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Leica M11-D: A Love Letter to Analog

Photography has always been about capturing moments, but with the Leica M11-D, it’s also about rediscovering the art of simplicity. Leica’s M-series cameras are widely known for their timeless elegance and exceptional craftsmanship, and the M11-D takes this philosophy a step further.

Artra Lab NOCTY-NONIKKOR 50mm f/1.2: A Retro-Inspired Manual Lens for Bokeh Lovers

Manual focus lenses are seeing a resurgence, combining vintage aesthetics with modern optical designs. The Artra Lab NOCTY-NONIKKOR 50mm f/1.2 fits into this trend, delivering a fully manual experience while embracing the style and charm of classic lenses. With a fast f/1.2 aperture and all-metal build, it promises to appeal to those who value craftsmanship and creative control.

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Your Best Images of 2024
Critique the Community

Your Best Images of 2024

Enter Your Best Photos from 2024

For the final photography contest of the year, we want to see your best images taken in 2024! There isn't going to be a specific genre for our December contest so anything goes as long as it's one of your favorite or most successful images of the year.

Submission Deadline:
December 30th 2024 - 11:45am
Practical Cropping Techniques for Better Composition

Cropping is one of the simplest yet most impactful editing tools you can use. It helps you refine composition, isolate details, and tell a better story with your images. Knowing how and when to crop can make a significant difference in how your final images are perceived.

How to Create Stunning Wine Bottle Photos: Step-by-Step Techniques

Lighting is critical when photographing products, perhaps nowhere more evident than working with a wine bottle. It’s about creating a striking rim light, illuminating the label, and managing reflections, and this helpful video tutorial will show you how.

The Hasselblad 907X: A Blend of Retro Charm and Modern Performance

The Hasselblad 907X with its CFV II digital back combines retro aesthetics with cutting-edge features, making it a dream for many photography enthusiasts. With a modular design and a 100-megapixel medium format sensor, it offers a unique shooting experience that stands apart from most modern cameras. But at a high price for the setup, it’s worth asking whether the investment matches the promise.

Stop Avoiding High ISO and Start Using It to Your Advantage

You’ve probably heard the advice to always shoot at the lowest ISO possible. While this might seem like solid advice, sticking to it rigidly can be one of the biggest reasons your photos don’t turn out as expected.

Making Film Development Accessible: Kyle McDougall on the AGO Processor

Film has made a bold comeback, grabbing the attention of a new generation of photographers. Imagine being able to develop your film at home. That's possible with the AGO Film Processor.

Kyle McDougall reviews the AGO Film Processor, an at-home film processor that uses standard Patterson tanks. These tanks attach and run horizontally, providing continuous agitation. It does have a unique feature. He highlights a few of the processor’s key features: it uses fewer chemicals. A two-reel tank typically takes 500 milliliters, whereas the processor uses...

Did Adobe Steal Your Photos to Train Their AI? We Asked Them in Person.

This past year, Adobe rolled out a terms-of-use update that shook the creative community. The way this update was worded made it appear as though you were giving them complete rights to your artwork just by using their services in any way. Users were rightfully scared, and the pitchforks came out. There have been some updates to the situation, and I recently went to Adobe MAX to speak with them directly.

Simple Tips for Tack-Sharp Landscape Images

Landscape photography demands precision, especially when it comes to focus. Getting the entire frame sharp, from the foreground to the background, depends on knowing where to place your focus and how to adjust for your scene.

Creative Landscape Photography Techniques for Iconic Locations

Landscape photography often challenges you to adapt, experiment, and make the most of fleeting light and dynamic conditions. This helpful video showcases practical strategies for improving your compositions and embracing unpredictable environments.

2024’s Top Laptops

With 2024 coming to a close, now is the perfect time to explore the best laptops of the year. Whether you’re looking for a reliable everyday machine or a powerhouse for creative work, the right choice depends on your needs and budget.

Terramaster F8 Plus SSD NAS: The Future of Affordable Storage?

I’ve always been interested in setting up my very own NAS server. There are many uses and advantages of a dedicated NAS server as opposed to standalone hard drives. A NAS is not a cheap investment, but TerraMaster aims to change that with their new F8 Plus SSD NAS.

Full Frame vs. Micro Four Thirds: A Practical Landscape Comparison

Choosing the right camera for landscape photography often comes down to balancing image quality, portability, and usability. Full frame and Micro Four Thirds systems both have their strengths, but how do they hold up in real-world shooting conditions? This comparison puts two Panasonic cameras—a 47-megapixel S1R and a 20-megapixel GX9—through their paces to see how they fare.

Using Lightroom Masks to Create Custom Vignettes

Custom vignetting can subtly improve your images, drawing attention to your subject in a way that looks natural and intentional. Instead of relying on preset sliders, creating custom vignettes in Lightroom lets you control exactly how light and shadow interact with your composition.

The Creative Power of Aperture Settings

Aperture settings are one of the most versatile tools in photography, offering both technical and creative possibilities. Understanding how aperture impacts exposure and depth of field is crucial to unlocking its full potential.

Is JPEG the Future of Photography? The Results Are Incredible

As photographers, one of the first things we learn is that we should always shoot in raw. This gives us the most flexibility and data to work with in editing, with the drawback being large file sizes that have gotten even larger over the years. What if you could have all the flexibility of a raw file at ten percent of the file size?

Is the Sirui Aurora 85mm f/1.4 the Budget Portrait Lens You Need?

The Sirui Aurora 85mm f/1.4 has been turning heads for being such an affordable full frame autofocus portrait lens. With a sub-$500 early bird price and an included filter set, it’s positioned as a budget-friendly option for those looking for versatility without breaking the bank.

Essential Tips to Frame and Compose Better Portraits

Portrait photography demands a thoughtful approach to composition, not just for aesthetic appeal but also to ensure your images are technically sound and emotionally impactful. Whether you’re shooting headshots, full-body portraits, or mid-body images, understanding how to frame your subject is key.

Packing Your Camera Bag: 8 Bits of Gear to Help Get Great Photos

Whenever I pack my camera bag at the last minute for a shoot, I inevitably forget something. Whether that's a specific lens or sometimes even batteries or a memory card, it's always best to prepare. This video from Canadian photographer Justin Laurens shows you how to do just that.

Mastering Light and Composition in Outdoor Portraits

Portrait photography in natural settings can teach you a lot about controlling light, managing backgrounds, and focusing attention on your subject. A dynamic environment, like a field of Japan’s red spider lilies, pushes these skills to their limit while offering rewarding results for those who know how to work the scene.

Practical Tips for Simplifying Your Landscape Photography

Landscape photography challenges you to simplify complex scenes and find compelling compositions in nature. Whether you’re capturing vast skies, intimate foreground details, or isolated structures, understanding light, framing, and how to use natural elements to tell a story is critical.

The Mindset for a Thriving Photography Business

Starting a photography career can feel like staring at a mountain you’re not sure how to climb. It’s especially tough if you’re navigating this journey alone, without mentors or clear guidance. But getting the basics right—mindset, focus, and a professional attitude—can pave the way to success.

Is This the Best Budget Portrait Lens?

Whether you’re looking for sharpness, smooth bokeh, or reliable autofocus, the Sirui Aurora 85mm f/1.4 competes well with much more expensive lenses.

Common Mistakes That Could Be Holding You Back

Have you ever been in a great location, camera in hand, only to find your shots feel flat? Sometimes, it seems like others can take the same scene and make magic while you’re left wondering what you missed. If this sounds familiar, you might be making a few common mistakes that limit your creativity.

The Key to Memorable Photos: It’s Not What You Think

If you’ve ever scrolled through a gallery of images online and struggled to remember a single one, you’re not alone. Many pictures, while technically flawless, fail to stand out because they lack a deep connection to the subject.Mastering the technical side is important, but knowing your subject can elevate your work from forgettable to exceptional.

Prime vs. Zoom Lenses: How Much Does Image Quality Really Differ?

The debate between prime and zoom lenses is a common one. Prime lenses offer fixed focal lengths and are prized for sharpness and contrast, while zoom lenses provide versatility and convenience at the expense of some image quality. The real question is: how noticeable is the difference in real-world use?

Editing Techniques for a More Polished Look

Photo editing can transform a good image into a great one, but knowing where to start can be overwhelming. This guide explores essential editing techniques to refine your photos while keeping them natural and engaging.

Where Is The Best Focus Point in a Landscape Photo?

Focusing in landscape photography is often trickier than you might think. As with many things, there are more ways than one to achieve the desired result. The best way is also determined by personal preferences. This guide will help you make the best choice.

Compact, Versatile, and Sturdy: A Closer Look at K&F’s Mini Tripod

Macro and detail-focused photography often requires equipment that lets you get low to the ground while maintaining stability. The K&F Concept Mini Desktop Tripod aims to provide portability, flexibility, and durability for photographers seeking precise framing in challenging setups.

Crafting Your Photography Portfolio: How to Attract the Right Clients

Creating a portfolio that speaks to the clients you want is one of the most critical steps in growing your photography career. It’s not just about showcasing your best work—it’s about showing the kind of work you want to do and aligning your style with potential clients’ needs.

Will AI Help You Become More Creative?

We all want to improve our photography and create amazing images, right? We want to become more creative. Should we use technology to help us? Can it help us? I have some thoughts.

Profoto Announces the Pro-B3: A Portable Powerhouse for On-Location Photography

Profoto has introduced the Pro-B3, a 750 Ws battery-powered flash aimed at professional photographers who often work in demanding outdoor environments. With rugged construction and high-performance features, the Pro-B3 is designed to meet the needs of action and extreme sports photographers seeking reliability and creative freedom.

Kate Winslet on Using Lee Miller's Rolleiflex

How many times have you watched a film about a photographer where the actor clearly has no idea how to use a camera? It's an unforgivable mistake, and one Kate Winslet was sure not to make in her new film, Lee, about the photojournalist Lee Miller.