The iPad may be a useful editing platform for photographers, but it can hardly be considered the newest trend in photography. And the fact that DSLR cameras are everywhere now that even regular folk without formal background in photography can use them to document important life events, and do their own amateur work on the side does not make them another trend. The trends that we intend to present here are the approaches to photography that both professional and amateur photographers have embraced in the past few years, thus contributing to their popularity.
Portrait props
Portrait photography has seen many fads, especially in the past two decades. Fads are fleeting, and something more interesting could easily oust the newest craze. But there is one common element that characterize the most recent fads, and that is the prop. There is no dominant trend at this time in infant and kids’ photography because there are so many isolate fads here and there – the use of faux flooring, selective color, out-of-focus backgrounds, and people seem to enjoy and prefer the variety of options that they can use and share with friends and family through social networking platforms.
Perhaps the most popular modern portrait photography trend yet involving props was the use of oversized cups, saucers, and bowls in photographing infants in various states of wakefulness and sleep. The teacup trend had waned in popularity, but at its peak it was a huge global success.
Super-Zoom
Serious photographers seem to be getting bogged down with all the equipment that they have to lug around. The all-in-one zoom lens has been growing in popularity, and for good reason. The available range is sufficient for most shooting conditions that professional photographers encounter in the field. After the zoom lens had been mounted, it really does not have to be removed. That is the epitome of convenience especially if you are on-the-go every single day and on a limited budget.
Creative photography “micro-trends”
A report on the most exciting trends of 2012 from Franklin Till, a veteran trend-forecasting agency identified a handful of innovative “micro-trends” that characterized the year in terms of creative photography. These are graphic abstraction, painted expressionism, psychedelia, surrealism, and new romanticism. Trend-setting photographers apparently found inspiration from most of their art background because these are themes that pertain to the visual arts.
Graphic abstraction is an approach in still life photography that uses shapes pitted against blocks of color. Basic geometric shapes and angles are used giving the viewer no clear indication whether the representation is in 3D or in 2D. Painted expressionism on the other hand renders a photograph with a highly energetic feel a mixed-media approach and the use of saturation, texture and unrestrained color. Psychedelia is definitely an homage to bygone eras. The approach uses natural imagery suffused with layers that create a visually stimulating illusion of a kaleidoscope world. Surrealism recalls the work of the great surrealists of the 19th century, but with a modern twist. New Romanticism is essentially a play on nostalgic and spiritual themes, wherein overexposure is a favorite technique.
Black and White Revival
Black and white photography has always been a fine art. The expanded capabilities of digital cameras and editing software have contributed to the renewed rush of enthusiasm for black and white photography. It used to be very difficult to get the desired tones in the darkroom, not to mention dangerous with the chemicals needed in processing. Tools are handy and technologically advanced and both professional and amateur photographers with an artistic eye can produce the highest quality black and white photos.
Photo Credit: large photographic lens
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