Most Inspirational Photographers of the Month - February 2018
Another month has flown by, and with it, we've had another month's worth of incredible photos to inspire us all to be better photographers.
Whether it's macro photography or landscapes, portraiture or city scenes, or something in between, these photos exemplify how to take a great shot.
Have a look at the work that these master photographers have done, and use it to motivate you to take your photography to the next level!
February 1 - Donnnnnny
Donnnnnny is back at it again, this time with a beautifully simple winter scene from the coast of Scotland.
When photographing landscapes, looking for elements like interesting shapes, lines, and reflections can help you create a magical photo like this one.
February 2 - Caity Anne
Sometimes, maternity photography can be a little stuffy and boring, but as Caity Anne demonstrates, it doesn’t have to be that way!
The beautiful, bright setting paired with the deep red dress makes this mom-to-be look like a million bucks!
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February 3 - Ed
This shot by Ed is a great lesson in using complementary colors to add interest to a photograph.
The blue tones of the sky pair brilliantly with the orange-red tones of the rock formations. Add in gorgeous textures and the interesting lines of the arch, and you have a recipe for one heck of a photo!
February 4 - Marc Pickering
As Marc Pickering shows in this breathtaking shot, you don’t need a lot of warm, golden sunshine to create an interesting dynamic with shadows.
In this instance, the illumination of the background mountains is all this shot needs to give it more interest and counteract the predominantly cool tones of the photo.
February 5 - toy.engel
Photographing wildlife is hard work and requires a ton of patience and impeccable timing.
But when all those factors come together, as they did in this photo by toy.engel, it’s certainly worth it!
The black and white conversion gives this image even more visual appeal, too.
February 6 - Standout Photography
Often what makes a photo more unique and interesting is just one or two factors that the photographer manipulated.
In this instance, Standout Photography changed up how the model was posed and included a beautiful, flowing gown, and voila - a unique and gorgeous portrait is the result!
February 7 - Amber Fite
The Northern Lights are one of the world’s most beautiful sights, and Amber Fite proves that with this gorgeous shot.
The unique perspective of looking up at the lights through the trees makes this an interesting composition of a commonly photographed subject. Nice work, Amber!
February 8 - Deborah
Not every sunset photo has to be of just the setting sun, as this gorgeous shot by Deborah shows.
The lower-than-usual perspective gives us a view of the golden tones of the sunset through the foreground grasses and fence. The result is a unique take on a sunset shot!
February 9 - Vivian
Titled The Bygone Era, this shot by Vivian has a distinctly vintage mood.
The old farmhouse as seen through the tangle of trees sets the stage for that vintage feel, but the post-processing is what really brings it home. Nice work, Vivian!
February 10 - Amber Fite
Amber Fite shows off a critical principle of landscape photography in this shot - if you incorporate human elements, you can create an image with more interest.
The houses dotting the distant hillside offer some scale to the image as well, showing us just how large Mt. Rainier really is by comparison.
February 11 - Ed
With this shot, Ed demonstrates the value of using a wide-angle lens for landscapes.
With a 23mm focal length, he was able to incorporate more of the scene into the shot, giving us a better view of the gorgeous cliffs and the trees on the left and right sides of the frame.
February 12 - Artur Stanisz
This gorgeous landscape photo by Artur Stanisz is reminiscent of something right out of Lord of the Rings.
The odd, cylindrically-shaped mountain in the background - Mt. Asgard - grabs your attention, even through the clouds and mist.
The pops of warm tones on the tops of the clouds is a nice touch, too.
February 13 - Cora Coronel
Cora Coronel offers up this beautiful portrait that highlights just how important the right lighting can be.
In this case, the light entering from our left works gorgeously with the elongated pose of the ballerina.
The combination of light and shadows gives the photo a more dynamic look as well. Beautifully done, Cora!
February 15 - Paul Rossi
One of the secrets to a great bird photo is getting its eye tack-sharp.
Paul Rossi did just that (and more!) in this gorgeous image of a warbler captured in the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Congrats on a stellar image, Paul!
February 16 - Gary R. Hook
This shot, aptly titled “Fishing Village,” just goes to show that with the right composition and attention to details, even a normal, everyday scene can turn into a postcard-like shot.
Gary R. Hook framed the shot and placed the horizon perfectly to capture the serenity of the moment.
February 17 - Standout Photography
Standout Photography created a standout maternity image with this gorgeous shot.
The setting gives the image a fairy tale feel, while the beautiful floral crown and eye-catching gown add elegance and sophistication to the photo.
Editor's Tip: Check out some creative portrait photography props.
February 18 - Glenn Donharl
Layering is an effective technique for creating an interesting composition with depth.
This photo by Glenn Donharl uses layering to perfection, and with the beautiful light to add even more dimension to the image, you have a recipe for an eye-catching shot. Great work, Glenn!
February 19 - Gord-O
Gord-O shows off the beauty of Alberta in this breathtaking shot of Forget Me Not Pond.
The perfectly still reflection adds brightness to the foreground as well as a bit of symmetry to give the photo more interest. That lighting isn’t bad, either!
February 20 - Destin Sparks
There are few locations as iconic as the Golden Gate Bridge...
When photographing such famous landmarks, it can be difficult to find a fresh perspective. But creating a panorama of the bridge gave Destin Sparks exactly what he needed to make his photo more unique.
February 21 - Keith
Sunset shots can be challenging because of the brightness of the sky compared the darkness of the landscape.
But as Keith demonstrates in this shot, adding silhouetted elements like the mountains and the pier bring more interest to those dark areas.
February 22 - GJ
Photographing creatures like butterflies, bees, and even birds is tough because they might fly away at any moment.
But in this gorgeous shot by GJ, you can see how the risk is certainly worth the reward. Note, in particular, the spot-on sharpness of this butterfly.
February 23 - Alex W. Photography
In many cityscapes, there’s often more than enough drama for a great photo between the shape of the city’s buildings, the texture of the building materials, the shining lights, people, cars, and so forth.
But the combination of those things with a coming storm in this shot by AlexWPhotography makes for a show-stopping image!
February 24 - Paul Rossi
As is often said about photography, “the eyes have it.” In this case, that mantra plays out beautifully in this portrait of a snow owl by Paul.
You’d never know that this shot was captured from the side of a busy road. Great work, Paul!
February 25 - AJ McGinty
This beautiful maternity portrait by AJ McGinty Photography brings together multiple elements to give this shot tons of depth.
The light, the texture of the foreground rocks, and the shape of the plants in the background are a perfect combination. That stunning maternity gown by Sew Trendy isn’t bad, either!
February 26 - Keith
Just like in a normal photo, a panorama needs to have great light, contrasting elements, and in the case of a landscape shot, a perfectly level horizon.
Keith’s photo of a sunset in Victoria, Australia has all those elements, and more!
February 27 - Kpanchalco
Bridges are one of the best architectural subjects for photography, especially at night.
Not only do you get to utilize their beautiful form as an eye-catching element, but as you can see in this shot by kpanchalco, the lights of the bridge emphasize its shape and brighten up the water below. Nice work!
February 28 - Destin Sparks
One thing that benefits photos of all kinds is the use of complementary colors.
In this gorgeous landscape photo by Destin Sparks, you get just that between the blue sky and the burnt orange color of the mountain.
Add in the gold color of the grasses in the foreground, and you have one colorful (and impactful!) image.
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Editor's Bonus Tip: Need even more inspiration for your photography? Check out these motivational photography quotes.