Inspiration

Colorful auroras in the night sky with pink, red, and green lights swirling above a dark coastline. A ghostly, elongated light effect stretches from the water towards the sky, creating an ethereal scene.

Lasers, Meteors, and Aurora Come Together in Ethereal Photo Series

Photographer Reuben Wu, known for pioneering light painting in beautiful landscape photography, including through the use of drones, has begun work on a brand-new project. While the project is in progress, Wu captured some beautiful shots in August that are too cool not to share a little early.

A split image: on the left, a black-and-white portrait of a bald man smiling. On the right, four individuals in traditional attire stand on rocks with dramatic mountainous scenery in the background.

The Artistry of Self: The Life and Work of Photographer Jimmy Nelson

English photographer Jimmy Nelson, best known for his portraits of tribal and indigenous peoples, was recently announced as the winner of the $100,000 Special Appreciation Award at HIPA, the world's most lucrative photography competition backed by the crown prince of Dubai. PetaPixel sat down with Nelson to talk about the prize, his life, and his inspiring career.

A man in a suit holds a camera beside a black and white landscape image of wind turbines under a cloudy sky.

The Story Behind the Photo That Won $200,000 at HIPA 2024

HIPA, the world's most lucrative photography competition, announced the winners of this year's Sustainability-themed contest at an awards ceremony in Dubai yesterday. PetaPixel spoke to Chinese photographer Liping Cao, winner of the $200,000 Grand Prize, to learn more about his photo.

A collage of three images: a person in a cowboy hat playing a mandolin against a tree, a person with long curly hair and a formal outfit, and a person wearing a cap and denim jacket smiling.

How to Make Authentic Portraits of Much-Photographed Music Stars

Music and commercial photographer Ed Rode spent decades making pictures of Tennessee’s most iconic brands: country music talent and Jack Daniels Whiskey. The key to making a good photo, he says, is having a healthy respect for the subject, whether it’s a living, breathing being or an object waiting for its moment to shine. Case in point: a bottle of whiskey.

Three camera items against a red bokeh background: a Nikon DSLR body on the left, a Canon camera lens in the center, and a Canon G10 compact camera on the right.

How to Save Money on Photography Gifts This Holiday Season

With Christmas only a couple of months away, it's not too early to start planning holiday gifts. The season can quickly drain your wallet, so saving money on thoughtful gifts is always a great idea.

Two images side by side: The left image shows two necklaces with pink and blue gemstones on silver and rose gold chains against a light background. The right image shows golden liquid pouring from a bottle labeled "Añejo" in bold letters against a dark background.

Luxury Product Photography Requires Precision, Creativity, and Patience

Arguing the upside of proximity, photographer Robert Capa said, “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” In-studio commercial photographers, with robotic cameras and high-tech lighting, get plenty close to their subjects.

Two images side by side. The left shows bridesmaids in pastel dresses standing on grass, a black dog holding a ball is in the foreground. The right shows two brides in white gowns on a wooden deck, embracing under a canopy, with colorful flowers nearby.

What a Dog Saw During His Day as an Adorable Wedding Videographer

People pay big money for wedding photographers and videographers, and with good reason. There's no substitute for a talented, experienced team on a couple's big day. However, strapping a GoPro to a dog can be a fun addition to the imaging team, as a talented pooch in the United Kingdom demonstrated this month.

A side-by-side comparison: On the left, a woman with her eyes closed is adorned with intricate, dark natural elements and a large moth covering part of her face. On the right, a woman with a serene expression emerges from a white floral and leaf pattern backdrop.

How You Can Create Purposefully With Conceptual Fine Art Photography

A reason to be, a strengthening force, a ‘guiding light’ -- purpose gives us joy, motivation, and the ability to persevere. As photographers, it may then be beneficial to connect our art form with purpose. In doing so, we may find a more holistic approach to creating -- helping us to sustain inspiration, providing us with variation and challenge, and, most importantly, giving us a sense of fulfillment.

Two swimmers celebrate with outstretched arms, joy apparent on their faces, while wearing USA swim caps. Next to them, a close-up of a swimmer with a determined expression, wearing pink goggles and a black swim cap, emerging from the water.

Pro Sports Photographer Details How to Capture Iconic Paris Olympics Moments

The 2024 Summer Olympics kicked off in Paris earlier this week, with the official opening commencing today, July 26. The "Games of the XXXIII Olympiad," as the event is officially known, puts athletes through grueling competition, but the photographers on hand to photograph everything don't have it much easier. It is a sports photography gauntlet.

On the left, a rocket is launching with bright flames and smoke. On the right, a space station orbits above a crater-filled lunar surface under a black sky. FigsFanPhotos text appears twice on the image.

These Incredible Moon Mission Photos Are Actually Lego Scenes

For many children, Lego provides a fun way to be creative and learn new skills. For some, Lego becomes a lifelong passion that continues to transport them to imaginative new places. Photographer Benedek Lampert is one of these people, as evidenced by his latest project that uses clever Lego building and brilliant photography skills to recreate space photos.

A split image: The left shows a wooden boardwalk winding through a dry, grassy landscape under a cloudy sky. The right features a lone tree with a dense canopy in a green field, bathed in the warm light of either sunrise or sunset.

Six Ways to Help Yourself See Like a Photographer

Chris Eyre-Walker, an OM SYSTEM Ambassador from Belgium, grew up traveling with his parents who were avid amateur photographers. These childhood photography adventures, which led Eyre-Walker to visit over 20 countries by the time he was 15, translated into a successful photography and filmmaking career.

On the left, a close-up shot of a camera lens with a blurred background. On the right, a June 1985 National Geographic magazine cover featuring a young woman with striking eyes, wrapped in a red shawl. The background of the cover is yellow.

Shopping For, and Shooting With, the Lens Behind the World’s Most Famous Photo

In 1984, during the height of the Soviet-Afghan war, American photojournalist Steve McCurry took what is considered by many to be the most famous photo in the world. The photo, entitled Afghan Girl, depicts a then-12-year-old girl, identified in 2002 as Sharbat Gula, while she and her family were living in Nasir Bagh, an Afghan refugee camp in the Pakistani city of Peshawar.

A black DSLR camera without a lens, displaying the exposed image sensor and the lens mount in the center. The camera has a textured grip on the left side, various buttons, and a viewfinder on top. The background is a gradient from dark blue to light gray.

No, The DSLR is Not Dead Yet, So Stop Asking and Just Take the Picture

As someone who earns a living from digital media and keeping plugged into the photographic and videographic industries, it’s only natural that I spend a lot of time cruising around on the information superhighway and frequently interacting with people all over the world on the subject of cameras and the field writ large.