Photo Stories

In the last fifteen years, interest in aerial photography has boomed, as evidenced not only by the 46,000+ pictures that pop up when you search for “drone aerial” on 500px but also by data from Google Trends; since 2013, when DJI released their first consumer drone, searches for “drone photography” have increased substantially over time.

Ask a best-selling commercial stock photographer about the biggest mistakes you can make early in your career, and the answer might surprise you. Sure, some might say they used the wrong camera or their pictures weren’t good enough, but many will tell you their mistakes were made behind-the-scenes during the uploading process. In other words,

500px is a diverse community. We take great pride in being able to offer a platform where photographers from all walks of life have the ability to express themselves without a filter. Like many companies, the events that have taken place this year have deeply upset us and highlighted the need to do something more

In the early days of stock photography, commercial photographers used 4×5 cameras and film—and every frame cost money to produce. As a result, they had to be highly selective about what they chose to shoot and submit to stock libraries. A century ago, the bigger libraries had only around 20,000 well-curated photos available. Today’s stock

In early November, people across Mexico, South America, the United States, and beyond will remember their loved ones as part of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. It’s a holiday rich with symbols, from the calaveras de azúcar (sugar skulls), made as offerings to those who have died and gifts to those

According to research, customers are considerably more likely to view ads favorably if they emphasize photography over text, and marketers rank images as the most important content type they can use. It’s no surprise, then, that many of these marketers rely on high-quality, ready-made, commercial stock images to sell their products and tell their brand

If you’ve been in the world of commercial photography for a while, you might be familiar with the story of “everywhere girl,” a model who posed for a stock photoshoot in the 1990s. In the decades since, her photos have appeared throughout a vast range of marketing projects—on posters and brochures, in books, on blogs,

Ante Badzim is a minimalist photographer from Sydney, Australia. Ante’s portfolio presents a minimalist perspective of nature and human life, often incorporating natural elements like water and sand. For his work, Ante has received accolades such as Top 10 Australian Photography Photographer of the Year 2018, Blow Up Photo Award, Olympus Global Photo Cup Award,

According to market research, the number of people taking photographs around the world increased by 800% between 2005 and 2015, due in large part to the prevalence of smartphones. Today, smartphones are more powerful, mirrorless technology is better, and editing tools are smarter, making photography more accessible than ever before. These days, it doesn’t necessarily

The global COVID-19 pandemic has closed borders, emptied streets, and halted tourism in traffic-heavy destinations, reshaping the travel industry in the process. From mandatory temperature checks at amusement parks to limited-capacity museums to online reservations and spaced-out arrival times, tourism, as we know it, has changed significantly—and many locations have seen rapid declines. For many

In the late 1960s, street photography was a small club; in New York City, Joel Meyerowitz and Garry Winogrand went out together, pounding the pavement on Fifth Avenue every day, swapping ideas and tips, and occasionally running into the likes of Diane Arbus or Lee Friedlander. Fifty years later, with the strides made by camera

Sarah Saratonina is a still life and food photographer from Cotia, Brazil. Often focusing on fun, colorful compositions, which incorporate floral and food elements, Sarah’s photos have been featured a number of times in Editors’ Choice and in Digital Photo Magazine. Q: Sarah, please tell us a bit about your journey as a photographer, what

This year, to coincide with World Health Day and World Earth Day, hundreds of conservation groups came together to sign an open letter to the World Health Organisation (WHO), urging them to recommend to governments the banning of live wildlife markets and the use of wildlife in traditional medicine. 2020 has brought into focus the

Henri Cartier-Bresson did it. Edward Steichen and Richard Avedon did too. Ansel Adams recently went viral for using it. Of course, we’re talking about the golden ratio, the divine proportion, or phi—a seemingly magical number that crops up time and again in the work of master photographers. Whether they used it intentionally or not, the

According to research from the Pew Research Center, more than a third of Gen Zers personally know someone who uses gender-neutral pronouns, and 59% say that online profiles and forms should include options beyond the binary “man” and “woman.” Half say that society is not accepting enough of people who don’t identify as either a

The photo industry has changed significantly in the last ten years, and according to recent surveys, so have photography schools. From offering video and film production training to increasing their online presence through blogs and websites, photography institutions are finding new ways to connect with students and push the industry forward. Plus, while many art

This article is guide for the aspiring travel photographer who don’t know where to start. The article originally appeared here, and is being republished with express permission from Viktor. Viktor Elizarov is a travel photographer and educator from Montreal, Canada. He travels around the world and shares his experiences on his popular travel photography blog.

In 2020, amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis, brands around the world are facing increased pressure to put social responsibility above profit. Customers are demanding more transparency, honesty, and action from the businesses they support, and as companies look for better ways to connect with and support their communities during this time, we’re witnessing a sea

Psychological research suggests that, in general, we pay more attention and are more likely to understand artworks that have explanatory titles, as opposed to artworks that are left untitled. While many artists leave titling to the last minute, these studies reveal that titles can be an important factor in determining an audience’s response to a

One of the best things about working at 500px, and by far one of my favorite parts of my job, is getting to connect with and hear stories from photographers all across the globe. But it’s not lost on me (or anyone at 500px) that lately those stories are often emotional and filled with hardships

Taya Iv is a photographer, editor, and podcast host from Russia. Taya is also a 500px Ambassador and regularly contributes to Licensing. Her photography often focuses on intimate, quiet, and personal moments. She hosts the Great Big Photography World podcast, where she discusses photography trends and themes with her peers. Q: Taya, you’ve been creating

Over the last two years, there have been a few high-profile cases involving camouflage prints on clothing; in 2018, an outdoor company sued a major fashion brand over the use of a camo pattern, and again in 2019, a Montana company sued a New York streetwear brand, also alleging copyright infringement. As camouflage has taken

In 2014, The Guardian columnists Sean O’Hagan and Jonathan Jones revisited an old question: is photography a fine art? According to Jones, a photograph could never compete with a painting on a gallery wall. But O’Hagan argued that it didn’t have to—photography is its own medium, independent of other art forms but no less worthy

The British Royal Residences, the Moulin Rouge, the Louvre, Crazy Horse Monument, the palaces and temples of Japan, the Olympic venues—some of the most photogenic places in the world are also off-limits for commercial stock photography. These rules are in place to protect the photographer, distributor, and client from any claims made by the owner

Great photography is at the core of everything we do at 500px, and we love to partner with brands that do the same. So when our friends at Luminar reached out with another great Quest idea for the 500px community we couldn’t resist. With over 30,000 submissions this Quest definitely lived up to its ‘dramatic’

Decades ago, as the story goes, two photography legends—Henri Cartier-Bresson and William Eggleston—were seated at the same table at a dinner party in Paris. In many ways, Cartier-Bresson represented the old school of photography, one that preferred the elegance of black and white to color. Eggleston, on the other hand, represented the new generation, who

Linas Vaitonis is a Lithuanian photographer who primarily works as an ecologist, but loves to explore the world through his photography lens. He focuses on surrealist themes and fantasies, action, mystery, spectatorship, the beauty of a woman against unusual locations, and atmosphere. Q: Linas, you’re based in Lithuania. Tell us about how your environment informs

Amid global lockdowns, online learning platforms have seen massive increases in interest worldwide. On Skillshare, for instance, daily viewers and minutes tripled from last year, and Udemy saw an online enrollment boost of more than 400% between February and March. In 2020, schools, universities, and institutions have all turned to remote learning, but so have

According to recent research from Blue Fountain Media, 81% of consumers think less of a brand if their website is outdated, and 39% say they’d think twice about using a product or service if the website isn’t fresh or current. Companies and marketers understand that timely, relevant content can be crucial to attracting and retaining

When the coronavirus pandemic sparked lockdowns this spring, people around the world spent their time pursuing creative endeavors, from knitting to cooking. Online learning experienced tremendous growth, and hashtags like #IsolationCreation and #LockdownArt started trending on social media. People painted quarantine murals on their walls, formed virtual baking clubs, and, of course, organized indoor photoshoots.