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Is This the Best Budget 35mm Lens for Sony?

In this review, we’re diving into the Viltrox 35mm f/1.2, a lens that surprised me in the best ways. I’ve had this thing in my hands for more than a month and have used it on multiple sessions now, and—spoiler alert—this is one of the best and most affordable 35mm lenses for Sony.

Simple Techniques for Effective Lightroom Color Grading

Color grading your images can transform how people feel when viewing your work. Knowing how to do it right in Lightroom can mean the difference between a flat photo and one that connects emotionally.

Active Contests
Your Best Portraits
Critique the Community

Your Best Portraits

Enter and Win $1200 in Aftershoot Prizes

Welcome to the April 2025 Critique the Community Contest!  For this month's contest we want to make it super simple and inclusive by asking for your best portrait images. They can be full length, headshots, single person, multiple people, natural light or lit in the studio.

Submission Deadline:
April 30th 2025 - 11:45pm
Insta360’s X5: An Incremental or Revolutionary Upgrade?

Another year, another Insta360 release. While that sounds like an anti-climactic statement about the new X5, it's not meant to be. While there may not be any headline-grabbing features like higher-resolution footage, there are a few improvements that make the camera just a bit more livable than the X4.

Beyond the Crowds: Finding Unique Landscapes in a Photographed World

In a world that sees more and more travel every year, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find places that aren't crowded and haven't yet been photographed from every possible angle. But those places still exist; you simply have to search harder.

The Truth About Perfect Light in Landscape Photography: Overcoming the Myth

Landscape photography often carries a widespread myth—the belief that bad light equals bad photos. Many photographers, especially those starting out, follow the conventional wisdom that only certain times of day, particularly golden hour, produce the best images. This belief has been perpetuated by social media, tutorials, and even some photography experts. But here’s the truth: the myth of “bad light” is limiting, and it’s holding you back from expanding your creative potential.

What Does It Actually Mean to Be 'Cinematic'?

The term "cinematic" gets thrown around a lot, often without a clear understanding of what truly defines it. For anyone serious about video production, knowing the elements that genuinely create a cinematic experience is crucial to elevating your work beyond just visually pleasing footage.

PTGui Version 13: The Powerhouse Panorama Editing Tool Got Even Better

Panorama photography presents unique challenges, both in the field and during post-processing. For years, PTGui has been a favorite powerhouse tool for photographers needing more control and better results than the basic stitching tools provide. Now, with the release of PTGui 13, this already excellent panorama stitching software gets a significant update, focusing on a streamlined DNG-based workflow, performance boosts, and useful new features. Is it worth the upgrade?

Understanding Raw and JPEG for Better Editing

Understanding the differences between raw and JPEG is essential because it shapes your editing options, image quality, and storage requirements. Knowing when and why to choose each format can significantly influence the quality and versatility of your final images.

The Sigma 300-600mm f/4: A Remarkable Lens

When Sigma announced the new 300-600mm f/4 DG OS Sports lens, it quickly caught attention due to its combination of extreme focal length and professional-grade optics. If you're serious about wildlife, sports, or nature photography, a lens like this can transform your approach.

Portrait Magic Revealed

When it comes to creative portraits, sometimes the simplest things can make or break your vision. Likewise, there are times when small details in a scene can give your portraits that little something special.

Professional Skin Retouching Made Simple in Lightroom

Retouching portraits often requires complex software and a steep learning curve, but Lightroom can simplify the process significantly. Mastering skin retouching within Lightroom helps streamline your workflow and produces natural, flattering results without additional costs or complexities.

Why Your Best Photos Might Be Imperfect

Wabi-Sabi is a traditional Japanese philosophy that encourages seeing beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and simplicity. This approach can transform how you experience photography, offering depth to the everyday moments you capture.

The Birth of the Digital Camera: From Film to Filmless Revolution

Photography has always been about capturing light to preserve moments. For over a century, that meant exposing a roll of film and then disappearing into a darkroom or waiting for a lab to develop the images. It’s easy to forget how different this process was before digital cameras came along. In the 1970s, the idea of instantly seeing a photo on a screen felt like science fiction. Yet it was in this era of film and chemicals that a young engineer quietly built a device that would change photography forever. What follows is the story of how the first digital camera was invented and how it transformed the way we take and share photos.

Zeiss vs. Viltrox: Is Premium Always Better?

When photographers debate lens quality, few brands stir up as much discussion as Zeiss. The Zeiss 55mm f/1.8, despite being over a decade old, still attracts plenty of attention—and debate.

Highlights From Adobe MAX in London

Adobe MAX is a gathering of photographers, filmmakers, and designers who want to see the latest innovations the company is working on and learn from other creatives who have mastered using the company’s software to fulfill their creative vision. There was no stated theme for this year’s event, but it was apparent to me that Adobe is making an effort across all its platforms to reduce tedious tasks in the creative workflow.

Why Your Photography Should Avoid the Obvious

William Eggleston famously described himself as being "at war with the obvious," a compelling concept for any photographer to consider. Exploring what exactly counts as obvious—and why steering clear of it might make your work stand out—can help you create photographs people remember.

The Falcam TreeRoot Quick Lock Pro: Because Your Camera's Worth It

There are dozens of tripods on the market, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. None are suitable for every circumstance. The new model from Falcam TreeRoot, the Quick Lock Pro R240T, has a very specific use, and I put it through its paces to find out whether I need one.

Did Fujifilm Steal My Idea for Their New Camera?

Five years ago, I humorously "leaked": a rumor that Canon was about to release the RiP, a camera with a vertical sensor designed for Instagram influencers. Sadly, the RiP never came to market, but the concept may have inspired Fujifilm’s intriguing new camera.

Blow Up on Social Media (And Never Appear on Camera)

The business value of social media can’t be overstated, but not everyone wants to vamp in videos—the common path to stardom. Luckily, you don’t have to, says Janis McGavin, director of marketing and social media for the Los Angeles Center of Photography. “How do I know this?" she said. "I’ve done it.” She took the LACP’s following from zero to 18,000 followers (and growing) without appearing on camera. If you follow a few basic principles, you can expand your audience and your business without stepping in front of the camera (and even more if you do).

Predict Moments, Improve Your Shots

Timing makes or breaks photography. Being ready for the right moment transforms average shots into memorable images.

Transforming Mobile Shots With Leica's Lux Grip

The Leica LUX app brought some fresh tools to mobile photography, but handling your phone like a real camera? That’s where the LUX Grip steps in. This isn’t just a Bluetooth shutter button. It’s an ergonomic extension that is meant to give you a DSLR-style hold while unlocking full control over your iPhone’s native features and LUX app functionality.

Effective Ways to Clearly Communicate Your Photography Ideas

One of the toughest parts of photography isn’t mastering camera settings or lighting setups—it’s actually about keeping the person you're photographing engaged. Your excitement doesn't automatically transfer, so learning how to clearly convey your ideas becomes essential.

Depth of Interest: What Makes a Landscape Photograph Stick

Give your eyes a destination and a route to get there. Our job as artists is to find a place we want to direct the viewer’s eye to, find a way to direct them there, and then to show them what it is we want them to see. Everything else is just visual clutter.

How to Enhance Images With Midtones Contrast

Contrast is one of those subtle elements that can elevate a photo, turning a flat image into something dynamic. Understanding how to manage contrast, especially in midtones, is essential to capturing richer, more vibrant images.

The Neighborhood and the Photographer

You don’t need a passport. You don’t need a model. And you sure as hell don’t need permission. What you do need is your camera and a little curiosity.

Efficient Image Editing With Affinity Photo 2

Affinity Photo 2 offers powerful tools to enhance your raw images quickly and accurately, giving you professional results without the complexity or high cost of other software.

How One Self-Proclaimed Dogtographer Uses Her Camera to Change Lives

Some photographers view the craft of photography as a creative pursuit that enriches their lives on a deeply personal level, while others are motivated by income or social media attention. Some are driven to use their cameras to effect change. Self-proclaimed “dogtographer” Kaylee Greer is one such person who uses photography to tell the story of shelter dogs in search of a loving home.

The Art of Seeing in a Mundane Landscape

Do you find yourself scrolling social media, admiring wonderful photos from exotic locations with a bit of jealousy? Or maybe you are frustrated with not being able to travel frequently? You may have fallen into the trap of thinking you have to travel to take great landscape photos. It doesn’t have to be that way.

What It Takes to Make Truly Huge Prints

Buying a large format printer doesn't automatically guarantee big prints. Understanding what "big" really means and the considerations involved in producing large-scale photographs is crucial, particularly if you're planning to print at exhibition sizes.

The Presets Room: A Game-Changing Marketplace for Photography Presets

Photographers know that working smarter means more time snapping shots and not being stuck behind a screen. But for newbies, finding an editing style can feel like a never-ending puzzle. Luckily, The Presets Room is here to save the day—offering quick, pro-level edits so you can spend less time clicking and more time creating.

Why Your Portraits Aren’t Sharp—and How to Fix Them

Are your portraits consistently coming out softer than you expect, even after careful focusing? Clarity makes a significant difference in the professional appearance of your images. Here's how to achieve it.

Small Adjustments That Lead to Stronger Photos

Ever feel like your photos are just shy of great, missing something small yet crucial? Many photographers experience this subtle frustration, and recognizing what's off is the first step toward exceptional results.

EVF Resolution and Refresh Rates: What You Need to Know

Electronic viewfinders have transformed how you interact with your camera. Beyond just framing shots, these tiny screens affect everything from how accurately you can judge focus to how connected you feel to your subject during fast-paced photography situations.

Reolink Go PT Ultra Field Review: Excellent Footage, But Not Quite a Wildlife Camera

I’ve spent some time testing the Reolink Go PT Ultra to see if it’s a viable option for use as a remote wildlife camera, particularly in woodland areas. With 4K video, pan/tilt control, and 4G connectivity, it looked promising on paper. In practice, the footage quality is superb, but the battery performance in real-world conditions—especially shaded woodland—is a significant limiting factor.

Dreamy Photos Without the Obvious Tricks

Dreamy photos don’t happen by accident. They require understanding subtle techniques that create images filled with atmosphere and emotion.