A Review of the OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4 PRO Lens

One of the best parts of the Micro Four Thirds system is the wide selection of sharp but quite portable lenses, and if you do not need a particularly wide aperture, the OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4 PRO is especially compact and light while also not breaking the bank. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Three of the Biggest Myths in Photography

Photography is a complex topic full of myths and misconceptions, and those can lead you astray and be detrimental to your growth and success as a creative. This interesting video essay discusses three common photography myths that can undermine your work and the truth that is often hiding behind them.

A Small Streaming Startup Big Companies Better Watch Out For

I think it is fair to say that streaming is complex, especially if you want to go beyond “Instagram live from a selfie camera.” Adding several angles, multiple cameras, and overlays is complex, and you would need quite a lot of gear for that. Well, say goodbye to that. RecNGo is a simple app that makes streaming affordable and accessible.

Have Tripods Become Obsolete?

Modern cameras support fantastic image stabilization, and ISO noise is not a problem anymore. We can shoot freehand in dusk conditions and get stunning, sharp photos. So, have tripods become obsolete?

One of the Keys to Improving Your Landscape Photography

One of the most interesting and sometimes frustrating aspects of landscape photography is that you get no control over the elements of the frame, the lighting, or the surrounding conditions. And that will often mean that things will not be as you hoped or planned, but that should not deter you. This excellent video features an experienced landscape photographer discussing one of the key elements to improving your work.

A Guide to Retouching Portrait Images

When it comes to portrait photos, lighting and shooting the image is only half of the process. Knowing how to edit your images with a careful touch while still applying your signature creative look is the other half. This excellent video tutorial will show you how one photographer edits his shots using a combination of Lightroom and Photoshop.

3 Ways to Become a Better Photographer

Today, I’d just like to muse a bit of some lessons I’ve learned over a long career as a professional photographer. Hopefully, some of these concepts will help you as well.

A Review of the Versatile Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD Lens

Tamron has established itself as a manufacturer of superbly practical and affordable lenses in the last few years, but they have also started to push the boundaries of lens design to create some impressively extreme lenses. One such lens is the 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Why You Should Consider a Superzoom Lens for Landscape Photography

Superzoom lenses are often overlooked because their extreme focal length ranges mean inherent compromises in image quality, but in recent years, we have seen some impressive advances that make them viable options for a lot of work. This excellent video features an experienced landscape photographer making a case for using a superzoom lens for landscape work.

A Review of the New Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE Lens

Samyang has long been recognized for creating affordable and sharp manual focus lenses, but in recent years, they have expanded into autofocus options, vastly increasing the versatility of their offerings while maintaining budget prices. One such lens is the AF 135mm f/1.8 FE, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

How to Create Interesting Images by Dragging Your Shutter

The beauty of shutter speed and aperture is that they are not just for getting technically correct exposures; they allow you to explore creative renderings as well. One way to do this is through dragging your shutter when shooting photos with motion, and this great video tutorial will show you both how to do it and the sort of results you can create.

Shooting Portraits With an Insane 400mm f/2.8 Lens

Traditionally, portraits are shot with focal lengths between 50mm and 135mm, though there is no reason you can't use a longer focal length. Nonetheless, 400mm f/2.8 lenses are traditionally reserved for professional sports and wildlife photographers who need a lot of reach and the ability to capture as much light as possible. With super-sharp results and a narrow depth of field, they seem like a great (if somewhat impractical) option for portraits, and this fun video shows you what you can expect.

How to Not Piss Off Other Photographers

We all love having a spot to ourselves, but many times, that isn’t possible. There are a few unspoken rules when it comes to shooting in congested areas that every photographer should know.

The Bokeh Monster: A Review of the Sony 135mm f/1.8 Lens

While the 85mm focal length is the classic choice for portrait photography, 135mm is a popular alternative, and there are some real gem lenses to be found there. One such option is the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM, and this great video review takes a look at the lens and the impressive performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Who Makes the Best 50mm Lens, Canon or Sony?

Perhaps no lens has a wider price range than the 50mm, which can cost anywhere from under $100 to well over $2,000 depending on the sort of performance and image quality you are after. Two options at the top end are the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM and Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM, and this great video review takes a look at both and which edges out the other.

Eight Camera Settings You Can Ignore if You Are Shooting Raw

Modern cameras offer a wide variety of settings to change the behavior and customize to your own preferences. There are also a lot of basic settings you choose once and forget about it. Did you know there are settings you can ignore completely? I found eight of those.

How to Create Balance in Your Images

Even though it is one of the most fundamental and important aspects of creating a successful photo, composition does not get the kind of attention it deserves when it comes to talking about photography. One aspect of composition that we should often consider is how we create and convey balance for our viewers. This excellent video tutorial examines the topic and offers some helpful advice that will improve your shots.

A Review of the New Irix 21mm f/1.4 Dragonfly Lens

Irix is known mostly for making manual focus wide angle lenses with rugged build quality and nice image quality, and the new 21mm f/1.4 Dragonfly lens seeks to continue that trend. The lens comes in Canon, Nikon, and Pentax DSLR mounts (and can be easily adapted to mirrorless), and this fantastic video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Techniques to Save a Poor Landscape Photo

Of course, we all try to get out photos are close to right as possible in camera, but none of us are perfect, and mistakes will happen. So, if you really miss the mark, what can you do to save an image you really want to use? This excellent video tutorial will show you some helpful tips and techniques for rescuing that shot.

Haunting 360 Images Capture the Full Scope of Destruction of War in Ukraine

There's no doubt that images have the power to shape history. That's even more true for war photos such as photojournalist Nick Ut's "Napalm Girl" photo or Eddie Adams' "Saigon Execution" photo, two images that really helped shape American views of the Vietnam conflict. In 2022, it's modern-day 360 images that will have the power to truly show the devastation of Ukraine.

Is This Strange Sigma Lens Worth a Look?

Sigma makes some pretty standard lenses, but they also create some more unique and less heard-of designs that can be the sort of creative shot in the arm that excites a lot of photographers. The 65mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary, which sits in a strange middle ground between 50mm and 85mm, is one such lens, and this great video review takes a look at the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.

6 Tips for Better Interior Photos

The past four months I've been staying in many Airbnbs and hotels while traveling through Portugal, Costa Rica, and Panama. What I noticed while looking for accommodations were the often unprofessional photos those places use for their listings. Some were so bad that I directly skipped to the next listing, not even looking at the reviews. And it's so easy to create better real estate photos, even just using a cell phone, which I'll show in this article.

Unpopular Photography Opinions. Do They Matter? Yes.

People are not always willing to listen to unpopular opinions, mainly because they often do not agree with them. This stems from the human tendency to confirm our preexisting views and dismiss any information that challenges them.

10 Great Tricks for Filmmakers With Sony Cameras

Cameras grow in complexity year on year and it can be difficult to use any body to its maximum potential. In this video, Caleb Pike takes you through 10 tricks for filmmakers to get more out of their Sony camera.

Three Fantastic Portraits You Can Create With Just One Light

If you follow the work of high-end portrait photographers, you will probably notice them often using complex three- or even four-light setups. And while there are good reasons for using those, you do not need all that complexity to create professional-level images; in fact, just one light will do if you know how to use it. This excellent video tutorial will show you three fantastic portraits you can create using only a single light.

What It Is Like to Cover F1 Racing

Mark Thompson is a Getty Images photographer with over 25 years of experience covering F1 races, including Red Bull Racing. I spoke with him to gain insight into what it is like to cover this competition.

A Look at Some Common Beginner Portrait Photography Mistakes

Portrait photography is one of the most popular genres out there, and it brings its own challenges and pitfalls. If you are new to portraiture and would like to improve your work, check out this fantastic video tutorial that details some common mistakes beginners make and what you can do to fix them or avoid them entirely in the first place.

Aputure Is Winning the Flexible LED Market

Aputure’s new flexible LED panels may be the best in class. Intellytech and Westcott will have some serious competition. How do they all stack up?

Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Vs Instax Mini LiPlay: Side by Side Image Comparison

Fujifilm Instax cameras are now the most popular instant cameras on the market. From these instant cameras, the Instax mini series holds the largest portion of the market. And the latest Instax mini camera is the Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo. With its retro camera-like design, how does this new Instax camera compare against the previous Instax Mini LiPlay?

Adobe Includes Frame.io in Creative Cloud for Free

If you’re entering the video production industry, you’ll be bound to start collaborating with colorists, motion graphics artists, and clients. You’ll also start using cloud-based uploading for review. You’ll be happy to know Frame.io is now included to use in Adobe Creative Cloud, so if you’re a Premiere Pro user, you’re getting a great workflow enhancer for free.

Nikon Z9 Firmware Update Makes It Even More Incredible

The Nikon Z-series has a highly impressive firmware update coming, particularly for the Z9. Version 2.0 turns Z9 into a videography and sports photography titan, and if you have any interest in using it for either of those (or a great many other uses), you're going to want to check this out.

Cityscape Photography Made Easy: 3 Simple Tips

Photographing the busy city doesn’t have to be complicated. If you don’t have filters and other specialized tools for landscape and cityscape photography, here are some tips to do it with ease.

Is That Expensive Prime Lens Really the Best Choice for Portraits?

Wide-aperture 85mm prime lenses are the classic choice for portrait photography, but that does not mean they are right for everyone. This excellent video comparison takes a look at two options, the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM and the RF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM, to help you choose the right one for your work.

How to Get Started in the Business of Photography

Starting a photography business is about a lot more than simply being good with a camera and finding people to pay you for your skills. If it is something you are interested in but you have no idea how to get started, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced professional photographer discussing some advice he would give up-and-coming pros.

Build Your Online Photography Portfolio Faster with Zenfolio

Looking for the best option to build your website or portfolio can be a daunting task with so many options out there. Are you looking for one to share your photos and videos, maybe book your clients directly online, a way to share proofs, sell prints and other products, or is there something else you need on your site?

Why the New Platypod Is an eXtreme Improvement in Their Lineup

Ok — let’s start with a disclaimer: I’m a fan of Platypod (both the company itself and the products individually). The most compelling photographs show us the world in a way we’re not used to seeing, which is where the Platypod excels.

The Beauty of Landscape Photography in Bad Weather

Almost no one enjoys standing in the wind and rain, and I certainly would not blame you if you saw the clouds rolling in and wanted to pack up your equipment and head home. Nonetheless, you might be missing out on fantastic images if you do not stick around for the storm, and this fantastic video will show you just what you might be able to accomplish in those situations.

Save a Landscape Photograph With a Black and White Edit

For the most part, a landscape photo is not finished once you press the shutter, as half of the image-making process is in the direction you decide to take the edit. Sometimes, if you are looking at an image you know has potential but you can't figure out to do with it, you should consider turning it into a black and white photo. This great video tutorial makes a case for why and shows you some techniques to do so.

How to Remove Echo From a Concrete Room

Patrick and I have recently moved into new homes in Puerto Rico, and we have each been building our individual studios. I knew removing the echo from my concrete room was going to be difficult, but I didn't realize it would be this hard.

Fast High-End Retouching in Photoshop

When learning to retouch skin in Photoshop, most people start with frequency separation. Has Adobe now made skin retouching even easier with Neural Filters?

What It Is Like to Photograph a Wedding in the Rain

I estimate over 90% of my shots are taken indoors, so I don’t give much thought to how my cameras would perform in a rainstorm. I’m in the minority with my lack of concern in this area, apparently, because I frequently see photographers voice their concerns when a new camera is announced that does not have weather-sealing.

How to Improve Your Photography Without Spending Any Money

There are plenty of ways to get better images, we’ve all seen articles on which new camera to purchase, which new laptop will improve your editing, which courses to purchase, or where in the world you can visit to get stunning images. But what about some truly effective ways to improve your ability to get the shot without spending a penny?

Finding Purpose in Photography

All of us first picked up a camera and started taking photos simply because we enjoyed the magic of the creative process. But after years working in photography, whether professionally or simply as hobbyists sharing our work with the world, that reason we do that can become obfuscated or forgotten entirely. Do you know your purpose in photography? This important video essay discusses the topic.

4 Photography Money Lies

There are a lot of photography myths regarding pricing and money. In this, I will cover big myths and expand on them in the video.