Current Issue

August

7th Annual Swimsuit Issue

 Through The Lens turns its focus to the history and enduring influence of the bikini, a garment that transformed swimwear and became an iconic subject in fashion and photography. While two-piece garments can be traced back to ancient Roman artwork, the modern bikini made its controversial debut in Paris in 1946, when French designer Louis Réard introduced his revealing design and named it after Bikini Atoll.

Photography quickly played a major role in the bikini’s rise to popularity. During the 1940s and 1950s, swimwear appeared throughout magazines, advertisements, postcards, and pin-up photography, helping transform the swimsuit from functional beachwear into a symbol of fashion, glamour, youth, and changing social attitudes.

Swimwear photography thrives on more than the garment itself. Lighting, posing, composition, styling, location, and expression all work together to create an image. Over the decades, photographers have taken swimwear beyond the beach, incorporating it into fashion editorials, commercial work, lifestyle photography, portraiture, and fine art.



In this issue, we celebrate the creativity behind swimwear photography and the photographers who transform a simple swimsuit into a compelling visual story. The suit may change with fashion, but through the lens, the moment—and the artistry behind it—can last forever.

Accepting Submissions

September (Flowers)

 Through The Lens magazine is now accepting submissions for our September 2026 issue, featuring the Flowers theme—celebrating the beauty, color, creativity, and timeless connection between photography and the natural world.

Submission Guidelines:

You may submit up to 12 high-resolution images.

All images must be 300 DPI and ideally sized at 8” x 11.5”.

To be considered for the cover and main feature, you must submit a full set of 12 images from a single photo session, with a cohesive floral concept throughout.

What We’re Looking For:

Creative and artistic interpretations of flowers and floral beauty.

Flowers should be a visible and intentional part of the composition, appearing in either the foreground or background of the image.

Models or subjects may incorporate flowers in a variety of creative ways, including holding flowers, surrounded by flowers, wearing an outfit made from flowers, or wearing clothing featuring a floral design or pattern.

Floral elements may be incorporated through natural settings, fashion, props, styling, hair and makeup, or creative set design.

Submissions may range from portraiture and fashion to editorial, lifestyle, glamour, fine art, conceptual, and creative photography.

We encourage photographers to explore color, texture, composition, lighting, and creative storytelling to create images that truly capture the spirit of the theme.

All photographic genres and styles are welcome, provided the imagery remains tasteful and artistically styled. Explicit nudity is not permitted.

How to Submit:

Please send your submissions via Google Drive, WeTransfer, Dropbox, or directly to ttlfmag@outlook.com.

The submission deadline is September 11th, 2026.

For questions or clarifications, please contact us at the same email above.

We look forward to seeing how photographers and creative teams interpret Flowers through their own unique artistic vision and bringing those images to life in the pages of Through The Lens.

2021 - Past Issues