I Found the Perfect Travel Tripod: Flm Cp-30 M5 II Review
In this article, I review the FLM CP30-M5 II hybrid tripod. It's the best tripod I've used, and here's why.
In this article, I review the FLM CP30-M5 II hybrid tripod. It's the best tripod I've used, and here's why.
A frequent challenge for landscape photographers is capturing sharp images. There are several nuances to sharp landscape photography photos; there is more to it than just always using an aperture of f/11 or so. This video looks at some of those nuances to help you get sharp images.
For our next photography contest, we want to see your best dramatic photos ever taken! The theme is dramatic but the genre of photography can be anything.
There's been a lot of (digital) ink spilled about the look and feel of film photos being vastly superior to their digital counterparts, and while that's a question up for debate, there's also something else I've noticed among my fellow film-shooting friends: the propensity to elevate objectively terrible photos as art.
If you have not discovered the precise selections and adjustments available using a tablet instead of a mouse, you don’t know what you are missing. Wacom is the market leader for pen tablets, and I put one of its latest models through its paces.
When you first start using Photoshop, understanding the basics of its interface can set the foundation for everything you’ll do. Photoshop's layout consists of two main views: the Home Screen and the Workspace. Each plays a crucial role in organizing your projects and tools efficiently.
Photography happens in fleeting moments, often shaped by the mood and mindset of the person behind the lens. Stress, boredom, or pressure to perform can influence the results, making even the most beautiful locations feel uninspiring.
Using the right tools can transform how you approach your edits, especially for landscapes. Lightroom’s intersect feature offers a powerful way to create precise adjustments, making it invaluable for a range of edits.
The Leica Q3 43 introduces a 43mm lens designed to balance street photography, portraits, and general versatility. It’s a fresh take for those who found the previous Q series’ 28mm lens either too wide or too limiting, and it's paired with a powerful camera behind it.
Coming from a photography background, venturing into the video realm can feel overwhelming. While I'm confident in most aspects of photography, the learning curve for filmmaking is steep and often more complicated than expected.
The advent of generative AI images has sent a seismic ripple through the photography world, and the concern extends beyond the obvious issue of competition. The manner in which generative AI cannibalizes and resamples existing images has photographers considering how best to protect their work.
Ever wonder what it’s like to do bird research in the Amazon jungle?
Overcast skies create soft, diffused light that’s great for portraits but often lacks contrast. To overcome this, a smart mix of lighting techniques and gear choices can transform your shots.
Running a fashion and beauty photography business is about more than capturing stunning images. It involves managing finances, building relationships, and staying organized to ensure smooth operations. Without a solid approach, the chaos of balancing creative work with business demands can quickly become overwhelming.
Photography offers countless ways to explore creativity, and Nick Carver embodies this diversity. Known for his large format photography, Carver captures striking images of both natural landscapes and abandoned office buildings. His work highlights how settings, whether pristine nature or gritty urban spaces, can tell stories about their past and purpose.
Street photography is more than just pointing your camera and clicking. It’s about capturing the energy, emotion, and complexity of life as it unfolds. Whether you’re struggling with composition, lighting, or storytelling, this video tutorial will help you improve.
I woke up with my morning coffee to these thoughts: “Overprocessing images can sometimes compromise the integrity of the image and do more harm than necessary. Here are several reasons why one should refrain from over-editing their images.” I thought to myself, “I need to caffeinate further before finishing this article” and took a big gulp of my coffee.
Portrait photography often calls for a lens that can isolate your subject with a shallow depth of field while maintaining sharpness. The Sirui Aurora 85mm f/1.4 lens offers these features at a budget-friendly price. Whether you’re looking to step up your portrait game or experiment with low-light shooting, this lens might be worth a look.
Editing real estate photos can be time-consuming, especially when striving for a clean, professional look. These often-overlooked techniques are essential if you want to deliver polished images quickly.
Getting professional-quality wedding photos requires versatile gear that can handle everything from intimate getting-ready moments to dramatic ceremony shots. The Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD brings impressive capabilities to help you capture it all.
Capturing the finer details in nature through macro photography requires a mix of creativity and technique. With the right approach, you can turn even the smallest subjects into visually compelling stories.
Effectively marketing your photography isn’t just about showcasing great images. It’s about understanding the roles of social media, websites, and portfolios, and using them intentionally. Each plays a distinct role in building your visibility, credibility, and appeal to potential clients, and blending their purposes can dilute their impact.
The Black Friday buzz is in full swing, and if you’re in the market for premium photography gear, Profoto has just dropped an unmissable offer. Known for their professional-grade lighting equipment, Profoto’s B10X and B10X Plus strobes are now bundled with exciting freebies. Could this deal be worth your hard-earned cash?
Ever growing and evolving, the Peak Design range has just had a new addition released today. The Outdoor Backpack may be the perfect bag to carry your gear into the great outdoors.
Most self-respecting landscape photographers will have dabbled in the delights of using filters on their lenses. I’ve tried multiple brands with differing results but have always been more pleased with the photos when using Urth filters than any others. This review will guide you through what different filters do and why I rate them so highly.
Known as “radical gear for the detail-obsessed,” Peak Design has a reputation for having a specific purpose for every cinch, strap, pocket, loop, and cord. In this line, Peak Design’s outdoor hikers, climbers, and adventurers paired up with the most detail-oriented gear nerds to bring us their revolutionary "Outdoor Bags" line. I had the opportunity to give the gear a test run for about a month. From traveling with the backpacks on photo assignments to grabbing the slings on my way out the door in my city-slicker life, I’m here to report my feedback on Peak Design’s newest line.
Long exposures are a fantastic way to simplify your scene and draw attention to your subject. But moving objects in the frame, like swaying trees or shifting boats, can blur and distract from the final image. This technique shows you how to manage motion while preserving sharpness, offering a practical approach for challenging conditions.
When your passion for photography wanes, it’s easy to feel stuck and uninspired. Whether it’s from routine, stress, or even just a lack of direction, finding a way to reconnect with your creativity is essential.
Picture controls, picture styles, and picture profiles are a few of the names they go by, depending on your camera brand. But what are they, and how can they help you create images and make editing easier?
What is the best camera for landscape photography? Is there a best landscape photography camera? Typically, one would want a high-megapixel camera with great dynamic range, something easy to use in the field, and something that can handle harsh environments. Is this the best landscape photography camera?
Photography can be tricky, especially when your images don't turn out as expected. Common problems like poor exposure, blurry details, or excessive noise can be frustrating. The good news is that many of these issues can be fixed with a straightforward approach.
Photographing in snow presents unique challenges. The light is harsh, reflections are intense, and the cold can affect your equipment. But with the right techniques, you can transform a snowy scene into a beautifully lit portrait. This video focuses on using light direction, ambient light, and composition to elevate your snowy portraits, offering practical tips for handling these tricky conditions.
Lighting plays a crucial role in shaping a portrait, and sometimes, it’s worth bending the rules to capture a unique shot. When you’re working in a stunning location, balancing ideal lighting techniques with the composition can push you to make creative decisions that break away from the norm.
Sony's new a1 II mirrorless camera represents the pinnacle of hybrid shooting technology, combining exceptional resolution with blazing-fast performance. The a1 II builds upon its predecessor's foundation while introducing refined features that cater to professionals who demand versatility and reliability in every shooting scenario.
For years, Canon held the distinction of offering the only f/2 standard zoom lens. Now, Sony has unveiled their answer with the FE 28-70mm f/2 GM, and it's poised to redefine expectations.
Focus stacking can take your macro photography to a new level by allowing you to capture every detail of a subject in perfect clarity, even when that subject has considerable depth. It’s especially helpful for macro shots, where your focus plane is often razor-thin. But capturing a sharp, focus-stacked image doesn’t end with taking hundreds of shots in the field; processing them correctly is equally crucial.
Someone on social media stated “A pro would never use a Z50!” If you’re not familiar with Nikon, this is their crop sensor entry-level camera, costing $860. I’ve heard similar statements dozens of times—matter-of-fact assertions about what pros do, usually made by photographers who aren’t actually professionals.
Sigma has officially announced the pricing and availability of four APS-C format DC DN prime lenses for Canon's RF mount system. The lenses, part of Sigma’s Contemporary line, include the 16mm f/1.4, 23mm f/1.4, 30mm f/1.4, and 56mm f/1.4, and are designed for photographers and videographers seeking compact, high-performance lenses. These additions expand Sigma’s APS-C lens offerings to six for the RF mount.
Fujifilm has unveiled the development of its first medium format filmmaking camera, the GFX ETERNA, which is scheduled for release in 2025. Featuring a medium format 102 MP sensor and advanced processing technology, the GFX ETERNA is designed to deliver high-quality, true-to-life visuals for filmmakers working in feature films, television, documentaries, and web streaming content.
Sony has introduced the 28-70mm f/2 G Master, the first zoom lens in its E-Mount lineup with a constant f/2 aperture. This lens combines a versatile focal range, fast aperture, and compact design, aimed at professionals across photography and video disciplines.
Sony Electronics has officially unveiled the a1 II, a follow-up to its 2021 flagship a1. Combining high resolution, speed, and advanced AI-powered features, the a1 II aims to serve professionals in fields like photojournalism, wildlife, sports, and commercial photography.
Choosing the right 135mm f/1.8 lens for your Sony E-mount camera can be tricky, especially with options ranging from the high-end Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM to the budget-friendly Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE. Each lens offers unique strengths, from image quality, to price, and more.
When you buy a camera, the decision to keep the kit lens or upgrade immediately is on your mind. Kit lenses, bundled with camera bodies, are often lightweight and versatile but have a reputation for being limited.
I love prime lenses—they’re always my preference—but I had to travel across Spain recently to make a documentary film and was traveling light. I had to pick my lenses carefully, so I chose the 24-70mm as my main lens. I quickly discovered it was the perfect travel lens.
Photography can feel saturated these days, with everyone snapping away on their smartphones or cameras. If you want your photos to stand out, mastering a few straightforward techniques can make a huge difference. These tips are easy to apply and will help you capture more captivating images.
Long exposures and intentional camera movement (ICM) open up a side of photography that’s impossible to capture with the naked eye. They create ghostly, dynamic images that capture the essence of movement, emotion, and atmosphere, transforming everyday scenes into ethereal, dreamlike compositions.
So many of us photographers seem to have an insatiable appetite for camera gear. For some, it’s G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome), while others are honing their photographic experiences into a seemingly futile and almost never-ending quest to trade up to the perfect camera. For a rare few, they have found their gear and are sticking to it.
Capturing compelling images in busy, chaotic spaces requires a mix of patience and creativity. With the right techniques, you can turn even the most overwhelming environments into opportunities for striking compositions.
Adjusting brightness, contrast, and color in an image can change everything about a photo’s mood and focus. Two key tools in Photoshop that allow you to manipulate these aspects precisely are the Levels and Curves adjustments. Each tool has its strengths and hidden features that provide control over light and color in ways that are unique to each method.
Landscape photography, often romanticized as a calm pursuit, is, in reality, a demanding test of patience. Unlike studio photography, where they control the lighting, backdrop, and subject, we landscape photographers must yield to nature’s rhythm. Whether it’s the color at golden hour, a dramatic storm, or a perfectly composed scene, capturing the ideal moment requires unwavering patience.