The world of photography does not stand still, and trends change at a rapid pace. Today, pictures with filters like Instagram are in vogue, and tomorrow – fish-frames. Anyway, I tracked new top trends in photography and those that are returning to 2022.
1. Film Shots
Fashion is cyclical, and film periodically returns to the everyday life of photographers. Nowadays, the number of photographers who shoot on film is growing, be it constantly or occasionally. And even though digital photography offers more opportunities for communication, development, and exposure of your photographs, the film is still considered the most natural and “living” way of shooting. It’s not even about nostalgia, but about how film photography teaches us the technique of shooting. When you can’t immediately check and edit the resulting shot, you begin to notice details and evaluate the scene before taking the picture.
2. DSLRs are Turning into a Niche
“A good camera is an indicator of a good photographer,” we have heard this phrase many times, and it has become quite familiar to a wide range of people who are passionate about photography. Nevertheless, in modern realities, it is very controversial. With the popularization of mirrorless cameras, smartphones, and high-quality handheld devices, DSLRs are becoming an increasingly expensive pleasure designed exclusively for professionals and those seeking to make a career in photography.
You may also like to read: Professional Cameras – Buying Guide, Ratings & Reviews.
Smartphones and mirrorless cameras are significantly smaller and lighter in weight than DSLR cameras, especially given the large interchangeable lenses. And this already attracts amateurs much more. And technology, image quality, and the number of functions in them are rapidly approaching the level of DSLRs. But it cannot be said that the latter will ultimately go out of use. Several factors, such as ergonomics, battery capacity, and lens selection, leave DSLRs an advantage. In the end, it all comes down to price and preference.
3. Video Replaces Photography
No, this does not mean that photography is no longer attractive to anyone; just video is considered a much easier way to assimilate the material. Consequently, in things like a portfolio, the video will work much more effectively.
In addition, video shooting has become much easier, and the quality is sometimes surprising. The video is also supported because it will be easier to watch it on the same smartphone.
You may also like to read: Portrait Photography with Phone: 10 Life Hacks for A Mobile Photographer.
In a world where we focus on information for a few seconds, grabbing attention for more time is considered a significant success. And a story told with high quality through video allows you to do this. For professional photographers, video filming significantly expands the range of services offered.
4. Minimalism is A Thing of the Past
Fed up with minimalism in all areas of visual art, we are finally returning to more capacious photographs with emphasized mood. In other words, the complete opposite of minimalism. For composition, the entire plane of the frame is now used, and no area should remain dull and empty. Lousy weather now provides an excellent opportunity to capture a dramatic shot, so watching the photos in the coming year will be fascinating.
From underexposed and dull photographs, we’re moving on to more saturated colors. So the palette of photos will get broader.
5. Meaningful Shots Become More Popular
Photography has always been one of the main ways to shed light on the world’s problems. Today, more than ever, this trend is becoming more and more relevant.
With many controversial points, opinions, and questions worth paying attention to, the scope for pictures is genuinely enormous. One way or another, problem and reportage photography for professionals turn into a vivid mouthpiece of opinions. But this does not mean at all that amateurs should not turn to this topic. On the contrary, now is the time to express your observations through the lens of your camera.
“A picture is worth a thousand words,” so keep this in mind because this is the direction that attracts the most attention in the world of photography.
6. Bird’s-Eye Photography is Becoming More Common
It is not surprising at all since one of the popular hobbies of modern photographers is drones. They are used for commercial filming, for artistic shots, and even some photo sessions are filmed using these convenient devices. It is also not harmful that the cost of drones has decreased compared to what it was 2-3 years ago. And as the availability increases, so does the number of drone footage. So, if you want to pay tribute to fashion, then the quadcopter is a great way.
7. Filming in A Natural Setting
Studio production personnel have existed for a long time, almost from the very appearance of cameras. But the photo studio gradually went out of fashion, and now the studios are also leaving it. Instead of portraits, photographers prefer story scenes that have a story and a mood.
Such shots are shot most often right on the street or in a public place. Instead of a static white or colored background, a city is used, with its changing surroundings and natural light. And psychological portraits or fashion shots are being replaced by vivid, realistic situations and interactions with people or objects – the closer to the documentary, the better.
8. Animal Pictures
It is great news for those who have accumulated a couple of hundred frames with cats. The fashion for exciting and effective pictures of pets is back. In fairness, pets are in style and wild animals, in nature or the zoo.
Pets are present in wedding photography, travel, and, needless to say, cute filming of children with animals. There are genuinely a lot of options, and all you have to do is remember how to shoot animals properly, and then the work will go by itself.
9. Vertical Frames are Back
Of course, one of the most apparent trends is vertical photography. There is a straightforward explanation because most of us receive almost all information from the smartphone screen. So the photos should fit perfectly into the display size.
Of course, do not forget that the composition should be solid, so if the idea of the frame looks better in horizontal or square format, you should not abandon the composition. But in other cases, it will be most effective to rearrange the frame to fit into the vertical design.
10. It’s Time to Go Outside
Whether you’re shooting city streets or natural landscapes, street photography is definitely in vogue. In addition, attention should be paid to nature photographs and use them as a background for any shooting.
But back to the aesthetic side, because nature opens up vast possibilities: even the same place, shot by two different photographers, looks different, so there are simply no restrictions in this regard. Landscapes and city shots of any format, genre, and style are definitely in trend.
Of course, we can never say with certainty that new trends will not appear in the process that will supplant their predecessors. However, the most notable trends today look something like this. And whether it is worth following them, the decision is entirely yours. If you deny fashion, all we can advise is to listen to your preferences and do what suits your taste. Trust me; you can never go wrong with this.
