp page for more images.

Nature photographer: Maie Kirnmann

Honorable Mention in the Nature Photography Category of Nat Geo Photo Contest 2014 © Maie Kirnmann

Photo Location: Estonia, Tabasalu.

Nature Photography Entry Description: Ice art on the window.

Maie Kirnmann is a photographer based in Tallinn, Estonia whose work is centered around landscape and nature photography. Her photographic work can be followed on Facebook.

Nature photographer: Archna Singh

Honorable Mention in the Nature Photography Category of Nat Geo Photo Contest 2014 © Archna Singh

Photo Location: Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Nature Photography Entry Description: ‘This playful fight amongst two young sub adult Tigers was indeed a brilliant life time opportunity, that lasted exactly 4-5 seconds. The cubs were sitting in the grass as dusk approached when suddenly one of them sneaked up behind the other and what happened next is captured in this image. This playful fight among the siblings is what prepares them for their survival in the wild. The sheer power of the Tiger is beautifully captured in this image and portrays the sheer muscle power that these magnificent cats possess. May 5th, 2014, Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India.’

Archna Singh is a fashion designer turned photographer. She is passionate about wildlife and landscape photography and her interest in exploring the forests of Africa made her the author of several nature photography exhibitions.

These nature photographers’ submissions were judged for their level of creativity and technical quality by a panel of National Geographic professional. The Grand Prize winner, Nicole Cambré received $10,000 and a trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she participated in the annual National Geographic Photography Seminar at the beginning of this year. Pretty impressive, isn’t it?

You can download these amazing nature photos as free wallpapers from the National Geographic website. Also, we recommend you to explore other galleries of editor’s top pics and try your luck. If you want to submit your best photo, join their competition for a chance to win great prizes. Hurry up! They are still taking submissions for the 2015 Traveler Photo Contest until June 30. Find out more about the National Geographic Photo Contest in our post on photo contests you must enter in 2015.

If you enjoyed reading our post or want to share any thoughts, ideas or suggestions with us, drop us a line. For more insights into the wonders of photography, subscribe to Virtual Photography Studio or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Image Sources: National Geographic Photo Contest 2014 Official Page

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: national geographic photo contest 2014, nature photographers, nature photography winning images, nature photos

Self-Portrait Photography Tips and Ideas

by Geta Movila

Self-portraiture is something all photographers have explored since the early years of photography. Even if selfies have earned a not so great reputation in our digital age, self-portrait photography is still a popular means of self-expression and representation. But while anyone can point a smartphone to himself or herself, meaningful photographic self-portraiture is more thought-provoking and require more skill. As opposed to a quick snapshot taken in front of a mirror, a self-portrait tells a story by revealing essential aspects of your life and personality. Let us guide you through the art of self-portrait photography with a few inspirational ideas and creative tips.

Self-Portrait Photography Tips

Locus Pocus

Self-portraits are synonymous with self-identity. Is location essential to you? Do places, buildings or streets say something about your identity, preferences, or expectations? Try to include a meaningful ‘locus’ in your self-portrait such as an urban background, an iconic building or simply a beautiful landscape.

Mirror, mirror…

Taking a self-portrait often implies using a mirror. Mirrors have been the preferred props for photographers pointing the lenses to themselves. And they can still make a difference if used in a creative way. Unleash your imagination and be ready to create some surprising compositions.

'Mirror Imagination' self-portrait by Graham Nash taken in 1974

‘Mirror Imagination': Self-portrait by Graham Nash (1974)

Into and Out of the Light

Different lighting creates different moods. Experiment with lighting both to add diverse effects to your portrait and to reveal subtle feelings. Don’t be afraid to shoot in dark settings. Play with shapes, reflections, and shadows.

self-portrait photography by Michael Wirth

Self-portrait by Michael Wirth

Surreal Touch

If you feel skilled enough to make your self-portrait magnetically surreal, there are a few such photographic works you may want to look at. Joel Robison’s photography is exemplary of how technical boundaries can be broken. He believes self-portraits are an amazing way to express emotions, ideas and dreams. Do you know what is amazing? He took up photography by participating in a photo project entitled 365 project for which he took a self-portrait every day for a year.

self-portrait photography by Joel Robison

Self-portrait by Joel Robison

Zev is another photographer who takes surreal self-portrait photography to another level. Born in Natick, Massachusetts, and only 14-years old, Zev is genuinely talented and highly imaginative.

Self-portrait by Zev

Powerful and haunting images are the trademarks of another young photographer’s self-portraiture work – Kyle Thompson.

Surreal self-portraits imply post-processing techniques you may not be familiar with. That is why self-portrait photography is also a great opportunity to refine your skills, not only to express your personality. Expressive compositions and mind-blowing effects require talent, but also a lot of work in front of the screen.

Vintage is Cool

If you are a vintage enthusiast, check Vivien Maier’s website and find out more about her eccentric self-portraits, both black & white and color, taken 50 years ago in various locations of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Her life and work is truly inspiring. Learn more about her story.

self-portrait photography by Vivien Maier

Self-portraits by Vivien Maier

As you are about to see, selfies were not invented on Instagram. The first recorded self-portrait was taken in 1900 by an Edwardian woman in front of a mirror with a Kodak Brownie box camera. How cool is that?

Search for Inspiration

The Internet offers you numberless photography sharing websites where people upload thousands of self-portraits every day. On Pinterest only, you can find tons of such eye-catching examples and explore truly impressive ideas.

Also, you can gain inspiration from professional photographers who master the art of self-portraiture.

Discover and participate in self-portrait projects around the world. Share your skills, experience and story. Such projects not only are meant to make you more skilled, but also more creative and self-aware. As a tip, try using words to describe your photos.

Avoid the ‘Selfie’ Automatism

Last, but not least, nothing looks less professional than a selfie taken with your smartphone. Avoiding the selfie mania is one of the elementary things you should keep in mind. In order to do so:

Don’t shoot photos by extending your arm. Use a tripod instead or place your digital camera on a solid surface.
Limit self-portraits taken in front of a mirror.
Play with perspectives.
Experiment shooting from different angles.

Image Sources: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: self-portrait photography, self-portrait photography ideas, self-portrait photography professionals, self-portrait websites, selfie, surreal self-portraits, vintage self-portraits

Top Photography Schools in the US

by Geta Movila

Interested in earning a photography degree and wonder what the best photography school is in the US nowadays? We have created a list with highly rated photography schools around the States to choose from. The following institutions offer a wide range of photography programs, along with a chance to work with renowned professionals from around the world.

Photography School: Yale School of Fine Art

Location: New Haven, Connecticut

Courses:

Yale School of Fine Art offers an MFA in Photography, which is a two-year program of study focused on a broad definition of photography as a lens-based medium. Yale is a top rated institution and you should expect a tough competition. Only nine students have the change to achieve a place there every year.

Website: art.yale.edu

Yale School of Fine Arts - photography school

Photography School: University of California

Location: Los Angeles, California

Courses:

UCLA offers an undergraduate photo program focusing on the conjunction between photography and art. Beside photography, they encourage students to experiment with art and video installation, as well as to know about photography history and narrative studies.

Website: www.art.ucla.edu/photography

Photography School: School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Courses:

The Department of Photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago is open to graduate and undergraduate applications. The courses they offer are eclectic and experimental, encouraging students to explore both the practice and theory of photography.

Website: www.saic.edu

Art Institute of Chicago Photography School

Photography School: Rohde Island School of Design

Location: Providence, Rhode Island

Courses:

At RISD you can learn how to ‘read’ and create images by following both a Bachelor’s program and a Master’s program. Undergraduates are thought to explore the social, cultural and historical aspects of photography as a cultural medium, while graduate students develop visual and critical expertise, along with a deeper knowledge of contemporary art practices. If you are curious about what they do there, take a look at BFA student work, as well as at MFA student photographs.

Website: photo.risd.edu

Photography School: School of Visual Arts

Location: New York, NY

Courses:

SVA has a diverse curriculum on photography, offering no less than 111 undergraduate courses on photography, as well as a MPS in Digital Photography, and a MFA in Photography, Video and Related media. What makes this photography stand out is their mentor program for seniors with renowned professionals working in the NYC photographic art scene.

Website: www.sva.edu

school of visual arts New York - photography school

Photography School: University of Arizona School of Art

Location: Arizona, Phoenix

Courses:

UVA offers both a BFA and MFA in Studio Art with a focus on photography. Students are thought about the role of photography in contemporary culture along with being encourage to explore the boundaries of this medium and experiment with different kinds of photographic practices. The curriculum includes diverse courses, ranging from traditional black and white darkroom techniques, to video and performance.

Website: art.arizona.edu/students/programs-of-study/photography

Photography School: University of New Mexico – College of Fine Arts

Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Courses:

The College of Fine Arts at UNM offers a BFA and MFA in photography with an emphasis on the creativity, innovation and interdisciplinarity. Students have the opportunity to explore multiple possibilities of lens-based imaging along with developing a critical understanding of contemporary art theory. At UNM facilities include digital classrooms, darkrooms for film processing, lighting equipment and DSLRs, among others.

Website: art.unm.edu/photography

Photography School: University of Washington School of Art

Location: St. Louis, Missouri

Courses:

With 22 Nobel laureates, Washington University deserves to be part of our top selection of educational institutions. At the School of Art + Art History + Design, students can pursue a Photomedia undergraduate program (a BFA in digital imaging and photography) focused on a wide array of studio art and media practices. The courses are meant to provide a historical perspective on photography as a social and cultural medium, along with video and installation work. Specifically, the program offers instruction in lighting, large format digital and analog practices, and in contemporary digital image processing.

Website: art.washington.edu/art/undergraduate2/photomedia/courses

university of washington school of art exhibition space

Photography School: Drexel University

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Courses:

Drexel University is a top ranked institution offering a unique photography program combining both applied and theoretical teaching methods. Apart from photography foundation courses, students in the first year of study can benefit from internships every six months. Juniors have the chance to work in diverse types of businesses from Advertising Photography to Fashion Photography or Digital Technology.

Website: www.drexel.edu/westphal/undergraduate/PHTO

Photography School: Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Courses:

Massachusetts College of Art and Design offers a BFA Photography program focus on photography as fine art. Teachers encourage MassArt students to develop a personal, creative vision, along with technical excellence. The curriculum offers foundation courses of both film-based and digital tools. Facilities include a three-studio digital facility with large printers, scanners and workstations, analog black & white developing and printing areas, and two-large gang darkrooms. At MassArt students can work with a 20×24 Polaroid ‘Land Camera’ built by the founder of Polaroid, as well as benefiting from the support of renowned teachers and visiting professionals from around the world.

Website: www.massart.edu/academic_programs/photography

Image Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

Filed Under: Blog, Tips & Resources Tagged With: BFA in photography, MFA in photography, photography programs, top photography schools

How to Improve Your Flower Photography

by Geta Movila

Now is the perfect season to go outdoors, explore natural beauty and improve your flower photography skills. Make sure you capture some stunning shots before spring is over. Here are some aspects to consider before planning your adventurous day out there.

1. Find the Ideal Location

Be it a park, garden or remote areas away from the city, finding the ideal location for best flower shooting goes hand in hand with keeping an eye on the weather forecast. Ensure there’s no wind to ruin your day and have some fun along the process.

2. Useful Equipment

Make some space in your backpack as there are plenty of things to take with you.

Needless to say it is essential to take your digital camera. Joking aside, you could use some macro lenses to help you achieve amazing close-up shots. Concerning the focal lengths to choose, the 90 – 105 mm ones are perfect for macro flower photography.

Tripods are also useful tools, helping you to control the composition of your photos, especially if what you have in mind is a long exposure flower shot. Get a sturdy one, with legs that can extend so that you can take close-to-the-ground shots.

I know you are a photographer and not a gardener, but you could also use some gardening tools. For best results you might need to remove distracting elements from the scene and your hands might not be enough to do that.

A reflector can save your flower shooting by maximizing detail and reducing contrast. If the light is extremely bright, you can position it so that it shades the flowers that are of interest for your ideas. Conversely, you can use the reflector to direct light in areas that are not exposed to the sun.

3. Make the Sun Your Best Friend

The sun can be either your best friend or your worse enemy. Best shots can be taken early in the morning, when there is still dew on the flowers and the light will help you set a soft, glowy mood to the scenery. Close to sunset is another good time for shooting outdoors. Why not profit from the golden hour and add some drama to your flower photography? Try to play with the sun and with shadows as well by placing you’re your subject into and out of light.

sun shining flower photography

4. Camera Setting Tips for Flower Photography

For stunning results it is desirable to use manual settings. Here’s what you should take into account:

Set a low ISO, ISO 100 preferable.
As regards White Balance, choose the Daylight option.
Set aperture according to how many details you want to include in your photograph. For in depth results, use a small aperture, but if you want to achieve sharp photos focused on the subject while leaving the background blurred, wide apertures are recommended.
You can also set your autofocus for macro photography and see how it works this way.

5. Change Perspectives

Now that you’ve set everything, the next step is to find the ideal perspective. Is there such a perspective for flower photography? Experts say shots are best taken from the subject’s level. Most likely when you shoot flowers you need to kneel down. But why not experiment? Shoot from the ground level, try twisting your camera, shoot from above. You are free to improvise.

6. Tell the Story of Flowers

If you enjoy the outdoors and dedicate the entire day to photo shooting, be attentive to the way flowers come to life early in the morning and capture their rhythms over the day by creating a time-lapse video. For more inspiration, check out this impressive video by Beautiful Nature HD. Storytelling is the key to a unique photo project. Inspire your viewers! Let your imagination blossom.

7. Do Some Research

You probably wonder what research is needed for when all you want is to go out there and enjoy your nature photography shooting. But have you ever considered sending your shots to specialized magazines? Why not benefit from expert feedback? Find a magazine looking to publish flower photos, have a look at how they work and how other photographers have performed. Don’t forget to name your photos after each species of flowers you’ve captured and try out different formats so you can be prepared for anything they might ask.

8. Flower Portraits

Flowers will be the main characters of your project. As each of them is unique you can try to emphasize their specific features and beauty. Close-up details will make your shots spectacular. If you find tiny insects or dust, make them part of the story.

flower portrait 2

9. Search for Ideas

Flowers are everywhere and so are photography ideas. If you are looking for inspiration, there are so many resources you can access. As we spend so much time on social media channels, simply check a few amazing flower photography boards on Pinterest while having a nice cup of coffee and get ready to enjoy a beautiful day outdoors.

10. Be Ready for Anything

Shooting outdoors can be tricky as there are so many factors you cannot control. Keep your enthusiasm high and if a sunny, warm day turns out to be a little more cloudy than expected, change the plot and make the most of what nature gives to you.

Image Source: 1,2,3

Filed Under: Tips & Resources Tagged With: flower photography tips, improve flower photography

National Geographic Photo of the Day

by Geta Movila

As you have probably figured out, we are huge National Geographic Photography fans. That is why we have prepared a special post about the story behind the amazing National Geographic Photo of the Day initiative. Find out everything about this project and the way your best shot can become one of them.

National Geographic Photo of the Day – Interesting Facts

National Geographic Photo of the Day page hosts inspiring images from photographers from all over the world. The mission of National Geographic editors is to discover challenging and creative photographers who can tell stories through such stunning and captivating shots.

Every day, for several years now, National Geographic magazine editors have selected their favorite photos from thousands of uploads featuring wildlife, culture, people, street art, environment, as well as a wide range of events. The richness and diversity of daily National Geographic images is almost impossible to imagine. That is why, you have to see it for yourself. Until today, the National Geographic Photo of the Day Archive comprises no less than 2, 369 photographs.

National Geographic Photo of the Day is a NG initiative born of the editors’ desire to tell stories through big, bold photography send by people from around the globe.

Have you ever heard of Your Shot storytelling community? Your Shot is a NG project launched in 2006. What they had in mind at the time was publishing a special edition of National Geographic Magazine made-up entirely of photos submitted by readers every day.

National Geographic Your Shot Issue Special Edition Cover

First thing to point out, Your Shot is your opportunity to connect with fellow photographers and get international exposure. Over the years, National Geographic has nurtured an active photography community. Not only the NG editors are there to select the best shots photographers send each weekday, but they also offer expert advice and creative insights.

Whether you are a pro or an amateur, your shot can become a National Geographic Photo of the Day. Why don’t you choose your best shot and send it to them? If you are selected, you get the chance to appear on the National Geographic website and even in their magazine. Each day, the NG editors showcase 12 submissions under the generic title of Daily Dozen. The winners featuring in the National Geographic magazine are voted by Your Shot community after a careful selection.

If you already consider challenging yourself and send your best photograph, here’s what we recommend doing beforehand:

Have a look at the winning Your Shot There’s always room for inspiration.
Each photo is submitted according to an assignment theme. Check the assignments and submit a photo that best fits one of them. Here are some examples of Your Shot assignments: The Power of a Smile, Behind the Adventure, First Light, The Faceless Portrait, The Walk.
Visit nationalgeographic.com to learn everything about the submission process.
Create a Your Shot account where you can upload your best photos, keep track of your favs and awards (fingers crossed).

National Geographic Photo of the Day Categories

National Geographic magazine editors are open to all types of photography and encourage you to experiment with all kinds of styles and techniques. Here are the photo categories you can choose from:

Abstract
Adventure
Animals
Architecture
Black and White
Culture
Food
Landscapes
Nature
People
Places
Portraits
Space
Sports
Style
Travel
Underwater
Weather

Where to Find the National Geographic Photo of the Day

National Geographic Photo of the Day Official Page:

Access photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day to have a look at the latest Your Shot winning submissions. You can also skim through the national geographic photo of the day journal, a photo archive comprising all winning photos from 2009 to present.

For more interesting facts and news about Your Shot Community, you can visit their blog.

Social Media is another option to delight your eyes with these stunning images:

National Geographic Photo of the Day: Facebook
National Geographic Photo of the Day: Twitter
National Geographic Photography: Pinterest
National Geographic Photography: Instagram

We hope this post proves useful to you. For any questions or suggestions, do not hesitate to contact us.

Image Sources: 1, 2

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: national geographic magazine, national geographic photo of the day, national geographic photo of the day archive, your shot

Photography Contests You Must Enter in 2015

by Geta Movila

Whether you are an amateur or a professional, participating in photography contests is a great chance to gain both popularity and valuable experience. Check out our list of photographic competitions in 2015, send them your best shots and win some amazing prizes.

National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest 2015

National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest is an annual competition gathering best travel photos from around the world. If you have amazing travel experiences to share, this is the right competition for you. Visit Traveler Photo Contest Official Page to have a look at the latest entries and learn more about how to submit your artwork. Give it a shot!

Photo by Anders Anderson

Closing Date: June 30, 2015

Entry Conditions:

The 27^th annual edition of National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest is now open for photographers who have reached the age of majority in their states and who do not reside in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan or Syria.
In order to submit your image, you need to complete a form and pay an entry fee of $15.
The number of entries per person is unlimited.
All digital images are required to be 20 MB or smaller and at least 1,600 pixels wide (for horizontal images) or 1,600 pixels tall (for vertical images).
Format: JPEG/ JPG.

Official Prizes

1st PRIZE

First place winner gets an eight-day National Geographic Photo Expedition in Costa Rica and the Panama Canal with airfare for two.

2^nd PRIZE

First runner-up wins a six-day National Geographic Photo Expedition: Winter Wildlife in Yellowstone for two.

3^rd PRIZE

Second runner up gets a six-day cruise from Schooner American Eagle and Heritage for two.

They also have 7 MERIT PRIZES consisting of:

A $200 gift certificate to B&H Photo
National Geographic Masters of Photography course on DVD

All winners will receive a subscription to Traveler magazine.

Submit your best shots now to win one of these generous prizes.

World Palm Portraits Photography Competition 2015

If you think you can increase awareness on the attributes of palm oil through the power and beauty of pictorial compositions, Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) created World Palm Portraits Photography Competition especially for you. ‘Discover Nature’s Gift’ and share your results to win prizes worth $12,000.

Closing Date: June 30, 2015.

Entry Conditions

The third edition of World Palm Portraits Photography Competition is open to all photographers around the world, professional or amateurs.
You must be 18 years of age or above.
You are required to use a digital camera capable of at least 8 megapixels. Photos taken with a smartphone camera or PDA are not eligible.
You can enter one or all categories of the competition.
Image minimum size: 3 MB (minimum resolution of 300 dpi).
Format: only JPG/JPEG formatted photos.
You may submit up to 20 images.

As regards Copyright terms, by entering the competition you agree to grant MPOC and to its partners full ownership of your photos. Your images may be used to promote the contest or other contests within Malaysia and internationally. The terms do not exclude other purposes as well. By entering the contest, you warrant that you are the owner of the images and these have not been used for commercial purposes before.

Official Prizes

The prizes for EACH category are:

1^st PRIZE: $2,000
2^nd PRIZE: $1,000

For more information about the competition and how you can submit your work, please access palmportraits.com.my.

The Eros Magazine – Fine Art Nudes Photo Contest

The TZIPAC team announces the launch of an online digital magazine designed to celebrate and showcase the art behind nude photography. The magazine will also display other forms of art media, including traditional photography medium, painting and digital animation.

Closing Date: 30 Jun 2015

Entry Conditions:

Fine Art Nudes Photo Contest is open to all photographers worldwide.
Submitting your artwork is cost-free.
Photos are required to be 8 bit, 1500 pixels on the longest side, 72 dpi.
Image maximum size: 500 KB.
Format: JPG/ JPEG only.
Color space: RGB or sRGB.
You may submit up to 5 images.
Ensure there are no identifying borders, marks or logos on your photos.

Concerning copyright, you must warrant that you are the author of the artworks you submit and that you own all the rights to use the images.

Categories: OPEN

The competition judges are looking for unique skills and artistic perspectives on nude photography.

Official Prizes:

1^st PRIZE

The winner of the Grand Prize will receive a 20 page feature in first issue of The Eros Magazine and will be showcased in The Eros Magazine Winners Online Gallery.

2^nd PRIZE

The first runner up will receive a 10 page feature in The Eros Magazine – Issue 1, and will be showcased in their Winners Online Gallery.

3^rd PRIZE

The second runner up will also receive a 10 page feature in The Eros Magazine – Issue 1 and will be showcased in their Winners Online Gallery.

All finalists will be displayed in the first issue of The Eros Magazine and showcased in their Winners Online Gallery. Make sure you check your email as you will be notified in case you are one of the photographers featured in online winner’s galleries.

For more information on how to submit your work, please check their contest page.

National Park Photo Contest 2015

If you are a nature photography aficionado, enter National Park Photo Contest with your best landscape or wildlife picture to win a Tamron camera lens or accessory and be featured in a 2016 National Park Journal.

Closing Date: 31 Aug 2015

Entry Conditions:

The competition is opened to all residents of the US and the entry is free of charge.
There is a limit of 5 entries per person.
You can help the judges decide on the best shots by voting your favorites online.

Regarding Copyright, by entering the competition your photos become the property of the Sponsor and they have full rights to use your images for various purposes, including marketing and promotion.

Official Prizes:

1^st Prize – valued at $1069

One grand prize winner receives a Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD (for Canon, Nikon and Sony Full-Frame and APS-C DSLR cameras).

2^nd PRIZE – valued at $629

First runner up will receive a Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD Macro (for Canon, Nikon and Sony APS-C DSLR cameras).

3^rd PRIZE – valued at $449

Second runner up will receive a Tamron 10-24mm Di II (for Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony APS-C DSLR cameras).

15 Honorable Mention Prizes valued at $38,50 each

15 mention winners will receive a Leatherman multi tool from Tamron.

Winners will be selected by the end of September 2015.

For additional information on how to submit your work, you can visit the contest official website.

Good luck!

Filed Under: Blog, Destination Photography, Digital Photography, Portrait Photography, Travel Photography

Top 10 Fashion Photographers

by Geta Movila

Both intriguing and gutty, fashion photographers have challenged the concept of beauty over generations and continue to redefine visual art in the fashion industry. Here at Virtual Photography Studio we want to bring into the open the work of successful professional photographers from various niches and places around the globe. After starting with a top selection of travel photographers, here are 10 fashion photographers worth knowing about.

Name: Alessio Bolzoni

Location: Paris, France

Bio: Born in Crema, in 1979, Alessio Bolzoni is an Italian fashion and editorial photographer whose work has been featured in Marie Claire, Office Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar UK, Elle US, Grey Magazine, Numero, Lurve magazine and many more.

Alessio Bolzoni fashion photographer

His photography captures a sense of drama and movement as street art and cinematography are his sources of inspiration. Bolzoni is definitely one of the avant-garde fashion photographer of these days, mixing high style with simplicity. The result – an unusual elegance.

Website: Alessio Bolzoni Photography

Name: Alessandro Dal Buoni

Location: London, UK

Bio: Italian born, Alessandro Dal Buoni is a fashion photographer based in London. He shoots for multiple magazines. To mention just a few: L’Officiel Hommes China, GQ Japan, Amica, L’Officiel Hommes Germany, AnOther Man, Hunter, D Magazine, Dazed & Confused, Mixte Hommes, Rolling Stone, V and V Man. Dal Buoni works with clients like Dior, Yohji Yamamoto, Roberta Furlanetto, KRISVANASSCHE, among others.

His style is extremely versatile, but as a trademark there’s a sense of purity and grace in everything he captures. He acknowledges Frantisek Drtikol, George Platt Lynes and Robert Mapplethorpe as the photographers who inspire him the most.

Website: Alessandro Dal Buoni Photography

Name: Sebastian Kim

Location: New York City, NY

Bio: Born in Vietnam and raised in three very different corners of the world – Iran, France and Southern California – Sebastian Kim is a renowned fashion and editorial photographer. He immersed in the world of fashion photography as an assistant of Richard Avedon and Steven Meisel.

Sebastian Kim fasgion photographer

Kim has collaborated with many famous publications such as Harper’s Bazaar UK, Vogue, Numero, and The New York Times. His fame grew tremendously after having worked with top fashion designers like Calvin Klein, John Galliano, Nina Ricci and Alexander Wang.

Kim’s shooting style is described as sexy and glamorous, yet tasteful.

Website: Sebastian Kim Photography

Name: Andrea Klarin

Location: Brussels, Belgium

Bio: Born in Belgrade, former Yugoslavia, Andrea is a fashion photographer, currently on the crest of the wave. Based in Brussels, he travels the world to work for clients like Vogue, Gloss, Flaunt, Harper’s Bazaar, Wallpaper, Madame Figaro and TANK magazines, as well as advertising clients such as Valentino, Louis Vuitton, Guerlain, Swarowski, Lanvin, L’Oreal, Nike, Longchamps and Canon.

Andrea Klarin, fashion photographer, and Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol and Andrea Klarin

With an obsession for perfection, his photographs are meant to redefine beauty by capturing a contemporary mood based on light, shapes, shadows and textures.

Website: Andrea Klarin Photography

Name: Steven Klein

Location: New York City, NY

Bio: Steven Klein is an acclaimed American photographer. His passion for photography began at the age of 10. Although he studied painting, he started building his career in photography as soon as he graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design.

Brad Pitt Photo Taken by Steven Klein, fashion photographer, for Interview Magazine

Brad Pitt by Steven Klein for Interview Magazine

Highly provocative and subversive, his photographic style brought him to the attention of major brands in the fashion world. Klein has shot for clients like Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, Alexander McQueen, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, contributed regularly to magazines like Vogue, i-D, Numéro, W and Arena. He is mostly known for his editorials with Madonna and Brad Pitt.

Klein has also created vibrant images of iconic music artists, such as Britney Spears, Rihanna and Lady Gaga. His photographs are eclectic, sexual and inspiring.

Website:Steven Klein Studio

Name: Nick Knight

Location:

Bio: Born in London, United Kingdom, Nick Knight is one of most imaginative and influential photographers in the fashion industry. Over the years he has worked for leading designers including Alexander McQueen, Christian Dior, Calvin Klein, Lancôme, Levi Strauss and Yves Saint Laurent. Nick Knight also shot for high-profile brands like Audi and Mercedes Benz, challenging not only the conventions of fashion media, but also the conventional notion of a fashion photographer.

Famous fashion photographer Nick Knight

Among his prestigious clients, it is worth mentioning British Vogue, Paris Vogue, Dazed & Confused, Another Man and I-D magazines.

Apart from photography, he is also a renowned filmmaker. He shot videos for artists like Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Gwen Stefani, Massive Attack and Bjork. His style is thought to be experimental, and progressive, or, in another words, at the edge of the avant-garde. He continues to create visionary content on his own fashion website SHOWstudio.com.

Website: Nick Knight Photography

Name: Annie Leibovitz

Location: New York City, NY

Bio: Annie Leibovitz is one of the most famous female American photographers of all times. Born in Connecticut, she is a third-generation American with family roots in Romania and Estonia. While studying painting at the San Francisco Institute, she discovered photography and started working for the Rolling Stones magazine. In 1973 she became the magazine’s chief photographer, shooting no less than 142 covers in ten years, including the iconic embrace of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Lennon was shot dead five hours after the photo shooting, making Leibovitz’s photograph a memorable moment in the history of visual art.

Annie Leibovitz American fashion photographer

She then collaborated with Vanity Fair, shooting the pregnant Demi Moore, Lady Gaga, President Barack Obama, and more recently, Miley Cyrus, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.

Leibovitz’s portraits are dramatic, provocative and highly influential.

Website: Annie Leibovitz Photography

Name: Mert & Marcus

Location: London, UK

Bio: Mert & Marcus is the name of two fashion photographers working together, both born in 1971 and influenced by the renowned fashion photographer Guy Bourdin. Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott are some of the leading photographers in fashion today.

They worked for top publications like Vogue, W Magazine, Pop Magazine, Numero. High-profile brands like Louis Vuitton, Missoni, Giorgio Armani, Roberto Cavalli, Fendi, Kenzo, and Miu Miu are just some of their major clients.

Mert & Marcus fashion photographers

Mert & Marcus are known for a creative and innovative use of digital technology. But what keeps them ahead of the game is their exuberant and sophisticated photography. Their style is highly aesthetic, unconventional and, sometimes, hyperreal.

Website: Mert & Marcus Photography

Name: Paolo Roversi

Location: Paris, France

Bio: Italian-born fashion photographer, Paolo Roversi is now based in Paris. His love for photography came early, in 1964, while on vacation with his family in Spain. After returning back home, he set up a darkroom and began developing his own black and white work. Years later, he started working as a reporter until he was discovered by the British photographer Lawrence Sackmann.

Paolo Roversi Italian fashion photographer

After nine month of apprenticeship with Sackmann, Roversi started working on his own as a fashion photographer, shooting for Elle, Depeche Mode and Marie Claire. He has created ads for Armani, Dior, Romeo Gigli, Yohji Yamamoto and a many others.

His photographs are acclaimed for a sense of grace, purity and femininity due to Paolo’s technique, which he says to be ‘more subtraction than addition’.

Website: Paolo Roversi Photography

Name: Mario Sorrenti

Location: New York, NY

Bio: New York City based photographer, Mario Sorrenti was born in Naples in 1971. He is best known for his nude photography featured in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, as well as for the iconic shooting of Kate Moss for the Calvin Klein Obsession perfume campaign. Sorrenti is active in the music industry as well, having shot Shakira, Maxwell, and Drake. He also directed John Mayer’s video for ‘Daughters’ in 2003.

Mario Sorrenti fashion photographer

Among his clients from the world of fashion, he has collaborated with notorious publications and fashion houses like Vanity Fair, Another Man, Lancôme, Paco Rabanne, and Benetton. Currently, he exclusively works for the Art Partner agency and continues to surprise his audience with a provocative, always impressive vision on what fashion photography is.

Website: Mario Sorrenti Photography

Image Sources: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

Filed Under: Blog, Digital Photography, Fine Art Photography, Portrait Photography