Many fans of photography aren’t aware of the intricacies of the craft, especially when it comes to the multitude of styles that professional photographers can offer. To help you better understand the types of photography available, this series of posts provides explanations and examples of every photography style listed in Photographer Central.

Example of gothic photography by Evelina Pentcheva PhotographyExample of gothic photography by Evelina Pentcheva Photography

The term Gothic refers to a tribe of people from East Germany who contributed to the emergence of Medieval Europe and the entire Medieval culture after the fall of the Roman empire. Gothic photography is a particular style that imitates themes characterized in Medieval art, such as the realistic depiction of objects against dark and moody backgrounds, and an attempt to elicit feelings of fear and unease, a reference to the Gothic tribes that destroyed the Roman empire.

Not to be confused with grunge photography, gothic photography isn’t about manipulating an image to achieve a certain feeling. Instead, gothic photography is about depicting people and situations in a distinct style reminiscent of the Medieval period. Some of this can be accomplished in post-processing, but a majority of the work is done during the setup of the actual photo. 

Example of gothic photography from Lulan Wang PhotographyExample of gothic photography from Lulan Wang Photography

Example of gothic photography by Boston Photographer - Dave SeeleyExample of gothic photography by Boston Photographer - Dave Seeley

Example of gothic photography from Michael D. Becker PhotographyExample of gothic photography from Michael D. Becker Photography

Photo credits: Evelina Pentcheva Photography, Lulan Wang Photography, Dave Seeley, Michael D. Becker Photography