Stephan Vanfleteren (1969 – )

The modern master of deep monochrome

Vanfleteren brought a new emotional weight to modern black-and-white photography. His portraits and documentary series feel timeless, carved from soft window light and sculpted by deep, sober tonalities. Every wrinkle, texture and glance carries the fullness of human experience.

His style is dark but never harsh, gentle but never empty — a monochrome that breathes quiet intensity and refined stillness.

Brandon Woelfel (1994 – )

The architect of neon dream-color

Woelfel helped define an entire generation’s visual mood: glowing neon highlights, magenta-teal atmospheres, dreamy bloom filters and soft pastel toning.

His images feel weightless, cinematic and digitally enchanted — a world lit by fairy lights, LEDs and after-rain shimmer.

Daniel Arnold (1980 – )

The poet of chaotic street realism

Arnold’s street work feels frantic, funny, abrasive and deeply human. His frames crackle with unpredictable energy: dirty shadows, gritty grain, harsh contrasts and color shifts that evoke the rawness of New York.

His style is punchy, unpolished and drenched in emotional immediacy — a modern extension of street photography’s messy truth.

Alex Strohl (1989 – )

The minimalist of Nordic cinematic travel

Strohl introduced a cool, clean, outdoor aesthetic rooted in mountain blues, soft greens, open shadows and cinematic highlights.

His style embraces calm naturalism and a refined sense of scale — landscapes that feel both intimate and grand, photographed with digital purity but emotional restraint.

Jesse Driftwood (1990 – )

The storyteller of warm cinematic lifestyle

Driftwood’s work blends amber highlights, soft filmic contrast and rich skin tones into a warm, narrative-driven aesthetic.

His visuals feel handcrafted: cinematic softness with a touch of halation glow, merging digital clarity with filmic atmosphere.

Teju Cole (1975 – )

The quiet observer of minimal color and documentary calm

Cole’s images embrace gentle palettes, matte highlights, cool tones and clean, composition-focused balance.

His photography breathes stillness — a minimal, thoughtful, literary approach to contemporary color that feels both documentary and poetic.

Creative Tools Inspired by the Era

To help contemporary photographers achieve the atmospheric glow, digital minimalism, cool cinematic palettes and raw street energy of this period, the following presets capture the essence of the Post-Digital & Smartphone Aesthetic — without referencing any specific photographer.

Included Presets:

Flemish Deep Monochrom

Flemish Deep Monochrom delivers a dark, honest and emotionally resonant black-and-white look characterized by deep tones, controlled contrast and soft, directional light.

The profile creates images that feel timeless and tactile, as if illuminated by a century-old window. It brings gravity to portraits, documentary scenes and still moments, emphasizing texture, humanity and quiet introspection.

DreamGlow Chromatic

DreamGlow Chromatic creates a neon-inspired color atmosphere filled with bright highlights, magenta-teal tint shifts and a soft bloom that wraps subjects in a dreamy aura. Blacks are gently lifted, clarity remains smooth and the overall palette feels matte, pastel and cinematic.

This profile is perfect for night portraits, urban glow, creative storytelling and any scene shaped by digital whimsy and atmospheric light.

RawStreet Frenzy

RawStreet Frenzy evokes the energy of chaotic modern street photography with high contrast, dirty blacks, strong grain and punchy color shifts that echo the restless intensity of contemporary city life. Shadows stay open but gritty, producing frames that feel unpolished, emotional and alive.

This profile thrives in unpredictable environments, candid moments and dynamic documentary scenes.

CineNordic Clean
CineNordic Clean embraces cool mountain tones, soft greens, light blues and cinematic highlights to create a crisp, natural outdoor palette without falling into overstylized trends. Shadows remain open, textures breathe and the overall atmosphere feels extremely clean yet deeply cinematic.

This profile excels in landscapes, travel work, minimalist nature scenes and any image where purity and calm are essential.

StoryFilm Warmtone
StoryFilm Warmtone blends warm cinematic color with amber highlights, soft contrast, deep film-blacks and rich skin tones. A subtle halation glow adds atmospheric warmth and emotional resonance.

This profile suits lifestyle storytelling, cinematic edits, human-centered narratives and any scene where warmth and intimacy drive the visual mood.

QuietMinimal Color

QuietMinimal Color focuses on extremely soft colors, matte highlights, cool tonal balance and a restful documentary feel. The palette is understated, calm and composition-driven — a clean visual language shaped by modern minimalism.

This profile is ideal for quiet observations, thoughtful everyday scenes, architectural stillness and images where subtle emotion speaks louder than saturation.

How to Use These Tools

These presets work beautifully on scenes defined by scale, pThese presets work beautifully on:

• cinematic smartphone photography
• daylight and neon portraiture
• modern street realism
• Nordic-inspired landscapes
• quiet minimal documentary scenes
• digital lifestyle storytelling
• warm cinematic travel and human moments

They are designed to reinforce the era’s belief that photography today is less about perfection and more about presence — emotion, atmosphere, honesty and the way digital tools can amplify the feeling of a moment.