Photo Stories

Last month we teamed up with 500px Ambassador, Ryan Longnecker to challenge the 500px community to show us breathtaking images of our planet at scale. Photographers were asked to submit their best landscape and nature images that use the subject and background to highlight the scale (small or large) of the scene. The results did

A 2018 survey of more than 1,000 artists, conducted by The Abundant Artist, revealed that 70% of artists with websites used a website builder to create their sites, as opposed to custom building their sites themselves or hiring a web developer. We’re living in an age where artists can quickly and easily create their own

In the last few years, Google Images has implemented multiple changes to help photographers sell their work through the search engine, from adding image rights metadata to specifying Licensing information for potential buyers. Heading into 2021, search engines remain one of the most important ways for photographers to market and promote their images, but many

Priscilla Ong is a Singapore-based photographer whose photography has generally focused on travel, adventure, and architecture. However, recently Priscilla has been exploring the conceptual world of still life photography. Her newest photo series subverts expectations, creating fun and conceptual compositions of everyday objects against colorful backgrounds. Q: Priscilla, you’re based out of Singapore, could you

In 2020, we witnessed firsthand the effects of climate change, as seen in the devastating wildfires that swept through parts of the world. In California alone, 8,100 wildfires ravaged the landscape, killing more than 30 people this year. In areas of Australia, massive swaths of habitat were destroyed, killing more than 5,000 koalas and leading

This year, the Etsy Marketplace named “nesting” as one of their top home and living trends for the holidays, with people searching for everything from cozy layers, warm knits, and blankets to relaxed cardigans, quilted fabrics, and sweats. This idea of “comforting coziness,” embodied for many by the Danish word “hygge,” first started trending internationally

According to a recent study from Upwork, 36% of the US workforce has performed freelance work in the last six months, with 58% of non-freelancers considering freelancing in the future and 75% of those who quit their full-time job in order to freelance saying they earn the same or more than they did when they

According to research from Twitter, 60% of people expect this year’s holiday routines to change, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be celebrating. In fact, Twitter saw a 59% year-on-year increase in impressions for holiday-related tweets. Around the world, brands and individuals are going the extra mile to make this year special, whether it’s through

Oleksandr Berezko is a Ukrainian photographer and holds a PhD in computer science. His portfolio includes a great blend of lifestyle and conceptual content that captures vibrant colors, rich moments shared between friends and family, as well as private moments of individuals expressing themselves creatively. Oleksandr has previously won the 500px Imagine the Possibilities Quest.

In the last few years, at-home processing has experienced a renaissance, prompting major brands to release DIY kits and products for the modern film enthusiast. Between the LAB-BOX “daylight-loading film tank,” which rose €656,903 from 4,791 backers on Kickstarter, and Ilford Photo’s SIMPLICITY range of film processing sachets, it’s never been easier to process film

While much of our time this year has been spent indoors, research from the University of Cumbria reveals that nature has become more important to people during the coronavirus lockdown and, for many, protecting it has become a higher priority. Not only did the amount of time spent in nature increase among study participants, but

With the global photo editing software market size expected to reach $1,183.8 million by 2026, it’s never been easier to enhance your images in post-processing. Editing apps are more accessible than ever, and professional and amateur photographers alike are boosting their potential with smarter, AI-driven tools. It’s no longer necessary to outsource editing and retouching

Early last year, a large-format print of a photograph by Richard Avedon went up for sale through Christie’s with a pre-sale estimate of $350,000-$550,000; in the end, it sold for $615,000. While photography might have struggled for decades to be accepted as a fine art, it’s since gained its rightful place in the art market,

You might still remember these memes: “Women wearing boxing gloves with business attire,” “First Day On The Internet Kid,” “Ladies Lounging (Uncomfortably) With Laptops,” “Internet Grandma Surprise.” Popularized in 2011-12, these viral memes incorporate and poke fun at obviously staged, overused stock photos. You know the kind of stock photo we’re talking about: models acting

Are you a photographer who sells presets, online courses, or access to a workshop? Do you write articles or create videos? Or are you a photographer who is constantly looking for new Resources to consume so you can grow your skills? Well, look no further because you can now do all of those things on

During the coronavirus pandemic, more than 70% of Americans took on home improvement projects and plan to do more in the new year, according to a survey from Bank of America. In 2020, home became more than where the heart is, and our houses and apartments became our offices, schools, gyms, and more. Although restrictions

The last couple of years have been important for copyright law, and in many cases, the photo industry has been front and center. First, there was Goldman v. Breitbart News et al, then McGucken v. Newsweek, and most recently, the reopening of the Sinclair case. These headline-grabbing cases have drawn widespread public attention to the

In the 1930s, Life magazine did something radical; while most magazines of the time prioritized words, its editors published pages and pages of photographs, sometimes accompanied only by brief captions. Over the next few decades, Life’s photographers—Gordon Parks, Margaret Bourke-White, and W. Eugene Smith among them—would help pioneer a new genre known as the “photo

Studies suggest that mass media is one of the public’s primary sources of information about several mental health disorders, but research also shows that many of the portrayals we see are negative and stereotypical. These inaccurate depictions can have serious consequences. According to the World Health Organization, one in four of us will be affected

500px is committed to providing photographers with opportunities to participate in evolving trends within commercial advertising. We not only want to provide an authentic look at global experiences, but redefine representation and drive inclusivity within commercial photography. To do this, we launched the 500px Commercial Grants program to help develop content representative of evolving trends

The holiday season is huge for brands and retailers every year, but this year, October to December might be more important than ever. Crowded, in-person Black Fridays may be a thing of the past, but a recent study reveals that more than half of Americans had already started their holiday shopping by October of this

500px strives to capture authentic representation within the global experience. As part of the 500px Commercial Grants program, we provide photographers with opportunities that encourage inclusivity within commercial photography. 500px is awarding a total of $5,000 US in grants, to be shared amongst five photographers, as part of the Reimagining Mental Health Commercial Grant. We

Tatiana Avdjiev is a lifestyle photographer originally from Bulgaria and is currently based in Chicago. Her portfolio captures a blend of authentic and intimate lifestyle content, often focusing on themes of family, connection, and creative expression. Tatiana’s work has been featured in 500px Editors’ Choice and in photography publications like Photography Masterclass Magazine, TimeOut Chicago,

With millions of photos and a vast variety of themes, concepts, and categories, there is never a shortage of amazing content to discover on 500px. That’s why we created 500px Collections! An effortless way to discover more of the best content taken by our incredible and diverse community. Keep reading to learn how you can

The most successful Licensing Contributors on 500px have hundreds of images in their portfolios, and they add 25 to 50 more photos each week. They track trends, challenge themselves to try new things, and make time to shoot seasonal content throughout the year. Most importantly, however, they make the most of every shoot. The secret

Fall and winter are the times of year for warm sweaters, cozy evenings, twinkling lights, and—for photographers, at least—magical bokeh. A few years ago, a Reddit user went viral after noticing that Google searches for “bokeh” peak in December, perhaps due to more photographers looking to create the effect using holiday lights. With more photographers

Marvin Herrera is a Licensing Contributor originally from Los Angeles, California, now based out of Vancouver, British Columbia. Marvin’s portfolio focuses on colorful, moody, and expressive portraits, blending creative props, settings, and often shot on film to build a sense of nostalgia. Q: Marvin, tell us a bit about your first camera. A: My first

From spontaneous candids to unretouched skin, the last few years have transformed portrait photography. From selfies to studio shots, today’s photographers are doing away with the cliches (and the over-editing) and embracing personality, authenticity, and creativity. When you search 500px for “portrait photography,” you’ll turn up a whopping 318,000+ results. We’re living in an era

From “galaxy makeup” to “festival glitter,” the last couple of years have ushered in some of the boldest trends in face and body painting. In 2019, searches for “body painting” went up by 444% on Pinterest, and as of this writing, a quick search for “face paint” on 500px results in 20,882 images from photographers

A graffiti artist sues a major car company after a photographer features his mural in an ad campaign. A federal judge rules on whether tattoos can be featured in video games or whether they’re the intellectual property of the artist. Another artist finds his work unexpectedly featured in a Super Bowl ad and ends up