1. Resilience by: Ingrid Endel

“Which kind of tree are you? Resilient or ready to fall into the river of constant change and turbulence?”

Flicker, Twitter, Facebook, 500px

2. The Traveler by: Brave Planet – Tara Lundrigan

“Haven’t done a creative shoot in a while, so we went to the thrift store and picked up 2 mason jars, 2 candles, and a pair of old school dress pants and set out to find the perfect spot in the forest.”

Website, Facebook, 500px

3. Watching…by: Ahmed M. Abdulazim

500px, Flickr, Facebook

4.  Tales from the Black Book of Enchanted Princesses by: Anna Theodora

“Self-portrait with a pigeon. What if Snow White were using her powers for evil?”

500px, Website, Twitter

5. When I’m Small by:  Audrey Simper

“Girl in a dreamworld carrying large fruit.”

500px, Flickr, Facebook

6. Daydreams by:  Tomislav Moze

“Styling: Petra Teresak - MUA: Dunja Tomic - Model: Nikolina Nuic”

500px, Website, Facebook

7. Зеркальное отражение души by:  Demon Arsenal

500px, Website

8. Smoking as Gandalf by:  Vincent Bourilhon

“Gandalf my friend , it will be a night we never forget …”

500px, Website, Facebook

9. Undiscovered World by:  Marina Gondra

500px, Website, Facebook

10. Battle At Cliffside Hill by: Brooke Shaden

“Four years ago almost to the day I began photography, and the first concept I wanted to do when I started was the one above. I had no idea how. I had no idea how to figure out how…it was all a mystery. I did so many other pictures since then that I was able to work through, but this was the first idea I ever had and it felt out of reach. Finally last year I practiced it and liked the outcome, but just tried to redo it and decided to share. There are so many awesome pictures of cross-sections by editing masters, so I have come to learn since my original thoughts went into the conception of this image (like Aaron Nace - wow, awesome!!) but to me, if something was original to *you*, then you should pursue it, and so I did…a 4-year itch has been scratched for me.”

500px, Webiste, Facebook

The post 500px – Top 10 Conceptual Portraits appeared first on Featured Pixels.

I have been in love the with idea of the Lensbaby for a long time. It’s totally unique, and has always provided crazy control over your depth of field. Sadly, in the earlier versions it was difficult to get any real control. They still gave you interesting, artistic images, but now…The Composer Pro has really stepped things up for the line. Not to mention, is available for all these brands: Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony Alpha A, Pentax K , Olympus 4/3, micro 4/3rds, Sony NEX, Samsung NX.

We tested out the Composer Pro lens, which is a 50mm(on a full frame) device that tilts, swivels and then locks in place in order to selectively blur the world around you. It is full on manual focus, which takes a lot of getting used to if you don’t normally shoot that way. What really separates the Composer Pro from the other Lensbaby lens’, is that you have control over the aperture. Because of this feature you can have surprisingly sharp photographs, and way more control doing long exposures. Unlike Lensbabys other lens’ which has no aperture control, and no locking mechanism to allow you to shoot on a tripod and take your time.

The Composer Pro is compatible with all optics in the Optic Swap System and ships with either the Sweet 35 or Double Glass Optic installed.

It’s extremely light weight, which is a really nice change for me. Yes, at $300 I can see how people would be skeptical to buy it, especially when Lensbaby has so many other, cheaper lens…but I highly recommend in this situation you DO NOT cheap out. It is WORTH the extra money, and the features truly make the Composer Pro a professional lens. For me the aperture hardly ever goes above f/5.6.  The Lensbaby effect is still very much there, but that sharpness really helps you focus and expand the spot that is in focus. The lower the aperture, the sharper that sweet spot is, and in turn it makes that depth of field and blur zone so much more prominent.

“The refined and enhanced Composer Pro has an all-metal ball that gives you a more exact, smooth focus and tilt control and will retain its position after being bent, which makes it easy to use even with one hand. Simply tilt the lens to a desired angle and then focus with a traditional barrel focusing ring.”

The Composer Pro is a special lens because it lets you step beyond the “normal” bounds of photography and create unique shots you may not have expected or would have been otherwise impossible. All doing so without even entering photoshop. This lens calls to the creative purists of the photo world. I, personally, am a fiend for sharpness. Sometimes I can’t stand the pictures that I end up with when shooting with this lens….but that is not the lens’ fault. Because when I am actually shooting the right subject, on the right settings, the picture turns out amazing. It’s just about finding a subject that this type of blur, and distortion compliments.

Once you get your hands on one, it will change your artistic perspective forever!

The post LensBaby Composer Pro Review appeared first on Featured Pixels.

Tell us a little bit about you? Where do you consider home?

I’m 20 and I have 10001 nicknames, but most people call me technopaul (yes it has a lowercase t). Currently, I am in the middle of making a documentary called Instagram Is. it is a documentary sharing the experiences of Instagram users, what Instagram is to them and how it is impacting their life and the community around them. Bottom line it is a tool to make people ask themselves how Instagram is affecting their life. (instagramis.com) (instagram.com/technopaul)

I graduate from University this May 2013 with a degree in Emerging Media and Communications. I work full time for Gateway Church as the Media Coordinator for the young adults ministry, VII. I reside in Dallas, TX, but I love the mountains and the wild. I am a wayfarer at heart.

Have you attended school/taken any courses for Photography?

You know I took a photo class in high school, which was all film based, but I actually shoot only digital now. I’m getting the pull back to film though.

I am going to school for Emerging Media and Communication so art and photography have a lot do to with it. But most of what I know now was self-taught or learned from experience.

List 3 photographers you admire – past and/or present.

Meshali Mitchell- this girl is TALENTED. Her photos are a call back to organic and they scream southern.

Ansel Adams- I know a little cliché. But growing up my dad was wild about Ansel and I realize I get a lot of the photography and adventure bug from my dad.

Chris Ozer- I discovered Chris on Instagram, but was immediately drawn to his details.

Could you tell us something that few people know about you?

I ‘m not a hipster because don’t like coffee or jam and I think the smell of Cheerios is disgusting. I used to be an introvert.

What do you think of the current state of the photography industry/where do you see it in 5 years?

There are an exponential greater number of people in the world who have access to photography equipment, but just because everyone can take a photo doesn’t make everyone a photographer. It isn’t the camera that makes the photographer it’s the eye. You either have the eye or you don’t. DSLR photography will never disappear, much like the newspaper, but I think in the future it will change drastically. I think we are just on the edge of this transition from DSLR to Mobile.

List 3 things you wish you had done sooner in your career.

Taken More Risks, Doubted Myself Less, Traveled More

If you could be invisible for one day with your camera, where would you go?

I would take a world tour of rooftops or sit in the cockpit of an airplane.

What in our world, inspires you the most?

People… Creation too.

What is your current gear setup?

Canon 60D, 50mm 1.4 & 1.8, 17-50mm 2.8, Rode Shotgun Microphone / iPhone, olloclip, Joby Gorillapod

What is your favorite lens and why?

I cannot go anywhere without my 50mm 1.4. The depth is incredible and it enhances any story I am conveying. I would love to own the 1.2. Well that and the 5DMIII

What lighting equipment do you take on a regular shoot if any?

Natural Lighting is my go to. I love the limitations it places on my process, it makes me more creative. But a good softbox is always nice.

How important is Photoshop in your final images?

For DSLR, Photoshop is not overly important. I love an image that requires ZERO editing. When I do edit most of the time it’s VSCO or Photoshop.

For Mobile I do edit almost everything. I try to edit my photos to make it seem like they were never edited.

Are you a Mac or PC lover?

I’m a Mac.

What or who got you started in photography?

I remember looking through photos as a child in our old photo albums. Most of the landscape photos where taken by my dad. I LOVED them. I’m realizing now that my dad has been one of the largest influences in my passion to pursue photography. I couldn’t tell you what gear he had back then though. But it all really started in middle school. My parents got a little Nikon camera and I went crazy taking photos and then over time this translated to me starting a contract media business when I was 12, technopaul productions. The rest is history. (technopaulproductions.com)

If you weren’t a professional photographer, what would you like to be doing?

Music. It’s my other passion in life and a lot of my images get tied to music in my head. There is something so powerful about music and images together.

Which 5 words would your friends use to describe you?

Dreamer, Mature, Creative, Grounded, Black and White

What is your greatest fear?

For a long time it had been change. But as I grow older this is becoming less and less scary. Now I think I fear a little that I do fear so little.

Do you have a favorite movie? Favorite television show?

I was a big fan of LOST back in the day. Would you believe though I never watched the last episode…..don’t tell me…. It was all a dream

And the last question, What would you do if you won the lottery?…

First I would tithe, but then I think I would travel for a month and meet all the incredible people I have met through Instagram, then put the rest into savings and go back to work. I like work to much to quit.

http://instagramis.com http://technopaulproductions.com http://instagram.com/technopaul

The post An Interview with Paul Tellefsen appeared first on Featured Pixels.

Untitled by: Evgeniya Vasilyeva

Check out the rest of her stunning portfolio by click this link: http://500px.com/janeelis

The post Photo of the Day [12.04.2013] appeared first on Featured Pixels.

      1. “Into the Poppies” by: John Wilhelm

500px: http://500px.com/horazio  Website: http://www.johnwilhelm.ch/

“My daughter (4 years old) running into the poppy-field. For me this photo is an expression of exactly the way those little people are… they feel free, they are able to enjoy mother nature in a way we have forgotten long time ago… so it makes me very happy to look at this scene but also some kind of sad…”

      2. “Second Chance” by: Geo Messmer

500px: http://500px.com/DaGeo Website: http://www.toxicfx.de/

3. “***” by: Dmitry Ageev

500px: http://500px.com/likart Website: http://ageevphoto.com/

4. “Lonely” by: Piotr Krol

500px: http://500px.com/PiotrKrol_Bax Website: http://bax.wroclaw.pl/

5. “Roe deer – Chevreuil dans un champ de blé.” by:  Alain Balthazard

500px: http://500px.com/Alain_Balthazard Website: http://www.equisport-photos.info/

6. “Come” by: Magdalena Berny

500px: http://500px.com/MagdaBerny  Website: http://www.magdalenaberny.com/

7. “Light of Hope” by: Ayie Permata Sari

“Situ Gunung Natural Park which has an area of 100 hectares is a nature conservation area part of the intensive use zone of Gunung Gede National Park Pangrango, located in Sukabumi – West Java – Indonesia

In addition to having beautiful scenery of natural forest and plantation forest, natural attractions Situ Gunung has a very interesting place to visit, such as : waterfalls Cimanaracun and waterfalls Curug Sawer.”

500px: http://500px.com/ayie Website: http://www.fotografer.net/galeri/

8. “Lighting” by: Yousef Khoram

500px: http://500px.com/yousef_khoram Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nima.khoram

9. “Untitled” by: Alexandr Sergeev

500px: http://500px.com/Feast Website: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeev_tmb

10. “The Tunnel Through the Grass” by:  Ingrid Lamour

500px: http://500px.com/ingridlamour

The post 500px Photographs of The Week [04.04.2013] appeared first on Featured Pixels.

Dead on two years…never held a camera prior to that

Stock photography non stop…what more can I say. In five years time, more stock photography…

The post Sue Demetriou, Nature Photos that Stimulate. appeared first on Featured Pixels.

Website, 500px, Facebook, Blog

Tell us a little bit about you? Where do you consider home?

I am Grafic-Designer, Illustrator & Photographer and i grew up and still live near Munich/Germany.

Have you attended school/taken any courses for Photography?

I studied Graphic-Design. Photography and Drawing to me were the most important parts of my studies.

List 3 photographers you admire – past and/or present.

1.Walker Evans
2.Eugenio Recuenco
3.Roger Balden, just to name a few.

Could you tell us something that few people know about you?

I’m actually quite different and it is not easy being me

What do you think of the current state of the photography industry/where do you see it in 5 years?

Photography has become so omnipresent and effortless, that it is hard to earn a living from it and to stay identifyable. Millions of really good amateurs spoil the prizes as they work for free. The whole workflow has become easy and technically bad work can be repaired. Through social Media and Onlineplatforms, idias are spread and copied fast as lightning. Its like in the Musicbusines and in the Modelindustrie. A huge huge circus of desire. There will alway be a market for Bread an Butterwork that can not easily be served with stockfotography. (I do this a lot) As an artist you have to really stand out in some way and be very busy and very lucky to do well financially.

List 3 things you wish you had done sooner in your career.

1.thinking about what i want to tell
2.showing my artistic work
3.leaving the studio with portable light

What in our world, inspires you the most?

The facets of human life.

I’ve noticed your work tends to lean towards Darker Art. What gives you your ideas and why do you feel compelled to portray this image?

I want to talk about emotion, mere beauty or joy is somehowe boring to me, as well as to explicite blood and splatter themes or eroticism. I want to tell “one picture storys” that stay a little longer in peoples head. Every face tells many stories, every body expresses emotions. Beside this I respect my models as “pieces of art” by themselves, as living Sculptures, as miricals by nature. Built up by their experiences and individual lifes. I would consider myself as shy, and photography is a priveliged way to a gain certain intimacy. Good work without trust is not possible. Many of my pictures are quite artificial and do not necessarily tell a story about me or the model. But the Model has to trust in my vision. In a way my method is, to tell a convincing lie to show a truth about the human condition.

What is your current gear setup?

I work with the Nikon System and Various Studioflashes. Compact-Heads in Studio and one small Portable on location.

What is your favorite lens and why?

I use the 50 mm/1.4 the 85 mm/1.4 and 17-35 mm/2.8 all the time. I have no clear preference. All of them have their specific usage

What lighting equipment do you take on a regular shoot if any?

As little as possible. I come from difficult studiolighting and slowly reduced to very simple “one lamp setups”. I like to mix natural light and flash.

How important is Photoshop in your final images?

Very important. Editing bilds up the whole mood.

Are you a Mac or PC lover?

I am into mac from the beginning of my career. I did not have a choice to be honest. I do not participate in “religious fights” like “mac or pc”, “nikon or canon”. I simply stayed with what I started.

If you could be invisible for one day with your camera, where would you go?

In the present? Maybe the Vatican, the White House, a Jail? Somewhere where I can watch dangerous people making plans.

What or who got you started in photography?

I started in scool through my art teacher. i remeber themes like “structure and reduction” and me hunting abstraction in the actually boring world  My first lession in seeing differently by slicing reality.

If you weren’t a professional photographer, what would you like to be doing?

I would draw and paint. thats what I would have done from the beginning if I hadn’t discovered in between, that photography is easier and less antisocial )

Which 5 words would your friends use to describe you?

Sensitive, calm, unorganised, polite, shy. As i said before I’m actually quite different

What is your greatest fear?

I am obsessed about injuries of my eyes. I have even nightmares about this from time to time.

Do you have a favorite movie? Favorite television show?

Stalker by Tarkowski, 12 Monkeys, the Fountain and many others…

And the last question, What would you do if you won the lottery?…

Work on as before, but excluslively on own projects. Maybe scout and sponsor new Talent.

The post An Interview with Christian Martin Weiss – Master of the Dark Arts appeared first on Featured Pixels.

We’ve been waiting for this gem of an interview for awhile and are excited to share it with everyone. Meet Rob Woodcox a creative photographer that we stumbled upon through Facebook and 500px.

Tell us a little bit about you?

I am a 22 year old recently graduated and making the transition from a part-time to full-time photographer. I crave adventure and long to tell stories and help people.

Where do you consider home?

I call Michigan home, the strange city of Ypsilanti to be exact!

Usually an interesting question is the Education one. Did you attend school for Photography?

I attended school for a 2 year Associates in Photography.

How long have you been a photographer?

I picked up a camera with the intent of creating art for the first time about 3 years ago.

How long have you been into surreal portraits and manipulations?

My interest in surreal portraits began quite early in my photographic career. I have always been fascinated by theater, movies, dance and written stories, and I wanted to convey similar styles in my photographs to the styles you see in performing arts.

What or who got you started in photography?

I have always been creative, but it wasn’t until college that I started considering photography. I credit my mom’s obsession with always capturing family moments, and my love of being on the yearbook club in high school for initially triggering my interest in photography.

How would you describe your style?

My style is magical, adventurous, emotional, captivating, and yet human at the same time. Although I love portraying the surreal, I like audiences to still feel connected to my work on a personal level, as though they could be a part of the story I’m telling.

What is your current gear setup?

My current setup is pretty simple, I use a 5D mk II with a 50mm 1.4 and a 24-70mm 2.8. Most of my images are either taken using natural light with reflection or using rented strobes.

What is your favorite lens and why?

My favorite lens is the 50mm 1.4. It is the perfect portrait lens for what I do and the depth of field is gorgeous. I would love to get more experience with the 1.2 and some longer focal lengths.

What lighting equipment do you take on a regular shoot if any?

When I use lighting equipment I prefer to use profoto equivalent power packs and soft boxes, but I can work with any setup, simple or complex. Because most of my work is on location, I prefer simple lighting setups.

How important is Photoshop in your final images?

Photoshop plays a large role in many of my images. Although I like to shoot as much as I can in camera, some things can’t be done without a little aid from photoshop. No matter how simple or complex an image, I tend to expand many images (merge multiple images into one to make it larger) and I always work with the colors and contrast selectively to my liking and style.

Are you a Mac or PC lover?

MAC!

Do you plan on buying any new equipment in the near future and if so what do you have your eyes set on?

I would like either a new lens or a set of portable strobes!

What gives you ideas and inspires you to create such amazing imagery?

My inspirations come from a variety of places. My life experiences, dreams and beliefs often formulate into strange visions and then become photographs. I truly am amazed at how my brain works though, I could be staring at a pattern on a wall and suddenly I imagine myself floating into the sky with leaves floating around me, mimicking the pattern. Although many ideas are based around real life, many formulate out of complete imagination; I credit God for my gift of imagination!

What has been your most memorable or favorite project and why?

My most memorable project to date was definitely the circus series I did with my church. My church has 25,000 members and therefore has the capability to present messages in captivating and unparalleled ways. For a series, I got to collaborate with a videographer to build an entire circus set, filled with performers that we spent a whole day photographing- in character and in full time period costume. That day felt like I was transported back in time! Here is a link to the video that was created: https://vimeo.com/40794115

Is there a particular project that you would like to go into small detail of the creation of such a portrait?

Well I am currently developing a photo project to raise $30,000 in funds for foster kids to attend a summer camp and year round mentoring program. The project involves 20 photoshoots of entirely children, that will tell foster kids’ stories for them, using surreal and cinematic environments. All of the shoots involve large sets and multiple models, requiring a large team and loads of support. I have been fortunate to enlist some incredible makeup, hair, and wardrobe assistants as well as some great kid models. It is the largest project I have attempted to date, so to follow along or find more information on supporting the project, check out: indiegogo.com/projects/Stories-Worth-Telling

Is there a photographer you would love to say you got your photograph taken by?

There are a few I’d be thrilled to model for: Annie Liebovitz, Tim Walker, Joey L, Brooke Shaden, and Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison

Do you have or ever use an assistant/2nd shooter that accompanies you on an projects?

I almost always have an assistant or a team on shoots. I could not do what I do without incredible support!

What do you feel is the most challenging thing about being an artist?

I find one of the most difficult things about being an artist is having the drive to perform all the roles that one must perform to succeed. Being an artist means being a businessperson, social butterfly, and creative problem solver all at once. Sometimes it can be exhausting, but the triumphs of creating artwork and inspiring others never get old!

What do you think of the current state of the photography industry and where do you see it in 5 years from now?

I think photography in 5 years from now will still be very much similar to what it is now, with even more emphasis on digital rather than print. I don’t foresee the need for it fading anytime soon though!

If I wasn’t a photographer, I would have loved to have been a writer or dancer. What would you have been?

If I hadn’t fallen into photography like I did, I would have loved to pursue acting, environmental work, or humanitarian work, although I have been doing some of those on the side anyhow!

Is there a particular person in your life that you could say has taught you the most out of anyone you know?

I would have to say my parents taught me the most I know. They taught me to have a love for life and others that I couldn’t have learned in any other way than experiencing it firsthand from them!

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

The greatest love of my life is The Lord, I have been in much darker and less successful places in my life, and coming to know that there was hope for me was a life changing experience to say the least!

What is your greatest fear?

My greatest fear is being alone. Not in a temporary sense, but more of a long term relationship sense, I want to always have close strong relationships.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

I would start by buying a property for all my artist friends and I to live together and collaborate in, and then I would invest the rest to start a charitable organization helping foster children and victims of human trafficking.

What would you like to be doing in 5 years from now?

I would like to be traveling the world teaching photography workshops and photographing for large clients on a regular basis, while doing humanitarian work on the side.

And the last question, if you had one wish…

It may sound cliché, but I’d wish everyone in the world lived in peace with one another. I always love seeing people that enjoy life, and it would be my wish for everyone to experience that joyful state!

http://robwoodcoxphotography.com/

http://500px.com/robwoodcoxphoto

http://www.facebook.com/robwoodcoxphotography

The post Rob Woodcox Interview [Photographer] appeared first on Featured Pixels.

I fell in love with his/her portfolio the minute I layed eyes on it. Make sure to check out the rest of his/her stuff on 500px, or his website.

The post DayRoad – Creative Nature Photographer appeared first on Featured Pixels.

500px

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