Winners of the 2023 Audubon Photography Awards
Photography
Local photographers lend a helping eye with a ‘Pay What You Can’ program
‘Pay What You Can’ program helps Colorado families capture a milestone by snapping senior portraits.
AURORA, Colo. — A group of local photographers called “Pay What You Can: Senior Photos Class of 2024” is making school portraits more affordable for high school seniors and their families. It’s a concept that was created after the group’s organizer, and professional photographer, Kristi Harvey heard parents asking around for affordable photos sessions.
“The ‘Pay What You Can’ program is something that I started a few years ago when I saw the price for senior photos at some of the studios locally,” Harvey said. “I did see a package from a studio where your base price is $500, and I think five photos were another $500 so you can easily get up into the thousands of dollars for the studios.”
Harvey is one of five professional photographers in the group snapping pictures this year. She said each photographer sets their own photo event on the group’s Facebook page. Then families who need senior photos can select a photographer and a location around the metro area. Harvey said then whatever’s in the family’s budget for senior photos is what the group will accept.
“I’ve had a family pay me $50 because that’s what was in their budget, and I had a family pay up to $350-$400,” Harvey said. “So, it really just depends on what you’re able to afford at the time financially.”
The group will be scheduling sessions along the front range in areas like Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora and Longmont. Harvey said this year, she’s seen an increase in requests.
“I have my events set up on the Facebook page for June, July and August, and they’re actually almost full which is different than the years before,” Harvey said. “There are a lot of clients that we have that actually tell us that without this program, they wouldn’t be able to do senior photos for their kids.”
Clients like Lipi Khan who is getting her daughter Shariah’s senior portraits taken at the 17 Mile House Farm Park in Aurora. She said programs like this help.
“Being a single mom, it’s not that easy. You have to think about other expenses than a photograph,” Khan said. “This is the most important part of their life and my life too because I didn’t actually get to graduate from school so she’s doing it so this is like the greatest moment of my life, and I would have to say my entire family too.”
Her daughter Shariah is going to be a senior at Chapparal High School and said she’s going to look back on these photos for a lifetime.
“I was really excited to take them,” Shariah said. “I wanted to take pictures for a while, but I wasn’t sure with who and then my mom found them.”
Harvey said she hopes the Pay What You Can sessions will lift a burden from the parents of high school seniors who are hoping to capture a milestone in their lives.
“I hope these seniors have these photos to look back on the rest of their lives and have something that they’re really proud of and brings back some good memories for them,” Harvey said. “There are a lot of clients that we have that actually tell us that without this program, they wouldn’t be able to do senior photos for their kids so they would have no picture in the yearbook, no photos to hang on their walls.”
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5 Reasons Why Sunset Photography Steals the Show
The enchanting allure of golden hues, vibrant skies, and serene landscapes make both sunrise and sunset photography captivating endeavours. While sunrise photography has its undeniable charm, there are distinct qualities that make sunset photography equally mesmerising, if not more.
In this article, we delve into five reasons why sunset photography shines brighter than its early morning counterpart. Now besides the obvious reason that you don’t have to wake at a ridiculous hour, take the journey in darkness and all the while not sure of the impending conditions there are a few more which set sunset up as one of the favorites of many photographers.
1. Dramatic and Dynamic Skies
Sunset photography offers a canvas of awe-inspiring and ever-changing skies. As the day comes to a close, the atmosphere becomes infused with vibrant colours, ranging from warm oranges and pinks to fiery reds and purples. The interplay of clouds, hues, and textures creates a visually striking backdrop that adds drama and depth to your images. The dynamic nature of the evening sky presents opportunities for creating captivating compositions and narratives. At the end of the day you have the opportunity to survey the sky well before the golden hour approaches to help you determine your location, compositions, and assess the potential for the fiery sunset to come.
2. Rich and Intense Colors
Sunsets are renowned for their intense and saturated colors that can set the sky ablaze. The warm tones and fiery palette can create a sense of warmth, romance, and emotion in your photographs. The golden hour during sunset bathes the landscape in a soft, warm glow, casting captivating shadows and emphasizing textures. The richness of colors at sunset allows for bold and vibrant imagery that evokes a powerful visual impact. Watching these grow in intensity during the last hour of the day helps you determine where you should be and if you need to readjust your position to maximize the composition you have chosen for that shoot. This can be done with ambient light all around you, unlike sunrise which invariably is in the dark.
3. Ideal Timing for Outdoor Shoots
The timing of sunset photography provides numerous advantages for outdoor shoots. The late afternoon and early evening hours offer more flexibility in planning and preparation, allowing photographers to scout locations, set up equipment, and make necessary adjustments before the golden hour commences. Additionally, the comfortable temperature during the evening enhances the overall experience and enables photographers to focus on capturing stunning images without worrying about extreme weather conditions. The challenge this presents is the higher possibility for others to be at the same location due to the hospitable timing, this can be other photographers of course, or even other tourists or visitors to the area who all have the potential to enhance or distract from your photographic goal.
4. Dreamy Silhouettes and Backlighting
The low angle of the sun during sunset creates captivating silhouettes and mesmerizing backlighting opportunities. Subjects positioned against the vibrant sky can be transformed into striking silhouettes, adding a sense of mystery and intrigue to your photographs. The warm and diffused light also adds a touch of magic, illuminating objects and creating a soft halo effect. These ethereal qualities of sunset lighting allow for creative and poetic compositions. The important part here is to experiment and play around with different subjects and shutter speeds, and while you do have time on your side to do this, it is always worth bearing in mind that the light is fading with every second that passes, reducing your opportunity to fine-tune a composition each time.
5. Peaceful and Reflective Atmosphere
Sunset photography offers a tranquil and reflective atmosphere, perfect for introspection and capturing moments of serenity. As the day winds down, nature and the surrounding environment often adopt a calm and peaceful ambience. This tranquil setting creates a serene backdrop for your photographs, evoking a sense of harmony and allowing viewers to connect with the tranquil beauty of the scene. As the sun sets you will often find yourself alone or at worst in a small group of other photographers who like you are there to enjoy not only the photography but the feeling and sense of connection with nature that sunset can provide.
While sunrise photography holds its unique charm, sunset photography undeniably steals the show with its dramatic skies, rich colors, ideal timing for outdoor shoots, dreamy silhouettes, and peaceful atmosphere. The intense colors, vibrant palette, and mesmerizing lighting of the sunset create an enchanting backdrop for capturing memorable and emotionally evocative images. Embrace the twilight hours, harness the magic of sunsets, and allow their qualities to inspire your photography, showcasing the beauty of the world as the day bids farewell.
Remember the best colors can happen long after the sun has gone below the horizon, so don’t feel like you need to rush away moments after the sun has set, stick around and watch the sky’s color pallet change before it fades away for the absolute end of the day. You now also have the advantage at your feet of the potential for some astrophotography, so always worth keeping that idea in your bag should you have the time to wait around until darkness has fallen.
What are your thoughts on this topic? Let’s continue the conversation in the comments below.
Opinion: Film inspires me to take a slower approach to photography and shoot more meaningful photos
Guillén Apezteguía is a photographer who loves to shoot film. He lives in San Diego and his work can be seen at cgaphotography.com and on Instagram, @cgaphotographs.
My personal journey with film photography began in college in the early 1990s. My dad gave me his Olympus OM-1 35mm film camera, and I enrolled in photography classes at Southwestern College in Chula Vista. One of our first assignments was to photograph something familiar, something relatable to our everyday lives. I loaded the camera with some Kodak Tri-X film and crossed the border into Tijuana. My dad ran his business down there, so it was familiar territory for me. I began to document everyday street life on both sides of the border. I loved shooting portraits, and I started to work with a magazine based in Tijuana, covering the local music scene. I remember the excitement of developing my film and printing in the darkroom. It was really magical, seeing those images appear on the paper in the chemical bath with the amber glow of the safelight overhead. I was hooked! Over the next several years, I kept shooting, and I transferred to UC San Diego to finish my degree in visual arts.
As technology continued to advance at a rapid pace, the rise and dominance of digital photography was inevitable. Slowly but surely, photographers including myself began to ditch film in favor of digital cameras. The quality of digital imaging improved tremendously over the years, allowing photographers to capture stunning high-resolution images on a chip the size of a postage stamp. Incredible! We no longer had to lug around rolls of film and reload the camera every 12 to 36 shots. We could literally shoot hundreds or even thousands of images and store them with ease on our memory cards, and transfer them electronically to our laptops or to the news desk in a matter of seconds. Who in their right mind would want to go back to shooting film? One would expect film to become obsolete at this point.
(Carlos Guillén Apezteguía)
As it turns out, a lot of artists and photographers these days are embracing analog film photography, and it’s making a comeback. In 2017, I decided to pick up a film camera again, and my romance with analog photography was rekindled in big way. I set up a makeshift darkroom in my bathroom and began to process black and white film. I scanned my negatives and the resulting images had a gorgeous look with subtle nuances in tone, texture and grain. The visual language of film was making its way back into my art and I loved it.
To my surprise and delight, I found a large community of fellow analog photography enthusiasts on Instagram, as well as right here in San Diego, through groups like Beers and Cameras (@beersandcameras), I’m Still Developing (@imstill.developing) and SD Walkabouts (@sdwalkabouts). A lot of young photographers out there are making some amazing work with film, and it’s very exciting.
(Carlos Guillén Apezteguía)
Aside from the aesthetic appeal that is unique to film, I think members of the younger generation who grew up with digital photography are embracing analog photography for multiple reasons. First off, shooting film requires a more mindful approach: It forces the photographer to slow down, and approach each shot with greater consideration. I think that this slower approach cultivates a deeper connection between the photographer and the subject, resulting in more meaningful pictures. The tangibility of analog photography is also very appealing to many people. Rather than digital files stored away on a hard drive, you get to see and hold and contemplate your slides and negatives. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, I went back into my archive and scanned loads of my old negatives, and in a sense, rediscovered a lot of my early work. I can’t think of a single file from any hard drive I had 30 years ago that still exists. But my 30-year-old negatives are still in almost perfect condition.
I think the biggest reason for the resurgence of analog photography is that shooting film is fun! There’s always an element of anticipation and surprise that you just don’t get with digital. Loading your camera with a roll of fresh film and going out into the world to make pictures is exciting and rewarding.
The younger generation understands this and is embracing it. A lot of us who started shooting film before the advent of digital photography can also appreciate the enduring appeal of film. I would advise anyone who has an interest in photography and has not yet shot film to give it a try. Grab an old camera and have fun with it. If you’re not sure that you have it in you to develop your own film, take it to a local lab such as Safelight Labs, and it will develop and scan your film for you. So don’t wait, get out there and shoot some film! And most of all, have fun.
A New Exhibition Reveals How Man Ray, the Enigmatic Surrealist Photographer, Bridged the Worlds of Art and Fashion
Man Ray, the American artist and photographer who all but defined the early 20th-century Paris art scene, is associated with many things. He’s associated with Surrealism and Dada, and the likes of Marcel Duchamp and André Breton. He’s also associated with Lee Miller and Kiki de Montparnasse, as well as the couturiers Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel, for whom he took photographs beginning in the interbellum years, after moving from New York to Paris in 1921. As such, the celebrated shape-shifter bridged the worlds of art and fashion like no other.
Some of Man Ray’s best-known photographs include Noire et Blanche (1926), Lune sur le Visage (1930), and Le Violon d’Ingres (1924), the last of which nearly tripled the record for most expensive photo sold at auction when it netted $12.4 million at Christie’s in 2022.
Not only have Ray’s ingenious photographic techniques—stark shadowing, solarization, rayographs—been endlessly reproduced over the years, he’s also become a font of inspiration for fashion designers. His enigmatic style and humor have been reflected through the collections of Yves Saint Laurent, Martin Margiela, Dries van Noten, Celine, Lanvin, and Madeleine Vionnet, to name just a few. Many of them are Belgian names, which may not come as a surprise given the country’s history of avant-gardism.
In “Man Ray and Fashion” (through August 13) at MoMu, the fashion museum of Antwerp, the artist’s photographs are presented alongside fashion pieces they inspired, highlighting the pivotal influence of his work on contemporary fashion. Here’s a selection of images showcasing Man Ray’s inimitable style and enduring dialogue with the world of fashion.
Le Violon d’Ingres (1924) in the background. Photo: Stany Dederen. Courtesy of MoMu.” width=”1000″ height=”659″ srcset=”https://www.mecreates.com/story/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/3-Man-Ray-and-Fashion-MoMu-22-April-13-August-2023-_-c-MoMu-Antwerp-Image-credit-Stany-Dederen24.jpg 1000w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/06/3-Man-Ray-and-Fashion-MoMu-22-April-13-August-2023-_-c-MoMu-Antwerp-Image-credit-Stany-Dederen24-300×198.jpg 300w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/06/3-Man-Ray-and-Fashion-MoMu-22-April-13-August-2023-_-c-MoMu-Antwerp-Image-credit-Stany-Dederen24-50×33.jpg 50w” sizes=”(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px”>
Items from Yves Saint Laurent’s collection of 1965 with Man Ray’s photograph Le Violon d’Ingres (1924) in the background. Photo: Stany Dederen. Courtesy of MoMu.
Left: Celine, Spring–Summer 2012. Right: Man Ray, Lee Miller (1930). Photo: Stany Dederen. Courtesy of MoMu.
La Chevelure (1927). Courtesy of Fondazione Marconi, Milan © Man Ray 2015 Trust / Sabam Belgium 2023.” width=”1000″ height=”707″ srcset=”https://www.mecreates.com/story/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Man-Ray-and-Fashion-Image-6-_-c-Man-Ray-2015-Trust-Sabam-Belgium-2023.jpg 1000w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/06/Man-Ray-and-Fashion-Image-6-_-c-Man-Ray-2015-Trust-Sabam-Belgium-2023-300×212.jpg 300w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/06/Man-Ray-and-Fashion-Image-6-_-c-Man-Ray-2015-Trust-Sabam-Belgium-2023-50×35.jpg 50w” sizes=”(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px”>
Left: Olivier Theyskens, Spring-Summer 1999 © MoMu. Photo: Julien Claessens & Thomas Deschamps. Right: Man Ray, La Chevelure (1927). Courtesy of Fondazione Marconi, Milan © Man Ray 2015 Trust / Sabam Belgium 2023.
Rayographie “Kiki” (1922). © Man Ray 2015 Trust / Adagp, Paris, 2023 – Photo : Telimage / Adagp Images. Right: Dirk Van Saene, Autumn-Winter, 2008-09 © MoMu. Photo: Hugo Maertens.” width=”1000″ height=”707″ srcset=”https://www.mecreates.com/story/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Man-Ray-and-Fashion-Image-4-_-c-Man-Ray-2015-Trust-Sabam-Belgium-2023.jpg 1000w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/06/Man-Ray-and-Fashion-Image-4-_-c-Man-Ray-2015-Trust-Sabam-Belgium-2023-300×212.jpg 300w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/06/Man-Ray-and-Fashion-Image-4-_-c-Man-Ray-2015-Trust-Sabam-Belgium-2023-50×35.jpg 50w” sizes=”(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px”>
Left: Man Ray, Rayographie “Kiki” (1922). © Man Ray 2015 Trust / Adagp, Paris, 2023 – Photo: Telimage / Adagp Images. Right: Dirk Van Saene, Autumn-Winter, 2008-09 © MoMu. Photo: Hugo Maertens.
Maison Martin Margiela collections from 1996 to 2009. Photo: Stany Dederen. Courtesy of MoMu.
Madame Toulgouat (ca. 1930) Librairie Diktats © Man Ray 2015 Trust / Sabam Belgium 2023.” width=”1000″ height=”733″ srcset=”https://www.mecreates.com/story/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Man-Ray-and-Fashion-Image-3-_-c-Man-Ray-2015-Trust-Sabam-Belgium-2023.jpg 1000w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/06/Man-Ray-and-Fashion-Image-3-_-c-Man-Ray-2015-Trust-Sabam-Belgium-2023-300×220.jpg 300w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/06/Man-Ray-and-Fashion-Image-3-_-c-Man-Ray-2015-Trust-Sabam-Belgium-2023-50×37.jpg 50w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/06/Man-Ray-and-Fashion-Image-3-_-c-Man-Ray-2015-Trust-Sabam-Belgium-2023-750×550.jpg 750w” sizes=”(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px”>
Left: Maison Martin Margiela, Spring-Summer 1990 © MoMu. Photo: Stany Dederen. Right: Man Ray, Madame Toulgouat (ca. 1930). Librairie Diktats © Man Ray 2015 Trust / Sabam Belgium 2023.
From left: Garments by Dirk Van Saene, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Quinten Mestdagh, and Bernhard Willhelm. Photo: Stany Dederen. Courtesy of MoMu.
Left: Man Ray, Juliet (1945). Right: Jonathan Anderson for Loewe, Autumn–Winter 2022–23. Photo: Stany Dederen. Courtesy of MoMu.
Nancy Cunard (1926). © Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI, dist. Rmn-Grand Palais / Man Ray 2015 Trust / Sabam Belgium 2023. Right: Dries Van Noten, Autumn-Winter 2008-09 © MoMu. Photo: Stany Dederen.” width=”1000″ height=”707″ srcset=”https://www.mecreates.com/story/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Man-Ray-and-Fashion-Image-7-_-c-Man-Ray-2015-Trust-Sabam-Belgium-2023.jpg 1000w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/06/Man-Ray-and-Fashion-Image-7-_-c-Man-Ray-2015-Trust-Sabam-Belgium-2023-300×212.jpg 300w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/06/Man-Ray-and-Fashion-Image-7-_-c-Man-Ray-2015-Trust-Sabam-Belgium-2023-50×35.jpg 50w” sizes=”(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px”>
Left: Man Ray, Nancy Cunard (1926). © Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI, dist. Rmn-Grand Palais / Man Ray 2015 Trust / Sabam Belgium 2023. Right: Dries van Noten, Autumn-Winter 2008-09 © MoMu. Photo: Stany Dederen.
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Retired combat photographer Larry Atherton’s work showcased in Jackson
JACKSON, Tenn. — A local photographers’ work is honored in the Hub City.
Retired combat photographer Larry Atherton showcased his photography at Tennessee Industrial Printing during their business hours on Friday.
Atherthon served three years in the Marine Corp as a combat photographer capturing his surroundings during the Vietnam War.
TIPS was able to hand out printed copies of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, and printed copies of the eagle poster to guests who visited the exhibition.
“I learned my photography by listening to other people, watching other people, getting photography magazines, Life Magazine, looking at their work [and] trying to learn what I was looking for,” Atherton said.
He says he also won a few awards along the way.
TIPS was honored to help showcase Atherton’s photos and to view the unique history of that time period.
For more news in the Jackson area, click here.
Left Behind Photography one of 15 new vendors at the MSACF
RIPLEY, W.Va. (WV News) — Mountain State Art and Craft Fair (MSACF) first time vendor Kyle Wilson is from Selma, North Carolina.
Left Behind Photography comes from the type of photos in which Wilson specializes.
Opinion: I opened a film lab in the age of digital photography to bring film to a new generation
Cowan is the owner of Safelight Labs. He lives in San Diego.
I am constantly surprised how many times someone will say to me, “They still make film for that camera?” when I am out and about in public with one of my cameras. I understand that comment because we live in a society that is dominated by technology. Just in the last 25 years, technology has grown by leaps and bounds. I have watched as cameras have evolved and are now able to do things I never thought possible: facial recognition technology, the lightning fast autofocus systems, a million possible settings inside the camera. This has sped up everything from wedding photography and commercial photography to family photos and everything in between. Everything is moving so fast. But is it moving too fast?
As a 41-year-old, I was one of the last generations to grow up in a darkroom in my high school lab. Digital cameras existed, but they weren’t affordable and available on the mass market like they are today. Kids today have only known life with Google, high speed internet access and cellphones that completely blow the original digital cameras out of the water.
I think what appeals to this younger generation is the idea of anticipation. You take a photo on film while you’re with your friends hanging out, getting coffee, on vacation, but you don’t get that instant feedback. You have to wait to get photos developed. But when you do get them back from labs like the one I own, you get a chance to relive that moment. You’ve captured a moment in time that you might have forgotten about entirely. And it’s special.
That feeling brings me the most joy because that’s what I’ve been able to experience for the last 25 years, and now a new generation gets to experience that.
My relationship with photography all started because of my mother. She was the photographer in the family, always capturing photos of my sister and I growing up in Northern California; going to the beach, Disneyland, Yosemite, skiing with family, anniversaries, etc. The physical photos we had printed out all got placed in photo albums. I loved sitting down and flipping through them, getting a chance to relive each and every one of those moments. We can try and do the same thing now with our phones or computers, scrolling through countless photos, but there is something special and magical about the dedicated photo album.
With our phones and digital cameras, we can snap away and accumulate 3,000 photos in a matter of seconds. Why, though? I don’t want that many images of the same thing. I want one, and I want it to count. When I know I have only 36 photos, I’m going to try and make each and every shot count.
(Rob Cowan)
I am extremely grateful to be in the industry I am in. One of my biggest joys is helping people find their first camera and starting them on their film journey. There are so many options out there, and to be honest, the internet is an extremely overwhelming place sometimes to do research, especially about cameras.
A question I constantly get asked is, “What is the best camera?” I love this question because there is no answer to it. There is only my opinion. What works best for me might not work best for you. And there is a beauty in that. The person wielding the camera makes all the difference. I use this analogy a lot with customers: If you hand a $25,000 camera to someone who has no idea how to work it and does not understand lighting, composition, ISO, shutter speed, aperture or depth of field, chances are they’re not going to provide you with an award-winning photo. But if you put a cheap camera into the hands of someone who knows what they’re doing, chances are they’re going to give you something that will be worth viewing. Cameras are just tools. And through the lens, it can unlock new worlds someone never thought even existed. Photography is truly magical.
(Rob Cowan)
We have lots of big plans for Camera Exposure and Safelight Labs in North Park. Without my business partner, Caitie Boreliz, we wouldn’t be able to do any of them. This summer, we are going to start construction on a new photography studio, a DIY development lab and a community darkroom, providing the San Diego photography community with a place to learn, grow and create.
We love this community and we love how ever-changing it is.
Photographer Praised For Not Forcing Girls to Smile in ‘Powerful’ Pictures
A photographer has been praised online for not forcing young girls to smile when they are having their picture taken.
Photographer Brooke Light, who is based in Charlotte, North Carolina shared one of the main rules she follows when shooting girls: if they do not want to smile, then they do not have to.
@bdlighted never underestimate the power of a photoshoot for your kids confidence #moodymini #kidsphotographer #childrensphotography #portraitphotographer #confidenceboost #kidsconfidence #familyphotoshootideas #familyphotoshoots #studiophotography #blackandwhitephoto #girlpower #girlempowerment #donttellmetosmile #momsofgirls #girlmom #greenscreen ♬ Little Girl Gone
In a viral TikTok video posted last month, Light is seen holding up her camera alongside the caption: “When your photo shoots allow girls to show up, take up space, and not smile if they don’t want to.”
Light then goes on to reveal the portraits taken during her photo shoots — beginning off with a black-and-white image of a girl adjusting her hair.
Light then goes on to show other photos she has taken of girls. Some have their heads and bodies slightly turned away from the camera but all of them are opting not to smile in the picture.
In a caption accompanying the clip, Light explains the benefits of not forcing girls to smile when having their pictures taken: “Never underestimate the power of a photo shoot for your kids’ confidence.”
‘Powerful and Authentic’
The clip has amassed over one million views on TikTok, with social media users praising Light’s attitude. Viewers applauded Light for allowing these girls to be their confident, strong, and authentic selves in her photography.
“I’m tearing up because asking a girl [to] smile has too many connotations with it. These pictures are beautiful,” a TikTok user writes.
Another viewer comments: “I love how they are not trying to be anything ‘extra’ just their own raw and savage selves.”
@bdlighted these mom’s got me blushing in my DMs 🫣📸 I’ve never had my creativity or my photography validated so much in my life. thank you for the outpouring of love on these photos this week. it’s meant more than you can ever know. #boymom #boymoms #moodymini #familyphotoshoots #familyphotoshootideas #portraitphotographer #studiophotography #kidsphotographer #kidsconfidence #childrensphotography #greenscreen ♬ Area Codes – Kaliii
Following the positive feedback from viewers, Light posted a further TikTok video in which she revealed that she doesn’t make boys smile for photos either as part of her ethos of “no forced smiles, fancy clothes, or kiddie poses.”
A 2019 study found that 98% of women surveyed had been told to smile at least once in their life, and 15% said it continues to be a weekly experience.
Many of these comments happened in the workplace. Nearly 37% of women were last told to “smile more” at their jobs. However, 25% said it happened in public and 21% said it took place while they were at home.
By their own admission, women find these requests demeaning and offensive — with one expert saying that a woman’s smile can be as much a signal of joy as a sign of submission.
More of Light’s work can be seen on his Instagram, TikTok, and website.
Image credits: Header photo via TikTok/@bdlighted.
A guide to finding your photography style: Part one
In the vast world of photography, there are numerous genres to explore, each with its unique characteristics and appeal. Whether you’re an aspiring photographer or a seasoned professional looking to refine your style, discovering your niche within the diverse range of photography genres is an exciting journey. This post aims to guide you in finding your own photographic niche (or style) by exploring different genres and understanding their essence.
Landscape photography
Landscape photography is all about capturing the awe-inspiring beauty of the natural world. From majestic mountains to serene seascapes, this genre allows photographers to immerse themselves in its grandeur. Maybe you find solace and inspiration in wide-open spaces, breathtaking vistas and the play of light on the land. Or perhaps you love hiking, exploring and spending time out in nature. In this case, landscape photography might be your calling.
Portrait photography
Portrait photography is a genre that focuses on capturing the essence and personality of individuals. It involves telling stories through faces by building a connection with your subject, understanding their emotions and translating their stories through your lens. If you enjoy working with people, exploring their emotions and creating visually compelling narratives, portrait photography could be the genre for you.
Wildlife photography
For those fascinated by the animal kingdom and its untamed beauty, wildlife photography provides an incredible opportunity to capture stunning images of creatures in their natural habitats. It requires patience, observation skills, and an understanding of animal behavior. If you have the patience and drive and if you are willing to embark on thrilling adventures and have a passion for conservation, wildlife photography might be your niche.
Street photography
Street photography is the art of capturing candid moments in public spaces. It allows photographers to document the essence of urban life, portraying the interactions, emotions and stories unfolding on the streets. If you are drawn to the hustle and bustle of city life, find beauty in the ordinary and have a keen eye for decisive moments, street photography can be a genre that could resonate with you.
Conceptual photography
Conceptual photography transcends traditional boundaries and focuses on creating visual narratives that convey ideas, emotions or stories. It involves using symbolism, surrealism, and creative compositions to evoke a particular response from viewers. This genre may be your niche if you have a vivid imagination, enjoy crafting thought-provoking imagery and wish to communicate deeper meanings through your work.
Fashion photography
Fashion photography is all about capturing the beauty of fashion, clothing and style. It involves collaborating with models, stylists and designers to create visually striking images that showcase clothing and accessories. If you have a passion for fashion, enjoy working with a team and have an eye for aesthetics, fashion photography might be the genre to explore. It can be editorial or creative and does not always mean High Fashion either.
Final thoughts
Exploring different photography genres is a crucial step in finding your niche and developing your unique photographic style. Each genre offers a distinct opportunity to express your creativity, tell stories and connect with your audience. Remember, this is just the beginning of your journey, and there are many other genres and subgenres to discover. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There’s also aerial photography, drone photography, product photography and so much more for you to discover.
Take the time to experiment, reflect on your preferences and inspirations, and let your creative vision guide you toward the genre that resonates with you the most. Research and find imagery that resonates with you, be inspired. Connect with other photographers and photography groups. Embrace the diversity of photography, and most importantly, enjoy the process of finding your niche. Happy shooting!
