September 2018 saw a great group of images be featured on PhotographyTalk.
It's amazing to see the incredible photos that this community puts out day after day!
Let's have a look back on our collection of Inspirational Photos of the Day from September 2018...
September 1 - Brad Scott
Brad Scott’s breathtaking photo of Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe reminds us how beautiful wintery scenes can be.
This is the perfect subject for a black and white photo, too, because of all the contrast, textures, and shapes in the scene. Nice work, Brad!
September 2 - Larry Marshall
This seascape has everything you could want in a gorgeous photo...
A beautiful sunset with a sky that’s on fire, glassy smooth water, and texture-filled rocks to give the image added visual interest.
That’s how a sunset shot at the beach is done!
September 3 - Joshua Snow
Joshua Snow does it again with yet another breathtaking landscape to delight our eyes.
In this case, the subject is Colorado’s Chimney Rock, which would be a worthy subject on its own, but with the colors of the sunset and the explosion of fall colors also in the frame, this is one heck of an eye-catching photo!
September 4 - Ake
A good abstract photo might look simple, but in practice, it’s every bit as hard to pull off abstract photography as any other kind.
Ake’s mind-bending abstract photo has impeccable focus so our eyes are drawn to the center of the shot.
All those circuitous lines give the image tons of visual interest while also helping our eyes move to the center of the frame, too. Great job, Ake!
September 5 - Elaine
There’s nothing better than good light for a photo, and that’s on full display in Elaine’s beauty of a shot.
The leading line created by the road provides a strong visual for connecting the foreground and the background. And the shapes of the trees (and their color, too) are a nice feature to look at.
But, ultimately, what makes this shot is that incredible light filtering through the trees.
September 6 - Abby Mathison
Shooting toward the sun can be a challenge, at least if you want your subject to be well-exposed.
In this shot by Abby Mathison, you can see an image like this done to perfection, with the huge tree placed perfectly to both shield the lens from the sun’s rays and to provide shade for the subject to get a better exposure.
September 7 - Keith
Sometimes when you shoot a sunset photo, taking a simple approach is best.
In this case, Keith has a relatively minimal composition, with the setting sun just above the texture-filled rocks. But the primary subject - the lone seagull surrounded by nothing but sand - is what completes this beautifully simple shot.
September 8 - Tamara Musa
This adorable newborn photo by Tamara Musa shows the value of adding props to portraits in a selective and tasteful manner.
In this case, the headband, wrap, and flowers work perfectly together to form a more cohesive image. Everything in the photo looks intentional, and as a result, you get a beautifully layered portrait.
September 9 - Dazzling Love Photography
Portraiture - and maternity portraiture in particular - can always benefit from a change of scenery.
While indoor portraits have their place, this shot by Dazzling Love Photography shows just how valuable heading outdoors and capitalizing on natural lighting can be!
September 10 - Brad Scott
Brad Scott’s epic shot of this lava flow gives us an up close and personal look at one of nature’s most incredible forces.
The manner in which the shot is framed - with a high horizon to give more real estate to the lavea - makes the photo that much more dramatic. Great work, Brad!
September 11 - Paulo
Paulo’s jaw-dropping photo of Miramar, Portugal benefits from absolutely perfect framing.
Notice how the water’s edge creates a leading line that directs our attention to the texture-laden rocks in the midground.
Positioning the building to the left of center balances the shot while the colors of the sunset add visual interest.
September 12 - Kyle
This magnificent photo by Kyle is certainly worthy of the title of Inspirational Photo of the Day!
From the perfect framing to the spot-on colors to the abundance of interesting shapes and textures in this photo, there’s certainly no shortage of beauty to capture your attention.
Excellent work, Kyle!
September 13 - Shea
There’s plenty of beauty in the smaller parts of the world around us, as this gorgeous image of a fly by Shea demonstrates.
The key to getting a great macro shot (well, one of the keys…) is perfecting the focus.
In this case, Shea’s gotten the focus just right, so the fly’s eyes are tack-sharp. The lighting, framing, and composition aren’t bad, either!
September 14 - RC
Though portraiture might seem easy, good portraiture is a little more complex.
This shot by RC shows that gorgeous lighting is necessary to get the most visual impact in a portrait.
In this case, the softness of the light gives the shot dimension while the absence of harsh shadows or bright highlights gives the portrait a clean, even look. Nice job, RC!
September 15 - Rob
Mt. Cook is a beautiful subject to photograph, but add in a sunset, and you have a recipe for a winning shot!
This image by Rob combines the landscape, the water reflection, and the sunset in perfect harmony to create an eye-catching, dramatic photo. Wow!!
September 16 - Paul
Repetition is a great tool to use when composing photos because it creates an image that has lots of depth.
In this shot by Paul, you can see how the repeating pattern created by the flowers also makes for a much more visually appealing image.
The colors and shapes in this photo totally set it off!
September 17 - Rui Santos
Rui Santos’ up close and personal photo of this fly boasts perfect focus - something that’s a challenge to do in macro work.
Also note how the shot is framed tightly on the fly’s eye to maximize our view of all the beautiful details in the image. Great work, Rui!
September 18 - Thrasivoulos P
Using a reflection in a landscape photo is a perfect trick for creating something more symmetrical. Reflections help brighten up dark foregrounds, too.
But as you can see in this magnificent shot by ThrasivoulosP, reflections can also be used to add more drama to even the most dramatic of photos!
September 19 - Keskimkai
Keskimkai’s breathtaking portrait wins the title of Inspirational Photo of the Day for plenty of reasons.
Not only is the snowy forest a great backdrop for the shot, but also notice how the model is perfectly sharp - especially her eyes. The lighting, composition, and styling are on-point as well!
September 20 - Roger Hill
Roger Hill’s photo of an Oklahoma thunderstorm shows off perfect composition.
With a little terrain at the bottom of the shot for depth, the storm is the primary focus with its position smack in the middle of the frame. Good stuff, Roger!
September 21 - Tony_n_OKC
A great abstract photo has the quality of being eye-catching, but also has the quality of allowing the viewer to determine what they see.
In this beautiful abstract by Tony_n_OKC, your mind can wander to a million places to decide what you’re looking at. Is it a forest? Is it an urban park? Is it an animal standing in the foreground? Who knows!
September 22 - Emma
This beautiful and unique portrait by Emma is a perfect example of how staging and editing can come together to enhance the quality of a portrait.
The fiery red dress is certainly an eye-catcher, but with the deep black background and the placement of the model in the middle of the frame, the dress doesn’t overwhelm the shot.
Great work, Emma!
September 23 - Keith
When photographing a sunset, it’s important to remember that the sunset itself isn’t the only thing that deserves to be in the shot.
In this case, the reflection of the colors in the sky off the wet sand adds a ton of depth to this photo. The inclusion of the people on the beach is a nice touch as well!
September 24 - Kyle
Kyle’s image of a perfectly illuminated slot canyon shows how attention to detail can make or break the shot.
Notice how the scene is framed front a low point of view, and how the positioning of the camera takes full advantage of the leading lines created by the canyon to lead our eyes upward toward the source of the light. What a stunning photo!
September 25 - Baze
Action photography can be a but this image by Baze makes it look simple!
You can virtually feel the movement of the motorcycle and its rider coming around the corner, so much so that you can imagine what the engine sounds like!
Notice how the shot is framed perfectly and how the rider is tack-sharp. Good stuff, Baze!
September 26 - Astrodave
Astrodave’s photo of this gorgeous Milky Way landscape makes you feel as though you’re peeking into an alien world.
Though the night sky is definitely beautiful, the interesting rock formations in the foreground make this shot more interesting with their shapes and textures.
September 27 - Paul
A stare down with a giant eagle has to be a little disconcerting, and Paul managed to capture that feeling in this wonderful image.
The low perspective of this photograph makes the eagle seem that much more imposing, and its stare feels as though it’s coming right through the computer screen. The texture of the eagle’s feathers really sets this image off as well!
September 28 - Paulo
There are all kinds of gorgeous landscapes - mountains, deserts, and certainly oceans...
Paulo captured the beauty of Portugal’s coast perfectly in this long exposure. The smoothness of the water and clouds is a nice contrast to the rocky texture of the landscape. The moodiness of the sky is a great element, too!
September 29 - Pavlos
Great photos tell a story, and this shot by Pavlos certainly does that.
The low-angle of view gets us on the eye level of this mother and child, and helps transport us to this moment in time in which they spend an afternoon together.
You can just see the love between these two, can’t you?! Great work, Pavlos!
September 30 - Roger Hill
Storm photos are tough to do well, but Roger Hill has a dandy on his hands with this shot of a South Dakota twister.
Despite the tough conditions, Roger framed this image perfectly, with the thin, fingerlike tornado placed precisely in the middle of the shot. Simply breathtaking!