Photo Stories

Tatiana Avdjiev is a lifestyle photographer based in Chicago who has developed an eye for capturing everyday situations and genuine moments. Tatiana is also drawn to capturing movement in dance and sports, demonstrating a wide set of photographic skills. Her talent has secured her features in Photography Masterclass Magazine, TimeOut Chicago, and Imaginarium Magazine. Q:

The secret to capturing perfectly exposed images lies in understanding what’s known as the “exposure triangle.” When it comes to getting photos that are too light, too dark, or just right, everything boils down to just three settings: ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. Each setting is important, and they all affect each other, but a

An estimated eight-to-twelve million tons of plastic waste enters our oceans every year; if this trend continues, experts say that by the year 2050, there could be more plastic in the sea than there are fish. More than 800 marine species have been affected by the contamination of their ecosystems, and huge numbers of them

From the “flamingo” to the “bambi,” the last year has brought us a wide array of “trendy” poses adopted by celebrities and influencers. Some stuck around for a few months, and others have left a lasting impression. At the same time, today’s photographers continue to look to history, employing classic poses that have been used

Hardi Saputra has been a 500px Contributor for a number of years, licensing his intricate still life images since 2016. Over the years, he has developed a recognizable aesthetic, addressing everyday concepts such as communication and travel within his whimsical miniature sets. His work encourages us to “dream big” and shoot for the stars, setting

While photos of male models were once limited to underwear ads with six-pack abs, the field is changing—for the better. With major brands turning to street-casting and alternative modeling agencies, photographers now have more freedom to experiment with how they portray male individuality and masculinity. Masculinity is complex and multi-faceted; it means something different for

You might have the creative part down, but in order to launch and maintain a successful career as a professional photographer, it’s just as important to focus on the business side of your workflow. It might not be as fun or glamorous as the actual shooting, but it’s what will keep you going in the

The 500px team wanted to take a minute to address the impact that COVID-19 is having and send our love and best wishes to our millions of photographers around the world. We know that this is an extremely difficult time for everyone as you practice social distancing and we want to do whatever we can

Vlada Viele is a photographer who is constantly pushing boundaries and exploring different creative concepts. Vlada’s photos are centered around conveying a feeling through unusual elements, light, and color stories. Q: What are the main sources of inspiration you draw from to create your images? A: Instagram, and other photographers who are more experienced than

12 women, all wearing hats, hair blowing in the wind. 12 explorers venturing into the depths of an ice cave. 12 hands, each holding a maple leaf. These are just three of the collages you’ll find on Insta Repeat, an Instagram account run by an anonymous filmmaker. The premise is simple: the @insta_repeat feed includes

In the last year, we’ve seen several fashion trends take over the world of commercial photography—from bold colors and minimalist styling to classic poses and monochrome color palettes. Whether working with a team or on their own, photographers have found fresh and creative ways to make marketable photos on a budget; in the process, they’ve

The global digital photography market is expected to reach $149.98 billion by 2026, growing from $79.12 in 2017. Cameras are getting better, and editing software is getting smarter. The technology is more accessible than it’s ever been, and interest in the medium—and the profession—is on the rise. According to a 2018 survey by PDN, the

Keep up with key trends in Licensing with 500px’s Sr. Art Director, Karen Biilmann, as she analyzes common threads and current themes throughout our Contributors’ photography submissions. From washing your hands to the environmental impact of self-isolating, here’s what’s trending in the 500px Licensing Collection. It’s not rocket science — a handwashing movement has taken

There’s nothing quite like the excitement of starting your new photography business. But, many photographers make one or several big mistakes on their road from unpaid amateur to full-time pro. These mistakes can cost you time and money, and, even worse, scuttle some fledgling photography careers before they even start. Read these tips, and you’ll

On July 18, 1860, when the British astronomer Warren De la Rue set out to photograph the total solar eclipse at Rivabellosa, Spain, he brought with him hundreds of pounds of equipment, including 113 pounds of engineer’s and carpenter’s tools; 139 pounds of water; lamps, lamp-oils, and wine weighing in at around 73 pounds; a

According to estimates, we share around 3.2 billion photos online every day. Most of those photos are for personal use, but over the last five-plus years, brands have turned more and more to social media platforms to source creative photography to use in their campaigns. Many artists choose to share their work for free or

Adobe Lightroom is an all-rounder photo editing and management software that empowers users to organize and manipulate photos in large quantities—without spending all their time stuck behind a desk. For some, it’s best used in conjunction with Photoshop, where they can fine-tune their images with more complex edits, but for many, it’s a creative playground

A few years ago, the social media agency Laundry Service took a look at the growing use of organic, “Instagram-style” photos in advertising. According to their data, unposed, social media-inspired photos performed even better than traditional studio shots in the commercial sphere. Whereas regular advertising photos had a 2.35% click-through rate, that number increased to

From “portrait mode” to “slofies” (slow-motion selfies), the technological developments of the past few years have taught us that portrait photography is for everyone, whether you have a DSLR or a camera phone. On social media, a quick scroll through trending hashtags like #PostMorePortraits, #Portrait_Perfection, and #AGameofPortraits confirms that the art of portraiture is alive

While recent reports have pointed to a decline in camera sales, the photo editing software market is only getting stronger. As of this year, the market size sits at around $760 million—and that number is expected to grow to $1,030 million in the next five years. As the demand for top-notch visuals continues to rise,

Cinematic teal and orange. Muted pastels. Digital photos that look like old film stocks. These trends have dominated the photography world in recent years, as more photographers push the boundaries in post-processing. In 2020, a unique editing style is more than just a way to stand out. It’s also a creative signature, and more photographers

Denis has a great eye for capturing everyday situations. His photos reflect the connections that exist between the subject and their closest relationships, even their animal companions. Q: You have a robust Licensing portfolio that features a variety of genres. Is there a reason you gravitate towards certain genres over others? A: I like to

Happy International Women’s Day! We have so many reasons to celebrate the women around us today, especially here at 500px. All over the world, we see the throughline of strength, creativity, and spirit from women regardless of age, race, or abilities. We are always excited to celebrate our photographers, and we especially recognize the difficulties

Estelle is a graphic designer and photographer based in Marseille, France. Her photos carry a strong aesthetic that is achieved through moody and muted colors. Estelle turns her subjects into modern-day muses with careful composition and styling. Q: You are a very young photographer with a highly developed style. What initially motivated you to start

In recent years, several stock photo agencies have listed “mobile photography” among their top trends; many have even created new features to highlight mobile-only images. Other major trends like vertical image orientations and candid, #nofilter photos have their roots in cell phone photography—over time, the mobile-first aesthetic has filtered into the mainstream. Today, more and

UPDATE: This collection now includes Dorne, Tower of Joy, and Mereen! Help us update this post. Found a photo of a filming location from this new season of Game of Thrones? Comment below with the 500px link! Big Game of Thrones fan? You’ve come to the right place! Journey to the spectacular real-life filming locations

In 2008, Polaroid announced the end of film production within the company. But seemingly out of nowhere, an Austrian man named Florian “Doc” Kaps swooped in and bought the last remaining Polaroid production plant in the Netherlands for 180,000 Euros. His mission was to bring film back from the brink of death. He called it

Estevan Trujillo is a photographer from New Mexico who explores the relationships between landscape and portraiture. His photographic style opens a window to an inhospitable region, showing us the warmth of its communities, the beauty of its landscapes, and the connections between its inhabitants. Q: Your first photo was uploaded to 500px in September of

Keep up with key trends in Licensing with 500px’s Senior Art Director, Karen Biilmann, as she analyzes common threads and current themes throughout our Contributors’ photography submissions. From generating interactive and collaborative experiences through tech to the influence tech has on our daily lives, here’s what’s trending in the 500px Licensing Collection. The year 2020

Call for Photography! Interested in having your work exhibited in the largest photography festival in the world? 500px is now accepting submissions from photographers to exhibit their work in the 500px “Broken Reality” exhibit as part of the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival this May. For our third annual CONTACT exhibition, interested photographers can submit their