When it comes to photography, your purpose can feel a little vague. While that may not necessarily be a problem, a little focus — if you'll excuse the pun — can push you forward and improve your work.
Mostly, photographers learn the camera settings and compositional techniques first. Those basics of photography are essential. But when we have mastered those, what do we do next?
For the first time in 15 years, it recently snowed where I live. I desperately wanted to take my drone out but was petrified it might get swept away in a blustery blizzard or die of hypothermia. I wish I'd known these five tips for flying drones in wintry weather beforehand.
Making a photo zine can be a great way to present a body of work or, alternatively, re-contextualize a series of images which may exist elsewhere, such as on your website.
While the craft is the same, the professional life of a female photographer is often different than that of a male photographer, whether it is in the way clients work with them, the interactions they deal with on social media, or the expectations of their abilities. This great video interview sits down with a female photographer, Arfa Khatri, and discusses some of her experiences, difficulties, and the struggles she faces in her day-to-day life as a professional creative.
One of the first techniques every new photographer loves to try is the long exposure. Long exposures can improve image quality by helping to reduce noise, and they can be a wonderfully powerful creative tool that can entirely change the look of an image. If you are new to photography and wondering how to get started with long exposures, check out this great video tutorial that will get you up and running in no time.
There are times when achieving a balanced exposure across your entire image is ideal, ensuring that you don't lose the details in your shadows and highlights. But, some of the most interesting images do not follow that rule whatsoever, and you should try shooting that way too.
While I'm not fond of using AI to replace the creative process, I think it is incredibly helpful in enhancing image quality. With the right AI tools, you can rescue photos that may have been unusable otherwise. Topaz Photo AI is such a tool, and in this article, we look at its capabilities, limitations, and ways to get the best results.
There are myriad ways you can light your subject in portraiture, and whether you're jaded by your go-to setup, or overwhelmed as to where to start, this video can help you add some more styles to your arsenal.
Sigma's latest entry in the highly popular Art series, the 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art, is here, and it brings with it an impressive array of features and capabilities and an even more impressive price. This excellent video review takes a look at the new lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
The Fstoppers community is brimming with creative vision and talent. Every day, we comb through your work, looking for images to feature as the Photo of the Day or simply to admire your creativity and technical prowess. In 2023, we're featuring a new photographer every month, whose portfolio represents both stellar photographic achievement and a high level of involvement within the Fstoppers community.
Can you shoot exclusively in JPEG as a professional photographer? Check out our interview with award winning wedding and portrait photographer Scott Robert Lim, as he explains why he's been shooting only in JPEG for over 23 years.
Nikon's new NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens has been turning heads for offering an extreme design and the promise of impressive image quality and beautiful bokeh. Can it deliver on that promise? This excellent video review takes a look at everything you can expect.
In the last few years, Tamron has established themselves as a manufacturer of some of the most cost-effective and useful lenses available, offering practical capabilities and good image quality all at very affordable prices. One such option is the 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD lens for Nikon Z mirrorless cameras, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
When you think of stunning landscape photography, you probably imagine vast expanses with golden rays of light cascading across them. However, cloudy, foggy, or rainy days can yield equally stunning photos if you know how to work with them to maximize your results. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to embrace those gray days and come away with compelling photos.
50mm f/1.4 lenses are both highly versatile and highly popular, able to take a wide range of needs and scenarios, including portraits, weddings, landscapes, and much more. As such, almost every manufacturer makes at least one 50mm lens. The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art to the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM are both new to the market and promise high levels of performance and image quality, and this excellent video review compares both to help you choose the right for your needs.
Why would anyone shot with an antique lens from the days of Britney spears and the spice girls? Well, while our opinions of their music might differ, we call can agree that the Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8 is still an awesome lens, despite being as old as Nickelback's “How You Remind Me”.
The rule of thirds is probably the most common heuristic method of composition, so much so that just about every modern camera and editing program has a grid for its usage built in. And while it can often lead to well-balanced photos, there is a downside to it too. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer discussing why you should be wary of the rule of thirds and how to create better photos.
Robert Frank and Sergio Larraín are two of the most famous photographers in history, and as such, we can learn some important lessons from their images and their approach to the craft. This excellent video essay takes a look at their work and their philosophies and discusses three important lessons we can deduce that will help us become better, more complete creatives.
If you find yourself struggling during the colder, darker seasons, you're far from alone. In this video, Aidin Robbins goes through how he combats winter burnout and how you can, too.
Photography has come a long way since its invention in the 19th century. Starting off as a status symbol usually associated with the rich, it has grown far and wide to become one of the most common ways of artistic expression. As it grew more and more, it also sparked the rise of some worrying tendencies. In this article, we will discuss some of the most worrying tendencies that plague modern photography.
When you pair Sony's powerful 61-megapixel a7R V mirrorless camera with the FE 135mm f/1.8 GM, it seems like a match made in heaven for portrait photography. How does the combination perform in the real world, though? This excellent video shows you what you can expect.
Have you ever wanted to shoot with a medium format camera, but you can't justify the cost? Well, you're not alone. The question is, what would the cheapest medium format on eBay be like?
You can do everything you can to hone your technique and expand your creative range, but perhaps one of the most frustrating aspects of landscape photography is that you have no control over the conditions. If the weather is dull, though, that does not mean you have to pack up your gear and head back home. With a little adjustment, you can still come home with fantastic images. This excellent video tutorial will show you everything you need to know to do just that.
Forget the rule of thirds and leading lines. This is not an article that will give recipes or magic bullets for composing images. Instead, we will talk about methods and broad approaches I used to go beyond the cliché techniques and create unique imagery
Lighting a group of people can be particularly tricky for new photographers, but it does not have to be, nor does it take a lot of expensive gear. In fact, it can be done with just a speedlight and a bit of know-how. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced photographer showing you how to pose and light a group portrait using just a single speedlight.
Skylum's Imgmi for smartphones has been out for a while. Like Luminar Neo on the Mac and PC platform, it's an AI-based image editor with a host of features, including sky replacement, power line removal, and tools like saturation, exposure, shadows, and highlights for simple editing.
In a recent article of mine, I discussed switching from a DSLR to a smartphone for casual photography. Recently, one of my friends reached out to me and asked what camera he should get for a trip he is going to. I told him: to use his phone and gave him some tips. Here are the top 7 tips that every smartphone photographer should know.
Getting tack-sharp photos of birds in flight is not easy, but when you get it right, the results can be stunning. One of the most fundamental aspects of this is choosing the correct shutter speed. If you are new to bird photography and wondering how to go about selecting the right shutter speed, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced photographer showing you everything you need to know.
With 2023 well underway, it's time to look back at what has been a busy year for Luminar Neo, the AI photo-editing software from Skylum. Since its launch back in 2021, Luminar Neo has seen many updates, performance improvements, and major feature enhancements, including new AI-powered tools, and has established itself as a powerful editing tool for both amateur and professional photographers alike.
The Fujifilm X-T5 mirrorless camera takes the already highly respected X-T series and brings to it a wide array of impressive features and new capabilities, perhaps most notable being the highest resolution sensor ever seen in an X Series camera, making it quite an intriguing option for many creatives. This excellent video review takes a look at the new camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
Do you all remember the when Sigma released the “Bigma” in 2001? The Bigma, or Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG HSM, dominated the amateur and semi-professional market. 22 years later, in a time of mirrorless cameras and high-end optics, the next Bigma is here. Welcome to the new Sigma 60-600mm for Sony E. Is it worth your money? Read on to find out.
The impact of smartphones on photography has been well documented and profound. One lesser-discussed element of smartphones' influence on photography, however, might be the change in what photographers now want and expect from dedicated cameras.
50mm lenses with wide maximum apertures are some of the most popular out there, offering a versatile focal length useful for everything from portraits to events, in tandem with excellent low-light and narrow depth of field capabilities. Both Sigma and Sony recently released new premium 50mm f/1.4 options, and this great video comparison takes a look at both to help you decide which is right for your needs and budget.
While micro four thirds is still seeing development from a few companies, one manufacturer is throwing in the towel. In a recent interview, Sigma's CEO indicated that due to a decrease in demand for micro four thirds lenses, the company will no longer be developing new options for the format, though they will maintain their current lenses.
At its most fundamental level, photography is about being able to read light and create images with interesting, dynamic, or flattering light. If that is something you are still learning, this great video tutorial will show you a simple setting hiding in just about every camera that will make the process a lot easier.
Sigma's Foveon sensors have long had a small but loyal following who love their sharp images and vibrant, accurate colors. Since the advent of the L mount alliance, there has long been the hope that the Foveon sensor might find its way into a full frame camera. Sigma's CEO recently confirmed that those hopes might soon come true.
Artificial intelligence is everywhere, from editing photos to writing text, to generating "photos" out of thin air. This technology is going to revolutionize every facet of the world, and photographers need to be ahead of the curve or risk being left behind permanently.
Recent research shows that there are excellent reasons why you should abandon the camera phone that have nothing to do with how good the pictures are. There’s a darker side to camera phones that we ignore at our peril.
Conventional wisdom in studio portrait photography tells us to avoid shooting portraits wide open. But in this video, I will show you why I shoot portraits wide open all the time, and you should try it too.
If you find your photos are often a bit monotonous and lacking in interest and you are unsure of how to break out of that rut, this is the video tutorial for you. A simple change of habit can help you take more varied images and expand your eye beyond what you are used to shooting.
Canon’s cinema line of cameras ushered forward the post-DSLR years for video users, and now, they could be set to do the same with mirrorless designs.
Very few people jump right in to running a photography business full-time. The vast majority start out slowly, doing photography on the side while they maintain their primary income from another job. That can be a particularly stressful time, but as this excellent video essay details, with the right mindset, you can become more intentional and focused and achieve your goals sooner.
24-70mm f/2.8 lenses are the workhorses of choice for a huge range of photographers, as their versatile focal length range and relatively wide maximum aperture make them suitable for many different genres and shooting scenarios. For Sony shooters looking for the best the company can offer, there is the FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, and this excellent video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.
This camera was released a whopping seven years ago. Being the last-of-the-line DSLR for Canon, it is still the best 5D camera they will ever make. While there are photographers switching from DSLR to mirrorless, the 5D Mark IV is still being sold to photographers worldwide. Let’s review this camera and see how good it is in 2023.
Though it takes a lot of skill with a camera and in editing, being a successful professional photographer takes a lot more than just those. If you feel comfortable with your skills and your portfolio and you are wondering if you are ready to make the jump, check out this fantastic video essay that features an experienced professional detailing how to know if you are ready.
Fujifilm cameras have been popular for decades, but in the past few years, they have released bodies that are fully in vogue and thus difficult to find. Are they worth the hype? Should you buy a Fujifilm camera in 2023?
In a lot of my articles, I go on about how incredible Capture One is and how every photographer (with a few exceptions) should switch from Lightroom to Capture One. In this article, we will finally take a deep dive and see for ourselves why it’s worth considering the switch in 2023.
Modern camera gear evolves at a breakneck pace, and as such, it can be tempting to watch the news of the latest and greatest cameras and lenses and pull out your credit card. When should you actually drop the money to upgrade your gear, and when should you turn your attention elsewhere? This helpful video essay discusses the topic and might just help you save a lot of money and improve your images at the same time.
Nikon's impressive new NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens is here, and along with it comes some of the best image quality and optical performance ever seen from Nikon, at least on paper. How does it perform in the real world, though? This great video takes a look at the lens and how it balances and feels on some of Nikon's most popular mirrorless cameras.
