# Surreal Emotional Photography (UPDATE) Alex Stoddard Continues to Portray the Fragility of Life By Meghan Young | Published 2015-05-19 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emotional-photography References: [designtaxi](http://designtaxi.com/news/375869/Darkly-Beautiful-Photos-That-Capture-The-Wonder-And-Pain-Of-The-Human-Condition/) & [alexstoddard.format](http://alexstoddard.format.com/gallery) The emotional photography of Alex Stoddard continues to be as dark and surreal as ever. Yet this style is utterly compelling in its ability to connect deeply with its audience. Since the Los Angeles-based [fine art photographer](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/profiles-in-color) focuses on the "the drama and fragility of the human experience," in his own words, this should come as no surprise. Powerful and poetic, his emotional photography was recently featured as part of the “Flickr 20under20” Exhibition. In an interview with the company, he says, “One day I would be hanging off a cliff, another day I would be throwing myself in a fish tank in the dead of winter. I didn’t really care if I was uncomfortable, I was just focused on creating a unique shot. You’re never going to grow if you’re just doing the same thing every day. You really need to be afraid of what you’re doing in order to learn something from it.” ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.2/10 - Popularity: 91% | Activity: 86% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Photography](https://www.trendhunter.com/stylephotography) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Surreal Photography:** The trend of surreal photography in art and advertising offers new opportunities for brands to convey complex emotions and convey thought-provoking messages. - **Emotional Storytelling:** The trend of emotional storytelling in photography and video enables businesses to connect with audiences on a deeper, more human level, and build trust and loyalty. - **Fine Art Photography:** The trend of fine art photography in galleries and auctions offers artists and collectors new ways to express creativity and showcase unique perspectives. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Art:** The art industry can benefit from commissioning surreal and emotional photographs that tell powerful stories and resonate with audiences on an emotional level. - **Advertising:** The advertising industry can leverage surreal and emotional photography to create memorable and impactful campaigns that connect with customers and create brand loyalty. - **Photography:** The photography industry can embrace the trend of fine art and emotional photography by offering new products and services, such as workshops, prints, and collectibles. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI-Generated Poetic Photo Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emilio-alarcn.md) - [Painting-Immersive Photo Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-ground-exhibition.md) - [Photography Project Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/still-life-1.md) - [Blurry Abstract Photography Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/optical-allusion.md) - [Surreal Love-Themed Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/joakim-ojanen.md) - [Public Art Displays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paul-anthony-smith.md) - [Statement Street Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/surreal-street-art-1.md) - [British Youth-Culture Photography Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/home-and-away.md) - [Color Photography Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/profiles-in-color.md)