5 of the Best Non-Photography Books That Shaped My Career

From modern-day yogis like Kelly Slater to Tim Ferriss, all have one piece of advice that I will paraphrase here: if you want to excel at your craft, you must always be the student, not a master, and immerse yourself into your discipline at all times.

How to See Better Landscape Photo Compositions

Composition is one of the more nuanced and difficult parts of landscape photography, and it is something even the most experienced among us struggle with. If you are having trouble finding good landscape compositions, this awesome video tutorial breaks the process into three stages that will help you create better images.

How to Get Sharp Photos When Shooting Handheld

There are many aspects that go into making a successful photo, but at the end of the day, if it is not sharp, the rest will not matter much. A little bit of technique can go a long way into improving your chances of getting a sharp photo, particularly if you are shooting handheld, and this awesome video tutorial will give you some great tips for improving your chances.

How To Avoid Glare on Glasses in Portrait Photography

If you've ever had to take a portrait of somebody in glasses, you'll likely know that it can be a tricky process. With the eyes tending to be the focal point of a portrait, glare on their glasses can ruin everything, and so you need to know how to handle it.

Are You Applying for Canon's New Incubator?

Canon Canada has opened its first-ever mentorship incubator. If you're a creator looking for a helping hand up to the next level, applications are being accepted until August 16.

How Shooting With Your Phone Will Make You a Better Photographer

Most of us have invested thousands of dollars in dedicated, professional-level photo equipment, and so, the idea of picking up our phones instead seems a bit strange. There is merit in doing just that, however, and this awesome video discusses why you should grab your phone a little more often when you head out.

5 Tips to Increase Your Photography Income Through Better Networking

Running a successful photography business takes a lot more than simply being good with a camera and having creative ideas. Part of it comes down to simply being able to create opportunities for yourself through networking. If that is something you struggle with, this helpful video tutorial will give you five tips to improve your chances of success when networking.

5 Helpful Tips for Photographing Wildlife From a Boat

When you think of wildlife and bird photography, you probably think of being hidden somewhere in a bush or a field, staying still and out of sight. And while that is a great approach, it certainly is not the only way; in fact, it can be tremendous fun (and give you new opportunities) to head out on a boat with your camera. This excellent video tutorial will give you five helpful tips for photographing wildlife from a boat.

Summer Photo Op: The Perseid Meteor Shower

As you’re probably aware from the level of hype in your news feed, the Perseid meteor shower is approaching and you should get outside to see it now! Technically in late July, it is already active in our skies, but the reality is that there is a fairly narrow window of high activity only around the peak time. My own experience is that the number of meteors drops off dramatically a day before or after the peak evening.

A Pro Photographers' Editing Set Up

Photography is as much about sitting at your desk as it is about sitting behind the camera, especially for us studio folk. I probably spend twice as much time sitting as I spend with a camera in my hand, so I have made sure my setup is spot on.

Do You Prefer a Deep Parabolic Umbrella or Beauty Dish for Headshots?

Beauty dishes are a traditional choice for a lot of portraiture work, but parabolic reflectors have seen an uptick in popularity in the last few years. Which is better for your work? This awesome video overview takes a quite in-depth look at a variety of different modifiers and the sort of results you can expect from them to help you decide which is right for your style and work.

Critique the Community Clever

Congratulations to the Winners!

Thanks to everyone for entering their best images that represent the "clever" theme.  As you can see from the video, the contest winners didn't quite go as planned but out of fairness for everyone else who followed the rules, we think it's the right thing to do.  

Is Sky Replacement Photography or Something Else Entirely?

Sky replacement is one of the biggest trends in photography right now, with major editing applications offering automatic or semi-automatic sky replacement capabilities, making it easier than ever to completely change an image. Is it photography, though? Or have we moved into something else entirely? This thoughtful video essay discusses the topic and where photography is headed.

7 Tips to Make You More Productive When Working at Home

Many of us are working at home much more nowadays, and when we are in the same environment in which we live, it can be tricky to stay productive and get done what we need to. If you are struggling with this a bit, this helpful video discusses seven tips that will make you more productive when working at home.

Unusual Lighting
Critique the Community

Unusual Lighting

Submit Your Best "Unusual Lighting" Image

Welcome to another Critique the Community! This week Patrick and Lee are back together to critique your images with "unusual lighting." Without giving you too many restrictions, this contest is open to any image with strange or uncommon lighting. 

This contest has ended.
Fujifilm X-T4 Versus the Fujifilm X100V: Which Is Best for You?

Fujifilm probably holds the crown when it comes to APS-C cameras. Cameras such as the X-T series and the X100 series have made Fujifilm a household name among many professionals. One of the best and worst things about Fujifilm is the huge number of APS-C cameras on the market. Due to this, how do you decide which camera is best for you?

The Truth About Following Your Dreams as a Career

Taking your passion and making a career out of it is the dream for many, but it stays an abstract dream for the majority. There are a lot of factors involved, but if you are in a position where you can and might take the leap, it's worth knowing what's on the table.

How to Cure Yourself of Gear Acquisition Syndrome

Gear acquisition syndrome, or G.A.S, is a name for those of us that like to accumulate tech gear, and in this case specifically, photographic equipment, normally in detriment to the learning process. If you struggle with G.A.S, then here are 10 ways to cure yourself.

Speech to Text in Premiere Pro Is Here

It's a massive time-saver if you don't have to write out text, get it into your video project, align it correctly, and make corrections. It's now automatic in Premiere Pro, and it's something that puts Adobe ahead of Final Cut and Da Vinci Resolve.

Pacific Northwest Escape Mission 2: Driving to Oregon

If you were inspired by the majestic beauty of Washington State’s North Cascades in the first leg of our Pacific Northwest Escape (you can read all about the adventure here), wait until you see the magic of Oregon’s coastline through our lens.

Exclusive Fstoppers Interview: Legendary Photographer Albert Watson on How to Make It in the Industry

He is one of the most revered photographers in the world. Having captured iconic images that became staples of modern culture, Albert Watson is a person that doesn’t need a long introduction. Recently, Fstoppers arranged an exclusive interview with Mr. Watson, where we asked the questions any beginner would want to have answers to. Read on to see what he had to say.

Should You Use a 35mm, 50mm, or 85mm Lens?

35mm, 50mm, and 85mm lenses are some of the most popular out there, offering relatively neutral focal lengths quite suitable for portraiture. However, each one renders your subject quite differently and is appropriate for different situations. This great video compares the three focal lengths and will show you the sort of images you can get from each to help you choose the right for your work.

A Review of the Sony a6600 Mirrorless Camera

Sony's a7 and a9 lines and the new a1 get the majority of the attention from the photography community, but the a6000 line it still widely respected as a portable and capable line. This excellent video review takes a look at their APS-C flagship, the a6600, and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.

How to Make the Best of a Bad Location

A location can make or break a photograph, so don't get caught in a bad spot. Fortunately, you don't need to go heading out for hours on end to learn how to do this. In this article, I've put together five of the most powerful techniques you can use to make the best of a bad location.

3 Tricks for Making Your Photos Look More Cinematic

Making your images more eye-catching and appealing is almost always a worthwhile goal, but how can you achieve that? One way is to take pointers from cinema where such metrics are crucial to the success of a picture.

Sony's FE 14mm f/1.8 GM Lens Looks Quite Impressive

The new Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM lens offers an extreme combination of focal length and maximum aperture that create unique creative opportunities and does so in an impressively small package. This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Are We in the Post-Photography Era?

When I look at product photography and video in the fashion and beauty product industry, many of the shots are now computer-generated. It might be at a steep cost initially to get the team to create the products in 3D space, but once that’s done, the product can be used in any scene you need for the client. Are we beyond photography?

Has Nikon Gotten It Right With the Retro-Inspired Z fc Mirrorless Camera?

The Nikon Z fc has arrived, offering the company's latest mirrorless technology in tandem with a retro-inspired design that aims to capitalize on both the aesthetic of older cameras and their manual controls that return to a purer form of photography. With a small size and affordable price, it looks like a potential hit for Nikon, and this awesome video review takes a first look at the camera and what you can expect.

Why You Need To Try a 135mm Lens for Portrait Photography

Undoubtedly one of the most revered focal lengths in portrait photography, this prime has many fans, despite its obvious limitations. Watch behind-the-scenes of a portrait shoot using the fastest 135mm on the market and then ask a loved one to hide your bank card.

What Do You Want to See in the Sony a7 IV?

The Sony a7 III is a great camera, but it is a few years old now, and creatives are starting to wonder what the company will offer in the a7 IV. What would you like to see?

Is the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VXD Lens Another Hit?

Tamron has been on a roll the last few years, producing lenses that offer great performance and image quality in tandem with smart compromises that help them undercut the prices of first-party manufacturers, often by significant amounts. The 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VXD is one of their latest, and this awesome video review takes a look at the lens and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

5 Tips for Shooting Telephoto Landscape Photography

Landscape photography is somewhat synonymous with shooting large scenes with a wide angle lens, but what about more intimate landscapes? On a recent trip through Colorado, I found myself using a telephoto lens almost exclusively and came up with five tips that might help your try one out for yourself.

10 Tips to Help You Edit More Quickly

Editing can be one of the biggest time commitments for any photographer, and it can also be a rather tedious and boring task depending on what you shoot. As such, it is well worth making the effort to streamline the process anywhere you can. This awesome video tutorial discusses 10 different tips that will help you make your post-processing workflow more efficient.

SRGB or AdobeRGB: What's the Difference Anyway?

Color is one of the most important aspects of photography. It's good to know what your settings should be if you're planning on printing or publishing to the web. This video explains the difference in a simple way.

Why Better Edges Make Better Photos

As photographers, it is easy to get caught up on what is in the middle of the frame and ignore what may fall on the edges. But, the edges can actually have a surprising impact on how successful your compositions are, and being more purposeful about that part of the image can really improve your photographs!

What Style of Camera Should New Film Photographers Get?

Film photography has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, and there are literally hundreds of used film camera models available to choose from, which can lead to a bit of decision paralysis. So, what kind of film camera is right for you? This great video discusses three different kinds of film cameras, their pros and cons, and which is the right kind for you.

Find Your Why and You Will Find Your Way

During what is likely the most tumultuous global period in our lifetime, it's easy to become jaded, frustrated, and feel as if you have lost your way. The question is, why that happens, how do you pull yourself out of that rut before it does real damage?

How to Handle Harsh Light in Landscape Photography

No doubt, most of us love the soft, warm light afforded by the golden hour, but simply put, a lot of the time, you will head outside with your camera and be greeted with harsh, unforgiving light. That does not mean you should simply pack your camera in and head back inside; in fact, you can make images that are just as great in harsh light, and this awesome video tutorial discusses what to do when you encounter that light.

Zen and the Discipline of Landscape Photography

Landscape photography is not my thing. I use it to exercise the fundamentals and have something to do when I need a break from the family on camping trips, but that's the extent of it for me personally. But I feel for landscape photographers. It's a crowded field in an already crowded profession. It's hard to make your images not look like everyone else's, especially when everyone has access to the same subject matter you do.

An Advanced Multi-Light and V-Flat Lifestyle Photo Setup

Are you feeling comfortable with working with a single light and the basic properties of how light behaves and how to leverage it for your portrait photos? This great video tutorial will show the thought process behind a multi-light lifestyle portrait setup with v-flats to create a clean, natural look suitable for a wide variety of applications.

Where Is the Best Place to Sell Your Photos in 2021?

While most of us are not full-time stock photographers, the idea of selling some of our work online to earn some passive income on the side is quite appealing. That being said, there are literally dozens of places to sell your work, so which is the right choice? This great video takes you through a photographer's earnings on many different sites throughout 2021 so far and discusses his experience.