Most Inspirational Photographers of the Month - April 2018
The month of April was one for the books when it comes to incredible photos of landscapes, people, wildlife, and everything in between.
This collection of amazing photos represents some of the best we've seen yet on PhotographyTalk, and we're proud to present them to you as the most inspirational photos of the month.
Have a look at these images, take note of how these master photographers created them, and use them to inspire your own work in the coming days, weeks, and months.
April 1 - Tim Boyer
This shot combines the beauty of a sunset with the whimsy of silhouetted birds in a visual dance that makes for a beautiful shot. Tim Boyer captured the two eagles that came to rest on the tree branches, and as they did, scared up the cluster of Great-Tailed Grackles. What a great photo!
April 2 - Daniel
This moody photo captured by Daniel highlights the value of not packing things up when weather moves in. The ominous clouds add all kinds of drama to this shot, especially when juxtaposed with the calm stillness of the foreground elements.
April 3 - Joseph Watrous
In this image, the use of lines to create interest is on full display. Joseph Watrous framed the shot of this Japanese maple perfectly, giving us a view up and into its serpentine branches toward the sun.
April 4 - Dani Lefrancois
Dani Lefrancois gives us a breathtaking look at Vermillion Lakes, a must-see spot in Canada for any landscape photographer. The long exposure helped blur the movement of the clouds, giving the image a dreamy vibe.
April 5 - Terry Allen
Terry Allen’s jaw-dropping infrared shot of Death Valley captures the stark beauty of this harsh landscape. The leading line created by the rock that’s made its way across the valley floor connects the foreground to background in a beautiful way, too.
April 6 - Alan Ranger
Color is one of the most impactful elements in a photo, and that’s on full display in this stunning photo by Alan Ranger. The deep reds and oranges of the leaves contrast nicely with the dark color of the tree trunks. And with all those layers of trees, this is one depth-filled image!
April 7 - Gavin Osmond
In this classic view of Yosemite, Gavin Osmond frames up a perfect photo from Artist’s Point. The bright blue backdrop is a perfect background for all the details in the foreground. Who says you can’t take great landscape photos at midday?!
April 8 - Dani Lefrancois
The gorgeous jade coloring of the lake in this photo by Dani Lefrancois pulls you into the image, right through the low-hanging clouds. Speaking of those clouds, they provide tons of texture and visual interest that sets this shot off. What a stunner!
April 9 - Nicholas Steinberg
The sky appears to be on fire in this breathtaking shot by Nicholas Steinberg. With the Golden Gate Bridge serving as the perfect subject, its silhouette beautifully frames the most intense colors in the sky. Notice the peaks of the buildings in the skyline in the distance. What a great detail!
April 10 - Joseph Watrous
Joseph Watrous has captured a beautiful shot of the Oregon coast, which is made even more beautiful by the use of a long shutter speed. At 3 minutes, the shutter is open so long that it blurs the movement of the ocean waves to create this surreal, dreamy view.
April 11 - Paul Rossi
Paul Rossi is a master of capturing the beauty of birds, in this case, a Barred Owl taking flight. The gorgeously blurred background helps set the bird apart in the shot while the framing gives the bird room for us to imagine the bird flying upward. Great stuff, Paul!
April 12 - Destin Sparks
Destin Sparks shows why Golden Hour is so beautiful in this shot of a perfectly still lake. The warm tones of the sun illuminating the mountains is doubly beautiful in this image with that gorgeous reflection. And the inclusion of the rocks in the foreground gives this image even more interest. Nice work, Destin!
April 13 - Keith
This gorgeously framed shot of a sunset is thanks to the watchful eye of Keith. A photo of this sunset on its own might not have much drama, but adding the cliffs on the left and right to give the photo some depth and to help move our eyes toward the setting sun makes all the difference in the world.
April 14 - Amber Fite
One of the keys to a great maternity photo is highlighting the baby bump and the mother’s relationship to her coming child. In this example, Amber Fite draws attention to that relationship by having the model frame her belly with her hands. It’s a simple trick, but one that’s quite effective for creating a more emotion-filled photo.
April 15 - kodakevin
This powerful, high-contrast shot of White Sands, New Mexico by kodakevin demonstrates how sometimes what’s happening in the sky is as important as what’s happening in the landscape below. In this instance, the building storm clouds give this image height, depth, and drama that complement the peaceful landscape beautifully.
April 16 - donnnnnny
Where the ocean meets the shore is an ideal spot for dynamic landscape photos, as this gorgeous shot by donnnnnny demonstrates. The motion of the waves receding from the beach gives this photograph an interesting sense of movement. The smooth water combined with the jagged rocks is a nice contrast as well.
April 17 - Tim Boyer
There are plenty of elements in this photo by Tim Boyer that make it so eye-catching. For starters, the gorgeous colors pop off the screen and grab your attention. The still waters that create a perfect reflection aren’t bad, either! But the best part is that this photo was taken from the bird’s eye level, which invites us into its world for a more intimate viewing experience.
April 18 - Kelly Todd
These wild horses make for ideal subjects in this beautiful shot by Kelly Todd. Their dark faces, legs, and manes are a gorgeous contrast to the golden-colored grass. The shallow depth of field keeps our focus on these wonderful creatures but still gives us enough of a view of the background to understand the space in which they roam. Great shot, Kelly!
April 19 - Kah-Wai
This stunning image of the Northern Lights by Kah-Wai shows the value of finding good light - even if it’s in the dead of night! The green color of the aurora lights up the night sky and the water in the foreground, creating a beautiful, ethereal image.
April 20 - Paul Rossi
One of the things to keep in mind when photographing birds is to focus on their eyes, as Paul Rossi has done in this image of an owl. The owl’s big yellow eyes immediately grab your attention and draw you into the shot. Good work, Paul!
April 21 - Jennifer King
Jennifer King captured the beauty of Schwabacher’s Landing in Grand Teton National Park in perfect detail in this breathtaking image. The rising sun lights up the Tetons, and with the bright white clouds dotting the sky, you get an amazing reflection of that detail in the water.
April 22 - Mok-A
One trick you can use to bring more interest to your portraits is to add an element of movement. In this shot by Mok-A, the gorgeous gown by Sew Trendy flows in the breeze, adding a dynamic element to the photo that pairs nicely with the warm, golden sunlight.
April 23 - Jesslee
Silhouetted landscape features can be just as beautiful as those bathed in light, as you can see in this gorgeous photo by Jesslee. The sunburst peeking through the rock formation adds interest to the shot, while the backlighting on the plants in the foreground adds texture to the shot. Nicely done!
April 24 - Peter
Peter shows off his black and white photography skills with this beautiful image of a group of elephants. Aside from the perfect exposure and the dramatic clouds, the perspective of the shot is worthy of note. By taking a low perspective and shooting upward toward the animals, they seem even larger and stronger in the frame.
April 25 - Joseph Watrous
Joseph Watrous gives us a glorious view of the morning light and this field of sunflowers, but from an unexpected perspective. Normally, you might find a photographer standing at eye height, taking the shot out across the field of flowers. However, this lower-than-normal view makes this shot more unique, and allowed Joseph to capitalize on the gorgeous light in the sky.
April 26 - Jens Klettenheimer
Lofoten, Norway is a photographer’s dreamland, with stunning landscapes, gorgeous villages, and incredible light. All of those features come together beautifully in this shot by Jens Klettenheimer.
April 27 - Alan Ranger
Often, photographers like to slow their shutter to blur the movement of water. But in this case, using a moderately slow shutter speed to retain some of the detail in the water helped Alan Ranger create a breathtaking and dramatic photo. Well done, Alan!
April 28 - Bombo
One of the most dramatic types of light is sidelighting, which, as you can see in this incredible image by Bombo, casts long shadows across the landscape. The combination of the golden hour lighting and those gorgeous shadows makes for one heck of a photo!
April 29 - kodakevin
Kodakevin captured a truly iconic American scene in this shot. Not only is this a thought-provoking and interesting portrait, but the way that the West Texas sun illuminates the landscape is quite gorgeous.
April 30 - Destin Sparks
This shot by Destin Sparks is aptly titled, “Wanderlust.” The colors of the sunset are enough to make this an eye-catching image, but the addition of the leading lines created by the road just makes it a more engaging photo that has tons of depth.
And there you have it...30 incredible photos to inspire your photography! If you need even more inspiration, check out these inspirational photography quotes.
If you want the chance for your photos to be featured in an article like this, be sure to upload your photos to the PhotographyTalk galleries for consideration!