Most Inspirational Photographers of the Month - October 2017
When it comes to taking a fantastic photo, there's a lot on the line.
You have to be adept at using your camera gear, and have the right equipment for the job to boot.
You also need to master composition, lighting, and other artistic and technical things in order to create the best images.
Of course, creative inspiration plays a role as well, which is the whole point of our ongoing series of the most inspirational photographers of the month.
Below, check out the 31 best images from PhotographyTalk members in October. Just be ready - there are some truly epics shots on the way!
October 1 - Terry Robinson
When confronted with a landscape that has a lot of interest in the midground and background, its advisable to shift the horizon downward in the frame, much like Terry Robinson has done in this image.
Because of that, Terry was able to highlight the sheer size of the mountain peaks while also incorporating the soft colors of the sky into the shot. Superb work, Terry!
October 2 - Amber Fite
Amber Fite hits another one out of the park in this beautiful portrait that combines detailed textural elements and an air of whimsy in perfect balance.
The gorgeous floral crown and simple, yet elegant dress help pull off the Princess and the Frog vibe.
Great work, Amber!
October 3 - SELF
With a bit of an enchanted forest vibe, this gorgeous shot by PT user “Self” makes excellent use of leading lines and frames within the frame.
The lushness of the foliage provides both color and texture in the shot, while the pops of light along the path add an element of contrast.
October 4 - Donnnnnny
The Sydney Opera House is one of the most iconic buildings in the world.
When photographing such well-known places, it’s important to find your own take on it. Donnnnnny does just that in this gorgeous long exposure at dusk.
The manner in which the image is framed helps make the shot more about the entire scene instead of just the Opera House, with the beautiful reflection and plenty of sky showing in the shot.
October 5 - 정임
This gorgeous shot by 정임 shows how water can add a crucial element of interest to the photo.
In this case, the rippling effect of the water adds visual interest that helps balance out the colorful sky and the colors and textures of the fishing village.
October 6 - Adriatik Berdaku
Wedding portraiture is often hard to do, simply because of the stress of the day.
However, Adriatik Berdaku makes it look easy in this stunning shot...
Between the perfect lighting illuminating the couple, the gorgeous sunset, and the textures of the dilapidated building, this feature-rich image is sure to be one this couple cherishes for a lifetime.
October 7 - Siswanto
Siswanto’s breathtaking image of Mt. Bromo is an ideal example of why landscape photography is at its best when it takes place during Golden Hour.
The soft, warm light that’s illuminating the peaks of the mountains also illuminates the interesting textures found on their surface. The result is one heck of an eye-catching image!
October 8 - Mike K
Not all cityscape photos have to be just about the skyline...
As this beautiful photo by Mike K shows, you can dedicate much of the shot to the sky as well.
The colors of the sunset provide a perfect backdrop to the buildings and lights in the midground and foreground. In this case, it was all about timing, perspective, and framing to get a successful image.
October 9 - ThrasivoulosP
Blue Hour is a fantastic time for cityscape photography because the cool, blue tones of the sky pair nicely with the harsher lines and colors of a typical city.
In this case, ThrasivoulosP demonstrates how valuable water in the foreground can be for adding even more interest to a nighttime cityscape.
October 10 - Artur Stanisz
Artur Stanisz puts on a spectacular show with this image of the coastal mountains in British Columbia.
This shot embodies the value of shooting landscapes in vertical format, that way you can incorporate more foreground interest into the shot. Great work, Artur!
October 12 - Roberto Pavic
This cool, wintery scene looks like something out of a fairy Tale.
The photographer, Roberto Pavic, used a wide focal length to capture the scene and added a vignette to make it feel more intimate.
The result is a breathtaking shot worthy of the title of Inspirational Photo of the Day!
October 13 - Dragan Cerovic
No one ever said that the subject of a photo had to be big and epic to capture an amazing shot!
That sentiment is on full display in this photo by Dragan Cerovic.
With nothing more than a drop of water, some food dye, and a dark background, he created one heck of an eye-catching image!
October 14 - Mariko Klug
One of the great things about photography is that there are so many tools at our disposal for taking and editing images.
This photo, taken on an iPhone by Mariko Klug, has a moody goodness about it that immediately draws you into the image.
The leading lines certainly help do that, too!
October 15 - Lori Hillis
In this beautiful portrait, Lori Hillis demonstrates that a shallow depth of field isn’t just for blurring the background.
By incorporating foreground elements that are blurry, Lori has created a more intimate portrait that has much more depth to it as well.
October 16 - Brad Scott
One challenge of photographing landscapes is finding new and interesting ways to capture them.
Brad Scott does just that in this aerial view that turns the landscape into something that feels almost abstract, with interesting shapes, textures, and colors to delight the eye.
October 17 - George
Sometimes, landscapes can be so full of detail that they become distracting.
However, as George so aptly demonstrates, it’s possible to create an impressive shot by restricting your view.
Here, the leading lines of the road bring you into the shot while the soaring aspens provide a “barrier” that keeps your eyes moving toward the background. Great work, George!
October 18 - Artur Stanisz
Artur Stanisz does it again with another magical landscape photo, this one of Mt. Thor on Baffin Island.
The vertical orientation of the image really makes the shot, giving us a clear view not only of the beautiful mountains but the interesting foreground elements as well. Bravo Artur!
October 19 - Mike K
As if the city’s skyline and vibrant lights weren’t enough to catch your attention, Mike K also incorporated fireworks into this beautiful cityscape shot.
By keeping the immediate foreground dark, he was able to frame the action in the midground and background nicely. Well done, Mike!
October 20 - Les Atkins
If you’re looking for a way to create a more unique portrait, just have a look at this image by Les Atkins.
The high-up perspective from which the shot was taken allowed Les to use the color of the stair treads and the curvature of the staircase to frame this beautiful bride.
The result?
A photo more than worthy of the title of Inspirational Photo of the Day!
October 21 - Gary A. Randall
Gary A. Randall is at it again, this time with this incredible image of Mount Hood.
Not only does the reflection in the lake add drama and depth to the shot, but the fog gives this image an almost haunting feel.
The dark blacks of the forest and the bright whites of the fog and snow give this photo excellent contrast as well.
October 22 - Sean O'Riordan
Sean offers up a gorgeous photo of Gougane Barra Lake that shows the value of waiting until dusk to capture your landscape shots.
The darker tones of the sky give this image tons of drama while the long exposure helps soften the clouds into milky goodness. Great work, Sean!
October 23 - Donnnnnny
Donnnnnny’s shot wins today’s prize of Inspirational Photo of the Day for his use of foreground interest to draw you into the scene.
The rocks give this image lots of texture and also act as leading lines to drive our eyes further into the photo.
That’s how you compose a landscape photo!
October 24 - Amber Fite
This beautiful portrait by Amber Fite has all the classic features of a portrait.
There’s gorgeous lighting, a nicely blurred background, and a strong subject in the model.
The way she’s moving her gown around certainly helps draw the eye in as well!
October 25 - Brad Scott
Brad Scott sure knows how to capture action and drama!
This image of a 40-foot wave demonstrates how perspective and positioning can make or break the shot.
In this case, being able to see inside the wave makes it that much more of a dramatic shot. WOW!
October 26 - Amber Fite
Portraiture is all about helping viewers connect with the subject, and in this gorgeous example by Amber Fite, that’s precisely what happens.
The tight framing on the girl makes for an intimate portrait, while her bright red shawl and floral crown help draw our attention to her even more.
The lighting isn’t bad, either!
October 27 - FastFlash
PT user FastFlash shows us how wildlife photography is done with this stunning shot of a Great Horned Owl in flight.
It’s tough to frame up a shot of a flying bird. It’s even tougher to get the bird’s eye in focus.
Yet, FastFlash did both in this image. Great work!
October 28 - Susan Moss
There’s a lot to love about this photo, but in particular, is the black and white conversion.
In the presence of harsh daytime lighting, the photographer, Susan Moss, capitalized on the wide dynamic range to create this eye-catching image full of highlights, shadows, and texture.
Nice job, Susan!
October 29 - Nico Babot
Lake Louise in Canada is a photographer’s dream, as you can plainly see in this spectacular shot by Nico Babot.
The fresh layer of snow and the cool tones of the blue sky contrast beautifully with the orange glow of the rising sun and the warm light emanating from the cabin.
There’s not much else to say but WOW!
October 30 - Brad Scott
Brad Scott offers up one heck of an inspiring photo with this capture of the Northern Lights.
This shot, taken in Iceland, puts the beauty of nature front and center with layers and layers of elements to delight our eyes.
This is precisely how to compose a compelling landscape!
October 31 - Roberto Pavic
When shooting with a wide-angle lens, it’s often beneficial to take a lower shooting position, that way you can incorporate more foreground into the shot.
In this case, Roberto Pavic did just that, giving us a more thorough view of the gorgeous reflection in the still waters of the lake.
When it comes to composition, Roberto is a master!
And with that, you've got a month's worth of incredible photos to get your creative juices flowing.
So what are you waiting for? Get out there, take some awesome shots, and be sure to share them with us in the PhotographyTalk galleries for a chance to be featured!