Visual trends of 2018

By Raffy Paredes Getty has released its annual forecast of visual trends “set to inform and influence visual communication” in 2018. Divided into three categories, titled Masculinity Undone, Second Renaissance, and Conceptual Realism, the predicted trends from the stock photo agency shine a light on the changes in visual culture. Its global search data, released alongside the trend report, also shows shifts in the popularity and prevalence of types of imagery. For example searches for “diversity” and “inclusion” are up a whopping 917 percent in the past year. The trends are based on research by Getty Images into its own data, revealing the patterns of 1 billion customer searches and 400 million downloads from its site each year. The first trend, Masculinity Undone, shows “growing awareness that stereotypes for representing men are extremely outdated,” says Getty. Second Renaissance refers to a surge in portrait photography that references art history, with subdued color palettes and luxurious fabrics that resemble paintings. Meanwhile Conceptual Realism represents the increase in surrealist subject matter in a realist style. Getty attributes this to a post social media culture, which goes against “authentic and real” imagery in an attempt to create something unexpected. The agency’s global image search data also shows that searches for “LGBTQ” have gone up 809 percent, and “multi-ethnic family” as a search term has increased in popularity by 385 percent. Tellingly, searches for “emotional stress” are up 263 percent, “emotional abuse” by 110 percent, and “mental health awareness” by 258 percent. Read the full report at visualtrends.gettyimages.com (Itsnicethat.com). Here’s sharing timely advice from famed street photographer Oliver Duong of www.theinspiredeye.net who recently lost his mother. “Here’s my hard-earned advice for the taking: photograph what matters to you. Family, friends... Those very pictures that you probably feel are beneath you as a photographer are the very images you wish you had more of when aunt May or uncle Jim is no more... It’s not a happy thought to have I know, but like a seatbelt, you wish you don’t need to use it, but when you do, you are glad to have it. You don’t know the price of a photograph until it’s not possible to make it anymore. Time is like sand in your hands, it slips, you can’t keep it. Until you make a picture. The camera allows you to steal a grain of sand... and own a piece of eternity. But let these grains of sand pass through, and you lose it forever. Photograph your family, they are the most important images you will ever make, even though they may not feel like it at the time. I had to lose my mother to understand that simple fact. I really hope you get it, because my kids don’t know their grandmother, and images would have been the next best thing.” And now to our featured readers with three new photo contributors. Sydney-based Cesar Impelido sent in the night photo titled “Anzac Bridge” taken from the 24th floor of the newly opened Sofitel Hotel at Darling Harbour. Cesar shares that after watching many YouTube videos on photography, he bought a camera in 2016 and started shooting his own photos. From Kevin Aquino is a black-and-white photo of two people silhouetted against the sun while coming down the stairs. “I bought my very first camera two years ago,” shares Kevin. It was a Fujifilm XT10 with a 35mm lens. At first I didn’t know what genre of photography I would jump into. Then six months after, I started shooting street photography, I fell in love with it and immediately started reading and watching videos about it. Now I consider myself a student of it. I really love street photography. There is a certain sensation when you’re out on the street and doing it.” “The Upside Down,” a curious reflection photo comes from Kyle Cezanne  Francisco. Kyle, a visual documentarist from Angono, Rizal proudly shares that he is the only heir of the National Artist for Visual Arts, Carlos Botong Francisco. Other photos on today’s page come from previously featured readers. From Lanz Castañeda of Ibaan, Batangas is a reflection photo of the San Sebastian Cathedral in Lipa City. “Isang umaga, bago magsimula ang aming heritage tour kasama ang grupo ng AHP, this puddle of rainwater caught my attention,” writes Lanz. “I was amazed at the reflections of the church and of the people passing by and entering the Cathedral. That’s why the title of my photo is “Salamin ng Pananampalataya.” Photo enthusiast and government employee Elena Taeza shares an untitled macro photo of a dragonfly taken with her smartphone. “Traslacion” by Jose Consuegra focuses on a single devotee who rests for a moment while people rush about him. Gillian Dale Aguilo relates the story behind her photo, “Masasa Afterglow”: “I went to Masasa Beach in Tingloy, Mabini, Batangas and was dead tired when I got there. But as soon as I witnessed the changing hues of the sky, all my pessimism vanished.  It was just me and the sea and the sun. I just exclaimed, ‘Oh I love the sun, and everything under it!’” Mark Christian de Omania, travel photographer and 360 Virtual Tour developer from Panoramictrip contributed the photo, “The Frame Game + Reflection” taken at Bintuan Mangrove Park, Coron, Palawan. Jennifer Masanque submitted the photo titled “Clear.” She took the picture with her smartphone while heading home from work. And Roger Mendez sent in the photo, “Peeping Through” taken at Fort Canning, Singapore. Readers may now view issues of Picture Perfect including this column at www.mb.com.ph. For comments, suggestions or just to share an image or idea, email throughalensclearly@yahoo.com or rfyparedes@yahoo.com.