5 Great Uses for the Calibration Panel in Lightroom

Of all the functions and panels in Lightroom, the one that gets used the least is probably the Calibration panel. In fact, many photographers have been working in Lightroom for years and have never touched it. And while it is not necessarily essential, it can make a big difference in certain situations, and this excellent video tutorial will show you five ways it can improve your work.

Photographing the Recent Solar Eclipse

Did you see the recent solar eclipse? It was quite a stunning sight. If you missed it, take a few minutes to watch this fantastic footage that shows the process of shooting it and the eclipse itself.

How Does Canon's RF 50mm f/1.2L Compare to the EF Version?

The Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM lens was one of the first in the company's full frame mirrorless line, and it turned a lot of heads by establishing a new standard of quality that has been continued by many subsequent RF lenses. Just how much better is it than the original EF 50mm f/1.2L, and is it worth upgrading? This excellent video review takes a look at both lenses and what you can expect.

What Did WWDC 2021 Bring for Artists and Creators?

On June 7th, 2021 Apple streamed their Worldwide Developers Conference Keynote for 2021. This keynote had been eagerly anticipated, as we’re now halfway into Apple's transition to Apple Silicon, and many people have been waiting to see what new software will go alongside the impressive hardware launched at the April Spring Loaded event.

How Effective Are Apple AirTags for Photographers?

Apple's AirTags offer the ability to track and find anything you attach them to by leveraging the vast worldwide network of Apple mobile devices. As expensive and precious as our photo equipment is, they are an intriguing option for giving ourselves a bit of security and peace of mind. This great video review takes a look at AirTags for photo equipment and how they perform.

When Will Instagram Tell Us How Much Money It Makes From Your Stolen Content?

Earlier this week, Instagram published a blog detailing information on how its algorithms work and why transparency is important when it comes to building trust. With that in mind, when will Instagram tell us how much money it makes from allowing the millions of possible copyright infringements that happen every single day?

A Drone Crash on Protected Wetland Left 1,500 Eggs Abandoned

On May 13, an illegally flown drone crashed on the nesting grounds at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach, California. This isn’t the first time a drone has crashed in the protected wetlands. This time, it coincided with the breeding season for thousands of terns, and as a result, the birds abandoned their nests, thinking it was a predator.

A Closer Look at Lens Diffraction

Every lens has a sweet spot, the aperture where the image sharpness is at its best. If the aperture becomes larger, lens errors will become visible. When the aperture is closed, lens diffraction will become visible. In this article, I am going to take a closer look at lens diffraction.

How to Approach Compositions in Landscape Photography

Composition is a challenging thing that is difficult for a lot of landscape photographers, particularly because it is a bit more nebulous and difficult to codify than something like the settings to choose for an image. If that is something you are struggling with a bit, this excellent video tutorial will run you through how one experienced landscape photographer thinks about composition while featuring some great example photos.

How to Remove Creases From Backdrops Using Photoshop

Backdrops are a fantastic tool for a wide variety of work, but the majority of the time, they are made of fabric, and fabric has a nasty habit of accumulating creases and wrinkles that can be distracting. If you are dealing with that issue, this great video tutorial will show you how to get rid of them using Photoshop.

Who Was the First Global Social Media Travel Infuencer?

You take photos, you write books, you're published in weekly and monthly newspapers and magazines, and travel the world with the sole purpose of... traveling. You sound like one of the early social media influencers of the 2010s who was "living the dream," constantly on the road, distributing a drip of photos and articles to the travel-enthused general public. However, it's 1888, and your name is Frank Carpenter.

The Camera Gear and Settings Peter Hurley Recommends

There are few people on the planet who know as much about headshots as Peter Hurley. In this helpful video tutorial, he discusses the sort of camera gear and settings you should consider for your headshot work.

Photographers, Stop Calling Yourself a Creative Director

I have noticed a huge trend of photographers calling themselves creative directors. On the social media app Clubhouse, there was a wave of creative directors. I hosted rooms to educate the photography community on what a creative director does and why calling yourself a creative director prematurely might hurt your growth.

5 Affinity Photo Tools That We Need in Adobe Photoshop

For most things retouching, Adobe Photoshop sets the pace and has been the industry standard for decades. However, as alternative software improves and innovates, there are some features that Photoshop doesn't have that would improve it.

The Best Photo Vivian Maier Never Took

We'd all love to be mentioned in the same breath as our favorite photographer. Especially if that photographer is a highly celebrated master of their genre. But what happens when your image is mistaken for, and credited to them, instead of you?

5 One-Light Portrait Photography Setups

A lot of the work by professional portrait photographers uses more complex two- or three-light setups. And such setups absolutely have their place and give a wide amount of technical and creative control, but you can also accomplish quite a bit with only a single light. This excellent video tutorial will show you five great one-light setups for portrait photography.

Want to Be a Better Wedding Photographer? Try Street Photography

Wedding photography is a challenging, high-pressure genre, and anything you can do to be as prepared as possible will help you to ensure that when the big day comes, you can deliver the shots your clients want. One way to improve your abilities that you might not have considered is street photography, and this excellent video will show you why you should practice it.

How to Plan a Fashion Editorial Photoshoot

So many photographers talk about testing, test shoots, and time for print (TFP), but what are these things exactly? In this article, I will explain my take on them.

5 Common Landscape Photography Mistakes

Landscape photography is a popular genre that challenges a lot of aspects of your technique and creativity, and as such, there are plenty of places where things can go awry if you are not being careful or are not totally solid in your abilities. This excellent video tutorial discusses five common mistakes landscape photographers make and how to either fix or avoid them altogether.

Sony Launches $1 Million 'Create Action' Initiative to Serve Local Nonprofits

It's easy for large companies to donate a handful of cash to a worthy cause and call it a day. And although that money will be put to good work, sometimes, these non-profit organizations need more than just a few extra dollars. Because of that, Sony aims to do quite a bit more with their new "Create Action" initiative.

Astrophotography With a Google Pixel Smartphone? Really?

The recent addition of an astrophoto time-lapse mode (uncovered by XDA Developers) coming to Google’s camera app on their Pixel line of phones piqued my interest. Not that I think it will replace all of our “real” cameras, but I do have a deep appreciation for the engineering wizardry required to push right up to the physical limits of a tiny sensor and lens. And as an astronomy enthusiast, any developments that might open an appreciation of the night skies to a wider population get me very interested.

How Top Tips Videos Are Killing Your Creativity

Top tips videos dominate the YouTube photography world. The breakdown of a complex topic into an easily digestible list satisfies our appetite for a quick creative boost. But are top tips videos really bolstering our creativity or stifling it? This video suggests that those videos may just be limiting our ability to create unique work.

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Is That Camera Good Value for the Planet and Your Pocket?

Different camera makes and models are better than others for longevity. The main failing point of cameras is the shutter, because it is a moving part. Most manufacturers publish targets for shutter life. By spending a little more, you may get much better value and reduce environmental impact too.

Why I Became A Professional Photographer

Having spent a long and exhausting, but fruitful and necessary, weekend going about the chore of reorganizing my overly cluttered garage, I found myself with time to think about a basic question. Why exactly did I become a professional photographer?

How to Edit Portraits Using Luminar AI

Editing portraits can be a time-consuming task, especially when you have done something like a corporate session and have multiple subjects to work through. However, newer software offers the ability to automate many parts of the process and vastly increase your efficiency. This helpful video tutorial will show you how to edit portraits using Luminar AI.

A Few Helpful Studio Portrait Photography Tips

Studio photography allows you complete creative and technical control over your imagery, which also means all your skills and imagination are put to the test. This helpful video tutorial will give you a few quick tips to improve your studio portrait images and expand your creativity.

Olympus Announces the M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm f/4 PRO Lens

Today, Olympus has announced a new, lightweight, ultra wide-angle zoom lens for their Micro Four Thirds (MFT) systems. This versatile lens has the image quality people have come to expect of the PRO range, but with a much wider coverage than most lenses in their line-up.

Why You Should Start Selling Postcards Through Your Website and How to Do It

Many photographers would love to sell prints from their website but holding stock is expensive, shipping can be complicated, and buying a quality print can be a significant investment of money and wallspace that won't appeal to a large chunk of your audience. Why not sell postcards instead?

How to Choose Camera Settings for Landscape Photography

The neat thing about landscape photography is that any single subject can be rendered in many different ways simply by your choice of settings and more. So, how do you know which settings to choose for a specific shot? This excellent video tutorial discusses what to think about when you are deciding which camera settings to use.

How To Get the Look of the Netflix Show DARK Using DaVinci Resolve 16

The amount of high-end television and film on display in recent years is unparalleled. One show that got a lot of attention is the drama mystery, DARK after it was added to Netflix. Its acting and plot are both brilliant, but the cinematography is utterly superb.

Tips on How To Pose Men for Portraiture

So much of portraiture is of women that you would be surprised at just how much posing knowledge you might have without trying. However, for many reasons, with men, it's trickier. This video goes into some tips, tricks, and mistakes when posing men for portraits.

Fstoppers Reviews the Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro ISO Live Streaming HDMI Switcher


The Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini is one of the best and easiest ways to do more than just stream multiple cameras, and at first, it might seem like an expensive gadget for most photographers. But this last year has shown us a lot of businesses can succeed remotely and even after things return to some level of normalcy a few things are probably going to stay that way.

4 of the Best Apps for Planning Photoshoots

Apps have undoubtedly revolutionized modern life and there are few areas untouched by them. Photography is no exception and with the help of the right app, your shoots and your workflow can improve tenfold. Here are four apps one photographer reaches for when planning his next shoot.

How to Improve Your Landscape Photo Compositions

Composition is one of the most challenging aspects of landscape photography, and a good composition can be what takes an interesting subject and creates a compelling photo of it. If you have been struggling with creating good compositions, this great video tutorial will show you an effective method for finding worthwhile subjects and using them to make better photos.

Shooting Locations With No Golden Hour Light

There are a few locations you'll encounter in landscape photography that don't get golden hour light. This video discusses a few examples of those locations and a few ideas of what you can do when you find yourself without golden hour.

The Top Five Photography Spots in Socotra: This Place Is Beautiful

Socotra is one of the most stunning places on the planet to photograph. Its strikingly white sand dunes and breathtaking dragon blood trees certainly have a lot to do with it. But there’s way more to love about one of the planet’s most biodiverse islands.

How to Blend Photos With Different Shutter Speeds in Photoshop

Landscape photographers often blend images shot at different focal distances for maximum sharpness and occasionally those shot at separate focal lengths for creative effect. However, you can also blend images shot at different shutter speeds for both creative effect and high levels of sharpness, and this excellent video tutorial will show you how to do it using Photoshop.