The 2025 Refocus Awards Just Revealed The Best Color Photography, And It’s Breathtaking (50 Pics)

The Refocus Awards 2025 have announced this year’s winners in color photography. Photographers from around the world submitted their best shots across 20 diverse categories, including abstract, aerial, architecture, conceptual, domestic animals, event, fashion & beauty, film/analog, fine art, landscapes, minimalism, nature, people, photojournalism, portrait, still life, street, travel, underwater, and wildlife.

“These images serve as a reminder of the importance of visual image-making through color. There are so many thoughtful and compelling perspectives here that define our creative community, and show us a bright future, past, and present in color photography,” said Lily Fierman, co-founder of the Refocus Awards.

More info: refocus-awards.com | Instagram | Facebook

“Canoeing through a quiet Louisiana swamp at sunrise, I watched soft light filter through the trees. A Great Egret glided over the water, drawing my lens to the richness of the swamp—a warm, thriving habitat many wildlife species call home.”

“Beneath the earth lies a glowing realm, where Bioluminescent Glow Worms create a galaxy-like spectacle. This image captures the awe of exploration, blending the soft glow with the cave’s textures, highlighting nature’s fragile, otherworldly beauty in a moment of quiet wonder.”

“Past and present, light and cold shadow, man and woman… one morning I came to the train station and took this photo shortly before the departure of the retro train.”

“In the vast expanse of the Maasai, the soft light of dusk gives way to a scene of profound, almost sacred intimacy. A family of elephants stands close together — whose true majesty lies not in their size, but in the depth of their connection, a bond as old as time itself.”

“From the series ‘A Man and His Horse’, made in The Gambia. This image shows a weekly ritual in which he bathes the horse and checks her skin for parasites.”

“Every week, on Inle Lake (Myanmar), hundreds of canoes gather to form the night market with different fruits and vegetables to trade with the local population.”

“Pakistan is expelling 1,5 million undocumented Afghans, refugees in the country. These women fled Afghanistan when the Talibans took over, but now they are forcibly back in their country, registering at the border with Taliban authorities.”

“Underwater in French Polynesia, a surfer rides through the barrel of a wave. Nearby, another person floats, watching the moment unfold.”

“A quiet moment captured in the geothermal area of Kerlingarfjöll, Iceland.”

“Bangladeshi women contribute to the household economy by working in chile pepper factories during the summer.”

“This is my only capture of this adult Australian fur seal. The pups were curious and playful. This fella would float in the distance, ignoring us. A younger seal was chasing and nibbling him, and that interaction sent him charging in my direction. Unveiling this remarkable, dynamic encounter.”

“According to UN estimates, approximately 320.000 children between 5 and 14 years of age are forced to work. In Managua (Nicaragua), nearly 1.000 children live on the largest garbage dump in Central America, where they rummage in search of recyclable materials, which can later be resold on the streets.”

“A local water buffalo farmer and his daughter cross an ancient stone bridge as the first rays of sunshine spill over the peaks. Location: Guilin, China.”

“With irresistible puppy-like eyes, an Australian sea lion playfully engages with the camera with curiosity in South Australia’s kelp forests. Listed as Endangered, these rare sea lions face threats from habitat loss, fishing bycatch, and pollution.”

“Seeing Route 66 change from boom to bust, season to year, surviving the loss of the surroundings and the bypass of old routes, The Blue Swallow survives as a living part of history for the nostalgic traveler that seeks the roadside relics that convey of America’s passing culture.”

“A ‘Ring of Fire’ solar eclipse reaches annularity as two intrepid ice climbers summit the mighty Glacier Leones. A drone illuminates the ice’s textures and colours, battling fierce winds that whip up plumes of snow that burn in the sun’s rays.”

“Pure Raza Spanish Stallion.”

“This photo likely depicts a solitary flamingo standing or wading in a tranquil lagoon, surrounded by the soft haze of winter fog. The mist diffuses the light, creating a dreamy and ethereal atmosphere.”

“These photographs are part of a series taken in the northern part of the Venice lagoon, where I live. All images are taken with long exposures, sometimes with the tripod directly stuck in the underwater mud. I look forward to the foggy days to isolate the subjects as much as possible.”

“The lone Citibank Tower in Long Island City, Queens, NY, acts like a backdrop to a snowy embankment of graves in Queens’ historic Calvary Cemetery.”

“Bottlenose dolphins jumping in the Gulf of California at sunset in Baja California, Mexico.”

“At the foot of Wyoming’s Tetons, the waning day brings a cast of characters together to mingle for a moment of refreshingly untouched nature.”

“Abdu-Rahnan’s child sleeps outside on a property where the owners let the family use the land temporarily. In the West Bank, Abdu-Rahnan and his family have been displaced by settler violence after their entire community was forced out of their homes, days following the October 7th attacks.”

“A woman is not decoration. A woman is not a shadow. A woman is not a ghost through which one can see the environment. She should not hide in the walls of buildings.”

“When I saw this church, I knew I had to take photos there. The church has a light channel in front of its entrance. And I was lucky, the model fit perfectly with the stones of the church and during the shoot the sun came out and shone directly into her face.”

“In Norway’s Arctic archipelago, scattered islets resemble chess pieces on the sea. Upon the rocks lies a lone green pitch—like a king’s square. Beneath shifting skies, each match becomes a game of fate and strategy in this oceanic chessboard.”

“Mexican Mennonite boys having fun under cover of the night.”

“A shark silhouette transforms the sun into an underwater eclipse. Captured while scuba diving in the Bahamas.”

“I create visual worlds blending abstraction and nature through fluid forms born from the interaction of water, pigments, and light. In a studio setting, I photograph these dreamlike landscapes, questioning the boundary between the natural and the artificial, the real and the imagined.”

“Gliding through a cathedral of ice, this moment in the Arctic feels suspended in time. But beneath the stillness lies urgency—these ancient giants, reflected in fleeting waters, remind us just how swiftly beauty can disappear.”

“Dozens of caimans lie motionless in a shrinking mud pool, awaiting the return of the rains in the heart of the Pantanal at the peak of the dry season.”

“The former Armstrong Rubber Building in New Haven, Connecticut. Part of my series LIGHT/MASS, which explores the alien-like urban landscapes found in cities and towns across the United States.”

“In an attempt to avoid an even worse big wave beating, Rafael Tapia hits the eject button.”

“A study in complementary color and texture - deep cobalt tones and sunlit clementines evoking distant places and timeless still life traditions.”

“The suit is tailored to give the figure a sculptural sharpness and add an air of mystery to the image. The background is flooded with a vast, almost bleached sun or diffuse light, making the model’s silhouette appear strikingly graphic and high-contrast against the gentle outlines of the mountains.”

35201-2025-CC-Elijah Barnes-elixbarnes

“The vintage charm of the decommissioned Tempelhof airport in Berlin.”

“NOT AN EXIT is a collection of large format analog photographs that proposes a closer examination of the nondescript interiors that we routinely pass through; doorways and hallways, spaces intended for movement but here, somehow appear impenetrable.”

“Rose Couture celebrates the elegance of aging. Dried roses, with petals curled into rich folds, resemble elaborate gowns. Their colors—deep magenta, blush, ochre, seafoam—reveal unexpected beauty. This series honors grace, resilience, and color in transformation.”

“This series reimagines Holland’s tulip fields as vibrant, painterly landscapes of motion, light, and hue. Using ICM and selective focus techniques, the series embraces the emotional qualities of the floral expanse, transforming linear rows of tulips into dreamlike fields of color and texture.”

“Lyric, nine years old, lived in a converted school bus at a motorhome site in Arizona. Her parents sought autonomy outside societal norms. The brown beans and golden cutlery create a quiet tension, challenging ideas of wealth, belonging, and what defines a rich life.”

“Mother of Pearl captures love and beauty through floral photography inspired by Renaissance painting. Focusing on roses in full bloom, it highlights soft textures, organic forms, and pearly tones. The interplay of light and shadow creates a surreal elegance, evoking femininity and timeless grace.”

“This photo shows four women across three generations wearing a pink niqab. By replacing black with soft pink, the niqab sheds its oppressive image, symbolizing femininity and tenderness. The work challenges stereotypes, humanizes the garment, and sparks dialogue on cultural diversity and symbolism.”

“Courtones is an image of a basketball court that screams of its uniqueness and colours. The aerial angle with the sun setting builds a really interesting play of light and shadow, shows the complementary colours of the court with its surroundings, and creates a composition that leads your eye around.”

“The lost place of the Belvedere Hotel at night. It is located at the Furka Pass in the South of Switzerland.”

“Dead Homeland is a visual project that re-examines a part of Venezuela’s history and binary violence culture that operates from the archetypes of the Miss and the Military in Venezuelan society. A military society, sometimes with guns, sometimes with heels.”

“This scene was like straight out of Arizona. It’s hard to believe this stunning landscape is actually in Germany. The dramatic backdrop and his noble presence make this moment feel truly surreal.”

“Hindu devotees celebrate the festival of Holi while smearing and throwing coloured powder into the atmosphere, while celebrating the annual festival, observed in Trinidad and Tobago.”

“A series of portraits which go beyond representation. The aim is to create images which have a presence using the tools of intimacy and connection with the subject. What are we preconditioned to find ‘Hot’?”

“Emediong stands with Ewaoluwa, her acclaimed “African Monalisa,” redefining the global art canon. Merging classical homage with cultural power, she challenges Eurocentric ideals — placing African beauty on a pedestal where it audaciously belongs.”

“This photo aims to convey the contrast between a warm, cozy cabin and a harsh winter landscape during blue hour. Captured in Steamboat Springs, Colorado on 120 Cinestill 800t film.”

“Lost within a labyrinth of colored doors, I float weightlessly, searching for a path that only exists in dreams. Self-portrait.”

“Palm Springs in the summer can make a lizard sweat. Looking for some air conditioning?”

“This series explores the balance between movement and stillness in the city, capturing bursts of color in motion and quiet moments of reflection. It contrasts solitude and togetherness, inviting viewers to see the urban landscape as a living canvas where motion and pause exist in harmony.”

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One may buy the most expensive photography gear, yet one can’t buy an eye for a good photo. Just like with any creative skill, imagination and a creative approach are key. However, while quality equipment certainly wouldn’t hurt, it’s really about knowing how to utilize the tools and functions already available in your hands. Some of the best photography hacks do exactly that: they teach you to use tools already available or easily accessible to achieve your best photo result.

Ironically, among the many great photography hacks are tips and tricks you may already know about. Perhaps you just forgot, or it’s something so basic that it simply never crossed your mind. However, plenty of photography tips can also be new, depending on how long you’ve been in the field. Whether you are looking for photography tips for beginners or want to hone your skills, you’re likely to leave this article with your creative juices flowing overboard and new ideas popping up!

One of the simplest smartphone photography tricks is this one. To create a reflective surface with your smartphone, place your phone’s screen at the bottom of the DSLR. This popular technique can make a distinguished appearance and feel in your photographs.

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Another quick photo frame hack. You can take stunning images with natural light from the setting sun and a few old, no-longer-usable picture frames.

Jordi Koalitic Report

The Japanese word “bokeh” describes the blur in an image’s out-of-focus area. Cut out intriguing shapes like tiny circles or stars from black poster board. Use the poster board to cover the lens and try out various focal lengths.

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The majority of marbles are made of glass. However, photographing marbles differs from photographing other kinds of glass. This results from the marbles’ smooth, spherical surface, which tends to reflect a lot of light from its surroundings. With appropriate lighting and settings, your photos incorporating marbles will look absolutely phenomenal.

Jordi Koalitic Report

You can create creepy yet amazing-looking pictures with just a few items. Just trust the process.

Jordi Koalitic Report

This approach will help you produce more focused lighting in your photographs and consume an entire tube of Pringles in one sitting, so you’re sure to like it. Also, you may want to reduce the size of the container’s bottom opening so that a flash head can fit snugly through it.

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You can take some incredible photos using fairy lights. And the best bit is that they are really affordable! One of the best uses for fairy lights is as a foreground bokeh close to the camera. Such placement will give the light the appearance of fuzzy spots and thus sweeten your photograph. You can also use fairy lights to illuminate objects like a lightbulb or a Mason jar.

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A topic or object will appear larger the closer it is to the camera, especially when compared to a subject or object farther away. The same goes for making something appear smaller by keeping it further from the camera.

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If you have a spare pair of reading glasses lying around, try creating a magnifying effect by holding the glasses in front of the lens. It can get you a similar result to lens ball photography without the financial outlay.

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You might have seen this one on YouTube. Plenty of video tutorials show how you can equip your glass coffee table to create outstanding photos. You can place anything you wish on the tabletop, perhaps some tealights, leaves, or sand, and ask your model to lay under the table. While it may seem simple, shooting through the glass this way can bring an entirely new layer of depth to your image.

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Set up your camera on a tripod and take images every 10-20 seconds or as required until you have captured every part of the scene unobstructed. The more shots you have of the scene unobstructed, the better.
Open Photoshop and select File > Scripts > Statistics.
Set it to “Median.”
Open all the files you want to use.
If it was not shot on a stable tripod and the images do not line up perfectly, select “Auto-Align.” Note that this only works for solid structures. If a tree/object has moved because of wind, this won’t help.

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Suppose you don’t have the chance to shoot in a studio or cannot locate the ideal location. In that case, your TV makes a wonderful prop to create an impressive background. Simply select the desired photo, put it on the TV, and hit the shutter. The TV is one of many fantastic photography accessories that might provide an excellent background for portrait shots. If you’re photographing products, go with something smaller, like your computer monitor.

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In design, the positioning of visual components so they align in a composition is known as alignment. Both in design and photography, alignment is utilized to arrange elements, group them, provide balance, establish relationships between photo components, and produce a distinct result.

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To create a sparkling ring of fire, you will need a few things: wire, sparklers, and tape. This quick photography hack will surely provide you with some fascinating results. But hey, be careful with the sparklers and come up with something other than your hands to hold the ring!

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Want to take underwater pictures but don’t want to spend money on expensive or, worse yet, cheap housing that leaks? Simply put your smartphone in a cup made of clear plastic or glass and submerge it. For larger cameras, a vase or fish tank can be used. Get pictures of your subject in the bathtub or pool by simply lowering the lens below the water’s surface. But be careful not to drop the cup or fish tank, or whatever you are using, into the water!

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This clever photography tip dates back to the 1990s. And like most other throwbacks from the 1990s, it’s one to hold onto. Hold a CD in front of the camera to reflect light back into the camera’s lens. For making lens flares that appear to move randomly, this is perfect.

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You can take a photo directly across from the natural light source to capture shadows. Or, you can place a strainer over your camera’s flash. A what? A strainer, but any cooking tool with unique holes and shapes will do. Improve your portrait photography portfolio by experimenting with light to provide a special effect. You might also use window blinds, palm leaves, or anything crochet to create an interesting shadow.

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Shadows help define form and shape, but they may also evoke a sense of mystery and intrigue by changing the appearance of otherwise identifiable objects. In contrast to conventional photography, shadow play photography emphasizes narrative, emotion, and the creative use of shadow. Just keep trying new things and different lighting, be daring with your concepts, keep it lighthearted, and dazzle the spectators with your originality!

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You can create a soft-focus lens effect using items you probably have lying around your house. Try using a cloth or a bandage and wrapping it around your lens for a soft, blurred-frame effect.

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In product or food photography, the background is one of the most crucial stylistic elements. These days, it’s popular to utilize a negative space strategy to eliminate any distracting components. A cloth or paper can ideally make up for a simple plain backdrop. However, instead of only placing the background behind the subject, it is advised to organize it so that it can easily change from a vertical to a horizontal surface. This is one of the photography backdrop tricks that gives the appearance of an “infinity curve,” evoking an obscure space surrounding the subject. In photography, an infinity cove or infinity cyclorama is an entirely white area with no edges used to create the illusion that an object’s background is infinite.

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Equipping the technique demonstrated above, you can take “wildlife” pictures in the comforts of your own bedroom. Literally.

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Want to transform your standard camera lens into a macro lens? All you really need is a cardboard paper towel roll (you could use a TP roll, but the effects would be slightly different). You want at least 10 centimeters or so of the tube. Cut the tube and then use black paper to line the inside of the tube so that the “lens” port is dark.

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A clever use of a spring can give the impression that you have some sort of superpower! Spring man? There are many ways to go about this. Just put your creative hat on!

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High-speed photography literally takes your photos to the next level. High-speed might initially seem impossible to take at home, but this simple instruction will teach you how to freeze action. A tripod and a subject are the first things you’ll need; the subject might be anything from a glass of water to painted balloons. In addition, you will need a solid backdrop and a wireless external flash (Speedlight).

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A cucoloris is a term for fake windows used in photography and cinematography. Any object or gadget that creates a pattern of shadows on a scene qualifies. They can also be referred to as cookies informally. A gobo or go-between is another name for them. It can refer to any object placed between the light source and the scene you are recording or photographing.

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When you notice anything intriguing, take a moment to check that the horizontal and vertical lines are straight before clicking. Today, it’s become ingrained in all of us to point our cameras in the general direction of the subject we photograph. We suggest you line yourself up perfectly with that structure or person.

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Warning : using this hack may cost you a new background paper roll!

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Want to produce a foggy, ethereal effect? To make it happen, all you need is a plastic quart bag. Cover your lens with a plastic sandwich bag to create a DIY haze filter/effect. But make sure there are no breadcrumbs left inside the bag!

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You may add lens flares to your photos the organic way by shining a flashlight directly into your lens!

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A lightbox is often essential for any product photography that calls for taking well-lit pictures of small objects. However, a cardboard box and a piece of plain white fabric might work just as well to create your own lightbox! Using tape and scissors, you can rig it yourself and save some precious dollar bills. Oh, and don’t forget the desktop lamps placed on both sides!

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The definition of beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Even though everyone is charmed by a vast range of physical characteristics (thank goodness!), science has asserted facts about what we are biologically inclined to find more appealing. In fact, contrary to what was predicted, asymmetrical faces were widely perceived as more attractive.

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You may bring your photography abilities to new creative heights with various macro photography tips, such as utilizing a magnifying glass to create close-up shots. Also, you may include the magnifying glass in the frame to give your photo a unique flair.

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Follow the direction above to make your photos look like they were taken in the ’90s!

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If you discover an image that reflects the exact same from top to bottom or from right to left, your viewer will turn over with delight! How often do we see something every day and then see a photographer take a picture that shows an entirely different angle of the same thing? Not so often!

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If you don’t want to risk shooting in the rain and getting your expensive gear wet, but still need that raining sensation in your pictures, you may want to try one of the easiest photography tricks. Simply use a picture frame and a spray bottle. Spray water on the glass surface to make raindrops. For a spectator, it’s really hard to tell that those are not “real” raindrops.

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Another unexpected tool that may reduce glare? Save those Starbies’ coffee sleeves for your upcoming shoot outdoors. You can use them when the sun causes glare on your camera lens.

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Colored filters are precisely what they sound like — a piece of tinted glass that you place in front of the lens. These filters’ effect relies on the filter’s color and alters how the camera perceives light. However, while the results may not be the same, you can try DIYing your own color filter using transparent scotch tape and markers before investing in one.

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You may make your portraits appear more dramatic by simply adding shadows. It gives a flat image some punch and makes it more attractive. For this reason, looking for ways to add shadows on purpose may be a brilliant idea. And one of the simplest ways to do so is by utilizing lace.

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This method is a brilliant choice for a homemade soft light. All you need is an intense light and something to hang the shower curtain from, which you most likely already have or can easily pick up at the shop.

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Give one of the many glasses you likely have in your kitchen cupboards another purpose by using it as a lens filter to create an interesting effect.

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Getting down to your subject’s eye level, whether it’s a squirrel or a bird, can create a very intimate and natural shot. However, laying down and using your elbows as camera support is neither comfortable nor solid enough to reduce camera shake and ensure proper, sharp images. Thus, placing a bag of lentils may be the solution!

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Want to give your photographs a little color or diffusion? Put a nylon stocking over the lens (borrow from your mother or a girlfriend if you don’t have one lying around). You can create your own DIY lens filter by securing it with a rubber band. Also, You can try something more vibrant using colored stockings or neutral with a white pair.

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Any food photographer or product photographer will love this technique: use a simple steamer that is out of the shot to add steam to your photographs.

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This hack only requires a few glow sticks, which you can typically get for $1 at any store, a model, and a dark setting. Adjust your shutting speed and have your model draw shapes in the air!

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To create the appearance of windblown hair, ask your model or someone to assist in holding a hair dryer. This DIY photography tip should also be helpful for those who take self-portraits!

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Try out this DIY photography hack to produce outstanding food photos and make them appear vivid and dynamic! To surround your subject with clouds, you’ll need to add some flour. Yes, flour you make pancakes with. To create your magical photo, follow these steps:

Plan your shoot using a sketch.
Gather the props and equipment.
Make a DIY cloud gun.
Keep all objects in place with glue and knitting needles.
Arrange the composition to make it steady and still.
Use two light sources for lighting the scene.
Take the photo step-by-step.
Edit your magical photo in post-processing. Voila !

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Duck-tape your phone to the ceiling and go under it to take a perfect top-down photo for your Instagram.

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You’ve undoubtedly heard a million times to stand with your back to the sun to prevent your subject from seeming too dark in a photo, but if you are clever about what blocks the sun, you can obtain a beautiful outdoor shot.

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You can improve the lighting on your face by using something as simple as a whiteboard.

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This is a tried-and-true old trick. Early Hollywood film directors would apply vaseline to their lens filters to create a dreamy effect. By using this technique, you may give your subject a subtle shine without applying too much makeup. However, vaseline should be applied on clear plastic wrap or a filter rather than the lens itself.

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If you want a clear image with an unusual reflection, try utilizing a black backdrop with a black tile underneath your product. It will enhance any product image without being too distracting.

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Ask your model to pose in front of some shrubs or trees to make a stunning nature image.

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Light tables can be handy for taking beautiful product photos. Using this tutorial above and a basic cardboard box, you can easily make your own.

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Your already helpful Gorillapod can become even more practical with this method. Drill a small hole in your Gorillapod’s feet and insert magnets that fit inside its leg. However, it’s essential to understand that this modification will nullify the warranty on your Gorillapod!

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Using a wristband to minimize zoom creep will help you avoid the annoying issue of your camera lens moving owing to gravity.

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Every good photograph includes three main centers of interest, which are achieved by having one in each third of the overall image. Remember that it doesn’t have to be completely level. For a genuine pro vibe, move off-center.

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Your photographs will appear to have film burn thanks to this easy method: simply hold a lit match in front of your lens while shooting. But be careful and don’t burn yourself or your expensive camera!

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Using a photo frame in photography is no news. However, the real magic happens in post-processing. Just trust the process.

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Use this technique to create beautiful, dreamlike photos of paint dissolving in water. With this technique, you may see a slow-expanding effect or something that appears more like evil tentacles spreading throughout. What happens in the few seconds after the paint drops into the water will very much depend on the density of the paint you use. Thus, play around with your paint before taking pictures to determine its density. If the paint is too thick, it won’t dissolve in water and will sink to the bottom of the tank. However, if it is too thin, it will dissolve rapidly and have a limited range of color density.

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We can almost see your puzzled expression at this point. And indeed, this hack is a tricky one. While you don’t need expensive equipment to experiment with photoelasticity, you do need a few specific things. Those are a polarizing filter, transparent plastic objects, and a polarized light source. Unfortunately, traditional lighting sources like the sun, lamps, LEDs, and flashbulbs do not emit polarized light and won’t do. In fact, if you are contemplating what kind of light source to utilize, you are currently looking at it. Your phone, tablet, or computer’s LCD screen all output polarized light in one plane.

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It’s incredible how simple it is to take excellent pictures if you know just consider the following: if you are taking a shot of someone outside and the sun is right behind them, the subject will appear like a shadow (which could also work to make a silhouette photo). All you have to do is move them to face the sun, and they will be well-illuminated. However, avoid direct sunlight if you don’t want your subject to squint or have over-exposed areas in your photos!

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If red eye consistently ruins your pictures, give this a try: when using the flash, have your subject look slightly above the camera.

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You may have noticed that both DSLR and phone cameras’ flash pops up as soon as it gets slightly darker, despite not always being needed nor desired. While flash photography works great in dim and poorly lit environments, taking photos with a flash actually requires some knowledge to make it work. However, in everyday scenarios or basic photoshoots, no flash should work just fine. If the area you are taking photos in is relatively dim, switch off the flash and raise the ISO instead. Increasing your ISO will make your camera’s shutter speed faster in all modes other than Manual and Shutter Priority, giving you a better chance of capturing moving subjects. Now take the picture.

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Honestly, simple photos that allow for the subject to breathe make for the most incredible images. So go ahead and find the plainest background you can. For the spectator, the experience of looking at a busy vs. simple photo is the same as the difference between stepping into a super-cluttered home or a clean, minimalist setting with few distractions. Take the extra time to look around and pick a simple background that doesn’t draw attention away from the subject if you shoot an image of a person.

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The easiest and least-used tip in the photographer’s handbook is arguably the rule of thirds. How to utilize it? Go into your camera’s menu and select “Grid,” which will display a grid with horizontal and vertical lines as you look through the viewfinder. With the help of the grid, place your subject in the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two-thirds open. Although there are different types of composition, using the rule of thirds usually results in interesting and well-composed photos. Most amateur photographers center their subjects in the center of the frame. Good try but BO-RING!

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Family photos are difficult to take. Unless you don’t mind running back and forth to set the timer off, have a remote shutter control, or are an iPhone user. You can actually shoot pictures using the volume control on your iPhone headphones (the ones that used to come in the box). If you own an Apple watch, you can also make it function as a camera remote!

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Here is another trick utilized for as long as tripods have existed. Just put some cotton or felt pads on the tripod’s feet. If the flooring is smooth (a cobblestone walkway WON’T do), you can use your tripod as a dolly to create smooth panning views and time-lapse videos.

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Most believe that to capture the entire scene, they must take a huge step back and leave plenty of space around the subject. One must remember that occasionally, you can cut off your subject’s forehead, legs, or lower body from the frame. They are not a mime trapped in an invisible box! The issue with always having the camera zoomed out so much is that the viewer isn’t immediately made aware of the photo’s purpose or subject. As is often said, the simpler your shot is, the better. The most compelling images make it crystal clear to the spectator what “narrative” you are trying to convey. If you are trying to convey their emotion, such as anger or sadness, use a close-up of their brows and eyes. While hands can help convey anger through clenched fists, hands may not help convey a feeling of despair.

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In the introduction, we mentioned that some people simply have an eye for photography. And while some may actually be born with it (lucky folks), it’s also a skill that can be acquired. Look at the structures you pass, the windows you see, the brickwork patterns, etc. One unexpected “click” may allow you to realize there is a pretty fascinating pattern in the brickwork of a building you pass through every day.

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Most photographs that viewers see are taken at eye level from the photographer’s vantage point, which is also how we perceive most of our daily experiences. We don’t often view cities from that perspective, so it’s not surprising that they are aesthetically magnificent when you climb to the top of a tall structure and look down on them. In food photography, this bird’s-eye perspective is frequently used. Just play with it, and you might discover a hidden treasure!

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Creating a flash grid attachment to create a spotlight effect is another useful do-it-yourself photography lighting technique. A piece of straw, cardboard, and an elastic band are all you need.

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If you already have a beautiful spot to snap a mirror image, turn the camera 90 degrees to add even more points of interest.

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Make your own neutral density (ND) filter using welding glass that you can find at any hardware shop rather than paying for a pricey ND filter from a camera shop. Utilize this technique to produce black and white long exposure photos.

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Sometimes, the unposed is actually better. Caught-in-the-moment photographs convey real moments the best. People are more likely to reflect on how they felt at the time when the picture was taken when they see a candid portrait of themselves rather than a posed one.

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Using reflective paper for product photography aids in obtaining more diverse light perspectives.

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To create a captivating background, simply go to the kitchen and grab some tin foil. You could also use crumpled foil to create an interesting texture. Then, you can set it up as a background. You can change the bokeh’s color by using a light source of a different hue and directing it to the background. To add even more creativity, place a mirror underneath the object to create a reflection effect.

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Duh ! A super easy way to obtain a beautiful photo backdrop is to find a wall with cool paper or an interesting pattern and just start taking pictures!

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You can get a smooth slide in any video using just a towel or an old rag. Simply place your camera on the towel after putting it on a flat surface. Then, after you begin filming, drag the towel across the surface for a simple, inexpensive DIY slider.

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Then take a photo through the glass. Voila ! Who would even catch on that it was a sunny day outside when you took the photo?

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Most people consider the most artistic shots as those that use a big aperture expressed as an f-number to blur the backdrop to draw more attention to a subject. However, your aperture will probably only drop to f/3.5 if you use a kit lens, which isn’t a very large aperture. However, the effects may be just as stunning as done with a macro lens.

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A shaking hand can cause a perfect phone photo to appear blurry and off. To prevent this from happening, try attaching two binder clips to the back or side of your phone to make a DIY tripod.

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Your photos will appear “softer” if you place a layer of glass between you and your subject. Windows are an excellent tool for this. You can use this approach not only for portraits but also for still life and street photography.

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The most common approach to incorporating neon signs into your photos is through portraiture. Allow your subject to bask in the light by having them stand next to or underneath them. Your model’s skin may take on an alluring glow thanks to the various hues they emanate. By having your subject stand against it, you may use the rich light and sharp contrast they provide to highlight specific areas of their face or body. You can also incorporate neon signs in your frame because they look fantastic in photographs.

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Although you may purchase your own tilt-shift lenses, they can get pretty expensive. Thankfully, today’s many smartphone apps include tilt-shift options, and Instagram is one among them. Tilt-shift lenses are pretty popular among photographers because they make it easier to manipulate the images’ focus and depth of field than other lenses. Even when the photo’s subject is still, a tilt-shift lens can give the image a sensation of motion.

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To create some pretty cool effects, take some of your holiday tinsel and hold it up to your camera’s lens.

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You may get some outstanding results if you use this photography hack properly. To benefit from how a longer exposure time blurs moving subjects and catches moving points of light, use a long shutter speed (also known as a “slow” shutter speed). Also, when using slow shutter speeds, use a tripod so that any in-focus regions are crisp and only the parts you wish to depict motion are blurred.

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