©exebiche/stock.adobe.com
We quite often see pictures pop up all over the internet of breathtaking scenes, from animals in strange poses to wonderful landscapes and glittering stars. While it’s easy to think that photographers must be using equipment worth tens of thousands of dollars – that’s not always the case.
Some of the best photos are taken using mid-range Sony DSLR’s, or in some instances, conventional smartphones that any consumer can buy. 2021 has proven to be another incredible year of photography work, full of images that are equal parts surprising and completely mesmerizing.
1. Surprised Otter
Possible Camera Used: Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV
Where to Buy: eBay
Cost: $1,300*
Getting the perfect shot of an animal isn’t easy. Wildlife photographers need to be on their toes if they’re going to get the shot they want at the right time – including this stunning snap of an otter looking like it’s just won the lottery.
Surprised Otter @u/Maymayfish / Reddit.com
Harry Walker took this picture and submitted it for the 2019 Comedy Wildlife Awards. Camera like Sony’s Cyber-shot RX10 IV can be ideal for taking high-quality pictures in a flash, just be extra careful if you’re going near water. No one wants to risk wasting $1,300.
2. Marble Canyon
Possible Camera Used: iPhone XS Max
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $900
Landscape photography is always popular, not least because photographers can make a pretty penny by selling the prints. In this case, one sharp shooter decided to venture out into Marble Canyon, Arizona, and see what they could come up with. It turned out to be a very smart move.
Marble Canyon @DPhotographer / Twitter.com
The best part? It didn’t take a ridiculously expensive camera to capture this stunning scene. Kaiwen Jiang simply took out his iPhone XS Max and pressed a button. The host later won first place in the landscape category at the 2020 Apple iPhone Photography Awards.
3. Frisbee Dog
Possible Camera Used: Canon EOS 90D
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $1,600*
The Canon EOS 90D isn’t the cheapest camera on the market, but what it takes out of your wallet it makes up for in reliability and speed. This model could easily take a stunning picture like this dog flying out of the water. Not all products are as fast as this Canon, resulting in blurred pictures.
Frisbee Dog @u/RFarmer / Reddit.com
You can pick up one of these bad boys on {[AMZN:Amazon}} for around $1,600. While the price may seem a little high to the inexperienced photographer, a product like this can quickly elevate you to pro status in the click of a button.
4. Extreme Close-Up of a Snowflake
Possible Camera Used: Olympus TG-5
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $600*
When it comes to macro photography, you can’t just take any old camera and hope for the best. Models like the Olympus TG-5 are specially designed to focus and take high-quality pictures of things extremely close-up, like this wonderful snowflake.
Extreme Close-Up of a Snowflake © Shutterstock
Capturing the intricate details that we don’t normally see with the naked eye is imperative with this kind of art. There are multiple different types of cameras that are specifically geared towards macro, but the Olympus TG-5 is a dependable choice that won’t break the bank. You can pick this up on multiple online retailers, from Amazon to eBay.
5. Undersea School
Possible Camera Used: SeaLife DC2000
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $1,100*
Getting underwater shots isn’t easy. Not only do you have to be an experienced diver, but you need to have the right equipment that can withstand the pressure of going right to the bottom of the ocean. This incredible photo gives us a glimpse at life under the sea.
Undersea School @Александр / Pinterest
The SeaLife DC2000 is waterproof up to 60 meters below surface level. Not only is it built to operate seamlessly when it’s submerged, but it’s also got huge buttons so it’s easy to operate when you have diving gear on. At around $1,100 on Amazon it’s not all that expensive, either.
6. “Freediving Mist”
Possible Camera Used: Nikon Coolpix W300
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $600*
This image of a freediver enjoying a quick dip proves just how small humans really are in the big expanse of the ocean. Equal parts beautiful and unnerving, this moment was captured using a sturdy underwater camera like a Nikon Coolpix W300.
“Freediving Mist” @Daily Mail / Pinterest
Photographer Victor de Valles Ibanez told Insider, “In my photos, I want to transmit those moments in which I freedive alone, calm in a beautiful and special place with rare and unique conditions.” You certainly don’t get that kind of experience at Disneyland.
7. The Dragon Tower
Possible Camera Used: DJI Mavic 2 Zoom
Where to Buy: DJI Official Store
Cost: $1,000*
Over the past few years, photographers have been using drones more and more in their work. These little flying wonders can take art to a new level, providing us with shots like this that allow us to see different angles of buildings.
The Dragon Tower @Discovery / Twitter.com
The DJI Mavic 2 Zoom is one of the highest-rated drones on the market. Not only is it fast and stable, but it’s capable of taking high-quality pictures like this. At around $1,000, DJI models aren’t the cheapest out there but they aren’t the most expensive, either. Plus, you could make your money back by selling photo prints on Etsy.
8. The Crooked Forest
Possible Camera Used: Sony A7R IV
Where to Buy: Wex Photo Video
Cost: $2,000*
Most of us see trees everyday, but a skilled photographer can make us see the beauty in the simple things we take for granted. Of course, the right equipment can work wonders. In this case, a camera like the Sony A7R IV is a sure fire way to get the perfect shot.
The Crooked Forest @u/tofuyuki / Reddit.com
These misty trees in the Crooked Forest take on a whole new life thanks to the high-end gadget. A camera capable of taking crisp snaps like this will never be cheap, but think of it as long term investment. You could always hedge your bets and try to get a second hand one from eBay.
9. Floating Dancers
Possible Camera Used: Olympus OM-D E-M1 X
Where to Buy: Wex Photo Video
Cost: $2,000*
Making a snap like this work is all about speed, which is where a model like the Olympus OM-D E-M1 X comes in. With fast focus and burst shooting, this camera makes moments seem like magical stills in time.
Floating Dancers @Wellsbaum.blog | Writing about Life & Arts / Pinterest
Not only is a camera like this able to capture shots like these floating dancers, but it’s a great all-rounder for wildlife photography while also being compatible with numerous different lenses. It’s a big yes from most experts when it comes to this one, judging by its five-star rating on sites like Amazon.
10. The Kerid
Possible Camera Used: iPhoneX
Where to Buy: Apple
Cost: $600*
You don’t always need the latest in a long line of gadgets to capture a wondrous shot. In this case, photographer Naian Feng took this still of a frozen volcano known as The Kerid on his iPhone X.
The Kerid @Xtina / Pinterest
{{AAPL:Apple}] products aren’t cheap, but considering the iPhone isn’t the most advanced model, this picture is nothing short of stunning. iPhone photography has become so popular over the past few years that you can even take courses that are designed to help you get the most out of your smartphone.
11. Floating Ship
Possible Camera Used: Nikon Coolpix P950 83X
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $700*
Capturing a shot as epic as this one is no simple task. Not only do you have to be in the right place at the right time, but you need the right camera to make it work. To get the intricate detail of the rolling hills and fluffy, ominous clouds, a model like the Nikon Coolpix P950 83X could do the trick.
Floating Ship ©imgur.com
With impressive optical zoom features and an affordable price tag, you could be impressing your friends and family with your creativity in no time at all. You can purchase second hand Nikon’s on eBay, but buying new is your best bet if you want to make the most out of the manufacturer’s guarantee.
12. “The Wonky One”
Possible Camera Used: iPhone 11
Where to Buy: Apple
Cost: $800
Sometimes the best shots are illusions that play tricks on the viewer. In this case, this San Francisco house looks like it’s totally wonky and melting into the pavement. In reality, it’s the camera that’s wonky and not the house at all, making it appear sloped.
“The Wonky One” @M.T.Koffers / Pinterest
Apple is constantly improving its cameras, allowing users to take professional-grade snaps like this while not having to shell out for a separate digital camera. In this case, an iPhone 11 could’ve easily done the job. iPhones can be picked up in most stores, including Walmart.
13. Uncoiled Aurora Borealis
Possible Camera Used: Nikon D810
Where to Buy: Nikon
Cost: $2,800*
There’s nothing quite as magical as stepping out into a clear night and looking upward to the sky. How many of us have tried to capture a full moon or a shooting star on our smartphones, only to discover that it doesn’t show up properly?
Uncoiled Aurora Borealis @u/DerrickRoseChicago / Reddit.com
That’s where models like the Nikon D810 come in. Professional photographers recommend using a D810 for night time shots, like this jaw-dropping shot of an uncoiling aurora borealis. It’s certainly at the higher end of the financial spectrum, but it’s worth its weight in gold.
14. Frozen Spider Web
Possible Camera Used: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $2,600*
Spiderwebs are captivating to look at up-close. Nature has a wonderful way of throwing up these intricate little webs, made by methodical little arachnids. Love them or hate them, you can’t deny that a frozen spiderweb looks like a piece of specially weaved lace.
Frozen Spider Web @blue panda / Pinterest
Numerous cameras could snap a shot like this, including the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. Wildlife photographers go crazy for this model, even though it’s not the newest one on the market. With its impressive 30.4MP sensor, it’s not hard to see why pros swear by this camera.
15. Big Bunny
Possible Camera Used: Yuneec Q500
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $600*
While this snap may not win any prizes for best picture quality, that doesn’t make the image any less impactful. The giant pink bunny sprawled out over a field may be the work of computer trickery, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t start out as a drone snap.
Pink Bunny @Sue Bamford / Pinterest
A Yuneec Q500 could get a job like this done – and why wouldn’t you want a snap of a giant bunny in wasteland? Art comes in many forms and this isn’t the weirdest we’ve seen by a long shot. Although, it is possibly one of the funniest.