Currently, photography is perhaps one of the most dynamically developing areas of contemporary art. It’s hard to imagine that just recently there were ongoing debates regarding whether photography can even be considered a full-fledged art. Now photography has taken a confident place on the same level next to classical art, such as painting, graphics and sculpture.
A camera is now not just a technique, it is a special tool that helps a person look at the surrounding reality differently, and photographs are not just paper with an image, but a reflection of the thoughts and inner world of the author himself. A new wave of interest in photography swept across society with the advent of inexpensive digital photographic equipment, which, moreover, was able to provide a decent level of photography. The size of the audience interested in amateur photography has now reached impressive proportions.
Photo exhibitions are regularly held in all corners of the world, presenting the work of different photographers, usually made in the same style. Although, it must be said that the concept of style in photography has become very subjective, not every photo can be adjusted to any of the standard styles. At the same time, it is not difficult to recognize the style - just look at the photo.
What are the characteristics of styles in photography?
In general, modern photo styles can be characterized using concepts such as:
- composition;
- interpretation of the topic;
- use of colors and tones;
- shooting technique;
- the mood of the author that he is trying to convey, and so on.
The combination of these concepts forms the style of photography. At the same time, modern photographers work both in classic styles, such as glamor or retro, and create their own original styles, each of them in one way or another characterized by their own style, making any photo unique. Style in photography is formed under the influence of a variety of factors: processes occurring in society at the moment, trends and tendencies inherent in different segments of the population, new ideas arising as a result of human activity.
Pop art erases all boundaries
The pop art style, which became a kind of avant-garde in the 50s and 60s of the last millennium, was incredibly popular in America and could not help but leave its mark on modern art. This style is based on signs and symbols characteristic of that period of time. It was then, thanks to artists working in the field of this style, that the lines between mass-produced objects and unique objects of art were blurred. One of the most prominent representatives of that period is the American photographer and artist Andy Warhol. It is he who owns the glamorous collages depicting Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe.
The characteristic features of the pop art style in photography are the following:
- bright colors;
- increased level of contrast;
- abstractness of images;
- streamlined forms.
Any of the above techniques helps a photographer working in this style to attract the viewer’s attention, however, the most unexpected methods are suitable for this. Since pop art has always encouraged the photographer to approach the photography process as creatively and with imagination as possible, in our time this style still remains very relevant and popular among artistic photographers.
Retro photographs that preserve memories of a time long past
Historical affiliation is what will always distinguish retro photographs from others, in addition, they have a certain sophistication and sophistication. Such photographs, as a rule, capture the most striking events of past days, memories of people and places. It is for this reason that retro photographs often become objects of interior decoration, bringing into the atmosphere a certain spirit of the past. If we talk about modern times, it turns out that taking a retro photo in our time is by no means easy, because now technology is able to capture components that were previously impossible for a camera to see. To achieve the desired result, masters use black and white photographic materials, sometimes adding a little color to them, but sometimes they are distinguished by a minimum of halftones and dimness. In addition, in order for retro photographs to be as realistic as possible, you will have to try to recreate the atmosphere of antiquity in clothing, furnishings and furniture that would correspond to a particular historical era. Of course, such manipulations take a lot of time, effort and money, but the end result, as a rule, justifies all the stated expectations. Photos taken in retro style carry notes of sadness and longing for bygone days, which is what enchants and at the same time evokes vivid emotions.
Vintage chic - the best of the past
An ignorant person can easily confuse a vintage photo with a retro photograph, however, this style has its own original features that are unique to it. The word “vintage” came to us from the French language and is translated as wine of the best variety and quality. This is also inherent in photographs taken in this style; as a rule, they are exclusive and unique in their kind. It’s not for nothing that the title of this section says that vintage photographs are the best that has come down to us from the past. Despite the many new trends and trends in modern photography, vintage photos never become outdated or lose their relevance. However, in order for a photograph to stand the test of time and not cease to be original, the photographer-artist must make a lot of effort. And here modern technologies come to the aid of masters. For example, using various editing programs, you can give a photo a vintage effect, make the colors fade, or create a worn-out effect with splashes.
Popular glamor photo
Hardly anyone will deny that glamor photography is the most common photography style at the moment. Photos of this style filled literally everything around: billboards, pages of glossy magazines, movie posters, restaurants and nightclubs. The origins of glamor photography lie in cinema, which became widespread in the 20-30s of the last century. The languid looks of women dressed in dresses with a deep neckline, open high-heeled shoes, all this served as the source of the emergence of the glamor style. Of course, bright pictures depicting the sex symbol of that time, Marilyn Monroe, also left their mark, which significantly contributed to the development of glamor. The characteristic features of this style are chic, charm, brilliance and sexuality. Photographs in this style, as a rule, depict movie stars, models and other public figures, on whose images entire teams of stylists, hairdressers and makeup artists work every day.
Of course, at the present stage of development of glamor photography, the scope of this style has significantly expanded. Now photos can reflect both light romanticism and tenderness, and tough sexuality mixed with arrogance, challenging the entire society. However, a certain attachment to chic and luxury, impeccable images and brightness have not disappeared. It is in these features that lies the success of glamor and the inexhaustible interest in such photos, but the intensive development of advertising, fashion and the interest of glossy magazines in this style only contribute to its development.
12 photography trends you should know if you're involved in visual communications:
In 2016, netizens saved more than 2.5 trillion photos online, 90% of which were taken on a smartphone. We document routine actions, small details, take portraits - often on the run and almost automatically. Our photos only get a few minutes or hours of fame in the news feed, only to end up buried under tons of other posts.
Still at a slower speed, but today trends in photography are born and die faster than it was just a few years ago. 2016 was the year of the final shift of photography towards smartphones as the main means of producing visual content. The decisive factor here was the release of new cameras in the iPhone 7 and Google Pixel. How will other technologies, social media and modern society influence photography in 2017? Depositphotos analyzed data from its search algorithms and spoke with industry leaders to determine the most in-demand themes and styles.
Back to the nineties
Representatives of the generation who grew up in the 90s are now starting families and building businesses. In an economic sense, this means increasing their own purchasing power, which makes them the main target audience of the most significant advertising campaigns. Nostalgia for the 90s will be generously used in visual communications: in the form of photographs stylized as Polaroid frames, photographs with flash, acid still lifes. Posts from modest brands on social networks and large advertising campaigns from giants will include even more naive, sincere and “live” photographs. Film filters, which many associate with the 90s, make images closer to those of the “everyday person” and have the effect of telling a personal story - something that was often missing during the dominance of stock photos polished for the sake of practicality.
Emotions and movement
Today, all smartphone owners are a bit of photographers. Consumers who produce their own visual content don't respond to polished, staged photos. There is a growing demand for original, honest and unconventional images. We want to see a wide range of emotions, and we pay less and less attention to flaws in the composition and people in motion. The types and situations in the photo should be familiar and close to the audience. Photos that personalize a story and capture the magic of the moment—like Instagram and Snapchat stories—capture audiences' attention.
“We create and like different content on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat. The concept of each platform allows our creativity to express itself in different ways, in a way that is optimal for that platform. It develops us as artists and it's a truly exciting time,” says Samuel Mensah, designer at AKQA London.
Photographers photograph everyday situations from the point of view of the main character: here they are getting the children ready for school, now they are cleaning the house, here they are buying groceries or choosing a movie for the evening. We want to see photos of imperfect, real and slightly chaotic life. The same goes for objects, interiors and food photography. In 2016, demand for images with the keyword “authentic” almost tripled on Depositphotos.
“People still want to see photos with the right, or at least interesting, composition, but not sterile stock photos,” says Tyler Olson, a professional photographer and one of the top authors of Depositphotos. - The main difficulty is to take pictures that are close to real life, shots that do not look staged. Photos that are both casual, natural shots and equally sophisticated and eye-catching.”
The whole world is connected
Unfortunately or fortunately, we are still far from the singularity, but visual communications can barely keep up with the development of technology. As a result, artificial intelligence and virtual reality are still presented there as strange, abstract, images without context, personal stories, devoid of real meaning. The future, however, is already here: we use chatbots to read the news, we trust social media algorithms to rank our routine posts, we entrust smart devices to take care of our health and safety.
“The development of communications in this direction will be crazy, given how smart devices are becoming more advanced every year. It becomes increasingly difficult to illustrate such topics, but solving difficult problems always provides more fun and valuable experience,” says Mart Biemans, illustrator and digital artist.
Demand for Internet of Things images on Depositphotos doubled in 2016 and continues to grow almost exponentially.
The war against stereotypes continues
Social stereotypes in society make it difficult to choose the right images for brand communications across different channels. Despite photographers' efforts to combat stereotypes, there is still a noticeable lack of gender and racial diversity in commercial photography.
Natural photographs reflect the real world, highlighting gender, cultural, ethnic, age, professional and social diversity. Stories involving characters with extraordinary characters in the workplace, on vacation or in sports are today in great demand among photo bank clients. Depositphotos recently put together a collection of photographs that highlight equality and debunk stereotypes and prejudices about “male” or “female” professions.
Domination video
According to Synacast forecasts, in 2017 at least 74% of all Internet traffic will be generated by video content.
It sounds trivial, but in a time when Facebook gives video an unconditional priority in its news feed, we cannot ignore this fact. Videos and streaming have flooded social media, corporate websites and brand communications.
Panoramic video, 4K, shooting from aircraft and live broadcasts have become a key trend in the past year thanks to the development of devices that facilitate the production of such videos. GIF animation also continues to gain popularity in social networks and media as a self-sufficient format and as teasers for videos.
Astrophotography
Thanks to Elon Musk's private space initiatives and NASA's successes, the Moon, Mars and deeper space seem closer than ever before. Images of galaxies, nebulae, comets and other space objects get increased response on social networks and commercial photography - both to illustrate new discoveries and to show space in all its glory. In the second half of 2016, we saw an explosion of interest in space-themed stock photos, with related searches up 56%. Photos with stars became ornaments for printing on fabric, background images, and were even used for hair coloring.
Even though space remains out of reach for most of us, astrophotography doesn't require much effort: just a digital camera, a tripod and a little dedication. The end result is fantastic pictures filled with hope and dreams of fast space travel.
Acid still lifes
Inanimate objects, thanks to mobile photography, now even more often live their own lives - people are always looking for new symbols. A still life sometimes tells a story better than a photograph with a complex, dynamic subject. Photos of gadgets, food and accessories are now increasingly being turned into bright pop art pictures. Juicy, contrasting photographs are etched in your memory - as if someone threw a handful of bright, vibrant paint in your face at the Indian holiday of Holi.
Cloudy landscapes
Scandinavian minimalism continues to conquer the world and receives a variety of manifestations, including in visual communications. Minimalist photography has not gone out of widespread use for several years now.
This year, popular landscape photography will have a stern face. Imagine Scandinavian nature panoramas and monochrome off-seasons. The trend today is deserts, fog, rain, discreet natural textures and stone peace.
Drone Photos
Drone photography has already become mandatory even for wedding photo shoots, and is slowly gaining its place in other genres. Drones bring previously impossible perspectives and allow you to look at familiar things from an unusual point of view.
Anthony Kitson, digital designer, founder of OneTenEleven Media: “Drones are becoming a mainstream tool in photography. I expect to see even more drone photography in 2017. Photos taken from the sky are powerful and captivating, conveying a sense of adventure. Drone prices are falling while their quality and functionality are improving – drones are now more affordable than ever.”
Simple patterns
One of the biggest advantages of minimalist patterns is that they are versatile and suitable for any purpose. The demand for such background images is growing as they can help creatively convey the meaning of a text or project.
Generation Z: growing up in the digital era
Photos of teenagers and young people should reflect their mood, subculture and hobbies. This is not easy to do, especially with the current Generation Z - those born after 1995. These people have already become the object of many marketing and brand campaigns, as full-fledged consumers of goods and services.
“Technology for me is a powerful tool that can be used for good or evil,” says Javier Burdil, an art director and illustrator from Spain. We need to be vigilant, not forgetting that all this is done for the sake of people, and not lose our heads with the unlimited possibilities that technology gives. This is especially important for young people who have grown up in the digital age.”
Teenagers today are freer than ever before and have grown up in a multicultural world. At the same time, they are pragmatic and able to work hard. This is the first generation that was born and raised in the digital era. Many of them do not remember a time without smartphones and social media. For most, switching from device to device, performing many tasks at the same time, is commonplace. This generation can best be described as “tech savvy.”
Even more DIY
We admire entrepreneurs and artists, strive to buy personalized handmade items, and help raise money for bold startup projects. While the culture of mass production and consumption still dominates the world, small businesses and the philosophy of handmade things inspire millions of people. We noticed that searches for “patchwork” photos grew by 98% and demand for stock photos of “entrepreneurs” increased by 124% in 2016.
All photos provided
Publication date: 18.05.2018
The media market is going through a protracted revolution - print has faded into the background, and publishing houses have thrown all their efforts into the fight for online readers and subscribers on social networks. The famous Russian photographer, and now also the curator of the “Photography for New Media” program at the British Higher School of Design, Alexey Nikishin, told how photography is changing in this context.
Today, almost all Russian authors who shoot more or less modern photography do it largely for foreign customers. And that’s normal, you can shoot cool stories in Russia and send them to independent Western magazines, and there are a lot of such cases. In Russia, so far it is possible to single out only a couple of publications that, in terms of the quality of graphic and photo content, correspond to the time and the world level. Therefore, I really want us to have a generation of photographers who will be able to expand and develop the presence of modern, relevant, time-appropriate photography in Russia.
Maria Shalaeva, film actress
Photo: Alexey Nikishin
This relevance is now very important in photography. Modern customers and publishing houses expect from a photographer not just pictures or a report “how it was.” This direction is gradually collapsing and dying. Today, the author is required to have an integrated approach, thanks to which the output should be a whole photo story, a plot-related sequence of photographs, where some fashionable techniques are used, which responds to modernity. A photographer must not just depict reality, but “comment” on it in a modern way. And to the maximum - to be it, this modernity.
Sasha Revenko, actress Gogol Center
Photo: Alexey Nikishin
If we list the main stages of a photographer’s work today, then in addition to direct shooting, now he is also involved in selecting a team (stylists, makeup artists, set designers, assistants, etc.), and developing a shooting concept, and assembling the final “pairs,” and layout (similar to the work of the build editor). Now all this is on the shoulders of the photographer himself. Today he acts simultaneously as a photographer, a contemporary artist and a “manager-director-producer”, coming up with a project and implementing it from start to finish, attracting the necessary resources to the team.
Yang Ge, Gogol Center actress and singer
Photo: Alexey Nikishin
Moreover, photography today is not only the pictures themselves, but also design, video, and computer effects. For example, fashion magazines often complement photography with a film, which is made in the same aesthetics and by the same photographer. That is, photography as a medium greatly expands its boundaries and it is already very difficult to determine where the border is between photography, video, animation, video art, and so on. Approximately every six months new trends and fashionable techniques appear. And you either change in accordance with this, or you get into another trend group and work for the corresponding people.
Lookbook "Inshade a w 18-19"
Photo: Alexey Nikishin
Campaign "Shadow t3cm s s18"
Photo: Alexey Nikishin
Photography in a broad sense, as a medium of contemporary art, influences the photography that a wider range of viewers sees in the magazine. Therefore, the photographer must be immersed in modern culture in a broad way: from music to cinema.
Philip Avdeev, actor at Gogol Center
Photo: Alexey Nikishin
If previously only professionals could notice any steps in the development of the industry, today social networks and the Internet in general give everyone the opportunity to see how the art of photography is transforming, follow trends and even set them. The photographer’s task is to find this “leading edge” of photography in order to work adequately for the time.
The new generation of photographers no longer considers themselves “applied” specialists of a narrow profile: portrait photographer, reporter, etc. Today, such applied things “dissolve.”
Nikita Yuskov, actor "July Ensemble"
Photo: Alexey Nikishin
One of the most promising areas for a photographer remains the fashion industry, where new designers appear regularly and a huge number of shoots are still required for each new collection: publications, lookbooks, campaigns for fashion brands. Knowing one clothing or accessory designer gives a photographer access to an impressive amount of work each season.
Campaign "Inshade a w 18-19"
Photo: Alexey Nikishin
In addition, independent creative projects in collaboration with stylists, designers, unusual models and heroes are gladly accepted by foreign independent publications, publication in which in a professional environment is considered even more prestigious than a project for a large publishing house, which more restricts freedom and controls every step of the creative process. teams.
Maxim Matveev, theater and film actor
Photo: Alexey Nikishin
You can learn more about modern photography, ask your questions and get personal recommendations from Alexey Nikishin on June 3 at an open portfolio review. Detailed information and registration at
Welcome to the blog!
The famous photo bank Depositphotos has prepared a forecast: the main trends of 2017 in photography. Interesting statistics: 2.5 trillion (!) photos were published on the Internet in 2016. 90% of them were taken with smartphones. We all became a little photographers.
Trends in photography change very quickly! From this article you will learn which photos will be trending in 2017 according to Depositphotos based on surveys of their clients and photo industry leaders. Interesting to know?
The main trends of 2017 in photography
1. Emotions and movement
Today, all Internet users are photographers, so the trend is not staged photos, but sincere, non-standard, live images. Users who create their own photos don't like visual content with polished, staged subjects. Everyone wants to see movement and emotions in the frame. The type of people and stories should be relatable to the audience. The real story, the magic of the moment - that’s what attracts everyone today!
2. And again the 90s
Finally, watch the video: 5 amazing inventions you should know about:
As one of the most popular areas, wedding photography is developing very rapidly. Over the past three years, noticeable changes have occurred in the wedding photography market, new trends and rules have emerged. We will talk about them today.
Focus on details and design
Wedding photographers have become increasingly focused on the details and design of weddings. For example, a shot with shoes has become an almost obligatory element. A few years ago this was a fresh and smart idea, but now it’s just one of many expected shots. There are more sun glares in wedding photographs. Personally, we like this effect, but we definitely know many other authors who will disagree with us.
Wedding as your own unique story
Photographers have become more committed to creating stories. And, if recently it was either just family wedding photographs, or the race for staged, but always glamorous photographs, now wedding photography resembles photojournalism. Now it’s a kind of mixture: on the one hand, the desire to get the necessary personnel, and at the same time, to tell a story. Brides need versatile photographers who can handle both tasks.
Return of romance
On the foreign wedding photography market, photographer Elizabeth Messina is now very popular, who became the pioneer of a whole genre of romantic portraits taken in natural light. Apart from her, I would call the stunning, strong photographs of Ben and Erin Chrisman worthy. I'm in awe of Jeff Newsome's unique artwork, which pushes the boundaries with his perspectives.
Retro styling
For some time, retro style was already a serious trend, and remains so now, although it is going through a difficult period. There was a time when it was cool to stylize a photo like a Polaroid snapshot. Many people like antique styling. I think now is the time for film and romantic images. I fully support and generally respect those who do this, because it is a labor-intensive process: the photographer must know the film he is working with well.
Search for originality
Wedding photographers have long understood that bloggers are looking for original, unique, unusual details in their photographs. And at the same time, we constantly see exactly the same footage. For example, in almost every shoot there is a shot where the bride lifts the hem of her dress and the groom lifts the legs of his pants to show off his shoes.
Photo plus video
Photographers began to take both photos and videos using one camera. This is very beneficial for increasing profits and is in demand by customers. The "that-first-look-before-I-decide" of a couple supposedly seeing each other for the first time before walking down the aisle... The newlyweds love it, and it ends up being a stunning, emotion-filled photo for their wedding album.
