The (Un)Glamorous Life of the Hollywood Still Photographer

The perceived glamorous life of a Hollywood unit still photographer is not all about meeting A-list celebrities and taking iconic cover shots of award-winning films. It's actually a challenging endeavor that requires grit, perseverance, and a plethora of social and technical skills.

Finding Photographic Inspiration in Unconventional Places

Finding inspiration in photography can be a daunting task, especially when faced with a creative block. This is a common issue for both amateur and professional photographers, as maintaining a consistent flow of creativity is crucial for producing compelling images.

Acrylic Prints From ZNO: A Must Try

One of the best ways to display your work is by creating acrylic prints of them. Be it your own desire or a client wanting to go extra on their last photoshoot, acrylic-mounted prints are one of the best ways to create physical copies of your images. In this article, we will see how you can use client galleries to prompt your clients to purchase acrylic prints and display them on your wall.


Fstoppers Photographer of the Month (January 2024): Jamie Felton

The Fstoppers community is brimming with creative vision and talent. Every day, we comb through your work, looking for images to feature as the Photo of the Day or simply to admire your creativity and technical prowess. In 2023, we're featuring a new photographer every month, whose portfolio represents both stellar photographic achievement and a high level of involvement within the Fstoppers community.

Innovative Lighting for Sports Photography

Sports portraits present unique lighting challenges that require creative solutions. This helpful video tutorial will show you some excellent techniques and advice for improving your sports portraits.

A Look at the Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G and FE 24mm f/2.8 G Lenses

The Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G and FE 24mm f/2.8 G lenses offer users practical focal lengths and maximum apertures at equally practical prices, making them potentially good options for a lot of applications. This excellent video review takes a look at the two lenses and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from them in practice.
News and Analysis: The OM-1 Mark II and Two New Lenses Are Announced

OM Digital Solutions has announced an upgrade to their popular OM-1. The Mark II version has the same sensor and processor, but the development has concentrated on a much larger memory and buffer, improved dials, and a range of new features that will appeal especially to wildlife and landscape photographers.

The Art and Science of Photographing a Total Solar Eclipse

Capturing a total solar eclipse is not only a technical challenge, but also an awe-inspiring experience that merges art with astronomy. With such an event coming up for many of us, now is a great time to check out this fantastic guide to capturing one.

Mastering Color Correction in Lightroom: A Sunset Editing Tutorial

Understanding how to manage challenging colors in Lightroom is a vital skill for photographers, particularly when dealing with vibrant scenes like sunsets. Knowing the right techniques to enhance and balance colors without losing the essence of the shot is crucial for creating a polished final image.

Five Problems You Must Solve To Take Great Photographs in Extreme Cold

As photographers, we choose where we take photographs. While it is undoubtedly a joy to take pictures in a climate-controlled photo studio, tethered to a laptop while your favorite tunes play through speakers, many romanticize taking photographs under challenging conditions. We dream of being assigned to document a war or cover the aftermath of an earthquake.

Choosing Between Lightroom Classic and Cloud: A Beginner's Guide

Understanding the different versions of Adobe Lightroom is crucial for beginners to make an informed choice that suits their workflow. Adobe offers two primary versions: Lightroom Classic and a newer, cloud-based Lightroom. Each has distinct features and functionalities, impacting how you can manage, edit, and output your work.

5 Common Mistakes New Photographers Make

In today's age, where smartphones have become ubiquitous, photography has evolved into a more accessible art form. For many budding photographers mastering mobile photography has become the first step in their journey. This helpful video tutorial discusses five common mistakes and how you can fix them.

Overcoming Polarizing Filter Challenges: A Landscape Editing Tutorial

Photographers often face challenges when capturing landscapes using wide angle lenses combined with polarizing filters. This pairing can result in uneven sky exposure, creating distracting dark spots in photos. This helpful video tutorial will show you how to tackle the issue and create better photos.

All Apple Everything: Shooting and Editing Video with Full Apple Workflow

As an experienced photographer, I have spent a career focusing on mostly still images, not paying much attention to video. With the help of the Apple ecosystem, I have found an accessible way to say yes to the question, "Do you shoot video?". This article discusses the quality and convenience of an all-Apple workflow, which begins with the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

A Review of the Nikon Zf Mirrorless Camera

While vintage camera styles evoke a sense of nostalgia, serious photographers demand more than just good looks in their equipment. It's essential that high-quality cameras also excel in functionality, adaptability, and cutting-edge features. This question is pertinent when considering the Nikon Zf mirrorless camera. Does its performance live up to its classic design? This detailed video review takes a look at what you can expect from the camera.

Do You Really Need All That Gear?

Landscape photography, with its sprawling vistas and majestic scenery, often captivates us with its beauty and challenge. However, delving into this genre requires careful consideration of the equipment you bring along. In this article, let’s explore the essential gear for landscape photography, emphasizing the principle that less is more. Contrary to the notion that a vast array of equipment is necessary for capturing stunning landscapes, we'll discuss how a minimalist approach can lead to more focused and rewarding experiences in the field. Let's look at the essentials.

Staying Motivated in Photography: Overcoming Creative Ruts

Photography, like any creative pursuit, has its highs and lows. Whether you're a professional or an amateur, there will be times when you lack motivation, perhaps due to repetitive subjects or an uninspiring environment. Overcoming these challenges is crucial for maintaining creative growth and passion in photography.

A Review of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S Lens

Nikon is broadening their range of mirrorless lenses, moving beyond the standard varieties and venturing into more purpose-specific, professional-grade lenses. A prime example of this expansion is the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S. Notably portable and competitively priced, this lens is worth a close look. This great video review does just that, showing the performance and image quality you can expect from the lens in use.

A Review of the Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM Lens

Supertelephoto lenses offer immense utility, yet often come with a high price tag. For those ready to compromise on having a very wide maximum aperture, Canon's RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM lens presents much of that versatility but at a more accessible cost. This helpful video review explores the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

A Beginner's Guide to Shooting in Raw With Your Cameraphone

Shooting in raw with your smartphone is a simple tweak that can significantly enhance your smartphone photography. We're diving into how this feature can improve the quality of your pictures, offering more detail and better color accuracy. It's a practical look at how this tech can upgrade your everyday shots.

The Science of Precise Lighting With Light Meters

In an era where digital cameras offer advanced metering systems, the relevance of a traditional light meter might seem diminished. However, for photographers seeking precision and consistency in lighting, especially in complex setups, a light meter remains an indispensable tool.

A Review of the Yongnuo YN 50mm f/1.8 DA DSM PRO Lens

Yongnuo was once known for making extremely affordable speedlights, and while they still do that, they have also moved into making lenses in recent years. One such example is the YN 50mm f/1.8 DA DSM PRO for Fujifilm X Series cameras, which offers very impressive performance at a reasonable price, making it a great option for portrait and wedding photographers. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from the lens in practice.

How I Built My Home Photography Studio

If you’re like me and live somewhere with out-of-control housing costs, finding somewhere with enough space to shoot in can be difficult, to say the least. Having built out a home studio in a major city, here’s why I did it, but also how.

The Art of Composition in Landscape Photography

Composition is not just about aligning elements pleasingly; it’s about conveying the narrative and emotion of the scene. This subtle yet powerful aspect of photography is often overlooked, making it a vital area for photographers to explore and master.

A Review of the Powerhouse ASUS 18" Republic of Gamers Strix SCAR Laptop

While there has been a trend toward more portable laptops in recent years, some people still prefer as much horsepower and screen space as they can have on the go. For those users, the ASUS 18" Republic of Gamers Strix SCAR laptop offers a gigantic screen in tandem with some mightily impressive specs. This great video review takes a look at everything you can expect from it.

Exploring Movie Locations for Photography

Hot off the successes of my local actor Cillian Murphy’s Golden Globe for "Oppenheimer," it reminded me of my trip last year to another iconic location that also swept the boards at the illustrious awards, "The Banshees of Inisherin." Movies have the extraordinary power to transport us to different worlds, allowing us to experience the magic of storytelling through the lens of a camera. But what happens when the magic extends beyond the big screen? What if we could step into the very locations that served as the backdrop for our favorite films? In this exploration, we delve into the enchanting world of movie locations, focusing on the rugged beauty of Achill Island's Keem Beach—the cinematic stage for the film "The Banshees of Inisherin," starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson.

A Review of the New 2024 ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16 Laptops

While gaming laptops are normally designed for entertainment, they have found a second home among creative power users who leverage all those capabilities for demanding work. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16 laptops offer a ton of horsepower under the hood, and this great video review takes a look at how the latest models hold up in practice.
A Review of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S Lens

The 400mm focal length is highly favored among wildlife and sports photographers, with prices ranging from below $1,000 to well above $10,000, depending on the lens' image quality and the photographer's requirements. Nestled within this price spectrum is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S. This informative video review explores the lens, offering insights into its real-world performance and the kind of image quality it delivers.

The Best Beginner Flash Photography Kit In 2024

With so many different products on the market, it's easy to get lost in trying to pick the perfect one for you. So many brands, so many modifiers, and so much to learn. What if there was an almost perfect kit for beginners? Well, this might just be it.

Advanced Editing Techniques in Lightroom and Photoshop

Transforming an ordinary photo into an extraordinary one using post-processing tools is a skill that defines a capable photographer. This helpful video tutorial will show you some useful techniques to create a compelling edit.

Try This The Next Time You Are at a Beach 

Ever get stuck looking for photographic ideas when the conditions or timing of your shoot aren't right, or perhaps you are at a location for a day and need to find things to do and photograph after sunrise and before sunset? Try this technique to not only challenge your photographic eye, but to also help you learn something new should the situation arise again anytime soon.

A Review of the Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 Lens

Viltrox has recently gained recognition for its production of budget-friendly, high-quality lenses. Their PRO Series AF 27mm f/1.2 Pro lens is a standout, offering a 40mm equivalent focal length and a wide maximum aperture for APS-C users, making it a versatile option for a wide range of needs and applications. This detailed video review explores the lens's performance and image quality in a variety of situations.

A Review of the New Panasonic Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens

The new Panasonic Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens is remarkably small and portable for what it offers, making it an intriguing option for macro and portrait work alike. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance image quality you can expect from it in usage.

We Review the GFX100 II Medium Format Mirrorless Camera: Fuji’s Marvel

With the amount of technological advancements that we’ve come to expect, or in some cases demand, from camera manufacturers, where can they go without simply making a camera that does everything for you? All manufacturers, of any worth, are continually enhancing the features of their cameras. Fujifilm is one of these manufacturers, with one of the highest pixel count APS-C sensors, and their range of affordable medium format cameras puts pressure on other manufacturers to keep up in some aspects

Embracing the Blur: The Art of Unsharp Photography

The level of sharpness in a photo shapes the aesthetic and emotional impact of an image. While sharpness is often equated with photographic quality, the deliberate use of softness or blur can convey a unique, compelling visual story.

Which Camera Is Right for You?

Deciding on the right camera to purchase can be an overwhelming task for many photographers, both amateur and professional. This video addresses this common dilemma, offering invaluable insights that go beyond the usual gear-focused discussions, making it a must-watch for anyone looking to make an informed camera purchase.

Is This the Worst Camera Ever Made? Fstoppers Reviews the Kenko Tokina DSC Toy Camera Pieni II

If you follow my TikTok or my YouTube shorts, you’ll know I have a thing for toy cameras. Over the years, I’ve picked up quite a few cool and quirky film cameras that I love to shoot with. When I saw earlier this year that Kenko had released a tiny toy digital camera, I had to try it. Before using it, I wondered if it could create unique images. After seeing the results, I'm left wondering: is this the worst camera ever made?

Three High-End Maternity Lighting Setups

Maternity photography is a special genre that captures the beauty and significance of motherhood. The right lighting can transform a simple photo into an evocative image that encapsulates the beauty and strength of expectant mothers. This fantastic video tutorial will show you three such lighting setups.

6 Essential Tips for Street Photography

Street photography, an ever-popular genre, offers photographers a canvas to capture the spontaneity and rhythm of urban life. Its significance lies in its ability to tell compelling stories through candid moments, making it an essential skill for photographers looking to explore the nuances of everyday life in urban settings or improve their work in genres that demand a similar eye, such as wedding photography. This helpful video discusses six tips sure to improve your street images.

What Is Bokeh and Why Are So Many Photographers Obsessed With It?

Bokeh, a term derived from the Japanese word "boke," meaning "blur," is central to the aesthetic quality of photography and videography. This phenomenon creates a soft, pleasing effect that can significantly enhance the visual storytelling of a photo or video.

You Don't Need To Constantly Change Your Composition

I begin with a story about a location nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Cork, Ireland, where there lies the ancient friary ruin of a monastic settlement—a scene that, despite its historical roots, breathes life through the ever-changing interplay of light, atmosphere, and clouds. In the pursuit of capturing the feeling of this timeless location, I embarked on a photographic challenge that spanned two hours leading up to sunset. The unique challenge? To take 10 shots from the exact same composition, without altering my camera position or perspective.