We’re quickly closing in on the end of the year, which means it’s almost time to start thinking about our photography resolutions for 2015. One of them should almost certainly be to check out as much great photography as possible to keep your inspiration level high. As usual, we’re prepared to give you a head start on that initiative with the latest collection of awesome photography from our readers.
Despite the cold temps going around, there are actually quite a few water photos in the collection this month. There are also a ton of great portraits as well as the assortment of dramatic landscapes we’ve come to expect.
If you’re feeling particularly ispired by this month’s finalists, head over to our contest page and find your own chances to show off your work and win great prizes.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL GALLERY
5:47 AM
By Caitlin Griffith Sun rise over some waves.
Return
By Somnath Chatterjee A journey through the rolling hill slopes, widespread lush green tea gardens separated by meandering silvery mountain streams, high Sal forests, small quiet ethnic villages, vast meadows with a blue out line of the great Himalayan ranges in the horizon, endless sky you are in Dooars. Lying in the Himalayan foothills, Dooars has great natural beauty. CAMERA: Nikon D80 ISO: 200
All by Myself
By Antonio Rojas Jr. The house on stilts is on top of a vanishing island in Davao City, Philippines. The island only appears during low tide. To create a more interesting sky, created a motion blur for the clouds in Photoshop. CAMERA: Canon EOS XTi FOCAL LENGTH: 10mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/125 LENS: Canon EF 10-22mm ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): 11
Golden Hour
By Jay Mondkar It was golden hour in Boston and the light on these already yellow/orange apartments was magical. I waited for a minute or two until the perfect subject walked by. CAMERA: Nikon D800 FOCAL LENGTH: 50mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/400 LENS: Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AF ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): f/8.0
The Conductor
By Gabino Torres It is a composite image of a long exposure image of the walt disney concert hall and an image of a model. CAMERA: Nikon D7100
1978 Datsun 280Z
By Kevin Carver This was my very first time shooting a car for someone. I’m glad my friend Andrew gave me this opportunity and I’m very happy with how these pictures turned out. CAMERA: Fujifilm X-T1 FOCAL LENGTH: 50mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/1000 LENS: Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 SSC ISO: 400 APERTURE (F-STOP): I don’t remember
Thanksgiving 2014
By Adrian Rodriguez Everybody holding a cell phone, iPad, SLR’s & Video Cams were out in full force. I was standing near the intersection of 49th & 6 Ave (also known as the Avenue of the Americas), I was virtually invisible with my gear looking as I belonged, Lifted my arms above and took the picture. Snoopy as he is passing, he’s reminds of a mammoth ship, in a sea of people. CAMERA: Nikon D3 FOCAL LENGTH: 15 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/200 LENS: Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 15mm f/2.8 ZF.2 Lens ISO: 800 APERTURE (F-STOP): f/5.6
Riddermark
By Robert Marić Taken in Vanoise National Park. This place is basically real life version of Middle Earth’s Rohan. You can just imagine Meduseld sitting on the top of the hill surrounded by mountains. CAMERA: Canon 5D FOCAL LENGTH: 17mm SHUTTER SPEED: 0.3 LENS: Canon 17-40 f4 ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): f 11
Unbroken Silence
By Robert Marić Peaceful morning on Lac de Chésery. CAMERA: Canon 5D FOCAL LENGTH: 17mm SHUTTER SPEED: 3.2 LENS: Canon 17-40 f4 ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): f 7.1
Empire StTe Building
By Richard Bianchi Looking up through the door jamb of the building across the street from the Empire State Building, the top of the ESB is visible as well as reflected. CAMERA: Nikon D7100 FOCAL LENGTH: 18 mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/400 LENS: Nikkor 18-55 mm ISO: 400 APERTURE (F-STOP): F4.5
Untitled_1
By Marsha Guggenheim Took this picture of a woman looking out the window from a tiny shop in Arles, France. CAMERA: Canon EOS SL1 FOCAL LENGTH: 40mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/125 LENS: 40mm ISO: 3200 APERTURE (F-STOP): f2.8
It’s a jungle out there
By Shauna Maxwell I took this photo of my sister when we were adventuring around downtown. My favorite part about this photo Is the marvelous bokeh it produced. I titled this work “It’s a jungle out there” because it reminds me of a girl who looks solemn, as if she just ran away, and is finally realizing the pressures of being on her own. In a way, it reminds me of my own struggles with photography because everything I have learned, I have done independent of others. CAMERA: Canon 6D FOCAL LENGTH: 50.0mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/1600 LENS: 50mm 1.4 ISO: 320 APERTURE (F-STOP): 1/1600
Vibrant Smoke
By Shauna Maxwell This photo was quite the experience for me. To create this image I needed 1.) A brave model and 2.) A smoke bomb. I got both of them this day. In order to create this image I told the model, Julia, to just run around and spin around! She did just so… this was the end result. I actually did not plan for this photo to have any specific meaning behind it, but once I edited it I noticed how beautifully the colors blended and decided to name it “Vibrant Smoke”. CAMERA: Canon 6D FOCAL LENGTH: 50.0mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/2500 LENS: 50mm 1.4 ISO: 5000 APERTURE (F-STOP): 1/2500
Lookout
By Yehudit Miller Lookout from Masada
One with the wave
By Jason Gardner Handheld water shot while bodysurfing. CAMERA: GP3
GOLDEN SHOWER
By SUJAN SARKAR Life has three stages: childhood, youth, old age. Among the three, the childhood is the most beautiful part of our life. Plants and grains grow badly if there is no rain in early spring. So, our childhood should not be confined only within the boundary of education,but it must be enjoyed to the fullest to make the life beautiful. The children are the symbol of unity and peace. CAMERA: 5D Mark II FOCAL LENGTH: 80mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1000 LENS: 24-105mm ISO: 400 APERTURE (F-STOP): 10
Persimmons.
By Anna Zagorodna This is the time of the year when persimmons are ready to be picked of the trees. I’ve been fortunate enough to capture this moment while visiting my friend’s beautiful garden. CAMERA: CANON 60D
Bokeh Splash
By Anselma Cardenas From all these recent gloomy days I got to take a picture on a somewhat sunny afternoon and decided to take a picture with some sunny bokeh. CAMERA: Nikon D50 FOCAL LENGTH: 35.0 mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/1000 LENS: 35mm ISO: 360 APERTURE (F-STOP): 1.8
Pine Hearts
By Anselma Cardenas Found out it doesn’t need to be dark to also make heart bokeh. CAMERA: Nikon D3100 FOCAL LENGTH: 35.0mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/50 LENS: 35mm ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): 1.8
Morning Lights
By Anselma Cardenas Drinking my morning coffee on a chilly November morning and realized these cool lights so decided to take a pic with them. CAMERA: Nikon D3100 FOCAL LENGTH: 18.0 mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/80 LENS: 18-55mm ISO: 400 APERTURE (F-STOP): 4.5
Morning Sunrise
By Rob Fountain My son Ian watching the morning sunrise on Lake Champlain in New York. CAMERA: Nikon D300 FOCAL LENGTH: 25 mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/125 LENS: 17-37 2.8 ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): 3.5
Magnolia Alexis, Magnolia
By Whitney Tucker This photo was created when two minds met; Whitney, a 6’5 tall guy with dreams of becoming a fashion photographer and the beautiful model, Alexis, a teacher with aspirations of becoming a fashion model. CAMERA: Canon 6D FOCAL LENGTH: 82mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/250 LENS: Canon 24-105mm ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): 4
The Observer
By Adrianna Tan Taken on top of a bus transit station parking lot. CAMERA: Nikon D610 LENS: 50mm APERTURE (F-STOP): f1.8
Salton Sea
By Mark Quinanola Salton Sea, a once a booming town in the 50s and 60s. Runoff from the agricultural land around it brought fertilizers, pesticides, and salt into the lake which killed all of the fish in it. The smell was so bad that the people left. There is just something about the idea of visiting a place years after it has been deserted; maybe it’s the textures from the decay; attempting to piece together what was and what is; or capturing the beauty that God paints in a place that man deems unlivable. CAMERA: Fuji X100s FOCAL LENGTH: 23mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/210 LENS: Fuji 23mm F2.0 ISO: ISO 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): F/16
Puyallup River
By John Rittal This image was shot looking straight down at a fast-moving river through early autumn foliage. I chose this moment because of the way the fluid motion, play of light, and natural lines evoked other forms. CAMERA: Canon EOS Rebel T4i FOCAL LENGTH: 18 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/2 LENS: Canon EFS 18-55mm ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): 22
Race
By Dusica Paripovivc Daughters racing to the top, parents watching them. CAMERA: Nikon D5000 FOCAL LENGTH: 100mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/200 LENS: Nikkor 55-200mm 4-5.6 ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): 4.5
180° View Bubble
By Tasnia Arshee My sister was playing with bubbles as i captured this beautiful in my front yard. CAMERA: Nikon D5100
Beth Williams 10 2014 Tilt
By Brad Yust Bowens strobe in rear, Bowens strobe with soft box in front, manual camera adjustments / balance. Minor adjustments in LR6 and PS CS6. CAMERA: Nikon D3S FOCAL LENGTH: 24 mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/250 LENS: 24-70 mm ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): f/6.3
Man vs. Cat
By Ieva Vaitkuviene I was testing studio lights at my flat and needed model. I sat may cat on the old suitcase to pose for me. But he wanted to run away. So I asked my husband to play with him a little bit. CAMERA: Nikon D700 FOCAL LENGTH: 24-70 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/125 ISO: 160 APERTURE (F-STOP): f/8
Macho
By Lina Burnett Macho is my pet. He’s been my model since I have rescued him. Minor adjustments on Photoshop. CAMERA: Canon EOS 5D Mark ll FOCAL LENGTH: 50mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/125 LENS: Canon EF 24-105 L IS ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): f/8
Marketa
By Petr Hingar Nice sunny autumn day, beautiful models … what more could you ask for:-) CAMERA: Canon 5D, MK II FOCAL LENGTH: 85 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/125 LENS: Canon 85/1,4 ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): 5,6
Elephant Family at Chobe River Sunset
By Chuck Murphy The sun was just about gone, but at “The Golden Hour” this family of elephants was gracious enough to make a slow parade along the bank of the Chobe River, enabling me to get this shot from our boat. CAMERA: Canon 1D X FOCAL LENGTH: 394mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1 / 200 LENS: Canon 200-400 zoom ISO: 800 APERTURE (F-STOP): f/14.0
Wynwood Wild
By James Lano Wildin’ out in Wynwood
Awakening
By Melanie Rapp Light writing image of my daughter. Photoshop actions to turn into black and white. Photoshop work to blacken background for selection of the leaves. CAMERA: Nikon D300 FOCAL LENGTH: 35 mm SHUTTER SPEED: 30 Seconds LENS: Nikkor ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): 4.0
50 Shades Of Brown
By Kimberly Chandler A male study dressing.
Washing in the streets.
By Tim Foster While on a trip in Porto, I managed to capture a quick snap of this street, and the natural lighting worked out perfect. CAMERA: Canon 7D FOCAL LENGTH: 50mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/125 LENS: Canon 50mm 1.8 ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): 6.3
Watching the waves
By Tim Foster The leading lines of the decking make for good composition, with the camera on a tripod, using the 10sec self timer I managed to get myself in the frame. CAMERA: Canon 7D FOCAL LENGTH: 20mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/100 LENS: Canon 17-85mm ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): 13
Milky Way and Iconic Pine
By J. J. RAIA I finally found this iconic pine tree growing directly from the sandstone during the day. I photographed around the area during and after sunset, made dinner and to ensure the sky was completely dark and set up to photograph it in darkness. I was using my LED headlamp to light the rocks when a car came along just before the end of the exposure and added some wild coloring to the rock. CAMERA: NIKON D800 FOCAL LENGTH: 17mm SHUTTER SPEED: 30-sec. LENS: Nikor 17-35mm F/2.8 ISO: 3200 APERTURE (F-STOP): f/3.5
The Llama Empire
By Xintong Li Photo taken early in the morning, before Machu Picchu packed with tourists. A must go site now is under threat from pressures of tourism, a daily visit raises up to 40,000 during december. No matter how busy this ruin is, no matter how many people around, these natural residents, llamas, have alway been enjoying the view peacefully. CAMERA: Canon 7D FOCAL LENGTH: 20mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/400 LENS: EOS 10-22mm ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): f/4.5
Virginia, DC, Maryland, One Picture
By Pierre Funes In this picture I captured the “DMV” area in one snap.
The People Looking In
By Jennifer Downing Taken from within the Opera House, Oslo. The umbrellas are to protect against the sun. CAMERA: Canon EOS450D FOCAL LENGTH: 22 mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/125 sec LENS: 70-300 ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): f10
Fisherman
By Shah Maruf About 40 minutes to the white man was standing at the back. I told him that I threw into the net once you let the picture. She said I did not understood anything. Stood 40 minutes. Then the man suddenly threw his hands in the sea fishing jalati. I have detained him with my camera frame. Thank you. CAMERA: Canon 7D FOCAL LENGTH: ƒ/5.6 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/3200 LENS: 135.0 mm ISO: 500 APERTURE (F-STOP): f/3.5-5.6
Dark Dettifoss
By Patryk Pulawski Dettifoss waterfall, Iceland
The Gaze
By Emma Rogan I met this lion’s gaze through a fence in York’s Wild Kingdom in Maine. CAMERA: Canon T3i FOCAL LENGTH: 300 mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/500 ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): f 5.6
Magic moment with magic hour
By Sahaj Yatri This picture shows that beauty of soft light at the time of sunrise. The boat and two person shows the moment that they enjoy so its a magical frame in terms of colors and situation. CAMERA: Nikon D 3200 FOCAL LENGTH: 48mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/500 LENS: 18-55 ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): 7.1
Boat passengers, woman looks back
By David Moreno On a boat near Krabi.
New Light
By Nathan Hamilton A firefighter watches over cadets extinguishing a real fire. CAMERA: D7100 FOCAL LENGTH: 112mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/250th LENS: 18-140mm ISO: 1250 APERTURE (F-STOP): 5.6
Joy
By Jeri Gravlin Finding beauty in nature at the Grand Teton National Park
Lonely
By Manish Kumar Into the Wild. CAMERA: Canon 600D FOCAL LENGTH: 55.0mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/30 LENS: 55-250mm ISO: 400 APERTURE (F-STOP): 4.0
Turn
By Sarah Calcara My daughter mid-turn while looking back on her brother trying to catch up.
Love
By Toth Frantisek Love
The Colorful Thoughts of Winter
By Tom Price This is a self portrait on the first day of snow in the city and I wanted to create a portrait that was out of the ordinary and different. I shoot in the cold for 30 or 40 minutes until I got this image. No post processing other than an increase in saturation, the ram bow of colors was in camera. CAMERA: Canon 7D FOCAL LENGTH: 50mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/25th LENS: Canon 50mm f/1.8 II ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): f3.2
Lonely soul
By Jevgenij Scolkov I took this photo in Riga. There was fantastic weather for night shot, so I decided to go to our bus station to make some photos. This is one of them.
Day N Night
By Chris Kelley The final composition consist of 40 different images taken over a 12 hour period in Gene Leahy Mall in Omaha, Nebraska. CAMERA: Olympus E-M5 FOCAL LENGTH: 12mm LENS: Rokinon 12mm f/2
Normandy Normalcy
By Spencer Chamberlain After visiting Omaha Beach and the American D-Day cemetery, I stumbled upon this cow standing in what seemed to be an infinitely expanding field, just on the outskirts of the D-Day visitor center. I was struck by how closely the current landscape of contemporary France exists with the history of WWII. CAMERA: Canon EOS 6D FOCAL LENGTH: 24mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/1000 LENS: Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): 1.4
Morning on The Way
By Spencer Chamberlain Early in the morning just outside of Nájera, Spain, along the 500-mile Camino de Santiago trek across northern Spain, I turned around and saw the silhouettes of my fellow pilgrims and Spanish countryside combining to create one of the most visually stunning scenes I’ve witnessed firsthand. CAMERA: Canon EOS 6D FOCAL LENGTH: 24mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/2500 LENS: Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): 1.4
Seven Summits Trail
By Skye Schillhammer Snapped this photo while riding the Seven Summits trail in Rossland B.C. The trail travels along ridge lines in the high alpine. CAMERA: Canon EOS 5D II FOCAL LENGTH: 14mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/2500 LENS: Rokinon 14mm ISO: 640 APERTURE (F-STOP): 5.6
Sunlight
By Torsten Muehlbacher Sunlight through the Forest. CAMERA: Canon EOS 5D Mark III FOCAL LENGTH: 14mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/15 LENS: Samyang ISO: 125
Freedom’s Light-1 World Trade Center
By Dominick Bianco This was shot on a foggy, misty night from Brooklyn, NY. When I first got to to spot, I couldn’t see a lot of the Manhattan skyline. Then the fog started to lift and I saw this.
