Working with water in photography comes with its challenges, but the potential for beautiful photography that has a calming effect on those that look at it is worth its weight in gold. Your next photography project could be an underwater shoot, a landscape picture of an awe-inspiring shoreline or something a little more abstract. The potential for new canvas pictures for your home is endless.

Ready to be inspired? Here’s our roundup of some of the most famous art and photography projects and unusual locations that have put water into focus…

People as water
It takes a certain kind of dedication and belief in a photographer to get completely naked, paint yourself blue and stand in Hull waiting to be photographed. In June 2016, 3,200 people took part in a huge art installation by New York-based artist Spencer Tunick to celebrate Hull’s relationship with the sea.

Tunick’s Sea of Hull installation involved participants from 20 countries, who happily covered themselves in one of four shades of blue body paint in celebration of Hull’s maritime heritage. Participants then posed at different historic locations around the city.
The installation will be one of the highlights of the Ferens Art Gallery programme in 2017 when the Hull is UK’s City of Culture.

Underwater city
When cities submerge over time, you are left with the architectural remains of an entire civilisation preserved underwater - providing you with a plethora of ethereal image opportunities. If you’re happy to don a wetsuit and go for a scuba dive, there a several locations that are ready and waiting to offer up some hidden gems for your camera.
Grab your passport as prominent underwater city locations include:
• Lion City of Quiandao Lake, China
• The Pyramids of Yonaguni-Jima, Japan
• Port Royal, Jamaica
• Cleopatra’s Palace, Alexandria, Egypt
• Dwarka, Gulf of Cambay, India

Walking on water
Overlooking Lake Iseo, 62 miles east of Milan, Italy is an exhibition that allows people to walk on water. The Floating Piers is a 1.8-mile walkway that rests on the surface of the lake, covered in yellow fabric that changes colour from red to gold depending on the light.
Bulgarian-born artist Christo Vladimirov Yavachev spent two years planning the £11.8 million installation that incorporates the islands of Monte Isola and San Paolo, which were previously only accessible by boat.

Now photographers can take images of the stunning views surrounding the walkway that were previously much more difficult to obtain.

Using water imagery in your home has such a soothing effect. You can use it in the bathroom to promote relaxation or why not hang a series of aquatic canvas prints in your hallway to welcome your family and guests? If you’re feeling inspired to get started, Parrot Print has a great photography 101 for shoreline snaps as well as a comprehensive guide to catching falling water on canvas.