We Need a New Lighting Category
What do you do when you have a light that doesn't fit into the standard set of categories?
What do you do when you have a light that doesn't fit into the standard set of categories?
At some point, we will all end up shooting in a boring conference room. It’s not always easy to get a good shot when the space isn’t made for it. So, these tips from Epic Light Media might just be the trick.
Filters can feel like unimportant and superfluous purchases at times, but they have the power to make a big difference. Some are necessities to get the shot you have in mind and others are stylistic choices. Here are three one photographer uses constantly.
Canon has been chugging along the last few years, releasing some impressive mirrorless cameras and lenses. It seems they have no intention of stopping, with another major announcement of multiple cameras and lenses coming soon.
How do you make sure that your photos make a lasting impression? Is there a formula that can help you achieve better visual design?
One of the trickiest aspects of landscape photography is that you do not get any control over the physical location of the elements in the frame, and as such, a lot of photographers experience difficulties with compositions. If that is something you struggle with, check out this awesome video tutorial that will show you some helpful tips for improving your landscape image compositions.
If you've ever wanted to take a photograph of a car that has motion to it, you may have noticed it's not often straightforward. In this video, go behind the scenes of a rolling car shoot to see how it's done.
Over the last three years, I have built out four new photography studios, and each time, I find better and better ways to streamline my spaces. In this video, I want to share with you one of the coolest ways to mount your seamless paper or Gravity backdrops.
The light is amazing. There are dozens of compositions waiting out there. But where are you? Sitting in your office, working eagerly for your boss or for your clients? I found a solution to combine my job with my landscape photography, to photograph wherever and whenever I want.
A wide angle zoom lens is a great one to have in the bag for a variety of genres and scenarios, and for Fujifilm shooters who do not need an expensive f/2.8 option, there is the XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR lens. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
A 35mm lens with a wide aperture has long been one of the most popular options for both photography and filmmaking, offering a wide but relatively neutral focal length that can cover everything from portraits to landscapes. There are a lot of 35mm lenses available to choose from, and this excellent video review takes a look at one of the most affordable options, the Viltrox 35mm f/1.8 AF.
The results from the last photo critique are in!
For the next live critique, we want to see your favorite animal photos.
Metering and exposure are uneasy companions. Although they seem to work well together on the surface, the metering can trick you into exposing badly. Here are some experiments showing you how to take control of exposure and use it creatively, especially in aperture priority mode.
The capabilities of modern cameras have absolutely exploded in recent years, and a new camera can tackle just about anything you can throw at it. There is a downside to that, though. Has the modern digital camera made photography too easy? This interesting video essay discusses the issue and what we can do about it.
So, you’ve got two or more internet sources and you want to combine them to create one faster, more reliable connection? Here’s how to do it.
There is a love-hate relationship when it comes to the rule of thirds. Some love it, others resent it. It is said to kill creativity, but it can help you get a more attractive image. I believe we often use the rule of thirds the wrong way.
There's little worse in photography than getting home, loading your shots onto your computer, and seeing that they don't have the impact you were hoping for. In this video, Aaron Nace of PHLEARN walks you through a workflow that might help with that.
Photoshop allows you to take an image and put numerous creative spins on it, and it can be a wonderful way to expand your portfolio and find your unique creative voice. One great way to add a bit more visual interest to a photo is to overlay a texture on it, and this excellent video tutorial will show you how to quickly and easily do so using Photoshop.
With the release of the Z 9, Nikon ensured that the race for best full frame mirrorless camera was a three-horse race between them, Canon, and Sony. This great video takes a look at the Z 9 in the field and how well it tackles a tricky subject, birds in flight.
Hey, camera manufacturers! Stop lying to us.
Adding a bit of motion to a portrait can completely change it, making it a dynamic image that encourages the viewer to look more closely and imagine what story it is trying to tell. One way to add motion is to introduce a breeze, and this great video tutorial will show you three ways to do that as well as how to work with the results.
Like it or not, Canon is one of the most dominant forces in the camera industry, and their bodies and lenses can be found in the hands of countless professionals and hobbyists. Of course, that does not mean the company is infallible, however. This interesting video discusses the good and bad of Canon cameras and what they can do to be even better in the future.
Cities and architecture have, besides landscapes, always been my favorite subjects to photograph. Moreover, they provide the perfect balance during my travels. If the conditions are not ideal for landscape photography, I can usually find something to photograph in a city. And in this article, I share techniques I apply to come away with great results.
Hot on the heels of the head of Instagram's post about the future of the social media service are some takes about what this means for photographers.
In the last few years, we have seen tremendous steps forward in the realm of automated sky replacement, and a task that used to be rather tedious and time-consuming is often a one-click operation. It is not always perfect, though, and trickier situations can sometimes throw off even the best software. This helpful video tutorial will show you a clever workaround for dealing with a difficult night sky replacement that will save you a lot of time over manual editing.
Why would you even consider shooting under the hard and harsh light of midday? Here are some reasons that you should consider it and how you can pull it off.
There may not be any firm answers. But, there are a few things to consider when considering a career in photography.
While 85mm lenses are generally the classic choice of focal length for portraiture, 135mm lenses are a popular second choice that offer a different look and a bit more compression than their shorter cousins. If you are looking for one of your own, check out this fantastic video comparison that looks at four options: the Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE, Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM, Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art, and Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8.
Mountains have always made for a wonderful subject, adding drama and grandeur to any image they grace with their presence. On the other hand, it is not as simple as dropping them in the frame and pressing the shutter. This helpful video tutorial will show you three tips for creating compelling mountain image compositions.
The early 2000s were a golden age for digital cameras. Companies like Olympus, Nikon, Sony, Canon, Ricoh, and others seemed to release an endless stream of unique, quirky, and often excellent cameras. I was lucky to work at a large camera store at the time, and almost every day, I remember unboxing some new gadget that was pushing the boundaries of design and resolution. The most fun days were when a new DSLR arrived.
Have you ever wondered what’s in the mind of a wedding filmmaker? How do bits of footage turn out to be a moving film that tells the couple’s story?
As the world slowly opens back up, it's time to consider photography conventions as a means to link back up with like-minded photographers. Postponed last year in the shadow of COVID-19, HOWL, A Wildlife Photo Convention is back. Even if you don't live close to Whitney, Ontario, the gateway to Algonquin, you can still attend virtually. HOWL is running October 21, 22, and 23, 2022.
Picfair's new Urban Wildlife Photography Awards has released its funniest submissions to date. If you need a smile or a laugh (and who doesn't these days), take a look.
Having the sun in your shot while shooting landscapes during the sunrise or sunset contributes a lot to the impact of your photos. But how do you deal with unwanted spots and flare?
A good panoramic image can be a real showstopper that catches the viewer's eye and encourages them to get closer and examine every detail. There are some considerations and techniques you have to know before you create one, however. This excellent video tutorial will show you a few different ways to create panoramic photos as well as what you should be aware of while doing so.
The electronic viewfinder is one of the greatest advantages of mirrorless cameras, offering the ability to preview your exposure in real-time, leaving behind the days of miscalculated shots. However, as this informative video details, it can easily mislead you and cause you to mess up important photos.
There is a saying that zoom lenses can make you a lazy photographer. And that might be true if you use them the wrong way.
A 35mm lens with a wide maximum aperture is a classic choice for a wide range of applications. With a wide but still mostly neutral focal length and lots of light-gathering and subject-isolating power, it is equally at home in the studio, at a wedding, or on the street. For Sony shooters, the top option is the FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, and this excellent video review takes a long-term look at the lens and how its price, performance, and image quality stand up to other options.
24-70mm f/2.8 lenses are the workhorses of choice for a lot of photographers and filmmakers, as they cover a range of the most commonly needed focal lengths and pair them with a wide maximum aperture, making for a versatile combo. However, such lenses are rarely cheap. The Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN makes a few smart compromises to bring its price way down, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
There are a lot of pitfalls that can cause blurry landscape photos, some obvious and some a bit more subtle. This excellent video tutorial discusses some easily missed causes of blurry landscape photos and what you can do to fix them or avoid them in the first place.
Fujifilm is widely considered the king of film simulations and for good reason. Anyone who has owned a Fuji camera over the past decade appreciates the variety of excellent film recipes that can be created in camera and no doubt has their own go-to simulations they love to use. But is there a better way to give your photos a vintage look? In this review of Dehancer Film Emulator, we will find out.
The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens was widely respected for being a versatile hidden gem in the company's offerings, bringing with it 1:1 macro performance, some of the best image stabilization in any lens, and, of course, extremely sharp images. The RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is its successor, and it brings with it some worthwhile improvements, most notable being its increased magnification. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it.
One of the most useful accessories any photographer can have is a tripod, suitable for anything from allowing you to get sharp images at longer exposures or to take some of the weight and strain off your neck and back. There are a ton of options out there, however, and if you are wondering which one is right for you, check out this awesome video that will give you five tips for choosing the correct option.
Premiere Pro templates are one of the few quick solutions that can help elevate your video production. Graphics, text, typography, and animations can help you illustrate your points far more effectively. Unfortunately, trying to get all of those elements into your video, especially if creating them from scratch in a software like After Effects, can be expensive or time-consuming. A company called Videvo has a great solution.
It used to be that if you wanted to change the color of an object, you generally needed to jump into Photoshop to do it effectively. However, Lightroom has gained some quite advanced features in the last few years, and it is now possible to convincingly change the color of many objects without having to resort to Photoshop. This great video tutorial will show you everything you need to know to do it.
Photography studios can be very profitable if you create them the right way. Photography studios can earn you $100K in medium markets and up to $200K+ in some of the larger markets. In addition to photographers renting the studio, there are other alternative methods to booking your studio day and night. There are workshops, yoga classes, private dinners, and even YouTubers needing a space regularly.
Editing video can be a very time-consuming task, and any spot where you can save even just a few seconds can add up to big gains overall. This helpful video tutorial discusses 10 tips that will speed up your editing process and leave you more time for other things.
Hopefully, these videos help readers de-stress, and maybe you’ll learn something new along the way.
High-quality zoom lenses are expensive, usually running over $2,000, and as such, most of us are always looking to get more mileage out of what we already own. The thought of doubling your zoom's reach with an affordable 2x teleconverter is definitely appealing, but will it work in practice? This great video review takes a look at the situation for Sony shooters.