Shooting into the sun can do anything from providing a nice visual element and contrast to creating stunning rays that cascade across the frame. Because of the extremely bright (and often partially blown out) source of light in the frame, it can sometimes require some specialized editing techniques, and this helpful video tutorial will show you everything you need to know to produce the best possible images.

As we transition from summer to fall, two of the most photogenic planets, Jupiter and Saturn, have passed the point of closest approach (opposition) to the Earth for the year. Yet, they still make great targets for planetary astrophotography, especially since they are now high in the sky soon after sunset. As another bonus, photographing these planets does not require traveling to a dark sky site. This kind of astrophotography can be done from our backyards.

Architectural photography is an art form that is intrinsically dependent on the mind of another creator. Without architecture, there would be no architectural photography. Normally, one wouldn't imagine this to be a two-way street, but this insightful video posits a different view.

Photography is an art form, and sometimes, we can forget to treat it as such and to help ourselves grow as artists. This excellent video featured a seasoned photographer detailing five mistakes he has made as an artist and how to avoid or fix them.

In Part 1 of this In-Depth review, I outlined the core philosophy of Photo Mechanic Plus before going on to summarize and test the ingestion process. Arguably, this is the star in the crown however, Camera Bits have now added an image catalog allowing it to manage your photo archive. Read on to find out how it performs, as well as a comparison with Lightroom's own catalog.

One of the neatest things about early digital photography was that because few things were really standardized, there were numerous interesting designs and experiments with features. Sony's Mavica line was one such example of this, and this awesome video takes a look at the camera 24 years after its release.

The iPhone 13 is here, and it brings with it a bevy of improvements and new features, particularly in the camera department. One of the most exciting new capabilities is Cinematic mode, which allows filmmakers to shoot footage with shallow depth of field and focus pulls, and this great video shows off what it is capable of.

On the surface, it doesn’t look like Insta360’s latest entry in the GO lineup is all that different from its previous model. Looks, in this case, are very, very deceiving. The Insta360 GO 2 fixes every issue with its predecessor and in the process, has become a versatile and eminently usable camera in its own right.

Ever looked at one of your images or prints and been hugely disappointed with how it came out? What you're doing or not doing to your screen is probably why you're having problems.

Architectural photography is probably one of the more technical types of photography. In general, photographers will use full frame or medium format camera systems along with tilt-shift or technical lenses. As great as these types of cameras are, should architectural and real estate photographers use 3D scanning cameras such as the Matterport Pro2?

A random hunch leads to a positive reminder about what gear does and does not offer the creative process.

For several years, it seemed like the megapixel wars of the early digital era had died down, but in recent years, numbers have started to skyrocket again. So, do you really need all that extra resolution, or can you get by with a cheaper camera with a normal megapixel count? This awesome video discusses the topic.

The Nikon Z fc is one of the more unique cameras we have seen from the company, offering their latest mirrorless capabilities in tandem with a retro design that brings back the sort of manual controls from past film cameras that made photography a very tactile experience. With its small size, neat design, and affordable price, the Z fc looks like a potentially popular option, and this great video review takes a look at what you can expect from it.

Experienced photographers only need the basic camera settings of focusing, metering and exposure. It’s necessary having a grasp of these fundamentals, but extra features and technologies make our lives a lot easier. Here are ten I need. What are yours?

Headshots are a tricky genre, as they require you to not only have skills behind the camera and with your lighting, but also with posing and your ability to make people feel comfortable in front of the lens. If you would like to improve your headshots, check out this great video tutorial that features five helpful tips from a top-level photographer.

Leica’s reissue of its renowned Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 lens carries a hefty price tag, and yet, despite being $7,895, it’s currently back-ordered or out of stock at most major retailers. What do you get when you drop eight grand on a manual focus lens with 16 aperture blades?

If you’re thinking about going into photography full time and make a profession out of it, it might be worthwhile considering the skills other than getting a good photograph. Let’s discuss the somewhat soft skills required.

Why do we keep seeing photographers make the same photography marketing mistakes? In this video, I take a look at the mistakes I see photographers making time and time again and look at how to avoid such pitfalls.

As photographers, we come across many different scenarios, and it might not be possible to get the perfect shot with the perfect lighting 100% of the time. It could've been that we didn't have the right gear with us or that we were in a rush. Either way, that shouldn't be a reason to shy away from trying to get the best possible shot and bringing it to life in post-production. In this video and article, I'll be showing you how to fix a portrait with bad lighting in post using Adobe Lightroom.

Natural talent is something often attributed left and right to people. Talent is quite mysterious; no one can put their finger on what it is. If it’s there, you can make it, but if it’s not, you cant. But is it all a made-up excuse? It might be.

Nik Tools (now called the Nik collection) has been around since 1995 as an Adobe plugin. Google bought the tools, then dropped them, and DXO rescued the popular photo-editing aids in 2017. They've undergone continuous upgrades since then, and this new version will please Mac users with the new M1 chips.

Today, Fstoppers has teamed up with NiSi filters to launch a brand new, free tutorial series with landscape photographer Elia Locardi. Not only are we releasing new video lessons every week, but we are also giving away over $600 worth of free gear with every video. Welcome to our long exposure adventure in Puerto Rico!

Zahar is a high-end retoucher who has worked with Vogue, Elle, Bazaar, and other magazines. His commercial clients include some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Dior.

Daniel Schiffer is an editing master. In this video, he walks us through his editing to make a video shot completely on a tripod more dynamic. He does this by adding movement, scaling the video using keyframes, masking, and then ultimately adding some effects to complete the video.

From October the 26th Adobe Lightroom introduces its new update, with some great new masking features.

Canon enthusiasts are waiting patiently to find out if the manufacturer will add APS-C sensors to its R-series cameras and a new rumor brings the possibility of a model such as an R7 — perfect for action and wildlife photography — another step closer.

Leica branded cameras have very few ‘features.’ Instead, they favor craftsmanship and quality and the Leica M6 is no exception to this.

Creative entrepreneurs have a different hill to climb compared to other professions. Other professions have a set path to follow. Sign up for the right classes, then pass the predetermined tests, and qualify for a piece of paper that tells the market you are good enough.

Few events bring more photographers out with their cameras than the leaves changing in fall, and no matter what you shoot, it is a fantastic opportunity to capture beautiful shots of dramatic colors and landscapes. Of course, managing and editing color properly is of the utmost importance with such photos, and this great video tutorial will give you three helpful tips to make sure you are creating the best edits possible.

A wide-aperture 50mm lens is one of the most versatile optics a photographer can own, suitable for everything from portraiture to low-light events work. For Sony shooters, the FE 50mm f/1.2 GM offers an extremely wide maximum aperture and features geared toward professional use, and this awesome video review takes a look at the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.

Fujifilm's GFX medium format mirrorless cameras have turned industry paradigms on their respective heads, modernizing medium format with newer features normally reserved for smaller cameras and bringing prices into direct competition with the upper levels of full frame bodies. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera for portrait and wedding photography and what you can expect from it.

When it comes to photography and the quest to improve, there is no shortage of advice out there. Some of it's great, some of it is rather questionable, and some of it is utter nonsense. Here's some of the worst advice I've received over the years.

Cinemagraphs can be a great and unique medium for showing your work, but they are tricky to get right, particularly if you want a seamless loop. In this tutorial, learn three different techniques for creating the best looking cinemagraphs you can.

There are countless ways to spend money, especially when you're starting out. Camera companies do a very good job of selling you gear, some of it you’re not even sure you need. Here are 5 things I wish I bought when starting out in photography.

The ongoing battle between Canon and Sony when it comes to video performance can stir up some heated debates. Check out how seven well-known YouTubers fare when trying to spot the difference between all-but-identical footage with a prize of $10,000 on the line.

Earlier this month, Adobe updated the sky replacement features in Photoshop CC. This feature can make an image pop or make it look over-processed and fake. Make sure you know how to get the best out of this powerful Photoshop feature and create strong, realistic images.

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 2021, 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.

Effective compositions are something we all struggle with at one time or another, and with so many ways to construct a frame, it can be tough to know how to fix things. If you are struggling with your landscape compositions, this excellent video tutorial will offer some useful advice that is sure to improve your work.

Most of us love to take our cameras on a trip, but on the other hand, when you get home from a long vacation and are feeling tired, it can feel daunting to sit down to a few thousand photos. This helpful video tutorial will show you how to quickly and effectively edit vacation photos.

We are always looking for more ways to increase our photo and video business, but given the nature of creative pursuits, the road to more success is not always clear. If you are looking to increase your business, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will give you five tips to get more clients and increase your income.

Let’s address the elephant in the room: there are probably 1.2 trillion pieces of content about running a business. I’ve read maybe half of them myself, and there’s some outstanding information available, but let’s set a goal to create the top mistakes to avoid when you decide to go from hobbyist to professional.

Few photographers are more well known and respected than Albert Watson, and even those who do not know him by name have likely seen his work before. His distinctive style is the envy of a lot of photographers, and this excellent video tutorial will show you how to create that look in your own images.

Popularity is a weird thing. It can be a gratifying thing to achieve widespread acclaim for your work, but if you are not careful, it can turn on you, making you create work to please others instead of yourself. So, who cares who likes your photos? This important video essay discusses the topic and one photographer's experience.

For many photographers, the 35mm focal length is their go-to lens, as it sits comfortably between wide enough and too wide. Sony’s newest 35mm may be the perfect 35mm lens.

In some sense, it is easier to learn some things in photography than it is others. For example, camera settings are objective quantities that can be rigorously defined with regard to different scenarios. Others are a bit more nebulous and difficult to nail down, composition being one of the most notorious. This fantastic video dives into the subject and discusses a famous example.

The Fujifilm GFX series of mirrorless cameras has turned a lot of industry paradigms on their heads, bringing medium format capabilities into the same price range as the upper levels of full frame cameras. With all of its resolution and dynamic range, is the GFX 100S the ultimate camera for photographers working in a studio? This great video review takes a look.

What constitutes photographic success? What is success for you? I’ve been asking these questions myself from the day I started taking images professionally. Here is what success in photography is.

With the kit lens, this looks like Nikon is trying to do what Fujifilm did with their X cameras. Making things look vintage might be the opinion, but perhaps that is what a camera is supposed to be like. Not all the images are as sharp as what's possible today with the eye- or face-tracking technology we have, but perhaps that's the point: to enjoy shooting.