181. The Greens
Possible Camera Used: Fujifilm X100T
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $999*
If you’ve ever been a nature photography fan, this picture will surely set off a calm wave inside your brain. Very few entry-level cameras can distinguish so well between different hues of the same color, and the Fujifilm X100T is one of them.
The Greens @michelazzia/Pinterest
Even though several upgrades have come out in the X100 range, this earlier model is still a fan favorite for several reasons. The most significant factor is that the image quality is terrific and offers a beautiful rendition of color, along with superb film simulation modes. These two qualities make it the perfect camera for those who like to capture a diverse range of things.
182. Stained Glass
Possible Camera Used: Fujifilm X100V
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $1,899*
This picture comes from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and it is almost like looking at the real thing. Stained glass is tricky to photograph because the color balance is rarely captured properly.
Stained Glass ©Megan Outten/Flickr
However, this shot by the Fujifilm X100V gets pretty close. The hues in the stained glass have been picked up brilliantly, with the statue in the center also retaining its shades and not seeming overly brightened. Only a few other pictures of this particular ensemble reflect the colors so well.
183. The White Truck
Possible Camera Used: Huawei P30 Pro
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $400*
Street photography may not be everyone’s jam, but the Huawei P30 Pro will definitely change that. Most people shy away from capturing because they may not have access to a good camera, but this phone is everything you need.
The White Truck @Google/Pinterest
The camera captures every hue in the picture, from the small green behind the truck to the slight blue in the rearview mirror. Most phone cameras would neglect these details, but that is not true with the Huawei P30 Pro.
184. Beware of the Dog
Possible Camera Used: Canon Rebel
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $400+*
Photography started out as a hobby but has become super expensive over the years. The commercialization of this pastime has led to the creation of expensive gear that is barely affordable for professionals, let alone for amateurs.
Beware of the Dog @Google/Pinterest
However, this picture of a plant/gate hybrid is proof that you don’t need the most expensive camera out there. All you need is some basic gear and Photoshop skills to develop masterpieces like this one. The final picture might have resulted from some editing, but it doesn’t take away from the capabilities of the simple Canon Rebel.
185. The Moon
Possible Camera Used: Fujifilm FinePix S1
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $258*
Capturing the moon in its glory is a dream for amateur and professional photographers alike, but it is a difficult feat to undertake. Most phone cameras perform horribly when it comes to shooting the moon simply because they make it look like nothing more than a white blob in the night sky.
The Moon @cnet/Pinterest
However, the Fujifilm FinePix S1 comes with a fast-shooting mega-zoom that comes to life due to a robust 24-1200mm zoom lens. Combining those two qualities results in a picture like this that the photographer can show off for years to come.
186. Behind The Trees
Possible Camera Used: Fujifilm FinePix S1
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $258*
Sun rays are one of the most challenging elements of nature to capture because they can off-balance everything else in the picture. The result will often be too bright to be considered a good photograph.
Behind The Trees @cnet/Pinterest
This small-sensor compact camera is an excellent choice for shooting in daylight, with one of the biggest reasons being how it captures the sunlight. This picture comes up top because it manages to capture the brightness of the sun’s rays without them getting too blinding.
187. The Colorful Apartments
Possible Camera Used: iPhone Xs Max
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $288*
The fact that Apple hosts a photography competition for pictures shot on the iPhone proves that this camera can do some powerful things. This picture by Alex Jiang was one of the winners of the 2019 iteration of the competition and was most praised for its color composition.
The Colorful Apartments @apple/Pinterest
One of the judges highlighted that if you zoom in, you can focus on the individual lives of the many families in the photograph. This way, the picture captures not only one element but also tons of aspects of social living weaving through each other.
188. The Raccoon
Possible Camera Used: iPhone Xs Max
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $288*
A picture like this takes immense patience and time, so it can be credited as much to the photographer as it can be to the camera. The zero shutter lag and Smart HDR features of the Xs Max camera make it possible to emphasize the shadows inside the log as well as the raccoon’s eyes, which is a brilliant play with balancing shades of light.
The Raccoon @apple/Pinterest
The picture was taken by Blake Marvin on his smartphone, and it almost seems like it’s frozen in time. The use of black-and-white was a great choice on the photographer’s part because it adds all the more depth to the final result.
189. A Reflection
Possible Camera Used: iPhone Xs Max
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $288*
This picture will make you do a double-take because of its surreal composition. It looks less like a digital image and more like a painting, but the fluid elements and the bird flying in the corner force you to rethink your initial feelings.
A Reflection @apple/Pinterest
When Darren Soh witnessed this building’s reflection in a puddle of water on the ground, he couldn’t let go of the perfect opportunity to capture a picture as stunning as this one. The picture tickles a strange sensation in your brain, but only in a good way.
190. The Yellow Field
Possible Camera Used: iPhone 7
Where to Buy: eBay
Cost: $178*
The striking yellow hue in this image may make it seem like some high-grade camera was behind this capture, but it was taken on a mere iPhone 7. This picture is staunch proof that the iPhone cameras were way ahead of their time.
The Yellow Field ©Hamyrul hardy/Shutterstock
Nikita Yarosh captured this shot in Belarus, and it was one of the winners of the 2019 Shot on iPhone competition hosted by Apple itself. The judges emphasized how the simplicity of this image made you wonder more about the details, which is the sign of a good photograph: it makes you think.
191. A Childhood Dream
Possible Camera Used: iPhone 8 Plus
Where to Buy: eBay
Cost: $200*
Capturing landscapes is exciting, but they’re made even more stunning by the presence of our loved ones inside the image. The US has several national parks that would provide the perfect backdrop for taking a beautiful picture of your children, and Elizabeth Scarrott made the most of that opportunity with her iPhone 8 Plus.
A Childhood Dream @apple/Pinterest
The framing of the child against the backdrop showcases a specific skill in the hands of the photographer. If you want to remember your kids’ childhood through pictures, you don’t need to invest in a heavy camera; you only need some skill with your existing smartphone.
192. The Droplets
Possible Camera Used: iPhone Xs
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $202*
Millions of people bought the iPhone Xs, but not all of them cracked the code to capture pictures like these. While the Xs could capture a range of dynamic images, a shot like this one results from a calculated execution.
The Droplets @apple/Pinterest
Andrew Griswold brought the picture together through visual interest created by the background pattern and their reflections in the droplets in front. The balance of this unique color composition is something particular to the iPhone Xs.
193. The Field
Possible Camera Used: iPhone 7
Where to Buy: eBay
Cost: $178*
Phone cameras are designed to capture people, but landscape photography is the actual test of how good a phone’s camera is, and the iPhone 7 indeed stood its ground. Robert Glaser captured this shot in Germany, showcasing a dynamic range of colors.
The Field @apple/Pinterest
The best part about the picture is the stunning balance it achieves between its blue and green hues, which is a pain point for many smaller cameras. Overall, the field could belong in a coffee table book on landscapes because of its perfect composition.
194. The House on the Hill
Possible Camera Used: iPhone Xs Max
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $288*
This picture may strike a chord of nostalgia with many of us because it resembles the house we all grew up seeing in Courage The Cowardly Dog. The black-and-white filter further emphasizes the dramatic composition of the image.
The House on the Hill @apple/Pinterest
Bernard Antolin, the photographer, became one of the winners of the 2019 Shot on iPhone competition because this picture paints a brilliant contrast between the clouds, mountains, and other aspects of the scenery.