PicsArt Monthly July/ August 2014 | Page 71

How women are trending in 2014… The world of photography and visual imagery is constantly evolving. The advent of new technologies has accelerated this evolution, creating boundless possibilities for photographers and their art. In this fast-paced and ever-changing field, visual trends are not only born from artists emboldened by digital technology, but delivered by the tides of social, cultural and political change. Visual trends A picture is worth a thousand words. This is especially true in our technology and multi-media based world, where imagery has the power to change the way the world looks and transform how we live our lives. As visual trends gain traction, they are incorporated in and reinforced by advertisements and marketing schemes, reflecting and generating broader change. The visual shift: powerful, real and diverse women of the world One of the most interesting and important visual trends that has emerged in 2014 is centered on women. Advertisers now use relatable body types – young and old – instead of stereotypical stick figures to sell their product. Regular women, doing regular things, around the world have become the new norm. Stock photography has also shifted towards emphasizing the power of women while celebrating their diversity. Disabled women, same-sex coupled women, and women of all shapes and sizes have challenged entrenched stereotypes about gender norms while empowering women worldwide. Not surprisingly, this emergent visual trend has other trends embedded in it. Increasingly, real people, older people, multi-ethnic content and diversity are also trending visually. Ultimately, this refreshingly real approach to how we visualize women is at once inspirational and aspirational: by changing the way we see women portrayed, we might be able to change prevailing attitudes about women. PicsArt Monthly |71