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Enter AAP Magazine 54 Nature: Landscape, Wildlife, Flora & Fauna
Enter AAP Magazine 54 Nature: Landscape, Wildlife, Flora & Fauna

Rising Photographers

We have selected some of the most promising photographers. Select a letter to discover our A to Z list of rising photographers:
Stay up-to-date  with call for entries, deadlines and other news about exhibitions, galleries, publications, & special events.
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Inspiring Portfolios

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Our 10 Latest Rising Stars

Shay Lari-Hosain
© Shay Lari-Hosain
© © Shay Lari-Hosain

Shay Lari-Hosain is a Bay Area-based artist whose work spans photography, video art, mixed media, graphic design, and writing. Their studio work explores how personal experiences of creativity and family history intersect with the politics of contemporary foreign policy, reflects on the shifting histories of the built environment, and investigates the ways time and memory shape perception in the photographic image. As a visual designer, Lari-Hosain crafts intentional experiences in both print and motion, and their music background influences their artistic practice. Their art is currently or previously on view in juried and institutional group exhibitions across the United States, including at SF Camerawork where they were invited to participate in both the annual benefit auction and a...

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Pekka Välitalo
© Pekka Välitalo
© © Pekka Välitalo

I’m a Finnish street photographer drawn to the quiet poetry of everyday life. Through light, shadow, and geometry, I search for beauty in fleeting urban moments — places where solitude and structure meet. In my work I try to balance precision and emotion, revealing the city in its simplest form: calm, clear, and quietly alive. AAP Magazine: AAP Magazine 52...

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Joe Goldberg
© Joe Goldberg
© © Joe Goldberg

Joe Goldberg (born in Washington, DC, 2001) is an award-winning photographer. Goldberg first picked up a camera at twelve. He believes the greatest moment is around the corner and that search is what makes life so beautiful. His work has earned recognition including Best Photo in the Framing the Monument competition at The Foundry Gallery, Best Portrait at the DC State Fair, and Photographer of the Week on All About Photo. His work has been featured in outlets ranging from PBS Newshour to Outside Magazine to Playboy. His photograph from the Women's March was selected for the official poster, and his work has been exhibited at BRIC Studios in Brooklyn, The Foundry Gallery in Washington, DC, and Van Der Plas Gallery in New York City. He has worked with numerous musicians including...

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Carlos Salinas
© Carlos Salinas
© © Carlos Salinas

Carlos Salinas (csalfilm) is a Creative Director, photographer, and filmmaker based in Seattle, Washington. He has been passionate about photography for six years, focusing seriously on it for the past 2.5 years. Carlos served as Director of Technology and Head Photographer for his high school and now contributes creatively at the University of Washington as a creative for multiple RSOs. Including at the music collective WEST OF EDEN, where he started as a photographer and was recently promoted to Videographer and Creative Director. For his personal film work, Carlos primarily uses Premiere Pro and is expanding his skills in After Effects to strengthen his versatility in editing and post-production. He is increasingly focused on cinematography, directing and shooting music...

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Kantaya New
© Kantaya New
© © Kantaya New

Kantaya New is a Thai–Singaporean photo artist based in Singapore. Her works span conceptual and street photography. Her street photography work focuses on overlooked, serendipitous moments in daily life, while her conceptual work uses staged scenes and objects to invite reflection. She is currently working on A Modern Day Affair among other work. Notable awards and recognition include LensCulture Critics’ Choice (Winner, 2023), Fujifilm Moment Street Photo Awards (2nd Prize, 2024), Women Street Photographers Artist Residency (Shortlist, 2025) and the Sony World Photography Awards (Shortlist, 2022 — Open Competition and Alpha Female Awards). Media features include LENSCRATCH (2025). A Modern Day Affair (2023–ongoing) This series began at home: my husband was with...

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Brigitte Bourger
© Brigitte Bourger
© © Brigitte Bourger

Brigitte Bourger is a visual artist and photographer based in French Polynesia, originally from France, where she lived for over forty years. A pharmacist by training, she has devoted recent years to aerial and abstract photography, capturing the patterns, colors, and lines of natural landscapes and transforming them into poetic visual narratives. Her work lies at the intersection of geography, environmental awareness, and contemporary aesthetics, often balancing representation and abstraction. Notable projects include Éphémères Impressions, a minimalist series that highlights the fragility of marine life in French Polynesia. Her eponymous book, published in France by Escourbiac, won first prizes at PX3 Paris and TIFA Tokyo. She continues to develop internationally recognized...

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Gabi Steiner
© Gabi Steiner
© © Gabi Steiner

Gabi Steiner is a photographer and passionate traveler based in Austria, driven by a curiosity to explore the world’s hidden corners. She refined her artistic vision through long-term studies at the German photography college Foto-Kunst-Kultur, where she deepened her technique and creative expression. Since this intensive training, photography has blossomed from a simple hobby into a heartfelt passion. Rather than adhering to a specific genre, Gabi uses photography to capture the beauty of life, nature, and human connection. Her work often focuses on the lives and traditions of tribal communities, reflecting a deep respect for cultural preservation. Through her lens, she seeks to evoke emotion and awareness, revealing the diversity and dignity of different cultures. Statement "If...

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Jennifer Bazzoli
© Jennifer Bazzoli
© © Jennifer Bazzoli

Jennifer Bazzoli is an Italian photographer focusing on travel and documentary photography. Her passion began in 2018 with her first camera, when she started experimenting with different styles and techniques. With a background in photography and cinematography, she is now dedicated to capturing distant lands, their landscapes and their people. Statement "What I aim for, with my work and my dedication, is to leave a positive impact while sharing authentic stories from different places and cultures." Awarded Photographer of the Week - Week 45,...

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F. Bessma Rhea
© F. Bessma Rhea
© © F. Bessma Rhea

F. Bessma Rhea is her father’s second-born daughter (first-born son), her mother’s last line of defense at the dinner table, and her sister’s favorite fun house mirror. She is the first person to speak in a crowded elevator and the last person to get a word in edgewise. Bessma has always been a big talker, but her preferred method of communication is using the visual language of photography. F. Bessma Rhea graduated from Montana State University in 2025, achieving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Integrated Lens Based Media from the School of Film and Photography. Although Bessma spent the last four and a half years in Bozeman, Montana, Bessma was born, raised, and is now currently residing in San Diego, California. Her photographic journey has encompassed an exploration of various...

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Ali Zolghadri
© Ali Zolghadri
© © Ali Zolghadri

Ali Zolghadri is an internationally acclaimed fine art photographer whose work explores silence, solitude, and the poetic tension between form and emptiness. His black-and-white conceptual compositions merge minimalism with surreal imagination, turning ordinary spaces into contemplative visual experiences. Winner of over 130 international photography awards from more than 20 countries, Zolghadri’s work has been exhibited in major cities such as Dubai, Paris, New York, Budapest, and Siena. He is the recipient of the UAE Golden Visa for Artistic Excellence. Currently residing between Tehran and Dubai, he is represented on Artsy (Simine Paris Gallery), and his limited edition works are available on Saatchi Art. Zolghadri’s art continues to push the boundaries of conceptual fine...

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Related Articles

10 Chinese Photographers You Should Know
Photography has been a part of China's cultural landscape since the mid-1800s, coinciding with the arrival of European photographers in Macao during that period. Initially, in the 1850s, these photographers established studios primarily in coastal port cities. Over time, their Chinese apprentices and local competitors expanded their presence across various regions. By the close of the 19th century, photographic studios had proliferated in all major Chinese cities, offering services to the burgeoning middle-class population for capturing portraits during significant family events. Both Western and Chinese photographers actively documented everyday street scenes, pivotal wartime events, and notable personalities of the era. Photography also gained traction as a hobby among the affluent, with figures such as Empress Dowager Cixi frequently sitting for portraits. In the early years of the People’s Republic of China, state-sponsored photographers such as Hou Bo and Xu Xiaobing produced iconic images of Mao Zedong and other leaders, shaping a highly formalized visual culture. While these works were emblematic of the official style, alternative voices would emerge decades later. The early 1990s marked a period of remarkable creative resurgence in Chinese photography, fueled by socio-political changes and increasing exposure to international art practices. This resurgence, however, waned over the following decade amidst a climate of uncertainty and apprehension. Optimism from the embrace of capitalist principles and loosening restrictions in the 1980s gave way to somber reflection following the tragic events of the Tiananmen Square massacre on June 4, 1989. By 1992, economic reforms continued, but political liberalization abruptly halted. Amidst this tumultuous backdrop, artists found solace in creative endeavors, using photography to articulate emotions and perspectives. Unlike conventional street photography or photojournalism, these artistic expressions often took on an avant-garde and introspective tone. Within Beijing’s East Village, a vibrant community of free-spirited artists thrived. Rong Rong, for instance, captured poignant moments of performance art and co-founded the first Chinese conceptual art photography magazine, New Photo. Artists such as Ai Weiwei also began documenting performances and installations, blending photography with broader conceptual practices. In the present day, contemporary photographers primarily draw inspiration from international sources, driven by cultural exposure and, historically, limited access to their own photographic heritage. Unlike predecessors, modern photographers often prioritize aesthetic principles over documentary intent, aligning themselves with the ethos of visual artists. It remains imperative to explore the plurality of Chinese photography. Throughout the 20th century, there was a tendency to categorize the medium into predefined concepts, creating a sense of uniformity. Breaking from this notion is challenging, yet necessary, to recognize diverse expressions. What does it truly mean to be a Chinese artist in a digitally interconnected world, where camera-equipped devices are ubiquitous and censorship is increasingly difficult to enforce? While location continues to matter, the term “Chinese photography” can feel abstract. Nonetheless, China retains unique characteristics. In the early 2000s, photography was less prevalent, but today, many young people embrace the medium from an early age. This burgeoning interest coincides with rapid experimentation and bold innovation, prompting galleries to engage with artists in a continuous dialogue of introspection and risk-taking.. Photography in China continues to face challenges in terms of institutional support. Nevertheless, private initiatives are steadily emerging and helping to fill critical gaps. Among them, Huang Yunhe—director of OFOTO Gallery and founder of ANART Space in Shanghai—has expressed the ambition to establish a dedicated photography museum in China. While his efforts have been important in cultivating audiences and supporting emerging photographers, the impact of any single private initiative remains limited, and broader collaboration across institutions is essential to strengthen the photographic ecosystem. Developing photography as an art form in China requires long-term cultural investment, the nurturing of new talent, and the creation of platforms such as residencies, curated programs, and educational initiatives. This collective effort is reinforced by the work of major domestic institutions and galleries, including M+ Museum in Hong Kong, Blue Lotus Gallery in Hong Kong, Xie Zilong Photography Museum, M97 Gallery & Project Space, and Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, as well as online platforms such as Photography of China. Chinese photography is also gaining increasing visibility on the international stage. Galleries and institutions abroad—such as Eli Klein Gallery in New York City and PARIS-B (formerly Galerie Paris-Beijing)—regularly present work by Chinese photographers, contributing to broader recognition of their contributions to contemporary visual culture. Strengthening links between private initiatives, domestic institutions, and international platforms remains essential for building a sustainable and vibrant photographic culture in China. Here are 10 contemporary photographers featured on All About Photo you should know.
Point Reyes Station by Tom Zimberoff
Consider portraiture as cultural archaeology: excavating individuality to preserve the brief trace of human presence within an environment shaped by geologic time—telling stories that mirror worldwide themes of transformation where land, labor, and identity press against each other like tectonic plates, shifting slowly until—suddenly—rupture. Appropriately, the Point Reyes Peninsula straddles the San Andreas Fault.
Positive/Negative Multiples by Amy Heller
My new "Positive/Negative Multiples" series are Black & White Fine Art Archival Pigment Photographs reimagined from my original cyanotype on fabric photographs of beachcombing treasures from Cape Cod and objects from my toy collections and other collected curiosities
All My Strangers by Martin Stranka
The narrative of the series All My Strangers maps the cyclical nature of human encounters: the transformation from complete strangers to intimate companions, and the inevitable drift toward alienation. Each initial meeting, unburdened by a shared past, carries within it a perfect purity, and at the same time, the hidden risk of the unknown. On the West Coast of the United States, in a land built on the stories of strangers, I compose images that examine these encounters and their settings. The viewer is invited to step into the private spaces where the scenes take place. They then face the question of whether, in such fleeting moments, it’s possible to find a lasting sense of home in every stranger whose story we touch. And what if, in every stranger and every place, we are not searching for home at all, but rather for fragments of ourselves, scattered across the world?
The Eaton Fire by William Karl Valentine
I was in Pasadena before the Eaton Fire started on January 7th 2025. My 99-year-old mother still lives in my childhood home, and I had gone up there to do her shopping and to clean up the debris in her yard from all the high winds that day.
Borderlands 2024 by Isabelle Hayeur
Since 2015, I have been captivated by the American West, immersing myself in its landscapes for my projects. I am particularly drawn to Southern California and the arid expanses of Arizona and New Mexico. Over time, I have grown intimately familiar with these deserts, connecting with their communities and embracing the unique, often overlooked no-man’s lands. In January 2024, I began researching the border regions of California, exploring the otherworldly landscapes that characterise these areas. Border landscapes are interstitial and anarchic zones that defy easy categorization. These gray areas are marked by both absence and presence. Natural desolation and human impact intertwine, lending them a strange, almost haunting beauty. A thick silence resonates there, laden with the invisible, with waiting and with loss.
Chronicles of Terremoto Street and Other Magical Alleys by Federico Borobio
'The city of Guanajuato is home to a multitude of narrow alleys and colorful old houses.' With this basic information and my prior knowledge of beautiful San Miguel de Allende, I decided to take an intensive tour of these two cities. As soon as I stepped out onto the street for the first time in the early morning in Guanajuato, I was completely amazed by the different levels of its streets, the narrow alleys, and the lights and shadows cast by this unique architecture.
Frozen Time: Portals into other worlds by Misha Rauchwerger
My work is semi-abstract, surreal, and avant-garde. I am captivated by interesting forms and juxtapose elements in order to create mystery and amplify the magic I see in the world around me. My images invite the viewer to stay longer, drawing them into a deeper kind of “seeing.” Photography, for me, is a practice in seeing and presence. We go through life taking things that are right under our noses for granted, seeing in a superficial or preconceived way, or miss beauty entirely, limited by our own inner blockages. When I’m out with my camera, I force myself to observe more deeply, and search for those breathtaking glimpses I might normally miss.
Anonymous Citizens by Mike Ruggiero
“Anonymous Citizens” are the humble, everyday people familiar to us all—those who happen to be walking along the streets of any town, just like the rest of us.
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