Different subject matter, different perceptions
The vast amount of visual content out there today lends itself to being creative and following trends based on what people are posting on their social media platforms, or requiring from their commercial brief from the client. It is therefore in the interest of photographers to keep informed of what’s in for the now in order to meet these interest and trends. This is also great, as it forces you to up your game and visit these sites for inspiration and direction. Use what you know and take it forward.
Bright and vibrant colours
Contrast and boldness, using colours to boost the image is popular at the moment, special for the likes of landscape and travel photography. Travelers and tour companies have proved this by the choice and images selection they have used to display their services and imagery.
Shooting landscape vs portrait
To date, the norm has been dependent on composing the subject as to what works best for the genre, example, landscape was generally always taken in ‘landscape”, whereas with portraiture and taller “longer subjects”, the camera was turned side ways to compose in a “portrait format”. This generally still applies to the traditional way of framing the shot, especially when editing and cropping is required. Photographer using a DSLR camera will generally follow this method of shooting as they are normally going to edit the picture in post.
For the average person using their mobile phone as their camera, the effort of turning the phone sideways has moved away, as most display formats online are mostly square, or automatically crop and resize the image in the uploading process. As most people taking photographs go, the mobile far exceeds those carrying around larger DSLRS and lenses as a cheaper and more compact tool to use, especially since most mobile phone apps are accompanied with great and easy to use editing software which makes the process effortless and immediate.
Reportage as a look and feel
Many of the DSLRS being produced are taking the styling of the older vintage retro cameras from the past. This I believe is the increased interests to capture street photography and “non-posed” subject matter. The direction is black and white, using the gradations to make the image pop where desired as like the great photographers from the60’s and 70’s, the likes of Vivian Maier. It is amazing to replicate todays existence in this form. Editing software plugins exists where the the editor can mimic the “film type ASA to create a particular look to the finest detail.
Minimalism and symmetry
High contrast and super sharp images are taking over when comparing topics like architecture and certain landscape categories. There is a move to a more scientific way of composing the shot with the subject emphasis being minimal and stand alone. I believe much of this influence developed from the mind set of straight lines and symmetry, generally used in composition and planning when designing a building structure. These images are normally very hard and square, therefore the entire image is normally very crisp. Mostly exhibited in black and white.
Macro and fashion fantasy
Macro photography has spoilt us with amazing shapes, colours and flow of movement, only visible through the use of high-end macro lenses. The everyday natural eye would not be having been exposed to this without such photography to make this so called “abstract Artwork” so attractive and interesting. Fashion styles across time, have used drapes, flowing fabric of different textures and feel to create this magical and mystical look. Combining both forms and styles of photography together, along with application of post-production and editing, amazing images and artwork are created that form the basis of abstract photography of this nature.
RAW portraiture and tight crops
Although many mobile and software apps offer “smoothing options” to soften the face, professional brands, as well as gallery portrait photographers are moving to maintain the “unperfect” hard and real look of the subject, both for black and white and colour applications. People are attracted more to seeing the “real” not the fake as it tells a clearer story as to the truth behind the face. Using the correct lens, camera, background and lighting make this possible. The quality of today’s portrait lenses, along with medium format cameras and uncropped sensors allows the photographer to experiment and work on detailed abstract crops, making interesting and talkative artwork.