In this technology-oriented age, photography has become well and truly integrated into the mainstream. With the rise of Instagram and Facebook, trends in photography are more accessible than ever. And while some photography trends from 2015 are fizzling out, others are leading the way into 2016. Join FIB as we examine the photography trends of 2016, from on-the-rise Instagram snaps to well-established crazes.
Analogue photography
Film and prints are making a comeback in a big way. Maybe it’s because of the understated nostalgia of the millennial generation; maybe it’s because prints can’t be deleted and dark rooms can’t ‘crash’. Maybe it’s because there’s just something satisfying about holding a printed photograph in your hands, or storing it in the family photo album so that it can be enjoyed for years to come. Maybe it’s about the aesthetic. Maybe it’s a mixture of all of these things. When I think of film photography I think of family holidays and my parents’ old travel photos – and then I think of Theresa Palmer in the 2013 post-apocalyptic film Warm Bodies, as she delightedly uncovers an old Polaroid camera and says:
“It’s important to preserve memories, you know? Especially now that the world’s on its way out.”
It’s not just old-timers and stylistic professional photographers that are carrying their film cameras with them as they go about their day-to-day lives. Your relatives use one. Your hipster friend uses one. Your pen-pal probably uses one. Analogue photography has had resurgence in 2015 and with the popularity of The Impossible Project, Polaroids and Holgas, it looks like it’s going to gain even more popularity in 2016.
Complex patterns
You can see them in the Instagram feed of Australian self-made model Mimi Elashiry, in magazine spreads and in the Etsy shops of part-time designers – patterns are feeling the love at the moment. Complex patterns are a recurring trend that will never really lose their appeal, for the simple reason that they’re just pleasing to look at.
Mobile photography
It seems like everyone and their uncle has a picture of a cat on their phone. Yes, we think your cat is cute. No, we don’t need to see it again. Mobile photography has made it easier than ever for the unskilled photographer to capture the small pleasures of their everyday lives – the pleasures that no one else actually cares about, but we’ll give it a ‘like’ because we’re happy that you’re happy. Mobile photography also makes life simpler for more dedicated photographers, and sometimes it allows for some real gems.
Selfies
Pretentious bloggers and that cranky baby-boomer on the bus might have a few choice words to say about this, but selfies are a trend that aren’t going to fade out anytime soon. And to be honest, why should they? There are bigger problems in the world than masses of youngsters being in control of their own self-image amidst a culture where our image is so often controlled by others. Selfies are like a zany, shameless sort of equaliser. So go on, take another selfie. You guys look great. Van Gogh did self-portraits, too.
Lifestyle photography
There’s no better way to show off your lifestyle in 2016 than through… well… candid lifestyle photography. It’s all about capturing real moments rather than stiff poses and conveying the mood of what you’re doing. Sometimes the teenage YouTube ‘lifestyle gurus’ take it a little bit too far with their ostensibly candid videos that undergo hours of post-production. But in general, the new natural vibes of lifestyle photography aren’t a bad thing. If you’re still having doubts, check out this family from 1916:
… And compare them to this family in 2016:
The family in the latter picture look like they’re having more fun, right?
Colourful landscapes
Here’s one for the aesthetic lovers out there. Landscapes in dream-like, colourful tones are making an appearance everywhere, from galleries to Lana Del Rey music videos to the professional portfolios of photographers like Dustin Adams, JP Danko, Jonathan Basagio and Liubov Burakova.
Solitude
Solitary figures stand out in stark landscapes. Just looking at a photograph can almost make one feel like an intruder. Images that evoke the chill of solitude have found a place amidst the crowded hashtags and trends of 2016. Photographer Pei Ketron does it beautifully.
Aerial photography
There’s something about aerial drone photography that reveals the scope of beauty in nature and populated areas alike. The bird’s eye view is popular in food photography and is gracing the Instagram pages of hipsters with lattes-a-plenty.
Palm fronds and ferns
These plants evoke thoughts of paradise like no other. Gazing up at the sky through some palm fronds is an easy way to feel like you’re already there. Scientists already know that being out in nature has a calming, mood-boosting effect, both in the short-term and long-term. In fact, simply watching nature documentaries has been shown to have a calming effect.
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