See How Peter Hurley Uses Natural and Continuous Light for Headshots

Most professional headshot photographers use strobes for their studio work, but of course, that does not mean you can't use continuous or even natural light for your work. This excellent video tutorial from the one and only Peter Hurley will show you how to use both natural light and continuous lighting for taking headshots.

Please Stop Making These Six Types of Street Photographs

I have long been a staunch critic of the street photography genre. One of the biggest problems I've seen over the years, most notably as a judge in dozens of major contests, is derivative work. In this article, I will discuss six types of street photographs that we simply don't need any more of.

Photoshop’s Brand New Depth Blur Feature Needs a Lot of Work

With the latest batch of updates, Photoshop has added a new feature to its array of neural filters: depth blur. Very much in beta, this tool has potential, but there’s clearly a lot of improvements required before it becomes worth using.

5 Tips for Lighting the Background of a Portrait

When it comes to lighting for portraits, we mostly focus on learning how to light our subjects; after all, that is what the eye is drawn. But a complete image involves accounting for how the background is lit as well, and that can be the difference that makes your photos truly professional. This helpful video tutorial will give you five tips to improve the lighting of your portrait backgrounds.

A Look at an Astrophotographer's Best Image

Astrophotography is a tremendously challenging genre, requiring specialized equipment, excellent technique, a lot of knowledge, and loads of patience. However, when you get a good image, it is all worth it, as you can capture some of the most remarkable photos of our universe. This great video follows an astrophotographer as he captures what he considers to be the best photo he has taken so far.

A Review of the Affordable Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary Lens

A 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is the workhorse of choice for a huge range of photographers, but such lenses are often quite expensive. Sigma's 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary comes in at about half the price of competitors, making it quite appealing for those who can live without 24mm on the wide end. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

The Most Overrated and Underrated Film Cameras of 2021

The popularity of film is still on an upward trajectory with no signs of slowing down. With the film world changing constantly, it’s time to update the list of underrated and overrated film cameras.

Why are Film Point-and-Shoots So Popular?

Photography, like anything, has its trends that rise and fall, seemingly at random. Except it never is at random, and the latest trend of film point-and-shoot cameras has seen a surge in the last few years.

A Review of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S Lens

An ultra-wide angle zoom lens is a useful tool for many different genres, and while the professional standard of such lenses is usually f/2.8, those who do not need that extra stop can save a lot of weight and money by opting for an f/4 version. This excellent video review takes a look at one such lens for Nikon mirrorless shooters, the NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S.

Is Nikon's Business Heading in the Right Direction?

Another day, another dollar. In Nikon's case, it wishes it had a whole load more dollars, as its annual financial report shows significant losses. So, is it making progress to get itself back on a level footing with Canon and Sony?

The One Skill That All Photographers Must Have

Being a photographer requires a lot of different skills. A well-rounded photographer (pun intended) has technical proficiency with cameras, an understanding of the physics of light, and certainly a lot of business ability. However, there is one skill that all creatives must have. It relates to judgment and valuing your work. Check out this great video to learn more.

5 Things Every Wedding Photographer Should Do After a Wedding

Wedding photography is a challenging, high-pressure genre, but the work does not end once you leave the venue for the night. There are some crucial things you should do after every wedding to give your business the best chance for success, and this excellent video discusses five of the most important.

The Change From DSLR to Mirrorless Is Not Like Film to Digital

Many compare the rapid rise of mirrorless cameras to the days when digital overtook film. But how different are DSLRs and mirrorless cameras? Well, not that different when compared to the change from film to digital photography. Let's see what changes were made from film to digital and how they compare to the current "giant leap" in technology.

How Much a Photographer Made on YouTube in 2020

For a lot of creatives, making all or a significant part of their income via YouTube is a dream. However, to get there takes a lot of serious, consistent work and the ability to remain constantly innovative and able to come up with new ideas and present them in a compelling way with high production value. This great video pulls back the curtain and shows you how one well-known photographer did on the platform in 2020.

Artlist Walks Us Through Their Advert

When you see an advert on YouTube, it either has to be gripping and interesting for you to continue watching, or it's clicked through. Artlist has a strong campaign, and they made a video explaining the process of shooting one of these ads.

Do You Suffer From Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS)?

Admit it or not, we all like new gear or the next best thing. We try not to think about it, but that thought just sticks and goes round and round in your head like a cyclone until you either realize you don't need it or you give in and using your hard-earned savings to purchase it, only to find that you didn't need it after all and that it hasn't made your photographic practice any better.

Branded: A Reality Show for Photographers

Since the dawn of reality television, we've seen a plethora of professions and niche topics covered. That said, there have been very few photography-focused spinoffs of the reality genre. Photo Challenge Show aims to take a step in changing that.

Useful Feedback Will Make You a Better Photographer, Here's How To Get It

Getting feedback is one of the most important ways to become a better photographer. Often, however, many photographers are unsure on how to find someone who can give feedback, and what feedback to even listen to. Check out this great video which explains the ways you can get better feedback on your work from relevant people.

A Closer Look at the Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloth From Haida

There are times when you need some extra protection for your equipment, even if you transport it in your camera bag. A pouch can offer that extra protection, or you can wrap it in a cloth. Haida has created the Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloth for that.

5 Uncommon Landscape Photography Composition Tips

Composition is a tricky thing when it comes to landscape photography, where even subtle variations can make or break a photo. If you have been struggling with your compositions lately, check out this great video tutorial that will give you five unusual tips that will help you improve your landscape photos.

Eclipse Season, Act II : June's Annular Solar Eclipse

For 2021, the first event of the “eclipse season” is a lunar eclipse on the morning of May 26. The second is an annular solar eclipse on June 10. In an annular eclipse, the Moon appears too small to block the Sun out entirely, so at maximum eclipse, the Sun is visible as a ring (annulus).

Is Canon Planning To Release an RF 35mm f/1.2 Lens This Year?

Since the launch of the EOS R5 and the EOS R6 Canon has been releasing a lot of new RF glass. Everything from compact consumer lenses to true professional workhorses. One of the most requested Canon RF lenses was an L-series 35mm lens.

Commons Myths About Mirrorless Cameras

The rise in stock of mirrorless cameras has been significant in the last decade, but there are a lot of misconceptions about the difference between them and DSLRs.

How to Have a Successful TFP Shoot

Trade for Print or TFP shoots are shoots where the photographer doesn’t pay the model and the model doesn’t pay the photographer. They are a great tool for when models and photographers are starting out or when they don’t have a budget. Here are some tips for how to make them successful.

How to Make Your Work Stand Out on Instagram

Not so long ago, Instagram was the perfect platform for photographers, but not anymore. How can you make your still images stand out on a platform that’s now all about Reels, handbags, and freebooting?

Fstoppers Reviews Haida’s NanoPro Mist Black Filter: Softer Can Be Better

While many reviews look at how sharp a lens can be, for this review, we’ll be looking at a filter that does the opposite. Haida's NanoPro Mist filter is actually designed to add a soft glow, while still keeping fine details. Now, before you think about the JCPenney portrait studio shots of the past decades, this filter is subtler. Haida’s NanoPro Mist filter is instead designed to diffuse the highlights and soften the overall contrast, bringing the filmic characteristic of halation to digital. Does it live up to the task?

Canon's RF 85mm f/1.2L USM Lens Is Ridiculously Good

The Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM lens is a bit of a legend, known for its insanely wide aperture and a favorite of numerous portrait photographers. Now that the mirrorless age is upon us, its natural successor, the RF 85mm f/1.2L USM, is here. This great video review compares the new lens to the prior EF version, and it shows just how remarkably good the latest model is.

A Review of Sony's Impressive New FE 14mm f/1.8 GM Lens

Sony's new FE 14mm f/1.8 GM lens offers an extremely wide maximum aperture for such a focal length, enabling both photographers and filmmakers impressive creative capabilities and looking like a dream for events and astrophotographers. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in real-world usage.

I Bought a DSLR in 2021: Why You Should Too 

I just bought a DSLR — the Canon 5DS. Yes, you read that right, and no, this article is not a repost from 2016. DSLRs are a very viable option that you should look into before buying your next camera.

Two Ways to Color Grade Highlights and Shadows Using Lightroom

Lightroom recently added some new tools for color grading, and there are now multiple ways to warm up the highlights, add a cinematic touch to the shadows, and more. This excellent video tutorial will show you two different ways to selectively color grade your photos in Lightroom.

Van Life and Landscape Photography Equal Opportunity

As a full-time van dweller and landscape photographer, I’ve come to appreciate the virtues of the pairing. The ability to park up in comfortable accommodations near or at your desired shooting location is tremendously valuable. To do this daily is invaluable.

Three of My Favorite Things About the Nikon Z 7II

Having now had at least one of the second generation of Nikon Z cameras, either the Z 6II or Z 7II, in my possession for almost a year now, I thought I would share three of my favorite things about the cameras so far.

How to Copy a Movie's Color Grade to Your Photos

If there is one thing big-budget movies know how to do well, it is color grading. If you have a favorite movie in mind when it comes to color grading and you would like to apply that style to your photos, this helpful video tutorial will show you how to take it and apply it to your own photos using Photoshop.

An Interview with Seb Agnew: Magical Realism and the Human Experience

Seb Agnew is a German-based photographic artist. His practice is based on creating tableaux imagery, which is set in the real world, but with elements that make the ordinary extraordinary. His characters challenge the human experience and often face moments of disorientation and solitude.

How to Quickly and Easily Improve Your Photo Compositions

Compositions make or break photos, and they can be a really tricky thing to master. If you have been struggling with your compositions lately and need something that can get you back on the right track, check out this quick and helpful video tutorial on how to improve your compositions.

A Look at the New M1 iMac for Photographers and Filmmakers

The new iMacs are here, and Apple has updated its popular computer with a variety of new features ranging from new color options to the company's lauded M1 system on a chip. For photographers and filmmakers, it is likely to be a good choice for creative work. If you are interested in it for your office, check out this great video review that takes a look at how it performs for photo and video work.

Sally Davies' 'New Yorkers' May Be the Best Photography Monograph Of 2021

As a photographer and a photography critic, I see and review hundreds of photo books. Most, unfortunately, are not all that good. Some are actually outright bad, and others are okay, but ultimately just bring more of the same to the table. This is not the case with Sally Davies' first-ever monograph, "New Yorkers."

How To Create a Cinematic Photo Series for Instagram

Social media is a strange beast and one that's difficult to get working for you, particularly in recent times. This video will show you how to create a cinematic-looking photo series to increase your engagement on Instagram.

Photoshop’s Save Functionality Just Broke: Here’s How to Fix It

Photoshop’s newest version introduced a head-scratching change to one of the essential functions of Photoshop: if you’re used to easily saving a quick JPEG or having your choice of file formats, the latest update has changed things for the worse. Fortunately, there’s a quick and easy way to get things back to normal, and it uses one of the best workflow-enhancing parts of Photoshop.

Creating Minimalist Landscape Photos With a Telephoto Lens

For the most part, landscape photographs are shot using a wide angle lens to capture as much of the scene as possible. Of course, however, that is not the only way you have to approach the genre. A telephoto lens can give a novel and interesting view of a scene. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to use a telephoto lens to take minimalist landscape shots.

How That Lightroom Tab You Never Touch Can Improve Your Images

There are a ton of ways to edit any given photo, and Lightroom gives you a plethora of tools to get there. And with all those tools, some things can get a bit lost in the shuffle, one of those being the Calibration tab. And even though it does not get much attention, it can be an impressive creative tool in your arsenal, and this excellent video tutorial will show you how to use it to give your images a nice boost.

What Does the Future Hold for the Camera Manufacturer?

The film era was a cash cow, with cameras being high-precision instruments from specialist manufacturers and because they used film that needed developing and printing, a huge service sector that surrounded it. From the 1960s onward, the sector innovated and grew at breakneck speed. And then, it fell apart. Is that about to happen for digital?