Landscape Photography Is the Perfect Hobby

Some days, while practicing landscape photography, I pause to reflect. Thoughts often drift to the pursuit of landscape photography. With the unique blend of elements it brings together and the hobby's impact on me, landscape photography may be the perfect hobby.

This Is an Incredibly Unusual Lens, But Would You Buy It?

Anyone who has read even a few of my articles will know just how much I love unique lenses; if they have some character and unusual results, I'm all in. So, what is this lens and why has Matti Haapoja called it "the most unique lens" he's ever used?
5 Lighting Hacks You Won't Find in YouTube Tutorials

Learning lighting is often considered the first step toward capturing better photos. When I began my journey, I delved into discovering various techniques and unconventional methods for creating truly unique setups that leave clients in awe. In this article, I will share my five favorite lighting hacks.

How to Create Realistic Lighting in Filmmaking

You can't control what the weather will be on any given day, and that dictates a lot of how natural light will behave. In this video, Rob Ellis takes you behind-the-scenes to go through how to create realistic-looking lighting no matter what conditions you're in.
The Awesome Failing Photographer

This video is for the photographer who wants to give up. Have you ever felt like throwing in the towel when things seem to spiral downward? If you have, you're not alone and I created a video that I hope will inspire you to continue.

What You Need to Photograph Waterfalls Like a Pro

While you can show up to a waterfall with just a camera and a dream, you likely won't walk away with professional-looking images. You'll need a few items and techniques to turn those dreams into reality so you can walk away with world-class images for your portfolio.
A Review of the Fujifilm GFX100 II Mirrorless Medium Format Camera

The Fujifilm GFX 100 II medium format mirrorless camera takes what Fujifilm established with previous GF series models and adds a bevy of new features and upgrades that make it all the more appealing, all while maintaining that highly competitive price that makes it a reasonable alternative to full frame for many professionals. Can it match those impressive specs in real-world usage? This excellent video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect from the camera.

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Is It Time to Shift Your Focus From Your Skill to Your Soil?

As artists, we tend to channel our time and energy into becoming better at our craft. We learn more complex lighting setups, take advanced classes in retouching, buy the latest “must-have” gadgets, and try to bring it all together to improve our skills. We do it all because we have a fundamental belief that, “If I am the best, I will be the most successful”. Have you ever found yourself doing that, pouring months, and sometimes years into ameliorating your craft, but you still have not seen the corresponding financial or opportunity growth you expected?

A Masterclass From a Master Photographer

Landscape photography as a genre can be perceived as quite repetitive to some. However, to others, it can be a multifaceted challenge depending on the light, conditions, and locations that we choose to photograph!

Are You Using Your Photography Skills to Document Your Life?

Whether hobbyist or professional, photography can be a pursuit that takes up a lot of your time and energy, and when you finally put the camera down, you might not have the desire to pick it up again for a while. That can be a mistake, though, as you possess a special set of skills that put you in a position to document your life and the lives of your family and friends. This great video essay discusses the importance of doing just that.

Amateur Photographer Shoots With Nikon Z8

With all of the advances in camera tech these days, it’s easy to get confused when thinking about which camera to buy or which camera to upgrade to! There are a plethora of reviews, videos, and opinions out there on which camera is best for you.

Why Traveling Helps Your Career

I had the privilege of observing people I greatly admire making a living doing what they love. At the outset of my career, my friend, Dago, who directed tour videos for artists like Madonna, Ricky Martin, Celine Dion, Pink, and many others, noticed my keen interest in pursuing a creative path. He observed me closely, even as I occasionally posed some rather absurd questions.

A Comparison of the Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 AF and Sigma 23mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lenses

Both the Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 AF and Sigma 23mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary offer Fujifilm X Series users approximately 35mm full frame equivalent focal lengths in tandem with very wide maximum apertures, making them versatile options for a variety of applications. That being said, Fujifilm's new 40-megapixel sensor can be quite demanding. Can these lenses keep up? This excellent video comparison takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect.

What Has Canon Got up Its Sleeve for 360/VR Video?

Without much fanfare, Canon showed off a prototype consumer 360/180 VR camera shortly after Apple's reveal of its Vision Pro VR headset in June. Now, we have a better idea of what's under the hood.

What Happens When Your Film Is X-Rayed 19 Times?

One of the most frequently discussed topics in any film photography Facebook group is traveling with film. Newbies and old hands alike will share experiences of transiting through various airports, detailing their success rate of asking for hand checks of their film with security staff.

5 Tips for Keeping Your Photos and Lightroom Catalog Safe

Imagine the moment your computer stops working. It contains thousands of photos and a Lightroom Classic catalog. Imagine if all the work and effort you put into it is gone. The risk can be minimized when you take care of four or five things.

A 500mm Prime Lens for $329: What's the Catch?

TTArtisan has recently announced a 500mm f/6.3 lens for Sony E Mount, Leica L Mount, Nikon Z Mount, and Canon RF Mount, and it is only $329! So, what is the catch? In this video by Olle Nilsson, he reviews this lens and explains the positives and negatives.

Color-Match Any Image Using This Simple Yet Effective Plugin

Color grading is a science, and it can take professionals years to perfect. With so many variables in the mix, is this something that you would want to try for yourself? What if there was a plugin that could take out the time involved in the matching of colors over a series of images using a reference image, and in doing so, allow you to get the results you are seeking without as many hoops to jump through?

A Beginner's Guide to Working With Models

Working with professional models can be a fantastic way to really experiment with creative ideas and expand your portfolio. However, working with models is far different than working with normal clients. If you have not worked with them before, check out this helpful video tutorial that introduces you to many of the logistics that come with working with models as well as some of the most common working practices.

Backyard or Photo Studio?

Every now and then, the opportunities for creativity can be found right under your nose, or in your own backyard, in this case. I turned my backyard into a photo studio to create wild conceptual images.

A Review of the IRIX 15mm f/2.4 Dragonfly Lens

IRIX is one of the lesser-known lens manufacturers, but they produce some rather interesting lenses that promise high levels of image quality, particularly suitable for landscape photography. The 15mm f/2.4 Dragonfly offers a fairly wide maximum aperture paired with an ultra-wide focal length, all at a modest price, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

Farewell to a National Icon

If you roll back the clock to around 300 years ago, America was still in its infancy years. It was a time before the Revolutionary War, and the slave trade was thriving across the world. Across the Atlantic Ocean, in England, a small sapling was beginning to grow which would later become an icon, until now.

A Long-Term Review of the Fujifilm X-H2 Mirrorless Camera

The Fujifilm X-H2 mirrorless camera was a major step forward for the company's highly respected X Series, as it was the first body to add a high-resolution sensor, increasing its versatility and making it all the more desirable for photographers and filmmakers. How does it hold up in the long run? This great video review takes a look at the camera's performance and quality after a year of use.

A Review of the Highly Affordable TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 Lens

TTArtisan has established themselves as a manufacturer of some of the cheapest lenses on the market, making them a popular option for anyone who wants access to a variety of common options at prices that will not break the bank. One such lens is the TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Advice for Landing Your First Paid Photoshoot

There are few things in your journey as a budding photography as exciting as landing your first paid shoot, but how to actually go about making that happen is anything but clear. If you are ready to start getting paid for your work but struggling to find a client, check out this helpful video tutorial that offers some actionable advice on how to land your first photoshoot.

The Importance of Photography as a Hobby, Even When You're a Professional

When you are a professional photographer, your life is often extremely busy, and it is common for the fact of creating and taking pictures to go from an act of passion to one of work. And that can be a rather sad and even detrimental thing for both your professional work and your satisfaction as a creative. This insightful video essay discusses the issue and why it is so important to keep being a hobbyist photographer, even when you are a professional.

Canon Patents a Huge Range of Remarkable Lenses

Canon has been quite aggressive in developing and releasing RF mount lenses, and it looks like they intend to keep pressing forward, with over a dozen new patents showing plans for some pretty incredible options.

Fstoppers Photographer of the Month (September 2023): Yong Lei van Barlingen

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.

Why I'm Returning My iPhone 15 Pro

The iPhone 15 Pro is an amazing phone, but after days of testing, I haven't found it to be a significant upgrade over last year's 14 Pro.

Helpful Tips for Editing Fall Photos in Lightroom

Fall is one of the most exciting times of year for landscape photographers, with vibrant colors abounding and numerous photo opportunities waiting everywhere you turn. Along with skills behind the camera, it takes a good edit to create a polished fall photo. This helpful video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer sharing some lesser-known tips and tools for creating compelling fall images that pop off the screen using Lightroom.

How to Get Better Results From Photoshop's Generative Fill Feature

Photoshop's Generative Fill feature is one of the program's most powerful capabilities to come along in quite some time, offering the ability to create entirely new editing paradigms and make established procedures far more efficient. Just like any other tool, though, there are some best practices it pays to be aware of. This helpful video tutorial features an experienced Photoshop pro sharing some useful advice that will show you how to get more out of the program's Generative Fill feature.

How to Become a Professional Portrait Photographer

Portrait photography is one of the most popular genres out there, and though it can be quite challenging, it can also be very rewarding. If you are just starting your portrait photography journey and feeling a bit overwhelmed, check out this fantastic video tutorial that shares everything you need to get started, ranging from technical skills to developing a creative mindset and starting a business.

7 Rite of Passages Photographers Go Through

There are some shots, shoots, or situations that are simply a rite of passage for photographers learning the craft. Here are seven examples most photographers have experienced. How many have you gone through?
A Review of the New Fujifilm XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM OIS WR Lens

The Fujifilm XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens offers a giant range of focal lengths, making it an intriguing option for variety of photographers, particularly wildlife, bird, and sports shooters. Can it offer the performance and image quality needed in those demanding genres? This excellent video review takes a look at what you can expect from the lens in usage.

How Good Is the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM Lens?

The Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM is one of the craziest lenses to come along in quite some time, offering an unheard-of zoom range and aperture combination for a full frame lens, making it a unique option for photographers. Nonetheless, it is neither cheap nor small. Is it worth the price and size? This excellent video review takes a look at if its performance and image quality can stand up to two demanding sensors.

5 Cameras for Winter Photography

Winter photography can be a magical yet challenging experience due to the conditions that come with cold weather, snow, sleet, high winds, and limited daylight. As photographers, we can prepare for this in advance to ensure we're insulated and dry enough to keep out the elements that this season throws at us, but what about our equipment?

I Wish I Knew This Before Going Full Frame

Full frame cameras are often considered the tool of choice for professional photographers. You rarely find such cameras in articles aimed at beginners. For many photographers, transitioning to a full frame camera is the next logical step in their journey. In this article, we will explore some crucial factors to consider before making the leap to full frame.

How Technical Obsession Can Ruin Your Creativity

A lot of photographers spend much of their time obsessing over the technical quality of their images, and while that certainly matters, there is such a thing as taking it too far, which is something many of us are guilty of. Worrying too much about technical quality can often cause too little focus on creative development and exploration, which can be quite detrimental to one's growth and maturation as a photographer. This excellent video essay features a seasoned photographer discussing the issue and how to fix it.