Flash vs. Continuous Lighting: Which is Right for You?

Photographers often debate whether to use flash or continuous lighting, and each option has a direct impact on the appearance and mood of your photographs, as well as affecting the convenience of your workflow.

10 Straightforward Tips for Improving Your Photography

Improving in photography means taking clear-eyed, practical advice seriously. Good photography demands more than just pressing a shutter—it requires honest self-assessment and the willingness to change habits.

Ocean Photographer on a Budget? Get the Joby Sea Pal

As a travel photographer who has spent years chasing waves across the globe, finding the right water housing has always been a challenge. I’ve lugged around massive setups like AquaTech’s housings, which offer great protection but take up a ridiculous amount of space and weight in my bag. When I discovered the Joby Sea Pal, I was skeptical—could a lightweight, budget-friendly water housing really meet the demands of professional ocean photography? After months of testing it in various conditions with my iPhone 11 Pro Max, I can confidently say: yes, it can.

Compact and Capable: A Review of the Canon EOS R50 V

Canon's EOS R50 V mirrorless camera targets video creators who prioritize compact designs with interchangeable lenses. For anyone looking to enhance video quality and flexibility, this camera offers features designed specifically to address common challenges faced when filming.

A Look at the New Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM Lens

Canon's latest addition to its lens lineup, the RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM lens, is designed specifically with both video and photo creators in mind. With a notably wide focal length and impressive low-light capabilities, it's worth a look.

How to Rescue Your Worst Photos in Lightroom

Bad photos happen to everyone. Exposure errors, white balance issues, and distracting backgrounds are common challenges, but knowing how to quickly rescue these mistakes can save valuable shots and improve your editing skills.

Turn Photoshop’s Overlooked Tools Into Masking Magic

The smudge and blur tools in Photoshop might seem unnecessary or even damaging at first glance. If you've ever tried using these tools, you've probably noticed they're slow, appear destructive, and generally seem to offer little practical benefit in your workflow.

Five Stages of Creativity

Photography is often misunderstood as merely a way to document reality, but in truth, it is an art form as complex and expressive as painting or sculpture. For me, photography is not just a technical process—it is a creative pursuit that requires both artistic vision and craftsmanship.

Master Manual Mode in One Day

If you're new to photography and trying to learn the foundational principles of subjects like exposure, shutter speed, aperture, or ISO, then this is the video for you. The best part is, unlike many other sources, you won't be alone in learning them!

Color Harmony Essentials: The Key to More Impactful Photography

Choosing the right colors for your shoots can be a significant challenge. Whether you're struggling with gel selection, backdrop choices, or combining colors without creating visual chaos, understanding color harmony is the solution that will transform your approach to creating images.

Layers in Lightroom: The Key to Dramatic Landscape Transformations

Image editing isn't just about adjusting contrast and saturation. The true power of photo editing lies in understanding how to work with layers in your composition. When you approach your landscape photos as distinct zones that need individual attention, you can transform ordinary scenes into extraordinary images.

The Best Camera/Lens For Wildlife Photography Today

I've been a professional photographer for 23 years and I've never been interested in or attempted wildlife photography. All that changed when Sony sent over the a9 III and their brand-new FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Lens. This gear, and this genre of photography has renewed my love for photography, but it's also got me worried.

Hard Light Photography Tips for Wedding and Portrait Photographers

Most photographers are taught early on that soft light is the go-to for portraits, and hard light should be avoided whenever possible. But the truth is, the “best” lighting for a photo always depends on what the photographer wants to create.

Photography Wisdom: 10 Crucial Lessons From 10 Years of Shooting

Photography is both an art and a skill that takes years to master, yet the journey itself offers invaluable insights. The technical aspects matter far less than developing your creative vision and overcoming the psychological barriers that prevent you from capturing exceptional images.

The Power of Targeted Color Adjustments

Color manipulation can make or break your image editing process. The ability to target specific colors in particular areas of your image provides creative control that basic sliders simply can't match.

A New Approach to Waterfall Photography

Long exposure waterfall photography doesn't always require the heaviest ND filter in your bag. The conventional wisdom of using 10-stop filters for those silky-smooth water effects might be due for reconsideration.

Adobe's Three Lightroom Programs: Which One Is Right for You?

Photography editing software can dramatically impact your workflow and final results. Understanding the differences between Adobe's three distinct Lightroom programs helps you choose the right tool for your specific needs, whether you're shooting in a professional studio or editing on the go.

Finding Inspiration in Landscape Photography

In landscape photography, inspiration can come from many sources. Over the years, I’ve found that studying the work of other photographers—whether through social media, books, or in-person interactions—has been invaluable in refining my own style. But rather than passively consuming images, I approach them critically, dissecting what makes an image stand out and how I can apply similar principles in my own way.

AI in Movies: Tool or Threat?

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the filmmaking landscape, prompting both optimism and significant concern. Its growing presence raises important questions about creativity, authenticity, and the future of filmmaking jobs.

Insta360 Ace Pro 2 Just Got a Lot Better

Insta360 has introduced a new set of accessories designed to enhance the Ace Pro 2. If you already own this 8K AI-powered action camera, the Xplorer Bundle offers an upgraded shooting experience. Featuring a dark gray Xplorer Grip Kit, co-developed with Tilta, this bundle is optimized for street photography, travel, and urban exploration. With a sleek modern look and vintage-inspired design, it refines both the functionality and protection for your Ace Pro 2.

Auto ISO: How Much Control Are You Giving Up?

Auto ISO is often misunderstood—especially when photographers claim they're shooting in manual while still using auto ISO. Understanding this difference affects the level of control you have over your images and the creative choices you're making behind the camera.

Canon vs. Sony: Which Has the Better Stabilization?

Camera stabilization directly affects the quality of handheld video footage and images, especially when using telephoto lenses. For videographers and photographers who rely heavily on shooting without a tripod, the effectiveness of built-in camera stabilization is essential.

The Canon RF 24mm f/1.4: Powerful Wide Angle Performance

Canon has released their new RF 24mm f/1.4 L VCM lens, a wide angle prime lens designed specifically for the mirrorless EOS R system. For photographers who appreciate dramatic, wide perspectives and low-light shooting capabilities, this is an exciting lens worth your attention.

How to Use a Variable ND Filter for Photography

VND filters don’t work the same way as typical ND filters, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be used for photography and long exposure. Let’s take a deep dive into how they work and how you can use them.

Simplify Your Workflow with Lightroom's AI Denoise

Noise has always been a balancing act between image quality and ISO settings. Adobe's recent update to Lightroom introduces a feature that changes how you'll handle this trade-off, making it far easier to capture sharp images in low-light conditions without sacrificing detail.

Master Your Lightroom Workflow on iPad

Editing photos professionally on an iPad is now practical, thanks to Lightroom's advanced capabilities. Here's how to streamline your workflow, allowing you to spend less time managing files and more time creating compelling images.

A Simple Finger Trick to Help You Spot Great Photos

Have you ever struggled to find your composition when out practicing landscape photography? Maybe you arrive and aren’t finding inspiration from the scene, and nothing stands out to you. Or maybe the scene is overwhelming with possibilities. This simple exercise can help you find a scene.

The Godox V100 Flash: Upgraded Features Worth Your Attention

The Godox V100 is here, and it's making waves with a noticeable leap in build quality and usability. For anyone regularly relying on flash photography, finding the right gear that balances power, consistency, and reliability is crucial, and the V100 could be just what you need.

Creative Use of Clipping for Dramatic Landscape Images

Creating dramatic lighting in landscape photography often involves taking risks with exposure. Allowing highlights to clip intentionally, for example, can dramatically alter the mood and visual interest of your images.

Avoid This Scam That Preys on Photographers

If you’re a photographer selling your services or your work, either full-time or even as a side hustle, there’s an active scam going around right now that you definitely need to be aware of. The good news is that it’s easy to protect yourself against it if you know how it works.

How to Capture Stunning Spring Flower Photos

Spring flowers offer endless opportunities for creating beautiful photographs, but capturing them well takes more than just pointing and shooting. Knowing how to approach composition, lighting, and equipment makes all the difference in elevating simple flower snapshots into striking images worth showcasing.

The Creative Benefits of Shooting With a Single Lens

Using a single prime lens challenges your usual shooting habits and pushes your creativity in unexpected directions. By stripping away excess gear, you're forced into thinking differently about composition and approach, making this minimalist method uniquely valuable.

5 Common Reasons Your Travel Photos Aren't Sharp

Blurry travel photos are painful, especially when you’ve traveled far for rare moments. Knowing why your shots aren't sharp—and how to fix them—can make all the difference.

Dark and Dramatic Lightroom Editing for Landscape Photos

Creating dramatic, moody images that stand out is challenging, but mastering targeted editing techniques can significantly elevate your results. Lightroom offers powerful tools to shape a simple landscape scene into a striking image with depth and atmosphere.

Finding Your Own Path Beyond Photography Myths

Believing that you need specific equipment to be considered a real photographer can seriously limit your creativity. Social media and other platforms often push the idea that certain gear or methods define your credibility, but that's simply not true.

Three Serious Lessons for Artists From a Film About Laughter

The best part about creating personal projects is the opportunity to grow in a pressure-free environment. I just finished shooting such a project with a couple of friends, and the lessons I learned at “play” turned out to be the kind I’ll be sure to use in my work.

The Practical Guide to Shooting Raw vs. JPEG

Choosing between raw and JPEG can feel overwhelming if you're new to photography, but your decision significantly impacts the quality and usability of your wildlife photos. It’s crucial to understand the practical differences rather than focusing purely on technical specifications.