18 Photography Trends to Watch Out for in 2020
The accessibility of state-of-the-art and
modern photography equipment has opened the door for enthusiasts, hobbyists,
and professionals alike to pursue new niches in capturing captivating images.
As photographers try and experiment with new techniques, some exciting trends
are emerging and producing beautiful results.
This year we explore 18 exciting, emerging
trends: from Drones to Pantone colours to Minimalism!
Times
have evolved
A few years ago, articles about the trends
in photography were only interesting for professional photographers whose bread
and butter are the pictures and images they take. Upcoming trends, however,
influence the photography world so immensely that photographers must be aware
of what people will be looking for in the future. It would also be useful to
have some time to think of these upcoming photography trends and to recreate
the wheel and make something similar but new.
This art is no longer a thing for a limited
number of people – it is a popular hobby of millions. Innovations impact our
lives at every turn, and there are thousands of fresh trends that people want
to be a part of.
Here are some of the freshest photography
trends to explore in 2020
1. Macro Photography
Macro photography is a photography style
that zooms in closely on an object (or a specific part of it) to capture its
intricate details. Think of pollen on a flower or a butterfly's wings, for
instance. Macro photography takes a common object and showcases it in a way
that we have never imagined and thought about before.
Get
creative and original
When we see the subject through a macro
lens or the special device used to get every layer of detail clearly, for the first time, our mind is fascinated with the opened scene. In this special
moment, people can easily forget about the fact that there are millions of
other people who have already seen and photographed these things. Macro
photography is too popular to pay attention to ordinary close-up shots.
2. Film ‘vs’ Digital
While most of the population enjoy the
freedom of digital photography instead of using traditional film, photographers
are into film photography again. It requires thoughtfulness and intention
before shooting a photo to make sure that the angles and lighting capture the
best possible shot.
Working with photographic film also
provides photographers with a way to discover the base of this visual world.
And best of all, you have a physical, tangible object after capturing your
shot.
3. Light Painting
This technique is one of the most versatile
photography styles. The same image can be shot in a number of different ways by
experimenting with:-
·
Exposure time
·
Natural and artificial light;
and
·
Reflections.
This is a lucrative trend for photographers
because of its unlimited potential for creativity. Everyday images become
captivating works of art with a few simple lighting adjustments.
No
special equipment required
It doesn’t require any special equipment or
lenses and isn't limited to a studio setting. For photographers who enjoy
experimenting with light and shadow, light painting is an excellent niche to
showcase their artistry and skill.
4. HDR
High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography, is a technique that taps into the range of brightness between the darkest and
lightest areas of the subject. It does not require any special equipment,
although it does take a bit more time to edit and get the desired result.
Perfect
for portrait and landscape
HDR images are perfect for portrait and
landscape photography because of their ability to highlight differences between
the light and shadows in an image and strike a balance between the two.
Most modern cameras have an HDR setting
that lets the user adjust the contrast modes directly in the shot and saves
them the editing time. Some photographers choose to take three images at
various shutter speeds and then combine them to create the final image.
5. Panoramic
Panoramic
photography, or panotography, use wide-format shots to capture wider
images like skylines and landscapes. It's designed to capture an image in the
same way our eyes see it.
If a wide format lens isn't available, but
you want to experiment with panotography, many smartphone cameras offer a
panoramic setting. It is likewise possible to edit individual images to create
a single, panoramic shot.
6. Vintage-inspired
Vintage-inspired photography is
proliferating as a modern take on an old-school photography style. With the
popularity of filters on social media sites, the vintage look is a favourite for
professionals and amateurs alike.
Retro
vibe gives a unique outcome
To give your photos a retro vibe,
experiment with saturation, contrast, and brightness to get the feel and look
of an old photo. While most people use vintage photography to take
"timeless" subjects like people or landscapes, it can be fun to take
a modern-day subject and apply a vintage overlay for an ultra-unique outcome.
7. Aerial
Aerial photography used to be limited only
to those with access to helicopters or planes. Now, thanks to the popularity of
drones, nearly anyone can take mesmerizing images from the air. The clunky
drones of the past that cost an arm and a leg have innovated into a new breed
of compact photography drone that costs less and takes higher-quality photos
with a wide range of settings.
While there are state regulations for where
and when drone photography is acceptable, it is quickly trending as a new
outlet for architecture, landscape, and wildlife photographers to capture
images that would not have been possible otherwise.
8. Candid
When the first photography equipment was invented,
spontaneity was just not a possibility for photographers. They had to
painstakingly pose their subjects and keep them still for a while to get a
decent image.
Have you seen blurry photos in the olden
days? Nope? That's because they had to
lay motionless for a period of time to get a quality shot.
Capture
the moment
As technology took over and cameras
evolved, so did the flexibility for photographers to capture scenes and people
at the moment, and gave birth to candid photos.
Candid photography is gaining popularity as
a lucrative niche for professional photographers to capture authentic and raw
photos and moments in time. Who wants staged photos anyway? Candid photos
highlight the realness of the moment and if people were the subject, the trueness
of human emotions.
9. Animals
Whether it's a domesticated pet or wild
jungle animals, animal photography has a way of drawing and capturing our
attention. While it has always been a niche in the photography world, this
style has spread to engagement photos, wedding
photos, stock photos, and also to lucrative pet photoshoots.
10. Landscape
There is an increasing trend for landscape
images as standalone art--without an animal or human subject as the main focal
point. Photographers are experimenting with new ways to showcase unique
characteristics of landscapes, whether it is the unique textures of water
against grainy land or the contrast between shadows and sunlight.
11. Vibrant Colors
Strong, bright, and bold colours are what we
expect to see in 2020. We believe this is to catch attention from the hundreds
of thousands of images that are taken and shared every day. The stronger and
bolder the colour, the louder it shouts. And it needs just that if it was to get
noticed. Wall paintings, graffiti, and other outdoor designs are also becoming
trendy and louder to stand out.
12. Vertical is the Way
It's tough to imagine that even the
orientation of images could be a trend. Horizontal images had always been ideal
for landscapes and vertical for portraits. Here, however, you capture the flow
of the subject or scene. It's absolutely due to smartphones. Every photo you
take is automatically vertical unless you turn your device sideways. This is a
big jump from SLRs, DSLRs, and mirrorless systems that are initially in the
horizontal position.
13. Saffron 14-1064
Colour management has a niche in
photography. For the last several years or so, there has been much internet
chatter about teal and orange split toning. Of course, nothing new is created.
However, what is new is how we use the colours and management in our photos.
In 2020, we expect a trend in photography
where the Pantone colour, Saffron, is widely used. You can also find the
yellowy-orange colour in photo-editing apps by using the Pantone number, in this
case,14-1064.
14. Capturing Images from Videos
Photography is an excellent medium to work
with. You can capture almost any scene, well-lit or otherwise, with any digital
camera or smartphone camera. As we have better sensor resolutions,
photographers are free to film more.
The reason is that you can take still
images from videos, whereas you cannot do the opposite. These images still keep
good quality. Video filming a scene gives you the best of both worlds, ensuring
you don't miss anything in that scene.
There are many advantages plus sides to
this process. One is that you have the chance to monetize a stock video and a
stock image. The other is that each second of the video gives you 30 or 60
frames to choose from, depending on your capture settings.
15. 360 Photography Trend
360° photography is going to be a huge
photography trend in 2020. Whether for real estate photography or panoramic
landscape photography, there is immense potential. This type of photography
gained popularity in product photography, where the subject would turn as the
camera captured it. Now, photographers are changing the way we take images by
turning the camera 360° as it captures.
Ideal
for real estate
Time-lapse photography is also something
that benefits from this process. Nevertheless, it is also ideal for real estate
photography. With this trend, you can capture a 360° shot of a room, where the
viewer can move around it as if they were actually there. It helps bridge the
gap between reality and photography in the digital realm. Moreover, you can
create tiny globes, which, when done right, look amazing.
16. Cloud Storage
As technology progresses, cameras gain
better resolution. A bigger resolution indicated bigger file sizes are needed
to store more information taken from the scenes you shoot. With increased file
sizes comes an even bigger need for storage. This storage needs to be portable,
as many of us travel and work on the road.
Hello,
cloud storage
Cloud storage is a way to store and use
your images around wirelessly. A few prominent companies, like Google, Apple,
and Samsung, have their own cloud services, which is open to everyone. They all
have a certain amount of space for free, expandable for a price. The great
thing about this kind of storage is you have access to your files and images
anywhere. You do, however, need a connection to the internet, but if you have
one, you can edit your images on the go.
17. Nature Awareness
As we get deeper into a more technological
world, there will always be an element of resistance. We look to utilize the
natural environment in our images, one way or another. It could be product
photography or even portraiture, events such as weddings.
A natural setting fits into our increasing
environmental awareness. Our connection with nature is developing more and
more. This is visible in our consumer behaviour of actively opting for natural
and sustainable ingredients.
As we continuously search for these products,
manufacturers need to source images from a natural setting. This paves the way
for your choices in stock photography images as well.
18. Minimalism
Each year, we look at our photos and
evaluate them through a magnifying glass. Complexity has always been a key
player in photography, where photographers use techniques on top of utilizing
colour management.
With the popularity of Instagram and its
overused filters, photographers who want to stand out and be taken seriously
take a step back. They opt for something that makes their images unique and
different: a more minimalist approach. How so? Less noise translates to more
focus on the subject. This goes for fashion,
portrait photography, landscape photography, etcetera. The more minimalist your
images are, the better.
The Year Ahead
There are nearly unlimited ways for
photographers to create mesmerizing works of art through these and other trends
and by using old techniques and equipment in fresher ways. Photography is an art form that's always changing and paving new ways for creative photographers
to highlight their talent.