Getting the perfect shot is a moment every photographer dreams about. Taking this perfect photo isn’t easy—the lighting might be off, or the photographer might have trouble getting their subject in the right position. But when everything clicks, a photographer will end up with a once-in-lifetime photo.
These photographers all took truly stunning photos. Some used their amazing Photoshop skills to add new dimensions to their photo. Others captured shots that look like they’re Photoshopped but really are all natural. But there’s one thing all these photos have in common: they’re all the works of incredible artists.
If you’re looking for your inspiration for your next photography project, check out these beautiful shots. From landscapes to portraits, these photos truly are the best-of-the-best. These photos will inspire you to pick up your camera and start shooting.
1)Climbing Ice Caves
While this photographer was traveling in Iceland, he captured this beautiful photo of a climber scaling a wall of ice. This ice cave was carved out by water moving through a glacier. The photo shows a great example of how surprising nature can be.
2)Museum of Modern Art Stairs
This photographer captured this shot of his two friends while they were at Chicago’s Museum of Modern Art. The photo has a surreal look that’s perfect for a modern art museum. The color balance is also perfect.
3) Swimming Through The Sea
This ethereal photo almost looks like a painting. We love the beautiful muted colors and the overall sense of calm in the photo. This photographer has tons of talent.
4) Hungry Robins
This photographer managed to capture this photo at the perfect time. It takes a moment to realize you’re looked at three baby birds’ open mouths. Once you realize the photo features three hungry little birds, it’s impossible not to smile!
5) Train in Tokyo
Tokyo’s yellow trains are the perfect background for a bright and colorful photo. This photographer created depth in his photo by featuring the conductor in the center. The result is a unique, eye-catching image.
6) Girl Looking Through A Fence
This photographer has some amazing editing skills. We love how she created different images in the chain link fence—what a creative idea! We can’t wait to see more work from this photographer.
7) Swooping Osprey
If you love nature photos, you’re sure to enjoy this amazing shot of an osprey swooping down to catch its prey. The photographer captured the bird at just the right moment—the look of determination on the bird’s face is incredible.
8) Floating Paperclip
We love how surreal this photo feels. It also raises a lot of questions: Where is the paperclip floating? Where did the pattern in the background come from? This striking image captures your attention using just a simple household object.
9) Tiananmen Cave View
The Tiananmen Caves in China are stunningly beautiful, and this photographer perfectly captured that beauty. The fog adds another dimension to the photo, and the snow on the trees is also stunning.
10) Street Light Spiderweb
When this photographer spotted a spiderweb covering a streetlight, they knew it was the perfect photo opportunity. The red light reflecting on the web is lovely, and the foggy background helps the web pop even more. This photographer captured a truly amazing shot.
11) Classic Car Under Flowers
The photographer of this image was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. When they saw this classic VW Beatle under a tree filled with pink flowers, they knew they had to immortalize the moment with the photo. We’re so glad they did—the resulting image is gorgeous!
12) Desert Traffic Lights
Many photographers take photos of the night sky in the desert—since there’s so little light pollution, they can get amazing shots of the stars. But this photographer decided to go a different route with their photo. They took a long exposure shot of one of the few traffic lights in the area, resulting in a unique image.
13) Colorful Meadow
When this photographer saw a storm brewing over a colorful meadow, they immediately reached for their camera. The image they captured is full of contrasting colors, from the bright yellow flowers to the dark gray sky. What a great shot!
14) Hot Air Balloon Ride
This photographer went out one morning to photograph hot air balloons taking off. To their surprise, they got invited to ride in a balloon. We’re so glad they got to go up in the sky because they captured an amazing shot of the balloons around them and the mountains in the background!
15) Reflection in the Water
At first glance, this photo almost seems like an optical illusion. But after looking a little more, it becomes clear that the photo shows a perfect reflection in a river. The rocks at the bottom of the river help add even more texture to the photo.
16) Cat In Front Of Stained Glass Window
This photograph shows a great example of how contrast can help make a photo pop. The stained glass window is beautiful itself, but the black cat standing against it adds a whole new dimension to the photo. What a beautiful piece of art!
17) Fire-Haired Woman
When this photographer saw his girlfriend’s beautiful red, yellow, and purple hair, he knew it would look perfect in a photograph. He chose to desaturate the rest of the photo, making his girlfriend’s hair stands out more. This was a great choice—we love the contrast in this image!
18) Flamingo Formation
This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime photo—it’s not every day you see a group of flamingos magically creating the shape of a flamingo. We also love the contrast between the pink flamingos and the murky brown water. This photo was chosen as a Best Photo of the Day by National Geographic, and we can’t think of a worthier winner!
19) Foggy San Francisco
San Francisco is famous for its fog, and many photographers try to capture shots of the fog surrounding the city’s famous landmarks. This photographer found a truly unique angle for his photo, and it looks like the fog is swallowing up the city. We also love the beautiful shades of pink in the sky.
20) Icy Swim
We love the way the triangle of ice pops against the snowy background. The woman swimming in the pool of ice also adds another unique element to the photo—although we’re sure she didn’t stay in the freezing water for long! This striking image leaves a lasting impression.
21) Hot Tea In The Arctic
If the temperature is cold enough, hot drinks will instantly freeze if you throw them in the air. In the Arctic, it’s almost always cold enough to witness this phenomenon. One photographer decided to take a photo of the moment his drink froze, and the resulting image is stunning.
22) Tunnel of Light
Everything about this photo is magical, from the perfect tunnel of light to the snowy trees to the clear spheres on the ground. This photographer chose an interesting angle for his photo, which adds another dimension to the image. This photo has so much happening in it, you could look at it for hours and still find new things to see!
23) Desert Sky In Namibia
Namibia is famous for its petrified trees and bright orange desert sand. While these sights are beautiful in the daytime, they’re even more magical at night under a clear, star-filled sky. This photo shows a great example of how stunning this desert is.
24) Plane In A Beehive
When this photographer was standing in this beehive-shaped building, they saw a plane flying overhead. They waited for the exact right moment and then took their shot. The resulting image is amazing!
25) Supermoon In Radio Telescope
On the day of the supermoon, one photographer decided to capture a unique photo of the natural phenomenon. They waited for just the right moment, and their patience paid off. They were able to get an amazing photo of the supermoon sitting in a radio telescope like it’s a giant bowl!
26) Foggy Shower
This photograph shows a great example of how to make an everyday thing into a magical photograph. The foggy door adds a surreal feel to the photo, and the girl peeking out from behind the door adds another element to the photo. With just a simple foggy shower door, this photographer created an atmospheric image.
27) Looking Up In Hong Kong
When this photographer was shooting in Hong Kong, they decided to try for a unique angle on their photo. They pointed up while they stood inside a densely populated residential area. The resulting photo is dizzying and mesmerizing.
28) Sunset Reflection
When this photographer saw the sunset perfectly reflecting on the water, he knew he had to capture the image. The man paddling his canoe adds the perfect amount of contrast to the image. It also adds a story to the photo—you can’t help but wonder, where is the man in the canoe going?
29) Bird Tornado
For unknown reasons, these black birds made the shape of a tornado. They flew up into the air above a house against a darkening sky. The photographer immediately knew this would make a perfect photo, and so they took out their camera and clicked away.
30) Elk in Sunbeam
The overall feeling of this photograph is calmness. As you see this elk happily stretching in a sunbeam, a serene expression on his face, you can’t help but smile. Everything about this photo is bright, colorful, and cheerful.
31) Ocean Face
When this photographer realized that the waves crashing into the shore were making the shape of a face, he knew he had to take a photo. He says that he touched up the photo in Lightroom just to accentuate the face a bit more, but it was mostly all natural. What a lucky shot!
32) Iceland Volcano Eruption
A volcano eruption is a truly dramatic sight. When this photographer saw a volcano exploding in Iceland, they knew they needed to capture the smoke, ash, and lava. The resulting photo is striking to look at.
33) Row of Cherry Blossoms
Cherry blossoms in full bloom always make a beautiful photo background. This Danish photographer added another dimension to the photo by including a model wearing a jacket that’s the exact same color as the flowers. We love the contrast this provides!
34) Contrast in New York
The spot where Central Park meets the Upper East Side is the perfect place for a photograph. The contrast in this photo is amazing—we love how the photographer was able to perfectly line up the photo to get the two sides even. This photo is mesmerizing!
35) Seattle Behind A Fence
This Seattle-based photographer wanted to capture a unique shot of her city, and when she saw this great view of downtown from behind a broken chain link fence, she immediately grabbed her camera. We also like the way she included a pair of hands in the photo—it adds a whimsical touch to the already beautiful photo.
36) Butterfly On Turtle’s Nose
This adorable photo will make any animal lover smile! The turtle’s expression as the butterfly lands on its nose is perfect—it looks surprised and happy all at once. We’re so glad this photographer was in the right place at the right time to get this shot.
These stunning photos all have something unique about them, from their colors to their fascinating subjects. The photographers who created these photos are all true artists who know how to make an incredible image. These images all creative, beautiful, and inspirational!
Getting the perfect shot is a moment every photographer dreams about. Taking this perfect photo isn’t easy—the lighting might be off, or the photographer might have trouble getting their subject in the right position. But when everything clicks, a photographer will end up with a once-in-lifetime photo.
These photographers all took truly stunning photos. Some used their amazing Photoshop skills to add new dimensions to their photo. Others captured shots that look like they’re Photoshopped but really are all natural. But there’s one thing all these photos have in common: they’re all the works of incredible artists.
If you’re looking for your inspiration for your next photography project, check out these beautiful shots. From landscapes to portraits, these photos truly are the best-of-the-best. These photos will inspire you to pick up your camera and start shooting.