Just like Instagram, 500px can be a great source of inspiration for photographers. Besides following other photographers' accounts and setting up your own, you can also participate in various challenges and competitions.
Check out the current photo challenges on 500px here.
As a portrait photographer, I'm amazed by the quality and creativity of portraiture available on 500px and I'll share with you some of my favorite photographers who are also in the editors' choice category.
1. Pavel Fischar
Pavel is a Ukrainian photographer with an impeccable sense for color combinations in portraiture.
If you want to learn how to apply the color wheel to your portraits – look no further! Pavel's portraits feature striking combinations of complementary or analogous colors. The majority of his portraits are shot in natural light, so if that's your thing, you will enjoy Pavel's profile a lot.
2. Dorota Górecka
Dorota Górecka is a photographer based in Lodz, Poland. Her photos are very sensual and poetic. She is inspired mainly by the Pre-Raphaelites and the Aesthetic Movement. In case you don't know, the Pre-Raphaelites were a collective of Victorian poets, painters, illustrators, and designers whose tenure lasted from 1848 to the turn of the century. In their work, they were focusing on female beauty, sexual desire, and altered states of consciousness.
Dorota's work is very intricate in terms of colors and lighting and her photos resemble classical paintings. Her setups are elaborate and they can serve as a wonderful sense of inspiration for amateur portraitists.
3. Andrew Vasiliev
Andrew is a Russian photographer who caught my attention because of his stylish, complex setups and amazing compositions. He's very attentive to details, which results in complex photographs that resemble carefully crafted movie posters or high-end ads.
He's also making video tutorials and presets for Lightroom.
4. Amanda Carlson
Amanda is an American photographer, originally from the Chicago area. She has an ambassador account on 500px and many avid followers. She focuses on close-up portraits and she's excellent at capturing emotions. I particularly like her latest work with neon lights and a beautiful color palette that consists of pink, purple, and electric blue tones.
You can check out her personal website here.
5. Jordie Hennigar
Jordie is a Canadian photographer and creative director best know for her unusual outdoor portraits.
If you like grain that resembles film photography, haziness, or intentional blur, you'll enjoy her work. Jordie is also very particular about colors and her portraits seem very raw and emotional, which I appreciate a lot. She also has a knack for bold b&w portraits.
6. Holger Nitschke
This German photographer specializes in black and white as well as desaturated color portraits. His portraits in neutral, nude tones are very elegant and anyone who's into commercial portraiture or fashion photography should learn how to recreate this style because it's highly sought-after.
Holger's photography is well-established thanks to many press and internet publications, exhibitions, and contests.
7. Julia Wimmerlin
Julia is another 500px ambassador and one of my favorite portraitists on this platform. The colors she uses are bold and invigorating and she combines them with flowy textures and unusual lighting setups. She also shoots dreamy and sensual underwater photography. I consider her a true master of semi-abstract portraiture.
To learn more about the most recent work of this Swiss photographer, you can check out her website.
