The future of photography. Are we photographers in danger of being replaced, or is this just another fad due to pass us by? Who owns the digital rights? How much of a photograph that's generated by AI still belongs to the original artist, or does it belong to no one?
We all want to take better photos. There are countless ways of learning how to do that. Attending courses and workshops, watching YouTube videos, and reading books and articles such as this are traditional approaches. But there is one unexpected way too: embracing bad photography.
The new Nikon Z8 mirrorless camera has generated the most buzz of any camera in a while, as it brings with it most of the features and capabilities of the powerful Z9 in a more portable and affordable package. Just how impressive is the Z8? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you will be able to expect from it.
One of the trickiest and most frustrating aspects of landscape photography is that you do not get any control over the conditions, and when the weather refuses to cooperate and you get boring skies, it can be challenging to create worthwhile photos. Challenging does not mean impossible, though. If you know how to work with it, a dull sky can still give you great images. This helpful video tutorial will show you how to do just that.
Cinematographer Markus Mentzer offers advice for shooting on a fast-paced set, like Netflix’s “I Think You Should Leave.”
Attention, all pet-loving shutterbugs! If you're a studio portrait photographer with a passion for pup photography, then you've come to the right place. We're about to let you in on a little secret that will have those furry friends wagging their tails with joy during your next pet portrait session. That secret? It's all about the right tools. So, grab your camera and let's dive into the world of pet-tastic props!
The new Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens offers an extremely versatile focal length at a very reasonable price, making it an attractive option for wide range of applications, particularly sports and wildlife photography. Is it right for you? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you will be able to expect from it in practice.
In a recently emerging search for the perfect vertical shooting tool, many brands have offered tools for better efficiency and stability. Nisi’s take on the rotating camera bracket might have some unique features to offer.
Understanding lighting is crucial to becoming a successful portrait photographer, and few do it as well as Lindsay Adler. In this helpful video tutorial, Adler breaks down one of her most useful lighting setups and shows you how you can recreate it and customize it to your exact needs.
While camera bodies get most of the hype when it comes to technological advancements, modern lenses are no slouches. It takes a lot of careful design, engineering, and manufacturing to fit a bevy of electronics, glass, and motors to create la ens that is merely functional, let alone one that reliably produces high-quality images. What all goes into a modern lens? This neat video takes apart a Canon RF lens to show you what is inside.
Macro photography can be a tremendously rewarding pursuit that allows you to see a world that is all around us and yet, invisible to the naked eye. If you are new to the genre and wondering how to get started, check out this helpful video tutorial that features an experienced macro photographer sharing everything you need to know to get underway in just 10 minutes.
Nikon has released some incredible lenses for wildlife photographers and birders over the last couple of years, and the new 180-600mm Z f/5.6-6.3 VR looks to be another one to add to the list. Just like the Sony 200-600mm G Lens, this lens has a short throw and internal zoom, which are huge benefits when compared to Sigma and Tamron. This brilliant video from Jan Wegener discusses the performance of the lens and image quality you can expect.
“It's not AI that will take your job; it’s someone who’s using AI who will.” Narrative Select is the fastest-growing photo-culling software. Until now, it’s only been available to Mac users. That is about to change, as it becomes available to even more photographers.
If you're an animal lover with pets, you'll know how hard losing a beloved furry member of your family can be. To some, they are like our children and they are a massive part of our lives for many years. Sadly, I lost two dogs due to old age in quick succession, and I was asked reluctantly to capture some last portraits of them before they crossed the rainbow bridge.
Fujifilm makes some fantastic cameras, with the X-T5 and GFX 100S sitting at the top of their APS-C and medium format lines, respectively. So, which is right for you? This helpful video comparison takes a look at both to help you choose the camera for you.
Modern cameras are rather intricate machines with a bevy of features and settings, and as such, it is worth getting to know your camera well so you are not unpleasantly surprised by a setting that derails your ability to get the shot you want. This helpful video tutorial discusses seven fundamental settings you should consider changing to ensure you have the best chances of getting the photos you want.
The L mount has opened up certain Leica lenses to many photographers and filmmakers, promising the company's legendary image quality in a variety of options. One such lens is the Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3, which offers a versatile focal length for a wide range of applications, such as wildlife and sports photography. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.
Wedding photography burnout is real. For nine years, weddings consumed my life, documenting every bouquet toss and first kiss. I was burnt out and needed to make a drastic shift.
Things don't always go as planned during photoshoots. Here are five questions to ask yourself when trying to overcome a creative challenge.
I've taken a look at some earlier iterations of Astro Panel over the years, a plug-in designed for automating and enhancing both astrophotography and landscape photos. I found it a powerful addition to my editing arsenal, and it was easy to use but could do some very sophisticated editing. This new version from photographer Angelo Perrone adds more than 80 new astrophotography and landscape functions, as well as some features to support portrait editing.
Highlighting the remarkably diverse and radical practice of Carrie Mae Weems, this survey brings together an outstanding selection of photographic series, films, and installations spanning over three decades, many of which have never been seen before in the UK.
Coming from the land of "why has no one thought of this before," ON1's latest release, Photo Keyword AI, promises to make organizing your photo far easier and more efficient. It looks awfully nifty, and for anyone who has a large catalog of photos in Lightroom that they need to navigate, it could be an indispensable tool. This great video will show you the tool and how to use it to organize and search your images.
Camera manufacturers excel at tempting us to buy their latest gear, teasing us with headline features like faster autofocus. These are the features that generate a buzz about new gear and get names on pre-order lists, but this video suggests they could also encourage us to buy cameras for the wrong reasons.
For Android users, the new Google Pixel tablet offers a lot of performance in addition to some innovative features, making it an intriguing option for photographers and filmmakers looking for a light but capable solution for working on the go. This excellent video review takes a look at the new tablet and the sort of performance you can expect from it for creative tasks.
For those in search of an affordable and versatile solution for your telephoto needs in the Nikon Z system, it may be time to rejoice.
Geared tripod heads offer precision and efficiency for various kinds of photography workflows. However, they often come with bigger price tags. Let’s see if this fairly affordable one from Benro is worth a look.
Of all the techniques, philosophies, and approaches that go into making a successful landscape image, perhaps nothing gives new and experienced photographers alike more trouble than composition. If you find yourself often struggling with composition, check out this fantastic video that offers a useful approach to get you on the right track in no time.
In today's fast-paced and digitized world, finding solace and maintaining good mental health has become crucial. There are many ways one can find an escape from it all, and one of those is the powerful ally of photography. Beyond being a mere hobby or artistic expression, photography can have numerous benefits for mental well-being. Engaging with photography can have a positive impact on a person's state of mind, providing them with a creative outlet, promoting mindfulness, fostering self-expression, and connecting them with their surroundings.
Ben Moore, Nikon Europe Creator, is an urban architectural photographer who understands the grind. His passion and tenacity for pushing himself have led to a career of stunning image creation.
Micro four thirds is enjoying a bit of resurgence right now, with its lighter and smaller size, lower cost, and array of excellent lenses making it a fantastic choice for a wide number of genres and applications. Is it the ideal system for street photography? This great video makes a case for why that might be so.
Finding success as a photographer requires a complex multitude of factors, but regardless of your ultimate goal in the craft or the specific genre in which you are interested, there are some universal truths every budding creative should be aware of. This helpful video essay discusses three common reasons why budding photographers fail to find success.
Tamron has become one of the most impressive manufacturers in the photo industry in recent years, creating an array of lenses that offers both practical and affordable designs and that push the boundaries of traditional capabilities. The 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD falls into the former category, offering Fujifilm and Sony shooters an affordable ultra-wide angle f/2.8 zoom, making it appealing for a wide range of applications. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in use.
Small scenes landscape photography: the practice of photographing the little details within the grander scene. Is it simply a genre that some landscape photographers gravitate towards? Or is it the natural evolution of a seasoned landscape photographer?
Bright and sunny skies, or bluebird skies, as some call them, are the bane of landscape photographers. Or are they? We’ve all been taught to seek out the “good” light of golden hour or dramatic skies. This video talks about how to walk away with great images even on those sunny, cloudless days.
In my previous article, we talked about the technique and tips for performing focus stacking for e-commerce shoots. In this article, we will further expand into discussing the advantages of using focus stacking techniques, apart from the obvious reasons of getting the entire product to be in focus. There are a few more logical reasons and advantages behind focus stacking.
The Fujifilm X-S20 is the latest entry in the company's highly respected X Series line of mirrorless camera, and it offers a nice balance of price and features, making it a reasonable option for a wide array of photographers and filmmakers. This excellent video review takes a look at the new camera and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in usage.
No doubt, photography is not a cheap hobby, and the camera gear hype machine is designed to make you continually reach for your credit card to buy the latest and greatest gadget, camera, or lens. Whether you are a new photographer or a seasoned veteran, though, it is important to remember that a compelling image is not made by a great camera, it is made by a great photographer, as this insightful video essay demonstrates.
In the world of photography today, it is pretty common that the relationship between creative concept and photography skill is intertwined and very much expected from a photographer. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into this discussion between these two relationships to see how photographers can unleash their artistic potential and bring their work to the next level and how one skill affects the other skill. Everything from the spark of inspiration from the basis of creative concepts to the technical skills required for project execution will be discussed in hopes of achieving balance between creativity and technical skill to push a photographer’s work to a greater height.
One of the best things you can do as a new photographer is to take your camera out of automatic mode and begin learning how to control it manually. This can be a bit daunting, but once you get the hang of it, you will b glad you made the leap. This helpful video tutorial will get you started on the right foot with using your camera's manual mode.
Have you ever tried to sell a vehicle that was a little past its prime? It may not have a lot going for it, but using the “car roller” technique could make that vehicle look as awesome as the day it rolled off the lot.
If you've been running your photography business for any amount of time, you have quickly discovered that being successful requires you to spend an inordinate amount of time doing things that have nothing to do with a camera. Things you probably loathe. Suddenly, you find yourself needing to acquire skills in accounting, web development, project management, copywriting, contract writing, and countless other fields. A newcomer has entered the CRM space: Bloom IO, and they are on a mission to alleviate many of these burdens, allowing you to focus on what you truly enjoy.
When you become a professional photographers, you can take one of two general paths: a specialist with a focused approach to a single genre and/or style, or a jack of all trades who can competently tackle a wide variety of jobs, if not quite at the level of a specialist in each area. So, which is right for you? This helpful video essay features an experienced commercial photographer discussing the pros and cons of both approaches to help you decide.
Lightroom can be a sneakily intricate program, and it is not always obvious how to accomplish something you want. Whether you are still learning the program or a seasoned veteran, this helpful video tutorial discusses five common issues with not-so-obvious solutions that will make your life and workflow a little easier.
Landscape photography is largely dictated by the weather you experience out in the field. Many times, we don't get the conditions we hoped for, which can be especially challenging after investing time and money into a photography trip. These are five things you can do the next time you're in unfavorable conditions to walk away with great images regardless of the weather.
Generally, you shoot a portrait with either continuous lights or a flash, but not both. What happens when you mix them, though? You enable some pretty incredible creative possibilities. Check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you how to shoot an eye-catching portrait using a mixture of continuous lights and flash.
In the never-ending debate (or is it ever-evolving?) about what makes the best street camera, here's an intriguing suggestion that's worth a look.
Most people don't understand what all the fuss is about when they see a Platypod for the first time. If I showed it to my mom, she'd probably feign excitement in the way only a mom can. If you've ever used a Platypod, though, you know how powerful such a little piece of aluminum can be. You can use them for anything from travel and landscape to toy and food photography as a way to show your audience a new perspective on the world. You can even use them to mount flashes in obscure spots for portrait photographers. Okay, I'm a Platypod evangelist, but their company truly has changed the way I photograph.
