Photography is a vast and expressive medium. This page organizes it through three simple ideas that work together to describe how images exist in the world: genres, styles, and processes.
These categories help clarify what a photograph is about, how it appears, and how it was made—three perspectives that shape both intention and interpretation.
Each Behind the Lens image is accompanied by a detailed photo-specs card, similar to EXIF data but expanded in scope. It includes blue-text links to related genres, styles, processes, and topics, inviting a deeper exploration of how the image was created. In addition to classification, the card provides equipment details, location information, and, when relevant, the stylistic approach behind the work.
How This Classification Works
This structure isn’t meant to be rigid. It’s a flexible way to navigate the wide range of work shared on this site.
Many images belong to more than one genre. Styles can move freely across subjects. Processes often shape mood as much as they reflect tools. Used together, these elements offer a clearer language for exploring photography’s creative possibilities.
Explore Photography Genres, Styles & Processes
These three ideas work together:
- Genres describe what a photograph is about
- Styles describe how it appears and feels
- Processes describe how it was made
Photography Genres
(what the photograph is about)
- Abstract Photography
- Americana Architecture
- Americana Photography
- Animal Landscape
- Animal Portrait
- Architectural Photography
- Automotive Detail
- Contemporary Landscape Photography
- Documentary & Environmental Photography
- Fine Art Photography
- Floral & Flower Photography
- Historical Architecture Photography
- Landscape Photography
- Nature Photography
- Portrait Photography
- Rural Landscape
- Seascape Photography
- Still Life Photography
- Street Photography
- Travel Photography
- Urban Photography
- Wildlife Landscape
Photographic Styles
(how the photograph appears or feels)
- Graphic Photography
- Humor in Photography
- Illustrative Photography
- Minimalist Photography
- Narrative Photography
- Atmospheric
- Atmospheric Fine Art
- Cinematic
- Color Rich
- Conceptual
- Contemplative
- Environmental Painterly
- Ethereal Impressionistic
- Evocative, Expressive
- Geometric Constructivist
- Graphic Formalist
- Impressionistic
- Interpretive
- Intimate
- Luminous
- Luminous Atmospheric
- Lyrical
- Melancholic
- Monochrome
- Natural Light
- Naturalistic
- Nostalgic
- Observational
- Organic
- Painterly
- Painterly Minimalist
- Painterly Nostalgic
- Pastoral
- Pictorialist influence
- Poetic
- Quirky
- Romantic
- Silhouette
- Silhouette Atmospheric
- Soft Focus
- Subtle Humor
- Surreal
- Tonal
- Whimsical
Photographic Processes
(how the photograph was made)
- Experimental & Alternative Processes
- Found Object: Abstraction
- Hand-Colored Black & White Photography
- Infrared Photography
- Macro Photography
- Analog Capture
- Author Narrative
- Black & White Conversion
- Digital Capture
- Double Exposure
- Expired Film
- Film
- Image + Text Pairing
- Long Exposure
- Motion Blur
- Pinhole Photography
- Pushed Film
- Selective Focus