برچسب: photography

  • Underwater Whale Photography with the Sigma 14mm F1.4 DG DN Art Lens

    Underwater Whale Photography with the Sigma 14mm F1.4 DG DN Art Lens


    I recently returned from two months of guiding, photographing, and filming ocean safaris in the South Pacific and Caribbean. I work for Just the Wild, a company that specializes in ethical in-water whale and other marine megafauna encounters. Akin to that, I also work as a professional nature and adventure photographer and filmmaker with a specialty in underwater imagery. Before departing, I felt like my underwater images had stagnated in look and aesthetic. Before leaving, I wanted to get my hands on a lens that few underwater shooters have yet to discover. I quickly honed in on the Sigma 14mm F1.4 DG DN | Art.

    This lens stood out to me because of its design for astrophotography. The night sky and underwater imagery world overlap a lot. When shooting underwater, you need to be using a lens that’s extremely wide, has fast and accurate autofocus, and, most important to me, satisfies my greed for sharpness.


    My underwater setup:

    My current go-to underwater setup is the Sony Alpha 1 with a Sigma 14mm F1.4 DG DN | Art contained within a Nauticam housing with a 230mm dome port. While my setup changes depending on what I’m shooting, I rarely make changes when it comes to shooting large animals such as whales.

    For anyone looking to get into the underwater world, there are now numerous great housing options. You can’t go wrong with Nauticam, Marelux, Isotta, Aquatica, and for entry-level, I’ve seen great results with Sea Frogs housings. Whatever you go with, make sure you get a housing with a vacuum pump. This will ensure you never flood your housing. I’ve lost a few cameras before I spent the extra money on that safety feature. I’d also recommend consulting distributors like Reef Photo & Video (an authorized Sigma dealer as well) on getting the proper dome and extension ring setup for your lens (I’ll come back to this on maximizing the sharpness for lenses like the 14mm F1.4).


    General tips and settings:

    Like I said earlier when it comes to underwater, you have to adapt your setup and settings to fit your target subject. That being said, these are the settings for 98% of my whale and other large animal species. The golden ticket to never missing a shot: 1/800 shutter or faster, F8 or above depending on light, and auto ISO.

    Now I know you’re scratching your head with the auto ISO. Isn’t it better to manually adjust? New mirrorless cameras give you the ability to set a range for your auto ISO. I limit my camera from being able to shoot above 6400. New mirrorless cameras can easily handle that ISO with very little noise. This allows me to worry more about my composition rather than my settings, which is essential in a dynamic situation like snorkeling with a whale.


    Standout features of the Sigma 14mm 1.4:

    BUILD QUALITY:

    Upon getting the lens, the first thing that stood out to me was the craftsmanship of the build. This lens boasts meticulous and detailed care the engineers put into it. You can’t help but marvel at the beautiful front element and the design of the aperture ring. The other must for me is the weather resistance. This lens is designed to be left outside all night photographing stars, making it tough. Every now and then, I have to open my housing on a boat, a not-so-dry environment, I might add. This lens gives me the peace of mind that my day won’t end in catastrophe if I get water on it.

    FOCAL LENGTH:

    As I mentioned before, the front element of this lens is a work of art. Boasting a 114-degree field of view, this lens is very wide. When shooting underwater, you want as little space between you and your subject as possible. The water and the particulates in it distort your color and detail, so have to be right up in the action. When you’re close to a 35-foot-plus giant, this lens assures that the entire animal will be in view.

    F1.4 APERTURE:

    For most other underwater shooters, having the ability to shoot at F1.4 isn’t a big sell. When shooting underwater with a dome port, you typically want an aperture of F8 or smaller, otherwise, your edges will become soft. However, I find it extremely useful when filming. When it comes to video, I don’t focus as much on the absolute sharpness I desire with my photos. Especially if I’m shooting a subject I can’t use lighting on, the F1.4 aperture allows me to film later in the day and in darker water. There’s now also the advent of new dome ports by Nauticam called WACP ports. These ports now allow you to shoot much sharper and wider apertures. These ports allow you to use your lenses at a wider aperture without sacrificing corner sharpness. While a port like this doesn’t yet exist for the 14mm, Nauticam has been consistently innovating, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they come out with one soon.

    EXAMPLE OF VIDEO SHOT AT F1.4

    SHARPNESS:

    Have I mentioned I’m a sharpness snob? One of the reasons I wanted to switch from a 16-35mm to a wide prime like the Sigma 14mm F1.4 DG DN | Art is the sharpness. Aside from this lens being insanely sharp on its own accord, the fact that it’s a fixed length makes it that much sharper underwater.

    When building your underwater rig, the distance between the front element and the dome port is a huge factor in how sharp your images will be. If you’re changing that distance by zooming in and out, you’ll affect how sharp your images are. By having the 14mm sitting at the perfect distance from the dome port at all time, it maximizes the sharpness of the lens. So much that I can massively crop in on my images and see things like sea lice and other parasites hitching a ride on our giant friends. It’s also extremely valuable for me to crop in on other details of these animals, such as their eye, or pectoral fin, to derive unique compositions. This is only possible with glass this sharp.

    EDGE-TO-EDGE QUALITY:

    Another huge draw to this lens for underwater shooters is the edge-to-edge quality. As underwater shooters, we’re constantly battling soft and distorted edges in our images. My first day with the lens, I had a humpback calf inches from the front of my lens. After reviewing the images, I quickly noticed the edges preserved almost all their detail, so much so that I could see the hair follicles on the whale. While still a little soft, something that’s inevitable underwater, the effect is leagues better than shooting on a fisheye or a zoom lens.

    AUTOFOCUS:

    There’s not much to say here besides that the autofocus is flawless. Once I have a whale in frame, I hold down the trigger and let the continuous autofocus go to work. Of the 20,000+ images I took over the two months, I don’t think I had a single miss. While I encounter a lot of animal guiding, every moment is unique and fleeting. Having the ability to capture every unrepeated moment might mean the difference between a good image and an exceptional one.


    Conclusions and final thoughts:

    My favorite aspect of the images the 14mm F1.4 DG DN | Art produces is the dimensionality of the photo’s aesthetics. After my first day with this lens, I sent a video I filmed with it to a colleague of mine, and his response was, “That whale looks like it’s about to pop out of the screen.” This was the look I’ve been craving in my images, which wasn’t possible with a 16-35mm. I’d recommend this lens to any underwater shooter who’s looking to obtain peak sharpness, flawless autofocus, and wants to add a unique aesthetic to your imagery.

    It’s safe to say that this lens will be my go-to workhorse on my future underwater adventures.



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  • Why You Should Embrace Your Photography Fails

    Why You Should Embrace Your Photography Fails


    You press the button, the shutter fires and then you get that sinking feeling, the pit of the stomach realisation that you have royally cocked up the shot. You feel bad, but not because you know the image will not look the way you wished. You feel bad because, in your mind, you failed.

    Your knowledge of photography, honed over days, weeks or even years has let you down. You feel like your photography is not moving on. Yet, that very failure can be the trigger for you to improve your photography. Like any subject, photography is not learned just by reading books and watching YouTube videos, it’s learned by learning from your mistakes.

    If as a beginner you are making lots of mistakes, then the chances are you are shooting often and learning lots. Today we are going to look at why you should embrace your photography fails.

    My Most Common Fail

    Let’s start with me. I have been shooting for over 40 years, much of that as a professional. Yet I still make many mistakes and one of those in particular. Take a look at the image below.

    Aachen Cathedral in blue hour. The image is blurred do to an unintentional camera movement
    I have lost count of the number of times I have done this. By Jason Row Photography

    There is a recent trend in photography called ICM or Intentional Camera Movement. It’s where a photographer intentionally moves the camera in a predefined direction during exposure to convey a particular emotion. Now I could lie and say that this is one such example. However it’s not. It’s a UCM, Unintentional Camera Movement and I do it all the time.

    One of my favorite genres is Blue Hour photography. By its very nature this often necessitates the use of a tripod. Having a somewhat flighty mind, I will often see shots whilst in the middle of a long exposure and drag the tripod away, causing shots like this.

    I even do it in daytime shots such as the one below. The first shot is how it should have looked, and the second is using my patented UCM technique. And do you know what? I like both despite the mistake.

    Close up shot of red life ring on Herd Groyne Lighthouse in South Shields
    This is how it should have been. By Jason Row Photography
    Unintentional camera movement in a photo of  Cred life ring on Herd Groyne Lighthouse in South Shields
    How it was using my (almost) patented UCM technique. By Jason Row Photography

    The Most Common Mistakes Everyone Makes

    Let’s take a look at the more common mistakes that every photographer makes. I say every photographer, because it doesn’t matter if you have been shooting a day or 40 years, these simple mistakes will happen.

    Here’s the thing though, all of the above mistakes plus many more can be made at any time in your photographic journey. They are mistakes that need to be made to improve your understanding of both technique and composition. If you do make such mistakes, don’t see them as a negative, instead, keep the images, load them into Lightroom and look at them. Work out where you went wrong and try to learn from them.

    A misty cold scene of the Tyne Bridges in Newcastle
    A wrong white balance gives a moody, cold image. By Jason Row Photography

    Turning Mistakes Into Technique.

    Many of you will be aware of the work of Robert Capa. His images of the D-Day Landings are iconic. There is one in particular of a US soldier swimming ashore on Omaha Beach. It is, perhaps the most famous photograph of that historic day.

    Now taking the emotion out of the equation, the technical side of the image is poor. It has motion blur, it has lots of grain and it’s not particularly sharp. Yet, the shot was captured by a photographer that knew all the technical issues he was encountering. He chose to embrace those difficulties in order to get the shot.

    That leads us nicely to the point of this section. Those technical hurdles that we might face can be creative opportunities. Let’s look at camera shake as an example. Once we have recognised that a shutter speed that’s too slow can give us blurry images, we can embrace it. That might be by using intentional camera movements or it could be by panning with a moving subject to enhance that sense of motion.

    Underexposing might seem a mistake when you first start in photography, but soon you will start to see that an underexposed shot can greatly enhance a dramatic sky.

    Virtually every mistake that can be made in photography is a learning tool and can be used in a positive creative way, once you understand what you have done.

    Herd Groyne Lighthouse with sand dunes and long grass waving in the wind
    Undestanding shutter speed gives shots like this. By Jason Row Photography.

    How To Learn From Your Photography Fails

    The first and most important thing is do not delete. When you get that sinking feeling of having made a mistake, resist the urge to delete the files. Instead load them into Lightroom and assign them a specific star rating or colour tag. This will allow you to quickly find all your “mistakes”

    The next thing to do is study those mistakes. If the image has camera shake, look not only at your shutter speed but also your focal length. Check to see if image stabilization was switched on. This will start to fix in your mind the handheld limits for different focal lengths.

    Commuters on a speeding bus in Chennai India
    By knowing the handheld limit, I got this shot. By Jason Row Photography

    Perhaps you had incorrectly set a white balance. Take a look at those images and ask yourself does that colour cast add a particular mood to the image. Perhaps the white balance was too blue, yet it is making that stormy landscape look fantastic.

    Analyse every mistake that you make and ask yourself whether that mistake has some creative merit. I think you will find that in many cases the answer will be yes.

    Photography fails are something that we have to embrace if we want our photography to progress. When that shutter fires and you get the first realization that you failed, resist the urge to delete and instead use it as an opportunity to learn.

    Further Reading





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  • 50 Ecommerce Sites with Stunning Product Photography Ideas

    50 Ecommerce Sites with Stunning Product Photography Ideas


    Great product photography doesn’t just make your website look good—it drives clicks, conversions, and customer trust. Whether you’re shooting apparel, jewelry, home goods, or tech, how your products look online directly impacts how well they sell.

    But coming up with fresh photo ideas or perfecting your visual strategy isn’t always easy.

    That’s why we rounded up 50 ecommerce websites with standout product photography—organized by industry. These examples highlight how top brands use composition, lighting, styling, and editing techniques to elevate their imagery and move more product.

    Browse for inspiration. Steal a few ideas. And if you need help turning your own shots into polished product images, we can lend a hand there, too.

    1. Girlfriend Collective

    Women modeling colorful and fitted activewear sets including sports bras and leggings in black, sky blue, and purple for movement and style.

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    This set of images features clean, high-resolution portraits of models in active poses, styled against a neutral, seamless background. The garments are front and center, with no distractions from props, textures, or harsh lighting.

    This style of photography strikes the right balance between editorial polish and ecommerce clarity—a smart direction for any brand focused on performance, comfort, or versatility.

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    2. Quince

    Women modeling coordinated red summer outfits and swimwear in a beachside fashion photoshoot, showcasing relaxed resortwear and seasonal style.

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    Quince uses warm, natural light and textured backdrops like stone, sand, and wood) to create a sun-soaked, lifestyle-driven aesthetic. The product photography feels candid and cinematic, blending fashion with storytelling. Clothing is styled casually and captured in movement or relaxed poses, helping customers imagine how pieces feel and function in real life.

    3. Victoria’s Secret

    Victoria’s Secret lingerie campaign featuring models in different bra styles for strapless, low-cut, racerback, and wireless support needs.

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    Victoria’s Secret has secured its spot on the top of the list for product photography for years. It knows how to present their products in a way that speaks to its target audience, and even makes more than 20 million people tune into its annual televised fashion show. 

    4. ModCloth

    Rainbow Bright Pride Collection featuring colorful striped and fruit-print outfits modeled outdoors with bold colors and festive styling.

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    ModCloth shows its products on models of different shapes and sizes, showing the versatility of various items and allowing its customers to better predict how it would look on them. It does the same with color variations, too.

    5. Thirdlove

    Women modeling soft neutral-toned loungewear including a robe, cropped sweatshirt, and relaxed pants, with seamless black undergarments.

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    Instead of using image editing to create color variants for its products, Third Love shoots custom photography for most of the variants. This creates a more lifelike effect that appeals to shoppers.

    6. SSENSE

    Street style black leather bag with pink plush charm and flowing skirt, alongside green satin bikini floating in pool water with ripples.

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    This split-screen from SSENSE showcases the brand’s signature editorial-meets-ecommerce photography style—bold, artistic, and culturally tuned-in.

    A street-style inspired shot featuring a flowing, pastel-toned skirt, structured black bag, and plush accessory charm. The blurred background and candid motion capture personality, movement, and context—showing the product in the wild.

    The flat lay shows a green bikini submerged just below the surface of a rippling pool. The water distortion and sun reflections turn a simple product shot into an abstract composition. It’s aspirational, seasonal, and emotionally evocative—perfectly suited for a trend-forward audience.

    7. Coterie

    Close-up of Coterie baby diapers shown from front and back angles, highlighting soft texture, absorbent core, and comfort-fit design.

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    These product photos from Coterie offer a clean, clinical, and elevated aesthetic that aligns with the brand’s premium baby care positioning. Shot against a soft, gradient blue background, the diapers are perfectly centered and isolated—creating a sterile but comforting environment that enhances product trust.

    What works well:

    • Perfect symmetry and clarity: Both the front and back views are shot with precision and balance, emphasizing shape, texture, and material. This symmetry helps customers understand fit and structure at a glance.
    • Soft, diffused lighting: Gentle lighting minimizes harsh shadows and ensures every detail of the diaper—such as the elastic bands, fabric texture, and wetness indicator—is clearly visible.
    • No distractions: The minimalist backdrop and absence of props keep the focus entirely on the product, reinforcing a sense of hygiene and quality.

    🪞 Symmetry sells—especially in fashion. Learn how perfectly mirrored product photos boost conversions and trust.

    Jewelry 

    8. Deliqa Gems

    Assorted gemstone rings including pink, blue, and yellow stones with gold settings, featuring halo, solitaire, and multi-stone cluster designs.

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    Each ring is photographed against a seamless white background, allowing the viewer to focus solely on the craftsmanship, color, and cut. This is essential for high-conversion jewelry ecommerce.

    The lighting is soft but directional—eliminating harsh shadows while enhancing gemstone brilliance and gold luster. It’s especially effective for faceted stones, making them pop with fire and depth.

    Deliqa shows different angles—front, top-down, and profile views, giving online shoppers a true-to-life sense of scale and form, mimicking an in-store experience.

    Retouching is used judiciously: reflections are polished, shadows are uniform, and every gem is color-corrected for maximum vibrancy.

    9. Electric Picks

    Delicate and modern gold jewelry featuring a smooth pendant necklace, sculptural earrings, and a minimalist drop necklace with gemstone accents.

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    Electric Picks’s jewelry product photography strikes a perfect balance between lifestyle and studio shots—an ideal approach for modern ecommerce. The left image shows the necklace worn on a model, adding context, warmth, and emotional appeal. The other two are clean studio shots that focus on detail and form. This blend helps shoppers envision the item both in real life and up close.

    All three images use natural-looking, diffused light that avoids harsh reflections (a must for shiny metals like gold). The earrings in particular benefit from soft-edged shadows that give them dimension without distraction.

    10. ROEN

    Elegant gold engagement rings with natural and lab-grown diamonds, including solitaire, pear-cut, and marquise settings, styled and close-up on hand.

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    ROEN’s jewelry photography example delivers a premium, high-end aesthetic that aligns with luxury engagement ring shopping—balancing emotion, clarity, and craftsmanship.

    The leftmost image shows the product on a hand in warm, soft lighting, immediately evoking romance, elegance, and aspiration. It adds emotional weight to the otherwise clinical product lineup.

    The remaining three images showcase the rings against clean, light-gray backdrops with subtle shadows that lift the products off the page. Each shot is expertly lit to maximize sparkle, metal luster, and form—especially in the center stone.

    Side views, angled shots, and direct front views all help customers evaluate details like band thickness, setting style, and stone cut. 

    11. Susan Alexandra

    Small tan dog on a rainbow beaded leash alongside a matching orange beaded dog toy, sitting on a city sidewalk in bright sunlight.

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    This playful product photo brilliantly blends creativity and humor to showcase a beaded dog leash set. The real dachshund and its beaded twin—linked by matching rainbow leashes—instantly grab attention and make the image unforgettable.

    This image is a strong example of how injecting personality and playfulness into product photography can make a brand stand out—especially for fun accessories.

    12. OUTOFOFFICE

    Close-up shots of contemporary gold and silver jewelry including hoop earrings, chunky rings, a statement chain necklace, and multi-stone ear cuffs.

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    This set of product photos uses clean styling and close-up detail to showcase modern jewelry in a minimal, elevated way. Each frame focuses on a different piece—earrings, rings, bracelets, and necklaces—while keeping the background simple and distraction-free.

    This style is ideal for luxury, designer, or minimalist brands that want to convey sophistication and clarity in their product presentation.

    13. Jewels & Aces

    Close-up of pierced ears showcasing dainty gold chain earrings and studs with diamonds and baguette-cut stones, styled in minimalist fashion.

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    This series of close-up earring shots exemplifies how subtle styling and soft lighting can elevate small, intricate jewelry. Each image highlights a layered ear stack featuring dainty gold chains and diamonds, worn in unique yet coordinated pairings.

    Here’s what we like: 

    • Warm, natural light: The lighting enhances the gold tones and gemstone sparkle without harsh shadows.
    • Tight framing: Zoomed-in ear shots keep the focus on detail, allowing customers to see how each piece fits and drapes.
    • Consistent tone: The cohesive color palette and similar poses across models create a polished, trustworthy brand image.

    💍 Want your jewelry shots to sparkle like ROEN or Electric Picks? Learn the secret techniques for high-converting images in our expert guide: How to Edit Jewelry Product Photos Like a Pro

    14. Glasses Direct

    Eyeglass size guide showing how to find frame measurements—lens diameter, bridge width, and arm length—on the inner temple of glasses.

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    While Glasses Direct has straightforward yet beautiful white background product photos, supporting visuals round out the impact for potential customers. Illustrations that outline dimensions help shoppers estimate how the frames would fit on their own faces.

    15. hardgraft

    Premium men’s accessories including a charcoal dopp kit set, black leather holdall, tan suede sneakers, and a cocoa wool pencil wrap.

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    With a muted, desaturated palette and soft directional lighting, each item is photographed with studio precision against a neutral background. hardgraft’s deliberate use of shadows adds depth and dimension without distraction, allowing the tactile richness of suede, leather, and wool to take center stage. 

    The styling is minimal but intentional—products are cleanly isolated yet carry subtle lifestyle cues, like an unzipped kit or a pencil-stuffed wrap. This clean and cohesive look highlights craftsmanship and quality, appealing to discerning customers who appreciate quiet sophistication.

    16. Mulberry

    Fashion editorial featuring women outdoors wearing colorful knitwear and carrying designer handbags including a tan crossbody and burgundy leather tote.

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    This campaign showcases handbags in vibrant, outdoor settings that feel both editorial and approachable. Rather than sterile studio shots, these lifestyle images embed the bags into real-world fashion moments—making them feel aspirational yet accessible.

    Each look is styled to suggest a narrative—countryside strolls, spring fashion—adding depth and relatability to the product. Shooting outdoors brings out texture and color in the bags, while the blooming florals and tree-lined road evoke seasonal charm. Bold outfits and confident poses draw attention, but the handbags remain the focal point, always held prominently and clearly lit.

    17. Birkenstock

    Birkenstock summer footwear including slip-on sandals and sneakers in various colors and materials, shown in outdoor lifestyle and studio settings.

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    Birkenstock’s product photography strikes a balance between lifestyle and studio visuals. From sun-drenched sidewalk shots to clean, floating product images, each photo highlights the brand’s signature comfort and craftsmanship. The use of natural textures—brick, stone, and foliage—adds warmth and tactility, making the sandals feel at home in any setting. 

    Meanwhile, crisp lighting and soft shadows emphasize material quality, like nubuck leather and contoured cork soles. Their floating product shot, set against a cool gradient background, draws the eye to every strap and buckle with sculptural clarity. Birkenstock’s visuals are proof that even casual footwear can look iconic with the right photography.

    18. Chalo

    Artisan leather footwear collection including brown and black boots, close-ups of stitching details, and traditional craftsmanship process.

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    This image series presents handcrafted leather boots through a rich visual narrative that blends craftsmanship, product detail, and styling. From top-down flat lays to styled shots and macro textures, it balances artistic flair with product clarity.

    Warm, earthy hues echo the natural materials and craftsmanship, making the entire set feel cohesive and tactile. Including the artisan’s hands working on the leather gives authenticity and emphasizes the handmade quality—connecting product to maker.

    Technology

    19. Bang & Olufsen

    Rose gold Bang & Olufsen portable speaker partially buried in sand with leather strap, illustrating durability and beach-friendly audio design.

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    This photo is a stellar example of minimal, lifestyle-oriented product photography that speaks volumes without clutter—a highly effective way to market portable tech like Bluetooth speakers.

    Shooting the speaker partially buried in sand immediately communicates durability, portability, and outdoor utility—perfect for beach days or travel. Plus, the fine mesh texture of the speaker contrasts beautifully with the rough, grainy sand, drawing the eye directly to the product.

    The subtle motion blur of sand being brushed aside adds energy and realism, reinforcing the “on-the-go” lifestyle. And the soft pinkish-gold tone of the speaker and tan leather strap blend seamlessly with the neutral sandy palette, creating a warm, aspirational tone.

    20. Apple

    Apple Intelligence promotion showing iPhone 16 Pro, MacBook Air, and iPad Air with pricing and product visuals on sleek gradient backgrounds.

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    The iconic tech brand has made smartphones, computers and other tech devices look sexier than ever. The brand has such a strong visual aesthetic, and all product photos support that image—including photos on its distributors’ sites.

    21. Sonos

    Matte black Sonos Bluetooth portable speaker and over-ear wireless headphones, with modern design and Time Best Inventions 2024 badge.

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    This image from Sonos showcases a Bluetooth speaker and a pair of over-ear headphones in a highly polished, product-centric style that’s ideal for ecommerce and tech retail. The clean, white background removes all distractions, keeping the focus entirely on the product design—perfect for a high-end tech brand.

    Subtle drop shadows under both products add depth and dimension, helping them stand out while maintaining a crisp, modern aesthetic. The matte black finishes are lit specifically to highlight contours without losing the rich, dark texture—key for showcasing premium materials.

    Plus, including the TIME Best Inventions 2024 badge for the headphones subtly reinforces credibility and innovation without overwhelming the visual.

    Beauty, cosmetics, and skincare

    22. Max Factor

    Max Factor makeup lineup including Facefinity foundation, False Lash Effect mascara, Lipfinity 24HR lip color, and neutral eyeshadow palette.

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    The bright white backdrop keeps all the focus on the products and makes the colors pop. It’s also super consistent, which is great for brand identity and gives everything a polished, high-end vibe. 

    Each product is facing forward in a clear, easy-to-identify way. No weird tilts or artsy shadows—just straightforward, scroll-stopping clarity. You immediately know what’s what: foundation, mascara, lip color, and an eyeshadow palette.

    Max Factor doesn’t just show product containers:

    • The lip color shows the wand and box.
    • The mascara is open, showing the brush (which is a key selling feature).
    • The eyeshadow palette is open to show the actual shades.

    Basically, the photos answer the unspoken “But what does it look like inside?” question before you even have to ask.

    23. Essie

    Close-up of hand with creative nail art, including smiley face and abstract designs, resting on paint-splattered yellow fabric with paintbrushes nearby.

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    This photo nails the vibe. The mix of bright turquoise, fiery red, and cheery yellow nail art really pops against the warm-toned background. It draws your eye to the nails without needing a spotlight. Each nail tells a mini story—smiley face, abstract flames, a playful “X”—making it feel custom, not cookie-cutter. This is less “salon menu,” more “expression in progress.”

    And you get more than just the nails. The texture of the fabric, the paintbrushes, the speckles—it adds a sense of realness and movement, like we just walked in on an artist mid-project.

    24. Wiselands

    Wiselands skincare featuring Flax & Chia Concentrated Cream and Daily Rosemary Cleanser with sustainable, vegan, cruelty-free ingredients.

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    Wiselands uses rich, moody lighting to elevate its product photography, giving skincare essentials a luxe, tactile presence. The close-up shots highlight the amber glass packaging and gold typography, with warm shadows that enhance the sense of calm and care. Subtle skin contact and soft textures create an intimate, grounded feel—perfectly suited for a brand focused on clean, conscious ingredients. 

    The lighting is deliberately imperfect, mimicking golden-hour warmth that flatters both the product and the skin it’s meant for. It’s a masterclass in using tone and minimalism to communicate trust and quality.

    25. Crown Affair

    Crown Affair haircare trio featuring The Leave-In Conditioner, The Texturizing Air Dry Mousse, and The Dry Shampoo, displayed with minimalist packaging.

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    The minimalist layout and monochrome color palette for Crown Affair’s product photos ooze luxury. It’s giving calm confidence without shouting for attention. 

    Each product is centered, evenly lit, and spaced the same—perfect for a sleek grid or product catalog. Cohesion like this builds brand trust fast. And the soft shadows and contrast between black and white bottles add just enough depth to keep things visually interesting without losing the clean aesthetic.

    26. Vacation Inc.

    Vacation skincare and fragrance products, featuring Classic Whip SPF 50 sunscreen mousse and tropical-themed perfume mist bottles labeled “Vacation” and “After Sun.”

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    Sunscreen brand Vacation Inc. uses bold, retro-inspired design. The packaging and photo styling lean heavily into a nostalgic ’80s/’90s vacation aesthetic, reinforcing the brand’s identity. Everything from the fonts to the saturated colors supports this.

    Despite the vibrant branding, the layout is clean. Products are isolated against a pale gradient background, keeping attention on the packaging.

    Outdoors and sporting goods

    27. Linus 

    Child riding a blue Linus bike while wearing a helmet, captured mid-action against a concrete urban background with bold shadows.

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    This example from bike brand Linus takes a lifestyle over product approach. We’re sold on the vibe before the bike. It’s aspirational but also relatable—perfect for parents and cool kids alike.

    The mid-movement shot adds energy and makes the product feel fun and adventurous. The text placement is smart: bold, centered, and readable without overpowering the image.

    28. Pow Gloves

    Winter sports gear including knit headwear with snow goggles and insulated women's gloves, worn by skiers in a snowy outdoor setting.

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    Pow Gloves delivers high-impact product photography that leans into performance, texture, and environment. Shot in snowy alpine conditions, its imagery captures real-world functionality while keeping the product in crisp focus. 

    Frosted lenses, fleecy knits, and matte leathers pop against blurred white backdrops, highlighting both material quality and cold-weather capability. The models are active but cropped, letting the gloves and headwear shine without distraction.

    29. Beestinger

    Side-by-side visuals of archery stabilizers for target shooting, hunting, and Beestinger components, featuring compound bows in action and close-up gear details.

    Image source

    Beestinger’s product photography balances precision and action, capturing the high-performance world of archery stabilizers. Each image speaks directly to its audience—whether it’s competitive target shooters or camo-clad hunters—by showing the gear in realistic, high-stakes contexts. 

    Sharp detail on textures like carbon fiber, metal finishes, and compound bows communicates quality and durability. Meanwhile, the use of tight crops and dynamic angles keeps the focus on function, not fluff. By pairing lifestyle imagery with close-up product visuals, Beestinger hits the bullseye on authenticity and trust—two essentials in any performance-driven category.

    30. CamelBak

    CamelBak customizable drinkware collection featuring bottles and mugs with engraved graphics and text options for personal designs.

    Image source

    The top-down flat lay showcases CamelBak’s water bottles in a scattered, playful arrangement. Each bottle is angled differently, giving the scene energy and allowing each product to stand out while still feeling part of a cohesive set.

    The smooth teal gradient adds visual interest without stealing the spotlight. It complements the product colors and adds depth, helping the matte finishes of the bottles pop.

    The lighting is soft but directional enough to highlight the textures—especially the powder-coated surfaces and engraved designs. This gives a tactile sense of quality without relying on close-ups.

    The photo manages to feel unified while showing a range of products: mugs, tumblers, bottles—each in a different color and size. It’s a great way to communicate customization options without crowding the frame.

    31. Lift Foils

    Lifestyle and action shots of people foil surfing in ocean waves, including riders in motion, beach scenes, and a woman carrying a hydrofoil board.

    Image source

    Lift Foils captures the thrill and elegance of hydrofoil surfing through cinematic, lifestyle-driven photography. Their imagery effortlessly blends action and atmosphere—highlighting both product performance and the aspirational lifestyle that surrounds it. 

    From crisp shots of foil boards slicing through tropical waves to grounded moments of riders gearing up at the shoreline, every frame conveys motion, freedom, and connection to nature. The gear is presented in real use, allowing water, sunlight, and setting to act as natural visual enhancers. This approach not only showcases the quality of the product but also sells the lifestyle it unlocks. It’s adventure marketing at its finest.

    32. Landyachtz

    Artistic skateboard designs from Landyachtz including Dinghy Classic Midnight Dip, Tugboat Atmosphere, and Dinghy Legend with bold prints.

    Image source

    Landyachtz uses clean, minimal product photography to make bold skateboard designs pop. Set against bright white backgrounds, each board is perfectly centered and evenly lit, allowing the intricate deck artwork—from hand-illustrated mountains to surreal portraits—to shine without distraction. 

    This studio-style approach highlights every detail of shape, texture, and color, making the craftsmanship unmistakable. The consistency across the images also creates a seamless browsing experience, while the sharp, high-resolution shots invite zoom-level inspection. It’s a textbook example of how white-background photography can still feel expressive and brand-forward.

    33. Ethnotek

    Side-by-side view of a colorful roll-top sling bag on a rock and a woman wearing a patterned backpack in a field, showcasing options for daily commutes, hiking, and customizable travel gear.

    Image source

    Ethnotek’s product photography perfectly reflects the brand’s vibrant, adventure-ready identity. Shot in natural, wild settings, their bags are photographed in real-world use—slung over shoulders, perched on rocks, or trekking through fields. 

    This lifestyle-forward approach puts the product in context, emphasizing durability and design for travel and outdoor enthusiasts. The saturated colors of the bags stand out beautifully against the natural backdrops, and each shot is carefully composed to showcase both form and function. The result is photography that feels aspirational, authentic, and deeply connected to the brand’s do-good, go-anywhere ethos.

    Furniture and home goods

    34. MADE

    Outdoor garden lounge setup with striped upholstered sectional sofas, wood coffee table, and potted tropical plants, shown in a sunny patio space. Modern home furniture collection showing a beige sofa, sculptural pendant lighting, and a wooden bed with storage drawers in styled interiors.

    Image source

    MADE’s product photography captures the harmony of modern living with a refined, editorial edge. Each image is carefully styled to showcase not just the product—sofas, lighting, or beds—but the ambiance they create. The lighting is soft and consistent, emphasizing texture, shape, and color in a natural way. Warm, muted tones pair with clean architectural lines, drawing the eye through the space and highlighting each design detail without distraction. 

    The result is an inviting, aspirational scene that feels livable yet elevated. MADE’s photography doubles as interior inspiration, turning every product into part of a cohesive lifestyle story.

    35. LOEHR

    Contemporary furniture including a round black table with a yellow cushioned chair, a minimalist open shelf, and a bold orange wood desk.

    Image source

    LOEHR’s product photography is a prime example of modern minimalism. With sharp, architectural compositions and pristine lighting, each image distills furniture design down to its purest form. 

    Materials and textures are foregrounded—brushed metals, matte lacquers, and soft upholstery—without unnecessary staging or visual clutter. The crisp shadows and natural gradients from ambient light add depth while preserving the clarity of shape and line. 

    The result is bold, geometric forms. LOEHR’s photography doesn’t just display a product—it reflects the brand’s design philosophy: functional, thoughtful, and quietly radical.

    36. Simon Pearce

    Summer lifestyle scenes with a brunch table set with bagels and juice near a window, and a champagne bottle chilling on an outdoor deck.

    Image source

    Set against airy, sun-drenched environments, Simon Pearce’s imagery brings out the artisanal quality of each glass and ceramic piece. The clear sparkle of handblown glassware, the creamy textures of stoneware, and the golden tones of sunlight on surfaces are all captured with refined precision. Lifestyle compositions feel warm and inviting—perfectly styled without feeling staged. 

    Whether it’s a mimosa brunch or champagne on the patio, the photography captures the brand’s essence: craftsmanship, comfort, and understated luxury. This is storytelling through light, texture, and good taste.

    37. Motel a Miio

    Colorful handmade ceramic dish sets, mugs, plates, and bowls with textured glazes on sale with 20–30% discount tags displayed.

    Image source

    Motel a Miio’s product photography bursts with color, warmth, and Mediterranean charm. The brand highlights the artisanal quality of its handmade ceramics through rich textures, sunlit surfaces, and thoughtful arrangements. 

    Each image showcases the uniqueness of glazing and form—from the dreamy aqua blues of bowls to the peachy-pink blush of plates. Natural shadows and earthy backdrops give the shots a tactile, sun-kissed feel, inviting viewers to imagine relaxed outdoor dining or cozy kitchen moments. The photography is not just beautiful—it’s transportive, evoking a laid-back, design-forward lifestyle rooted in craftsmanship.

    38. Studio Neat

    Minimalist tool collection featuring the Keen utility knife, Mark One retractable pen, and Mark Two pocket pen in a clean floating product layout.

    Image source

    Studio Neat uses minimalist product photography. In this example, each item is suspended against a clean, white backdrop with gentle shadows, emphasizing their streamlined form and material finish. The floating composition gives the products a modern, weightless feel, aligning with their functional and design-forward ethos. 

    Every visual choice—neutral lighting, soft gradients, centered framing—supports a sleek and utilitarian aesthetic. 

    Cars and automotive

    39. Carvana

    Grid display of different vehicle types including SUVs, sedans, trucks, coupes, minivans, convertibles, wagons, hatchbacks, EVs, hybrids, and plug-in hybrids.

    Image source

    Carvana takes a clean, uniform approach to product photography by displaying each vehicle category in profile against a pure white background. The consistency in angle, lighting, and car color (white) helps customers compare models quickly while reinforcing trust through visual clarity. 

    For ecommerce brands managing large SKUs or configurable product categories, this style benefits from clipping path, retouching, and shadow effects to ensure clean, scalable presentation across all digital platforms.

    40. CarBahn

    Grid of high-performance car parts including ECU tuning, carbon fiber kits, suspension components, intake systems, engines, air filters, and car care products displayed in a workshop setting.

    Image source

    CarBahn’s product photography leans into a high-performance, gearhead aesthetic with bold contrast, sharp lighting, and industrial backdrops. Each category image emphasizes material texture and mechanical precision. There’s a tactile, real-world feel, with shots that oscillate between clean studio setups and gritty workshop environments. 

    This style is ideal for performance auto brands. Related edits might include color correction, reflection and glare removal, and precision shadow work to enhance contrast and depth without over-editing the hardware’s raw appeal.

    41. Mercedes-Benz

    Mercedes-Benz electric concept van with futuristic LED grille and sleek aerodynamic design, showcased under studio lighting.

    Image source

    Mercedes-Benz’s product photography captures futuristic elegance with cinematic precision. This concept vehicle is shot under ambient, gradient lighting that complements the sleek contours and metallic finish, making it feel like a luxury object from the future. The low angle and subtle reflections emphasize design innovation—fluid lines, illuminated details, and aerodynamic form—while keeping the focus on craftsmanship and vision.

    Lifestyle and miscellaneous

    42. StickerBrand

    Bold wall murals including a Japanese wave illustration in a café and a leafy tropical wallpaper behind a green-themed bedroom setup.

    Image source

    StickerBrand’s product photography transforms wall decals into immersive, real-life design statements. Each wall is staged in context—whether it’s a moody café corner or a leafy bedroom escape—so shoppers can picture the product in their own space. The lighting is soft and natural, allowing the decals to blend seamlessly with furniture, textiles, and finishes while still standing out with crisp lines and vibrant color.

    43. Bambi Baby

    UPPAbaby family product lineup featuring parents walking with the Vista V3 stroller and close-up images of the V3 bassinet and stroller in various colors.

    Image source

    Bambi Baby’s product photography blends lifestyle and catalog styles to showcase both the function and feeling behind its premium baby gear. 

    The left side of this example shows a warm, everyday moment—a family on a walk at golden hour. This emotional lifestyle shot balances beautifully with the crisp, isolated product shots on the right, which highlight detail, color variations, and pricing. This dual approach supports both storytelling and conversion. 

    44. Bentley

    Tracker hard-shell suitcase collection in a variety of bold colors and finishes, arranged in a line with the tagline “Travel Colourfully.”

    Image source

    Bentley’s luggage line embraces bold, clean, and ultra-modern product photography that celebrates color as a core brand identity. The suitcases are displayed in a tight lineup with seamless lighting and minimal shadows, highlighting each hue without distraction. The gradient floor and backdrop also complement the tones of each suitcase.

    45. Walmart

    Walmart homepage promotions highlighting tech and summer savings, including laptops, PS5, pools, and beauty tools against bright blue backgrounds.

    Image source

    Walmart uses bright, consistent, and brand-forward product photography to energize its promotional graphics. Each product—from beauty tools and smart tech to outdoor gear—is presented against soft, uniform color backdrops that create an airy and cheerful visual experience. Items are expertly isolated, often enhanced with clipping paths, drop shadows, and vibrant retouching to make them pop while maintaining a cohesive brand aesthetic.

    Food and drink

    46. Candy Club

    Colorful assortment of gummy candy including rainbow strips, chocolate clusters, sour hearts, and sprinkles, spilling out of open Candy Club jars.

    Image source

    Vibrant gummies, chocolates, and sour belts spill playfully from jars across a crisp white background, letting the intense colors and textures take center stage. The overhead layout creates a sense of abundance, while the neatly styled candy piles maintain a polished, crave-worthy aesthetic. Candy Club’s photos are a visual sugar rush that makes every sweet treat look like a party.

    47. Rauch

    ariety of RAUCH branded beverages including Happy Day orange juice, Bravo multivitamin, MyTea lemon iced tea, Yippy kids drink, and 100% Orange glass bottle on a light background.

    Image source

    Rauch brings a playful, shelf-ready polish to its product photography. Against a smooth gradient backdrop that shifts from citrus yellow to cream, each beverage line is given equal spotlight with symmetrical placement and minimal distractions.

    Each product floats with a subtle shadow, allowing vibrant packaging to take center stage. The lighting is soft yet evenly distributed, enhancing the saturated colors and fruity visual cues without harsh glare

    48. Backyard Butchers

    Premium meat box selections labeled The Steakhouse, The Backyard, and The Farmhouse, featuring vacuum-sealed cuts of USDA choice beef, pork, and chicken.

    Image source

    Backyard Butchers nails a clean, trust-building presentation that’s perfect for high-value food subscriptions. Its product photography highlights premium meat packs in pristine kitchen settings with natural light, fresh produce, and minimal props—immediately reinforcing freshness, quality, and home delivery convenience.

    49. Tony’s Chocolonely

    Tony’s Chocolonely product display with a cream embroidered chocolate hat, colorful chocolate bar gift pack, and milk honey almond nougat bar on vibrant color backgrounds.

    Image source

    Tony’s Chocolonely brings the same bold, joyful energy of its packaging into its product photography. Vibrant, solid-color backgrounds create instant visual impact while keeping the focus squarely on the products. Items are shot straight-on with clean clipping paths and slight shadows to create a floating effect, lending a sense of playfulness and modernity. Every shot is bright, color-blocked, and punchy enough to pop in any feed or grid.

    50. Ghia

    Ghia non-alcoholic aperitif and canned drinks styled creatively with the tagline

    Image source 

    Set against a creamy, sunlit backdrop, Ghia combines perfect product symmetry with unexpected moments—like a pour shot mid-air or cans balancing precariously on glassware. The lighting is soft yet directional, giving glass and liquid a gentle glow while letting label colors pop with vintage flair.

    Create your perfect product photos

    Great product photography doesn’t just capture what you’re selling—it captures why someone should care. Across industries, from fashion to food to tech, the most successful ecommerce brands use thoughtful visuals to build trust, spark desire, and drive conversions.

    If you need help making your own photos stand out, we’re here to help. From background removal and retouching to full-on image enhancements, our team can take your product photos from functional to phenomenal.

    Ready to elevate your product visuals? See how our photo editing services work and get started transforming your images today.

    Simple pricing for stress-free, pixel-perfect photo edits tailored to your needs



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  • Issue 145 of Underwater Photography Magazine Available

    Issue 145 of Underwater Photography Magazine Available



    The latest edition of Underwater Photography magazine—Issue 145—is now available as a free download.

    The issue kicks off with a useful roundup of the latest industry news and the imaging products. New equipment highlights include the Nauticam housing for the Canon PowerShot V1, the dive case for the Insta 360 X5, new housings for the Canon EOS R5 II from Aquatica and from Marelux), and new strobes like the Marelux Apollo Y, Ikelite Ecko, and Isotta RED64. There’s also a lovely showcase of the winners of the recent UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition, hosted by DPG.

    That fabulous black-and-white cover shot, of course, belongs to the talented Mr Henley Spiers, and one of the issue’s must-read features is Publisher/Editor Peter Rowlands’ interview with Henley. Savor the inspiring collection of pictures therein! Among the other articles is Phil Rudin’s reviews of the Weefine 3000 CCW ring light and the Sony FE 16–25 mm f/2.8 G lens, a very handy read about floats and float arms by Kevin Palmer, and a couple of macro-focused travel stories—Nigel Marsh on Port Vila, Vanuatu, and David Fleetham and Jennifer Ross on Tulamben, Bali.

    Getting your free copy of the latest issue of Underwater Photography magazine is a breeze: Simply sign up with your email to get access. If you’ve already signed up (and you’re logged in), you can download your copy directly here.  





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  • 13 Incredible Tutorials To Improve Your Black And White Photography

    13 Incredible Tutorials To Improve Your Black And White Photography


    This week we have been talking about black and white photography but since the early days, there have been many articles shared about black and white photography, by almost all writers here at Light Stalking. At some point, we all get into this genre and sometimes struggle to get the best out of a scene or situation, or get stuck during the post-processing part.

    Today we thought that we will put together some very useful tutorials on black and white photography, so you can refer to the ones that are really important or useful for you.

    Many photographers may have a questions as to why one should shoot black and white, when there is colour photography. There are a dozen reasons why one might honour black and white photography and four of those are discussed in this article.

    Photo by Reuben Mcfeeters

    Black and white photos look surreal, they are emotive and they evoke a lot of emotions that sometimes a colour photo cannot. Shooting black and white photos can be quite tricky and the photographer needs to know when shooting the image, if a scene, subject or scenario will work well as a black and white photo. So, here are some ways to tell if a scene will make a great black and white photo.

    Photo by Alex

    Black and white photographs are beautiful and it makes many of us wonder how someone could have captured and post-processed such a stunning but simple photograph in black and white. This article discusses a few tips on how to capture and edit stunning fine art black and white photographs.

    Photo by Etienne Delorieux

    Some photographers convert an image to black and white, in order to hide the imperfections in their colour version. It may be fine to do this occasionally, but making it a habit is not the way to creating black and white images because creating great black and white photographs is an art. So, here are some things to think about when getting into black and white photography.

    Here is another article that touches on this issue – Do You Still Make These 2 Mistakes When Working In Black And White?

    Photo by Jason D. Little

    Before capturing a shot, or after you have captured one, have you ever been caught up in a dilemma if the shot should be in colour or black and white? In the early days, photographers made the choice to shot either in colour or black and white film, but in the days of digital photography, we have the luxury to capture raw files and work on them the way we wish to later. So read to find out how you can make this decision between colour and black and white for a particular shot.

    Also, for further reading – How to Use Your Eyes to Create Better Black and White Images

    Photo by Jason D. Little

    Photographers think that it is easier to shoot images for black and white but the problem arises when we try to convert an image to black and white. Most photographers think that removing the colours by bringing the saturation slider to the negative, or clicking on the black and white setting or applying a preset when post processing will help. The truth is, you need to capture images using a black and white film mindset.

    Photo by Archie Binamira

    We all would have seen the famous landscape photographs of Ansel Adams that are shot in black and white. Although we can see in colour and in these days photograph in colour too, we still feel the emotions better sometimes in a black and white photograph, especially landscapes that are vast and colourful. So, if you want to shoot black and white landscapes, here are five keys to improve your shots.

    Photo by tombabich24

    If you are someone who is interested in shooting dark scenes, then film noir photography is a genre that you can explore. These types of photos can be used to portray dramatic, mysterious scenes and it suits only particular types of situations, light and stories. Here are some tips and techniques to capture interesting film noir photographs.

    Photo by Andrew Amistad

    Not only do street photos or landscapes work well for black and white photography, even portraits become more beautiful when converted to black and white. It lets you focus on the subject and their characteristics, without any distraction. So here are some tips to convert a portrait onto black and white.

    And here are “The Secrets to Compelling Black and White Portraits

    Screenshot by Federico Alegria

    Once you capture the images for black and white conversion, you need to make some important adjustments when post processing your image for black and white. This article discusses the best monochrome practices for photographers in both Lightroom and Photoshop.

    Photo by Jason Row

    If you just shoot in black and white or convert an image to black and white by the click of a button or by desaturating it, you will nowhere be near to those images of olden days that were shot in film. The images will mostly look flat with not much contrast or tonality. Black and white film photographers used colour filters to give a punch to certain elements in their shots and these days, it can be achieved in Photoshop using the channel mixer tool. Read to find how to use it.

    Photo by Jason Row

    A lot of street photographers shoot in black and white and it is a very common thing for decades now. Most photographers really do not shoot in black and white, but instead shoot in colour and then convert their images to black and white and they think street photographs should be in black and white. Read to find why photographers make this decision.

    Photo by Federico Alegría

    And of course, street photographs also need some amount of post production, because we always advise to shoot in raw in order to get the best results in the final photo. A lot of street photographers also believe that the colours in the streets may not be always visually appealing to have the street photograph in colour. Here are some tips to convert a street photograph to black and white.

    Image by Federico Alegría

    If you would like some inspiration to shoot black and white photographs, here are links to dozens of quotes and images that you can refer to:





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  • Making a Career in Underwater Photography, with Mekan

    Making a Career in Underwater Photography, with Mekan



    A couple of years ago, a trio of incredible—and incredibly heart-wrenching—photos took first place in the environmental category, “No Time to Waste,” of the UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition, hosted by DPG. Those images of an entangled humpback remain, in my view, among the most arresting underwater photos demonstrating the terrible cost of humanity’s impact on the oceans. I hoped that one day I’d be able to meet the photographer, Álvaro Herrero, aka Mekan, and congratulate him on those striking pictures—and on contributing so powerfully to the conversation about marine protection.

    As it turned out, when I finally had the pleasure of meeting Mekan at ADEX earlier this year, I was congratulating him on another amazing achievement: being crowned Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025—this time with a heart-warming shot of a healthy humpback mom and her calf. Mekan isn’t just a lovely guy, modest about his accomplishments; he’s also incredibly passionate and ready to share with anyone who shares his passion. No wonder, then, that this talented Spaniard is the perfect person to be joining Nicolas Remy in the next Underwater Club Masterclass event to talk about “Making a Career in Underwater Photography.”

    This promises to be another unmissable two-hour webinar. As well as chatting about some of his most spectacular underwater images, Mekan will be sharing how he has managed to turn his passion into a full-time job. In particular, he’ll be discussing the income streams that make that possible, including leading trips, teaching photo courses, selling prints, and doing photo shoots for clients. Appropriately, Mekan will also cover how to make the most of wins in photo competitions and using social media to support your work. As usual, during the live Q&A portion, participants will get the chance to ask questions. It’s sure to be an extremely inspiring session.

    As always, TUC members join for free, while non-members will need to purchase tickets to the event at AU$49 (approx. US$35). Note that this is also the price of monthly membership, so this is the perfect opportunity to join the club and take advantage of all of the membership benefits.

    Here are the event times:

    • July 20th, 4pm Los Angeles time (PDT)
    • July 20th, 6pm Dallas time (CDT)
    • July 20th, 7pm Miami time (EDT)
    • July 20th, 12am (midnight) London time (GMT)
    • July 21st, 7am Singapore time (SGT)
    • July 21st, 9am Sydney time (AEST)
    • July 21st, 11am Auckland time (NZST)






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  • The Art Of Urban Black And White Photography

    The Art Of Urban Black And White Photography


    Do you, like me, find black and white images incredibly evocative? They seem to draw us in more than colour, have more sense of life and of story. There are a few genres of photography that are not suited to monochrome, but one that most definitely is, is the urban landscape.

    There is so much in urban areas that lends itself to black and white. Amble areas of light and shade, textures, form and most importantly geometry and symmetry.

    Today we are going to explore how to elevate your urban images into artistic black and whites.

    Low angle black and white shot of buildings and people in La Defence, Paris
    Low angle urban black and white. By Jason Row Photography

    You Need To See In Black and White

    The simple fact is, that not every urban shot you take will be suited to black and white. To shoot great black and white shots you need to see in black and white. Now, that might seem quite an odd statement, especially given the billions of colours our eyes are capable of recording, but hear me out.

    Identifying a black and white urban image is not literally about seeing in black and white. It’s about identifying the elements that go into making a great black and white photo.

    Some of the most important are the interplay of light and shade and the use of lines of contrast. Light and shade are, perhaps, more important in black and white than in colour. The depth of the blacks define how we react to an image emotionally, the harder the black the more gritty and harsh the image can feel.

    Lines of contrast lead our eye around the image. This contrast need not be pure black or white, but well defined graduations of tone that give depth to an image.

    One tip, if you struggle with “seeing” black and white in your urban landscapes is to shoot in a black and white mode. On many cameras, this will turn the viewfinder/LCD monochrome as well, making it easier for you to see if the shot works. Make sure you are shooting RAW and JPEG though as the RAW file will give us so much more latitude when editing.

    Long exposure twilight shot of the parliament building in Budapest, Hungary
    What works in colour…… By Jason Row Photography
    Long exposure black and white twilight shot of the parliament building in Budapest, Hungary
    Often also works in black and white. By Jason Row Photography

    Colour Is Important

    Briefly, it is important to know that colour is vital to our black and white shots. Assuming we have shot RAW (see above), we can increase or decrease the luminance of any of the primary colours. For example when editing a blue sky, we can decrease the blue luminance to make that sky much darker.

    The urban environment is full of colour, from the faded to the bold. When we are shooting we can identify those blocks of colours that we either wish to enhance or reduce in significance.

    For example a bright yellow sign with bold lettering might make an interesting subject to our urban shot. By decreasing the luminance of the blue channel (opposite to yellow) we can brighten up that sign and separate it from the rest of the image. The same can be true of faded colours, we can enhance or reduce their intensity according to how relevant we wish them to be in the image.

    Black and white architectural style shot of Lloyds Building in London
    The urban environment is about shapes, forms and shadows. By Jason Row Photography

    Composition In The Urban Environment

    Once you have found the ability to “see” in black and white, you will see monochrome opportunities around every corner. There are several elements in the urban environment that we can identify for black and white shots. The first are the shapes, forms and textures of the manmade. Another is the human element, the stories of the people in that built environment – these also cross genres with street photography. Another important black and white element can be the way nature interacts with the urban.

    In man made we are looking for the way the light interacts with structures. How light casts shadows and creates depth and form to our shots. We are looking for symmetry and geometry. A symmetrical image of a building can look great but add in a person to one side and you add tension to the shot. In black and white, this can look amazing.

    Textures are everywhere in urban areas, from the rust of the manmade to the bark of a tree. Low directional light makes these textures pop whilst shallow depth of field hints at the location. Graffiti and urban decay are also fantastic black and white subjects in cities and towns

    The way the natural works with the manmade is another great area to focus on with your black and white urban images. The lone tree in front of a modern structure. A line of park benches in an urban park. There is so much to look for and shoot.

    Black and white image of an old Lada car in the courtyard of a Soviet apartment block in Chisinau, Moldova
    Urban black and white can also be documentary. By Jason Row Photography

    In The Edit – Processing Black and White

    Taking a good black and white is half the job. Editing it is the other half. These days it’s not difficult to edit great black and white urban shots. Tools like Lightroom Classic have a plethora of functions to help us get good black and white images.

    There are some things that you can do to add punch though. Convert the image using a colour profile, this will give you a good starting point. Use the black and white sliders to adjust the amount of overall contrast you are looking for. Pushing to the ends of the histogram (or even beyond) will give maximum contrast whilst pulling the blacks and whites inside the histogram will reduce the contrast.

    The clarity and texture sliders are great tools for managing mid tone contrasts, and are especially useful in punching out textures. Use masking tools to isolate areas of textures and enhance them.

    As mentioned earlier the use of RGB sliders can allow us to manipulate individual colour channels within our black and white urban images giving us huge control over the way they look.

    Editing the urban environment in black and white is an immensely satisfying thing to do, be it a few hours or few years after you took the original image.

    Reflections of the Lloyds building in London in black and white
    Geometry and reflections. By Jason Row Photography

    As we mentioned at the top, the urban environment is, perhaps, the best place you will find to elevate your black and white photos to more artistic images.

    It’s hard not to find great black and white shots in towns and cities but it will take some practice to both start seeing in black and white and finding compositions to enhance your monochrome shots. But, as they say, practice makes perfect, and with the cameras and editing tools we have to hand today, practice is also immensely satisfying

    Further Reading





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  • BigPicture Photography Competition 2025 Winners Revealed

    BigPicture Photography Competition 2025 Winners Revealed


    Aquatic Life, Winner: “Octopus Mother” by Kat Zhou

     

    The California Academy of Sciences has unveiled the winners of its BigPicture photography competition, which celebrates stunning images from the natural world. Now in its 12th year, the competition is judged by a panel of nature and conservation photography experts, which is chaired by wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas. The Grand Prize Winner is “Lemur’s Tough Life” by Donglin Zhou, a Chinese wildlife photographer known for her nature documentaries.

    Meanwhile, in the “Aquatic Life” category, it was DPG Photographer of the Week Kat Zhou who clinched the top award with her mind-blowing shot of a Caribbean reef octopus guarding her eggs at Florida’s Blue Heron Bridge (which also featured in her POTW portfolio). Various DPGers were also finalists in the “Aquatic Life” category as well as other categories, including “Art of Nature” and “Landscapes, Waterscapes, and Flora.”

    Big congratulations to all the winners and runners-up in this year’s contest. Don’t forget that the 2nd Underwater Awards Australasia imaging competition is accepting submissions—so make sure you get your entries in soon and claim your share of the spectacular $70,000 prize pool!

     

    Landscapes, Waterscapes, and Flora, Finalist: “Acacia” by Talia Greis

     

    Art of Nature, Finalist: “Ghost of the Reef” by Simon Biddie

     

    Aquatic Life, Finalist: “Yin Yang” by Melanie Müller

     

    Aquatic Life, Finalist: “Dystopian Seas” by Angel Fitor

     

    Aquatic Life, Finalist: “Theatre of War” by Talia Greis

     

    Aquatic Life, Finalist: “Into the World of Dreams” by Hitomi Tsuchiya

     

    Aquatic Life, Finalist: “Mudskipping” by Georgina Steytler





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  • Photography as a Connection


    Photographer Etsuko Aimu captures images of her children with the Sigma 17-40mm F1.8 DC | Art lens mounted on a Canon EOS R7 mirrorless camera. This APS-C format combination produces beautiful photos for memories that last a lifetime, and beyond.

    The post Photography as a Connection appeared first on SIGMA Blog.



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  • 20 Monochrome Photographs For Creative Photography Ideas


    Monochrome images can be captured by looking around in our day to day scenes, architectural structures, landscapes at certain times of the day, or even by making use of coloured lights to bring in a monochromatic colour to the scene. If you have not shot monochrome images other than black and white, these images here will inspire you to observe your surroundings and capture more monochrome images.

    The post 20 Monochrome Photographs For Creative Photography Ideas appeared first on Light Stalking.



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