on black Azwin Andy, Drummer for the band Estranged A commissioned job by the client Junk Magazine, August 2008 The article was on toilet habits. It helps to have complete creative freedom. This photograph was featured on Spotlight Seven ©2008 Vignes Balasingam www.vignesbalasingam.com All rights reserved
Nigerian artist Arinze Stanley uses hyperrealistic techniques to draw surreal portraits in stunning detail. From his artist
If you want a quick and easy way to take interesting portraits, mirror photography is for you. All you need is a mirror (or several mirrors, if you're feeling extra creative), a patient model, and a few tips. 1. Mirror Photography: Use Artificial Light to Enhance Your Model's Features One of the best things about mirror photography is that it offers unlimited possibilities. As long as you have access to a mirror, you can take photos wherever and whenever you want. If you want to stay in, experiment with different outfits, and take great photos with a limited amount of light, you can easily do so. You just need to work with artificial light and DSLR camera settings that are usually not needed during the warmer months. Artificial light can enhance your subject's features. As you take photos, make sure you manually change your photos' color temperature and ISO. Color temperature will let you fix unflattering tones and ISO will help you take sharp photos in locations with limited light. 2. Use Manual Focus for the Sharpest Results Depending on the concept of your shoot, you might have to deal with a lot of busy foregrounds and backgrounds in your compositions. Because of this, autofocus might capture the wrong subject or not be able to focus at all. Especially if you're working with a small f-number like f/1.2. You can avoid this by switching to manual focus. Manual focus will let you capture exactly what you want. If you don't use it regularly, it will feel very awkward at first. Don't let this bother you! It's also likely that the mirror you use will create distortions on your model's face. These will be noticeable only when you zoom into your photo, so they shouldn't be a problem. 3. Create Space in Small Rooms by Using Large Mirrors Small spaces like elevators have mirrors to give the illusion of more space. You can use this trick to your advantage when you shoot in small rooms. If you live in a small apartment, you can use a large mirror to take mirror images of your subject from a distance. This is especially handy if you use a zoom lens, which typically isn't practical to use indoors. You can also use large mirrors to create more space between yourself and your model. This will make them feel more comfortable and give them room to pose without worrying about bumping into your camera. 4. Shoot Through Multiple Mirrors to Create a Surreal Effect Surreal photography is all about otherworldly concepts and stories inspired by fairytales. Some surrealist photographers, like Rosie Hardy, use their photo editing skills to create unusual photos. Others, like John Dykstra, use props and their imagination to create unedited masterpieces. You don't always need incredible editing skills or props to create surreal photos, though. With use of mirrors (at least two), you can focus on different angles of your model's face and reflect objects that wouldn't be visible in a photo with one mirror. Here, you can also different reflective surfaces for better images. 5. Take Photos of Yourself and Your Model at the Same Time Portrait photography tends to focus on those standing in front of the camera. Anyone behind it should be invisible. Mirror photography is an exception to this rule, as you can take photos of both yourself and your model in the mirror. You can use this technique to add depth to your creative self-portraits. It can also be used to create more space in a photo or to fill in empty areas in your composition. Make sure you use this technique sparingly, though. The more you use it, the more unoriginal your concepts will be. Try creative these self-reflection portraits with broken mirrors for some added creativity. 6. Take Your Mirror Outdoors There are lots of exciting outdoor locations that you can enhance with the help of a mirror. You can use it to cover parts of your model's body, reflect a beautiful location, or even use it to improve your landscape photography skills. I recommend using a small mirror outdoors. Carrying a large mirror is impractical. And it will make your photo shoot significantly more inconvenient than a normal one with smaller props. 7. Recreate Fun Road Trip Photos in a Car You don't need to go on an epic road trip to take exciting travel photos. If you have a car, you can recreate travel photos by simply having your model sit in it. No driving necessary! Use a side mirror or rear view mirror to focus on your model. Make sure the background (preferably an eye-catching location) is visible, too. This will give dimension to your photo and create a sense of adventure. 8. Take Atmospheric Self-Portraits Mirror selfies have become so popular that they're no longer interesting, but this doesn't mean you can't use them to create original self-portraits. Instead of focusing solely on yourself, try to create an atmosphere using objects next to your mirror. The photographer in the image above used her bedroom to create a cozy and pleasant feel. While most of the objects in her photo aren't sharp, they still complement her pose and reflect her personality (no pun intended). 9. Use a Small Mirror to Create Abstract Portraits Abstract portraits are unconventional and striking. They can be used to create photos that resemble paintings or simply highlight one part of your model's face, like the eye in the photo above. You can use a handheld mirror or a prism to experiment with this effect. A prism might make reflections appear more distorted. You'll also have to focus very carefully to get sharp results. A handheld mirror will reflect more of your subject's face and make it easier for you to focus on them. Since both of these mirrors are affordable and accessible, I recommend experimenting with both. Conclusion: Mirror Photography Mirror photography will help you appreciate unusual perspectives, try out new photography styles, and add more depth to your photos. Even the simplest mirror can help you take your portraits to the next level. So what are you waiting for? Grab a mirror and start shooting!
Interview with photographer Janelia Mould where we discuss conceptual photography and her series capturing the mind of someone suffering from depression.
Photo manipulated images that give imagination a visual voice. Artist going by the name Thezairul has one of the best job descriptions I have ever seen. "Surreal Practitioner". Digital art that show us a point of view, which might stretch the sometimes narrow ones we have. I speak from my experience. If you have ever spoken the following words, then you know what I am talking about. "I thought everybody..." you can add to that: Thought, Did etc. We do tend to assume that because we grew up doing something a certain way, that everyone does exactly the same. It can be embarrassing to find out that some or most don't. But it's also eyeopening; you get to thinking: "What other things have I made assumptions about, that are not necessarily universal?" It's a perfect start to seeing the world in a different way. Appreciating the subtle differences that make out life on this planet so interesting, (at times) and definitely diverse. A few surreal exercises below, to stretch that secure and consistent view of the world you might have. Ps. I gave the images some titles. Motorways of the future. Press the Image to Enlarge it. Appreciating them in their natural environment. Press the Image to Enlarge it. A scuba dive amongst nature. Press the Image to Enlarge it. Your down is another person's up. Press the Image to Enlarge it. Waiting to take you wherever you want. Press the Image to Enlarge it. Travelling through architecture. Press the Image to Enlarge it. Guarding my bike while I am in the shop. Press the Image to Enlarge it. Reflections of parallel universes. Press the Image to Enlarge it. Lighthouse in Fractured architecture. Press the Image to Enlarge it. A long drive home. Press the Image to Enlarge it.
About The Artwork Oliver Mayhall is a portrait and fine art photographer based in London. Oliver’s abstract and surrealist work is an exploration of the thoughts and experiences gained from the world around him. Using both digital and film, and utilising props, lighting, and textures, he creates captivating and playful imagery that poses questions. His work is constantly evolving through experimentation, and is often shot in black and white. Original Created:2023 Subjects:Abstract Materials:Paper Styles:AbstractSurrealismFine Art Mediums:GicléeBlack & WhiteDigital Details & Dimensions Photography:Giclée on Paper Artist Produced Limited Edition of:25 Size:20 W x 25 H x 0.1 D in Frame:Not Framed Ready to Hang:No Packaging:Ships Rolled in a Tube Shipping & Returns Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments. Handling:Ships rolled in a tube. Artists are responsible for packaging and adhering to Saatchi Art’s packaging guidelines. Ships From:United Kingdom. Customs:Shipments from United Kingdom may experience delays due to country's regulations for exporting valuable artworks. Have additional questions? Please visit our help section or contact us.
Fairytale photography can bring the magical stories from your childhood back to life. Let these captivating photos by fantasy photographers take you on a journey!
A flock of arms reaches out from the side of the frame like blades of grass. Elia Pellegrini's photographs ask audiences to stop, pause, consider.
Explore Brother Kenny's 5915 photos on Flickr!
We’ve compiled a selection of great photography illusions that truly wowed us, and we hope it will do the same for you too. Be inspired and create your own.
Celebrating the Global Center for the Artist's Work: Menton
Simon Kerola is a young Swedish photographer who brings to life the solitary confinement of life itself through his narrative photography. His works are described as being melancholic, dark, moody, and yet romantic.
Art can give us a better understanding of our emotions and the world we live in. Even though some art pieces can be difficult to comprehend, they might provoke one to think and find his or her own meaning. Art is often connected to human emotions. In the process of creating art, artists express what they are concerned or curious about. In this way, they explore their own thoughts and feelings and at the same time encourage the public to engage in the journey of meaning-making.
Exclusive Interview With Petite Doll, 1st Prize Winner of the INPRNT Photography Award, 2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize An eerie feeling falls upon you as you spot the doll-like figure lying in her dreamhouse. At a first glance, she seems simply perfect. Her hair is styled pristinely and not a strand is out of place. Her lips and cheeks plump, rosy and oh so full of life. She's just like a Barbie doll! But she seems broken. A haunted, far away look clouds her eyes. She detaches herself from her reality as a cold, metal claw machine descends to pluck out her heart. Her soft, rosy bedsheets cannot protect her from this fate as unsettling feelings of vulnerability and loss of control plague the air like a thick miasma. This floral nightmare is 'The Claw
Shadows create fascinating pictures on their own, and they also are beautiful when paired with their parent object. The contrast between the image and its shadow makes an amazing photograph. In this article, We’ve compiled 30 examples of shadow photography taken at perfect time. shadow Tired shadow © iraklis To catch of shadows © milan […]
Fun and freaky. That's, quite possibly, the only way to describe these photomanipulations by Buenos Aires-based graphic design student Martn De Pasquale.
Fairytale photography can bring the magical stories from your childhood back to life. Let these captivating photos by fantasy photographers take you on a journey!