What matters more, gear or creativity? For this camera challenge, I set out to do a portrait shoot with an 8-megapixel camera that is almost 20 years old. Yes, I am talking about the Olympus E-500.

The Hasselblad X2D 100C brings an ultra-powerful, modern medium format sensor inside an extremely portable body (with equally portable lenses to match), making it a dream camera for many photographers who want high image quality without a lot of bulk. How does it perform in real-world usage? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect.

70-200mm f/2.8 lenses have long been some of the most popular workhorses out there, able to tackle a huge range of needs and genres with ease. However, such lenses are neither light nor cheap. 70-200mm f/4 lenses offer a nice alternative for those who do not need that wide aperture, and the Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II offers 0.5x macro capabilities as well. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in use.

If hop on a platform like Instagram and look at landscape images, you will probably notice that most of the photos are rather intricate, full of a ton of elements and complicated combinations of vibrant colors. And while such photos can certainly be compelling, they are not the only way to approach landscape image compositions. Simple, direct shots can be just as eye-catching. This great video tutorial takes a look at such an approach and offers some useful tips for enacting it.

As a landscape photographer, do you feel frustrated when things don’t quite work out? Maybe the weather wasn’t cooperating or despite your best efforts looking for an engaging composition, you couldn’t find one before the light faded. Learn to enjoy the journey and watch the frustrations fade away.

There are many iconic and popular locations in landscape photography, and while they offer stunning imagery, with that comes a tricky issue: creating unique images that stand out from the thousands of others also created at that spot. How do you go about that? This excellent video tutorial follows a professional landscape photographer as he does just that.

Minimalism is out and maximalism is in. Discover the six striking new Wondershare Filmora Effects Packs for adding spice to your reels and videos.

If you're using your DSLR or mirrorless camera for filming, you're likely familiar with the limitations these cameras can present for this type of work. While each new model offers more options, accessories can enhance your filming experience. An external recorder is one such accessory.

The Sony a7R series of mirrorless cameras has long been respected for offering some of the best resolution and image quality available in a full frame camera in combination with many of the innovative features Sony's options have been known for, making it incredibly versatile in a variety of applications. The latest version, the a7R V, comes with a laundry list of impressive capabilities, and this great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

At only $679, the Canon EOS R50 makes a strong case as one of the best camera for beginner photographers by offering plenty of modern features while still leaving room to grow into more advanced options. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in real-world use.

As I stood at the edge of the tranquil beach, a sense of both calm and disappointment washed over me. Having checked the weather forecasts closely, I was once again feeling let down as instead of crisp morning light, I instead had low clouds and very little light.

Modern cameras are absolutely ridiculous machines, capable of performing tasks and producing images that would not have been imaginable even a decade ago. And let's be honest: most cameras are far more capable than necessary, meaning if our images are not what we want them to be, the problem is probably with us. This important video essay discusses the issue.

For many, it has always been a dream in the back of our heads to someday be able to escape the rat race and follow our passion in photography and turn it into a career!

As photographers, we spend a significant amount of our time post-processing images, writing emails, and engaging in other computer-related tasks. While we often scrutinize the gear photographers use for shooting, there is seldom an in-depth exploration of the post-production setup they employ. In this article, I will showcase my post-processing arrangement.

Along with aperture and ISO, shutter speed is one of the three fundamental exposure parameters of photography that not only determine a technically correct exposure, but allow you to take creative control of the image-making process. As such, having it mastered is crucial to growing as a photographer. If you are new to the craft and ready to learn about shutter speed, check out this fantastic video tutorial that offers 10 tips on how to choose the right setting for an image.

The beauty of being a professional photographer is that you have the freedom to pursue what you love on your own terms. However, with that comes arguably its biggest drawback: the loss of guaranteed steady income and financial security. Every freelance photographer goes through lulls, and it is important to expect them and to know how to get through them. This great video essay features a professional photographer discussing the issue and offering some helpful advice.

Storage is one of the most critical necessities for a content creator. After all, without a place to store your work, you can't enjoy the freedom of creating. While it might be fine to store your shoots on your computer initially, you will soon run out of storage space. This is when a product like the LaCie D2 external HDD drive becomes essential.

Aside from the bride and groom, on the long list of shots a wedding photographer has to get, few rival the family portraits in terms of importance. If you would like to ensure you get all the shots you need, check out this helpful video tutorial that offers a range of practical and actionable advice along with some behind-the-scenes footage of how one wedding photographer approaches the task.

I've been an amateur astronomer since I was around 11 years old. I had an uncle, a retired engineer, who had a small reflecting telescope, and when I saw Saturn for the first time I was hooked. Photography through a telescope came much later for me, and it was a very difficult undertaking in the film days. I remember taking some star shots to the drugstore for processing, and they told me they threw them away because there were just a bunch of white spots on them, and I should take better care to learn how to take pictures. Oh well.

Cornwall is one of those places I cannot get enough of. I've visited three times over the past years and can't wait to be back. In this article, I show you five of my favorite photo locations in Cornwall.

While fast zooms generally get most of the attention, Canon also makes some excellent slower zoom lenses for people who don't need an f/2.8 aperture or who want to save some weight in their bag or money in their bank account. Two such options are the RF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM and RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM, and this great video comparison takes a look at both to help you choose the right one for your needs.

Shooting panoramas can be a highly rewarding exercise. However, there is always the dread in the back of my mind as to whether I will be able to stitch it correctly when back in my editing suite. I, for one, have had this challenge with an image that I thought was going to be a banger, only for the horizon to slope off or for an important part of the foreground or sky to end up not stitching, resulting in a scrapped image.

It's amazing what a little fog or haze can do to spice up an image or video clip. But you don't have to rely on the bulky machines that need to be plugged into a wall.

There is something innately annoying about having to carry stuff. I can't decide if it’s shoulder pain, back pain, or just a general need to do physical activity. If you are a photographer who has to bring out more gear than a camera bag’s worth, this is a product for you. Don’t think so? Then read on!

The brand new Sony a7C II offers a huge amount of tech in a very compact body. What if you could supercharge it so that it suddenly had most of the functionality of a cinema camera? Can you get the best of both worlds? How much would it cost?

Ever thought about shooting video? If so, you should consider a gimbal stabilizer. You won't go wrong with a Hohem iSteady MT2, with its outstanding AI tracking feature.

When traveling, it's often the case that photographers zero in on the iconic sights that everyone else gets: the Eiffel Tower in France, Big Ben in London, etc. But instead of capturing what everyone else gets, there are ways to capture the feel of a place without necessarily getting the "standard" shot.

Sony has recently released a successor to a fan-favorite a6600 fittingly called the a6700. Don’t get me wrong, in those few days I had it it performed well, but there are some features that would elevate it to a different level. First things first though, what did Sony do well with the a6700?

If you are anything like me, you hate having to lug a tripod around, a hate which is only outmatched by your disdain for unstrapping it, setting it up, and packing it up again. If you are going to shoot handheld, though, you need to have careful technique and awareness to ensure you still come away with sharp images. This excellent video tutorial discusses some of the common reasons why photographers end up with soft images when shooting handheld and what you can do to fix those mistakes.

Leica is arguably the most polarizing photography brand out there, though its users tend to be fiercely loyal to the brand, which is why it is always interesting to hear why when one leaves them for another system. This insightful video essay features a photographer discussing why he might leave Leica after four years with the brand and switch to Nikon.

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.

The Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM is one of the most exciting lenses to come along in several years, and it is tailor-made for the needs of wildlife and sports photographers. Of course, there is no reason you can't use it for other things, such as portraits. This fun video follows well-known portrait photographer Lindsay Adler as she works with the lens for a portrait session.

The new Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II lens is here, and it brings with it a nice range of improvements and new features that will make it a desirable option for many photographers and filmmakers. How does it hold up in practice? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you will be able to expect from it in practice.

One of the biggest questions for many is how to make money from photography. There are many ways of doing it, such as photographing weddings, pets, portraits, or even products, but there are also ways to make money, such as stock photography. In this article, I discuss my experiences of using stock photography websites.

Perhaps one of the more challenging aspects of running a professional photography business is that you have to deal with all clients yourself, including those who might be looking to take advantage of you. It pays to be aware of some of the red flags these clients will frequently show before you get involved with them in order to save yourself a lot of headaches down the road. This great video essay features an experienced commercial photographer discussing some of the most common things to watch out for.

Portrait photography is a challenging genre that requires not just a creative voice and technical command, but the ability to work with people at the same time. If you are new to the genre and would like to improve your portrait images, check out this helpful video tutorial that shares three tips that will put you on the track to better results.

Wedding photography is a very challenging genre that requires a lot of versatility both as a photographer and in terms of gear. As such, 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses are highly popular options, but they are far from the only choices for wedding work. This great video essay features a seasoned wedding photographer discussing some of the reasons he prefers using prime lenses for his work instead.

I go way back with the Nik Tools software. I bought the set before Google snapped it up, then they let it sit virtually idle. DXO got it six years ago and have added their own deep knowledge of photo editing and, I think, fulfilled the dream of what the Nik Collection should be.

It used to be that Photoshop was the place to go if you wanted to edit portraits, but in recent iterations, Lightroom has implemented some powerful tools that make it easier to edit your images without leaving the application. This great video tutorial will show you how to use those new tools for editing portrait photos.

It’s no surprise that the well-loved 16-35mm G Master is getting a revamp, as this one completes the trinity of second generation G Master zoom lenses. But what does it have to offer, and is it worth the upgrade?

Getting a new editing computer can be a confusing process. How do you know when to upgrade? What kind of computer do you get for different kinds of editing? Do you build one or buy one? Well, I hope to answer those questions here in this article in a way that will match your specific situation.

While some may stress over light fixtures, others are stressing over reflections.

As I began my interview with Fabian Wagner DOP, he sits there, totally relaxed and easygoing. Describing himself as just an ordinary guy, it quickly becomes clear that my conversation was going to be a very relaxed affair, without pretenses, and totally open to all questions I threw at him.

If you've ever owned a fixed focal length wide-angle lens, you've probably noticed the numbers located between the focus ring and the aperture ring. This is the depth of field scale, and it's a valuable tool that helps you check the depth of field for different apertures and focus distances.

24-70mm f/2.8 lenses are the workhorses of many genres in the industry, combining a useful focal length range with a nice maximum aperture for a zoom lens. If you do not need that f/2.8 aperture, though, f/4 versions offer the same versatility in a smaller package and at a much lower cost. The Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G embodies that and offers an even more versatile focal length range, making it quite desirable for a huge range of applications. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in usage.