The Rangefinder team looks at imagery 24/7. What sharpens our focus is staying true to our individual tastes while also acknowledging styles that may come and go. Here are our picks of the last year—one from this magazine and one from the industry at large—that transcend trends, hone in on storytelling moments and make social statements. 

Libby Peterson
senior Editor

I was immediately enchanted by this photo (above) when I spotted it on Instagram. It was taken by Matt Kay, a wedding photographer based in South Africa who operates under the moniker The Woods. I’ve been known to love a scene with layers, and that’s exactly what drew Kay to capture this scene in the first place. Originally a street photographer, Kay points out that it’s hard to go wrong when you’ve got adorably quirky animal balloons and an eclectic sculpture that rolls. There’s an undeniable sense of movement and mayhem here, something akin to a childhood adventure.  

I couldn’t help but give a shout out to the shot above from Zalmy Berkowitz, which we published as the section opener to our Identity issue back in February. In his story about finding his place as an Orthodox Jewish wedding photographer, Berkowitz mentioned the balance he strikes with photos he likes to take of his family. These two curious kiddos are his, peering at the world through an opening at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles rather than using their more official sparkly telescope. The kids could be simply too short to use it, Berkowitz admits, or resistant to spending the quarters. But either way, I love the rebellion.

David Alexander Willis
TECHNOLOGY Editor

The image above by Lindsay Adler (from her new tutorial  “The Magic of Gels”) really highlights the depth and contrast one can create in an image simply by employing the right kinds of color. Here (and on our cover), Adler used color gels, which I think is still the most reliable true-color solution for photography, maintaining spectrum accuracy regardless of the hue and saturation being employed. 

A Complete Guide to Color-Effects Gel in Portrait Photography

“Here, I have used only two lights—a light behind the subject and a single hard light illuminating the subject’s face,” the fashion photographer explains. “On my main light source, I used a bare bulb and red gel for that deep saturated color. I also used two pieces of foamcore to create those carefully placed shadows, which then sculpt my subject.”

The image above, by Maddie Mae of Adventure Instead, ran in our July/August feature “The Quest for Truth.” I like the way she was able to bring in the Milky Way behind her subjects without the stars being overridden by too much light pollution caused by, ironically, the moon.

“This is one single exposure—not a composite,” says the elopement photographer. “At the end of an all-day hiking elopement near Aspen, Colorado, we noticed that the moon was about to rise and was creating moon alpenglow on the peaks behind us. I set this up with a tripod and lit it with just two headlamps placed between them and the night sky.”

Jacqueline Tobin
editor-in-Chief

One thing I do regularly that is near and dear to my heart is take part in portfolio reviews. 

When I met Seattle-based photographer Brandon Patoc during one, I was struck by this image (above) for its depth, tonality and haunting duality. What appears at first glance to be a scene of kids playing is actually an essay on an ongoing fight for survival.

In September of 2014, Patoc had the opportunity to visit a few refugee camps in Turkey, consisting of primarily Kurdish families who had fled ISIS in the heat of the conflict that was unfolding.

“Pictured are some kids wandering and occupying their time in the mostly concrete compound,” says Patoc. “The kids were playing in the designated laundry area and the younger of the bunch were pretty carefree, but you could tell that the older children had gone through something significant and were still settling into their new home.”

On the other end of the spectrum is this gorgeous getting-ready image (above) by the UK’s Olivia & Dan Photography, originally featured as an Rf Photo of the Day. It’s just the right amount of dark and moody that subtly comes alive by the bride’s playful smile as well as the refined glamour of her dress.

“It was an overcast day, so we had some lovely diffused window light to play with coming through the French windows,” say the photographers. “We love to create a chiaroscuro effect with getting- ready portraits, as it really helps the viewer focus and connect with the subject, drowning out any background distractions.”   

6 Lighting Solutions for Right Now

Lisa Realmuto-Walsh
Art director

The image above, by Elinor Carucci, is from a series that ran in a People magazine story on the day in the life of an inmate mom who is raising her daughter at the Washington State Correction Center for Women.

I love how Carucci has captured an extremely touching moment by giving me a complete visual and emotional story simultaneously. The lighting on the baby’s face and the warm color tones create a beautiful narrative, and the quiet, casual posing really brings the subjects alive. All of these aspects combined are a brilliant depiction of human emotion.

For the Johanna Rosenlew image above, from our November 30 Rising Stars gallery, I was drawn in by the way Rosenlew was able to bring in the unexpected moment of this bride on her wedding day in a voyeuristic way. Rosenlew captured a hidden moment of “freshening up” for the bride’s big day, giving the viewer a glimpse of emotion and beauty in an unexpected way. 

I admire how Rosenlew always looks for ways to use natural light with rich, moody tones. And she never lets the pursuit for this aesthetic get in the way of the day as it naturally unfolds, observing and capturing sincere and energy-filled moments without disturbing the party or faking a scene for the camera.

“My camera is like my third eye and second mouth,” says Rosenlew. “I have been told that I see things that other people don’t, even if we are looking at the exact same thing.”

Reimagining the Aesthetics and Logistics of Formal Family Wedding Portraits

Sharon Ber
PDN Art Director

At a recent portfolio review, I came across Gia Goodrich’s portraits of Instagram influencer and model Sammyy02k (above). The images were a celebration of beauty—unconventional to what we often see in the media.

“I want every form of beauty to be seen, validated and celebrated,” Goodrich states. “Photography shapes how we view our world and reinforces our cultural values. It’s important to create imagery that embraces all body shapes, ethnicities, skin tones, abilities and genders.” 

At both PDN and Rangefinder, we strive to show varied perspectives  and subjects. Everyone should be represented in the visuals we see online and in magazines.

In Rangefinder’s September Diversity issue,  Nadiya Nacorda’s photos appeared in the article “The Broad Spectrum of Life.” The images were such a celebration of confidence, centered around cultural diversity and inclusivity. “Diversity is not a trend. It’s life,” Nacorda said. 

Both images I chose here reflect that kind of thinking.