When it was released in 2017, the Nikon D850 could be considered the alpha and the omega of the SLR photography world. It represented almost every advancement ever made for cameras with swinging mirrors. But are there still reasons to buy one of these, or any DSLR, in 2021?
Creativity is central to most forms of photography and videography, but what is it? Is it an innate aptitude for creating, or is it a skill that is learned and improved? And moreover, does it require investment to get the most out of it?
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.
Third-party manufacturers have gifted photographers with a plethora of extremely fast glass in the last couple of years and this 50mm lens might be far better than you might anticipate. Expect a weighty, manual focus lens with metal construction and some chromatic aberration — not to mention a lot of bokeh and more opportunities when shooting at night.
Focal reducers are relatively rare compared to teleconverters, though they work based on the same idea (simply employed in reverse). If you have not seen them in use before, this awesome video tutorial will show you how they work and why they are useful.
In this video tutorial, watch as Dean Samed gives you the low down on all things stock image related. The video is from the perspective of a photo manipulator.
Anamorphic lenses have been a staple of cinema for the best part of 70 years, and they're still as desirable today as they have always been. But how did they come about, what makes them special, and why do people still use them?
Diffraction is a fundamental physical property, and no matter how expensive your lenses are or how advanced their designs might be, there is no hiding from it. If you are unfamiliar with diffraction, this fantastic video tutorial will show you why it happens and why you should be aware of it in your own work.
Foggy, misty, and moody. Landscape photographs don‘t always need to be epic and colorful. In this article, I share a few tips on how to find foggy and misty landscapes.
Stop thieves from stealing your photographic work or simply put your name on shots so others can look you up by adding your own signature or logo to photographs using this technique in Lightroom that should take less than a minute.
For many years now, I've had L-Brackets on my cameras. There are many benefits to them and only a couple of drawbacks (a little added weight and size). When I decided upon purchasing the Canon EOS R5, I immediately started my search for an L-Bracket.
Of all the cosmetic imperfections you might be asked to retouch, one of the most common by far is dark circles under the eyes. This great video tutorial will show you how to easily and convincingly remove them using Photoshop, and it will only take a minute to learn how.
As much as Apple's computers have led innovation in design, they also may have taken the minimalist approach too far with all their recent models only offering USB-C ports.
In this Photoshop layer breakdown, watch as I talk you through all the various Photoshop layers that it took to create this huge composite.
Leica Camera has released Noctilux-M 50 f/1.2 ASPH, a modern version of the iconic 1966 lens, which was the first in the world to feature aspherical elements.
Learning how to use artificial lighting for portraits can free you from the constraints of natural light and enable new creative opportunities that simply would not be possible otherwise. Nonetheless, it can feel very foreign when you are first starting and also trying to manage directing your subject. This great video tutorial will give you five helpful tips for better flash portraits.
Nikon's original 14-24mm f/2.8 was a bit of a legend among DSLR lenses, and now, we have an updated version for the mirrorless Z mount. This fantastic video review takes a look at the new NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S lens and the kind of images you can make with it.
When it comes to artificial lighting, your choice of modifier is one of the most fundamental and crucial creative and technical decisions in the entire process. If you are new to working with artificial lights, this excellent video tutorial will give you the sort of practical knowledge you need to know which modifier is right for each photo you wish to make, along with a variety of illustrative examples.
Getting the perfect tripod for your style of shooting and the genre you most commonly shoot can be a little tricky. Here is a guide to the different tripod heads you can buy and what each of them is used for.
This video by Mango Street led me to being more observant. It made me see the almost comical aspects of my surroundings when walking around. To think of the space around you as a playful one could be the gateway to learning a new photographic language and communicate something more directly.
Luminar AI post-processing software has been out for a while now and is seeing its first major update. Take a look at what's new.
Many creatives are similar in a number of ways; we're self-critical, often riddled with doubt, and take losses hard. However, one commonality is tied up in all of these, and it can be highly detrimental: perfectionism.
Whether you're wistful for the good old days, or want to recreate an analogue feel in your digital photos, this Lightroom technique will help you adorn your photos with that vintage feel.
When a storm hits it is time to grab your camera and get out shooting because the light and dynamics of the weather are phenomenal!
Using a very shallow depth of field is highly popular for portrait photography, but when you combine that with flash, you can run into a tricky situation when you bump into your flash sync speed. There are two ways around this: high speed sync and ND filters. Which is right for your work? This excellent video tutorial will explain the differences as well as the pros and cons of each.
Could you do it? The iPad comes with a variety of absolutely fantastic features, it has a beautiful screen, and the tablet-editing experience can be very natural and enjoyable. However, there are still a lot of limitations as compared to a traditional computer. Could you use it exclusively for photo and video work for six months? This great video discusses a creative's experience in doing so.
The X-E4 is the latest camera in Fujifilm's popular X Series line of mirrorless cameras, and it brings with it a variety of improvements and great features suitable for a wide range of applications. If you have been wondering how it holds up in real-world usage, check out this great first look video.
With color being one of the most important aspects of any videographers work, it is something worth learning. And it's so much more than just a preset or Look-up Table (LUT).
Canon released an amazing 85mm lens. It is small, light, and perfect for portraits. It is also a macro lens, making it very versatile, especially for a wedding photographer. Canon Netherlands provided this lens for an extensive review.
One of the most favorite prime lens focal lengths is now in the G Master line. Does it live up to expectations?
Get professional looking edits on your mobile device by installing presets from your desktop version of Lightroom straight to Adobe Lightroom Mobile.
In 2017, Nikon released what is widely regarded as one of the greatest DSLR cameras ever created: the D850. With the arrival of the Z 7II, has Nikon finally caught up with itself and produced a mirrorless camera that matches its mirrored predecessor? Check out this video to find out.
Viltrox has released a host of lenses over the last 18 months offering some excellent performance and solid alternatives to many of the bigger manufacturers. This review looks at the recently released 56mm f/1.4 for Sony APS-C cameras, a portrait lens that has some very stiff competition from Sigma.
In this video tutorial, watch as Abbey Esparza shows you how to use advanced blending with Blend if in Photoshop.
Landscape images frequently demand extreme dynamic range, often beyond the capabilities of even the most modern sensors. There are a few ways around this issue, with exposure bracketing and graduated ND filters being two of the most common solutions, and this great video tutorial discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Food photography is a tricky genre that requires a strong sense of composition, great lighting techniques, and a large working knowledge of various tricks of the trade. If you are struggling with your food photography, this excellent video tutorial will show you seven common mistakes and how to avoid or fix them.
2020 was a great year for camera releases and it's going to be a tough act to follow. Nevertheless, there are rumors of things to come, as well as a lot of speculation. What would you like to see launched?
Atmosphere is a quality that almost any creation can have, it is often desirable, but it is tricky to achieve. When it's done right though, it makes the work memorable.
A good macro lens is one of the most versatile optics a photographer can own, suitable for anything from macro work to creating ultra-sharp portraits. If you are a Nikon shooter, check out this great video review of the AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens.
Along with today's medium format announcements, Fujifilm has also announced a new X Series camera, the X-E4, along with two new XF lenses.
Learn how to remove chromatic aberration (color fringing) manually in Lightroom Classic for the most accurate results.
The Sony a1 was just announced, and it is, without question, a remarkable camera. So, why is it good news for Canon?
Today, Fujifilm has announced a remarkably priced medium format camera and ultra-fast portrait lens for its popular GF platform.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but being a professional photographer is not always as amazing as you may think. Here's why choosing something else as a profession may actually be a better option.
When I teach someone photography, one of the things that I make sure the student knows is how the camera meters a scene. Once you understand how the camera meter actually works, you learn that your camera isn't as smart as you thought it was.
Creating even, realistic, and balanced lighting when shooting interiors for real estate can be tough. One route is to light an interior with flash and balance it against the ambient light outside. Another option is to use HDR to blend a number of bracketed images together. Which gives better results?
Fujifilm has announced their follow-up to their impressive medium format system and fourth camera in the GFX range, but does it impress?
Planning any shoot can be intricate and stressful, but fashion editorials sometimes take that even further with the level of preparation you need. Well, here are some key tips on how to better plan that sort of shoot, with some behind the scenes footage.
The flexibility of raw files is higher than it has ever been. This is great for recovering detail or balancing out the exposure, but it also gives you an enormous range for creativity in the edit.
Canon's RF 50mm f/1.2L is a spectacular lens that has garnered a lot of praise, but at over $2,000, it is extremely expensive and likely overkill for a lot of photographers. Canon also has the RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, however, giving photographers a much more affordable option, and this great video review takes a look at the kind of performance you can expect from it in practice.
