PHLEARN Magazine

Just in time for Halloween, we have a special How They Got the Shot for you! Here’s the BTS of how Joel Robison created a magical, floating pumpkin in Photoshop, complete with gear, settings, and PS tools and techniques used.

Photographer and cinematographer Lester Platt walks us through a portrait shoot with men’s fashion blogger and stylist, Denny Balmaceda. Lester explains the creative inspiration behind the shoot and how he perfectly captured the freedom in the model’s actions.

Spanish photographer Alfredo Oliva tells us how he was inspired by the works of realist painter Edward Hopper and used it to capture this photo. “Woman in the Window” is Oliva’s own version of a beautifully sad, lonely woman.

Marcus Soriano tells stories of American cities through his lens. In a series on San Francisco, Marcus was inspired by this neon-lit window sign of a fortune teller and a poem he wrote about telling a palm reader of the doubts he faces as an artist.

While on a road trip around the western states and Canada, outdoor photographer Stephen Shelesky made the mandatory stop for any traveler at Banff National Park. Breathtaking sights expected, he was still surprised to come across this pristine scene.

Motivated by an urge to experiment and create emotional images, fine art photographer Pauline Goyard tells us how she combined three self-portraits to create one conceptual image.

Leland Foster has a knack for capturing dark scenes that evoke a feeling of uneasiness and exclusion. He tells us how he shot a nostalgic series of images one night in Phoenix, including one particularly dramatic scene of a local diner.

New York City street photographer Manuel Pena always has his camera on hand – even on his daily commute, which is why he was able to capture this intriguing shot of everyday life. Manuel explains how he took the shot and his editing process to draw out the beauty in the everyday.

What’s the best way to promote a new musical synthesizer? Bring it back to the old days, of course. Here’s how Michael McCluskey created a visually stunning campaign inspired by 80s music for audio manufacturer, Meris.

Adam Senatori’s shot of the Watchmen Tower in Zion National Park is one that will no doubt go down as one of his proudest. While he spends much of his time working with some of the world’s biggest brands, it is his creative and personal work, like this, that really inspires him.