Photography topics worth discussing this week: Terry Richardson’s brand exile, creating a Halloween still life, and why we photograph. Read on for more of the Very Important Photography Topics on our minds at 500px this week.

1. Major brands to Terry Richardson: boy, bye

Condé Nast International pulled the plug on its relationship with Terry Richardson this week, followed by Valentino and Bulgari. According to WWD, more publishers are following suit.

But Richardson has been facing public sexual harassment allegations for years — model Jamie Peck (who’s been speaking out about her negative experience with Richardson since 2010) asks in The Guardian: “Why did Condé Nast only ban him now?”

Post No Bills v Terry Richardson by Stephen M. Walker II on 500px.com

Source: The Guardian

2. Capturing the magic of golden hour

We delved into the best of our Golden Hour Quest this week on the 500px blog, celebrating the shots that showcased the warm, glowing light that’s catnip for any photographer. Check out the winning photo and a selection of the finalists below, and see the full gallery here.

Dolomites Sunset Time by Rossano Ferrari on 500px.com

homesick by Taya Iv on 500px.com

Raining gold sunset road by Linda Enkema on 500px.com

Sunrise at the harbour by Paal Uglefisk Lund on 500px.com

Durdle Door Sunset by Chris Sweet on 500px.com

Vasco da Gama II by Carl Häll on 500px.com

Westerhever Lighthouse by Christoph Dopplinger on 500px.com

Dune 45. Sossusvlei by Xenia Ivanoff-Erb on 500px.com

3. Tutorial: How to create a spooky Halloween still life

500px Brand Ambassador Dina Belenko shares the secrets behind her signature still life creations this week on the 500px blog, with a spooky Halloween tutorial that’ll chill your spine. Learn how to create a moonlit haunted mansion still life like Dina’s here.

500px_blog_Halloween_still_life_tutorial_final

4. Amazing tech spotted at the PDN Photo Plus Expo

The Photo Plus Expo is on this weekend in NYC, and aside from a wealth of pro photographers, there’s a lot of amazing tech to be seen. PDN rounded up the four coolest things they’ve come across so far at the expo, including photos printed on canvas with thousands of metal nails (!).

Marilyn Monroe #marilynmonroe. Stunning 3D nail art made of 12,694 nails. #nailart #nailpoint #art

A post shared by NailPoint Art (@nailpointart) on

Source: PDN Online

5. Why are you a photographer?

We’re rounding out the list this week with a Very Important Question posed by Fstoppers. Photographer Jeff Carpenter recounts feeling out of touch with his passion for photography, realizing his mindset shifted when he started photographing full-time professionally.

How do you keep your passion for photography alive? We want to know: when it comes right down to it, why are you a photographer? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Fstoppers

6. Highlights from Editor’s Choice

Here’s a look at the photos we’re loving, curated by our Guest Editors, Antonett Ewan and Austin Neill, and 500px photo editors this week on Editors’ Choice.

Standing Tall - Massai Giraffe Mother & Calf by Jennifer Watson on 500px.com

Panna Meena Ka Kund / Stepwell - Amer by Ranya Al Ghazi on 500px.com

Floating Giants by David Merron on 500px.com

Edit by Tamarcus Brown on 500px.com

Baby birds open mouths by William Lee on 500px.com

colored square by ReWizje on 500px.com

Kneeling for the Kimono-Gang by D. Moritz Marutschke on 500px.com

Paris by Air_Do on 500px.com

?????? by Marat Safin on 500px.com

Jan Kocis by Martin Krystynek on 500px.com