The way people shape the landscape reveals what they fear and value. In places like Southern California, where natural conditions are harsh, you can see clear signs of these priorities. Fireproof landscaping, seismic retrofits, and massive infrastructure projects that bring water and power to Los Angeles all tell a story of control, adaptation, and sometimes exclusion.

Lighting can make or break a shot, and sometimes, bouncing flash or relying on ambient light isn’t an option. Dark venues, black ceilings, and outdoor night scenes demand a different approach. Knowing how to use direct flash ensures you’re never stuck in a situation where poor lighting ruins your images.

The rejection of a Mill River High School student’s yearbook photo featuring a firearm has ignited debate over free speech and school safety policies. The controversy has drawn national attention, prompting discussions at school board meetings and online. Advocacy groups and legal experts have weighed in on the issue, raising questions about editorial control and students' rights.

I have been secretly switching lighting systems. In fact, I would struggle to pinpoint at which point my lights stopped being predominantly Profoto and became Briese. The point is, it happened, and I am not too sad about it. My light of choice has become the Briese Focus 77 reflector.

The way your subject dresses changes how an image feels and where the viewer’s eye goes. Bright colors, bold patterns, and high-contrast elements all compete for attention, sometimes pulling focus away from where you want it. Understanding how to control this effect can give you more control over your compositions.

Great autofocus performance isn’t just about pressing a button. While modern cameras are advanced, they still need your help to lock onto a subject quickly and accurately. Small tweaks in your shooting technique can dramatically improve your results, especially when tracking fast-moving subjects.

Every year, die-hard fans of the RX1R II ask if Sony will answer their prayers and release the Mark III. Is it finally going to happen?

Being a skilled photographer isn’t enough if no one sees your work. Talent alone won’t bring clients or make a living. If you want to turn photography into a business, you need marketing. Without it, even the best photos won’t generate income.

Seven Photoshop tools that were once essential are now facing competition from AI. The latest updates in Photoshop bring powerful automation, making once-manual processes significantly faster. But does AI truly make these classic tools obsolete, or do they still have a place in your workflow?

I’ve been practicing intentional camera movement occasionally for some years now. This technique, better known by its abbreviation, ICM, involves deliberately moving the camera during exposure. It turns out to be much more difficult than regular photography. You have to take movement into the equation.

I recently had the chance to use the Freefly Ember S2.5K, and at $25,000, this is hands down the most expensive camera I’ve ever worked with. But, surprisingly, for what it can do, I actually think it’s a bargain.

Great composition makes a photo compelling, guiding the viewer’s eye to what matters most. Strong images don’t happen by accident. The best photographers use contrast, color, and balance to create photos that hold attention and tell a story.

New camera gear can be exciting, but the novelty wears off fast. If you’ve ever bought something new only to feel uninspired after a few weeks, you’re not alone. Better photos don’t come from better gear; they come from better habits. Developing the right habits can improve your work more than any new camera or lens ever will.

Finding the right location can be the difference between frustration and incredible shots. Birds and wildlife follow predictable patterns, but if you don’t know where to look, you’ll miss out.

Have you ever had a brilliant photography idea but didn’t know where to start? Planning a photography project isn’t just about taking great pictures—it’s about crafting a vision, telling a story, and making your work unforgettable. If you’re ready to turn your creative spark into a masterpiece, this guide will show you how to bring it together with these eleven steps.

Photography sometimes requires us to embrace the apparent contradiction that life can be beautiful even when it isn’t pretty. This is something that Serbian-born photographer Boogie understands all too well and is reflected in his raw and unflinching photographic style.

Getting the right composition in challenging conditions takes patience, careful adjustments, and a willingness to experiment.

The misconception that you need every possible focal length to succeed is costing you thousands in unnecessary gear purchases. Building the perfect lens kit isn't about owning everything - it's about finding the focal lengths that define your unique creative vision.

If you want to improve your photography, experimenting with new techniques to achieve more creative and interesting results is the way to go. I did just that recently while out doing street photography by playing with a slow shutter speed while shooting handheld.

Netflix's recent docuseries, American Murder: Gabby Petito, has ignited debate due to its use of artificial intelligence to recreate Petito's voice. Approximately 21 minutes into the first episode, viewers are informed that her journal entries and text messages are presented using voice recreation technology. This method aims to narrate her story through her own words, offering a personal perspective on the events leading up to her tragic death, but many think the choice was disrespectful and in bad taste.

Canon has announced the PowerShot V1, a compact digital camera designed for vloggers and content creators, set to launch in late April 2025. The PowerShot V1 is the second entry in Canon’s V series, following the PowerShot V10 released in June 2023. It features a large 1.4-inch CMOS sensor, which is approximately twice the size of the common 1.0-inch sensors found in compact cameras, aiming to provide improved image quality and low-light performance.

Apple has introduced the iPhone 16e, expanding its iPhone 16 lineup with a more budget-friendly option. The iPhone 16e offers several features found in higher-end models, including the A18 chip, Apple Intelligence integration, and a 48 MP Fusion camera system. Preorders begin on February 21, with availability starting February 28.

The evolution of digital de-aging in films has transformed from crude experiments to sophisticated AI-driven techniques in less than two decades. What started with X-Men: The Last Stand in 2006 has become a powerful storytelling tool that allows actors to portray their characters across decades of life with unprecedented realism.

Lightroom's evolution over the past 18 years reveals just how far photo editing software has come since its original release.

Winter storms create unique opportunities for dramatic landscape shots that most never get to capture. The combination of rain, fog, and shifting weather patterns transforms familiar vistas into ethereal scenes, offering fresh perspectives on even the most photographed locations.

Crime films were once defined by mobsters, shootouts, and flashy action. Then Goodfellas changed everything. It introduced gangsters who obeyed their mothers, cracked jokes that made you uneasy, and self-destructed in their paranoia. More than three decades later, it still stands as a masterclass in visual storytelling.

Insta360 has released a new AI-powered 4K webcam with a host of intriguing functions. I’ve been running tests on it to see how it performs. Compared with others, it's good, but would you need the improvements I suggest?

What if you could control perspective distortion and focus with pinpoint accuracy at any aperture? Dive into the world of tilt/shift lenses and learn how pros use the Scheimpflug Principle to create stunning images.

We’ve all had that experience of eagerly opening what seemed like a promising image in Lightroom, only to be disappointed when we discover that it lacks a certain something. Here’s a short tutorial demonstrating the use of masks and tone curves in Lightroom to bring more impact to your images.

Making your subject stand out in an image can be as simple as adjusting light, contrast, or depth. The right edits guide the viewer’s eye without making the changes look obvious. When done correctly, these techniques enhance an image without feeling overprocessed.

Long exposure photography transforms water and sky into something almost surreal, turning movement into soft streaks and blurring away distractions. If you shoot seascapes, finding the right balance between exposure time, composition, and conditions can be the difference between a flat image and a striking one. When weather shifts quickly, adapting to those changes is just as important as camera settings.

Adobe's Photoshop software is so prevalent today that the name itself has morphed into a verb that refers to the process of editing an image in any given software. Over the years, Photoshop has acquired editing and AI-based features that weren't even dreamed of by the early adopters of the software. Most digital photographers cannot remember a time when the program didn't exist since its existence predates the widespread adoption of digital photography by almost a decade.

A lot of discussion focuses on how much photography is worth: how much you should charge for a photoshoot, how much you should sell your prints for, and so on. Value, however, relates to your judgment of what’s important in life. It’s different for everyone. So what’s the value of your photography?

Finding the right conditions for photographing forests can make or break an image. Fog, light, and composition all play a role in transforming a chaotic scene into something visually compelling. If you’ve ever struggled to create strong forest images, focusing on these elements can help.

Restoring underexposed files can seem like a challenge, but Lightroom has the tools to bring back lost detail without sacrificing quality. A properly exposed image captures more dynamic range, but when that’s not possible, knowing how to recover shadows without ruining the final result is essential.

Canon’s RF mirrorless system has been missing something important: affordable prime lenses for its APS-C cameras. The Sigma 23mm f/1.4 DC DN fills that gap, offering a bright, compact option for shooters looking for a standard wide angle prime.

Some people believe that photographers who share industry secrets do so because they can’t make enough money from photography alone. The argument is that no one running a successful business would willingly give away valuable knowledge unless they needed another income stream. That assumption ignores the reality of how knowledge, competition, and creativity actually work in the industry.

Travel tripods have been following a certain newer form factor in the past couple of years, but Manfrotto’s BeFree tripods are sticking to their staple design. Let’s see what’s new about these tripods.

The Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II lens is the brand’s new flagship standard zoom, offering a versatile focal range and bright aperture. If you need a workhorse lens for everything from landscapes to portraits, this could be worth a look.

Choosing the right profile before editing can change the way your image looks and how much control you have over the final result. Different profiles apply varying levels of contrast, saturation, and tonal adjustments, making them a critical first step in post-processing.

Adobe Camera Raw has a new feature that lets you remove people from your photos with just a few clicks.

When it comes to photography trips, I always make sure my dedicated camera bag is packed with everything I need to capture my next shot. My gear is safely stored, ready for quick action when the location and conditions allow. But something that often gets overlooked is the extra equipment—clothing, accessories, and other essentials for the journey.

The 16x9 aspect ratio is everywhere, from televisions to smartphones, but it’s rarely a first choice when composing still images. It’s an option on many cameras, yet most people either ignore it or only use it occasionally. There’s a reason to reconsider that.

The Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 XF lens is one of the most compact autofocus lenses you can get. It weighs next to nothing and turns your camera into something truly pocketable. But is it worth the $99 price tag? There are some trade-offs to consider, and some of them may be deal-breakers depending on how you shoot.

The stark contrast of winter between the white snow and dark skies brings out compositions that wouldn’t be possible in other seasons. If you’re drawn to clean, simple images, this kind of environment offers an opportunity to refine your eye and experiment with composition in new ways.

Half-frame cameras are seeing a burst in popularity. Here are six compelling reasons to add one to your arsenal.

It's easy to underestimate your own skills. You compare your work to others, feel stuck, or convince yourself you’re not improving. But there are clear signs that show you’re better than you think. Recognizing them can help build confidence and keep you moving forward.

Wedding photography requires more than just showing up with a camera. From securing bookings to planning for lighting conditions, every step before the wedding day impacts your results. The right preparation ensures a smooth experience, minimizes surprises, and helps you capture meaningful images.