How do you know if an umbrella costing $100 is any better than the $5 one? It's quite hard to tell the difference in terms of light quality, especially if you're a beginner. But I assure you, expensive light modifiers are quite different from the regular cheap ones. That difference is noticeable only after you've used them for some time.
When I started out in photography, I didn't even know that ad agencies were a thing. To be honest, I didn't know a lot at all. However, over the years I have picked up a few tricks that will hopefully help you.
Micro Four Thirds offers some definite advantages over full frame when it comes to the size of the lenses, but what compromises come with it — and what role does equivalence play?
Avoiding converging lines and keystone distortion with a wide angle lens can be tricky, which is why a shift function can be so useful. This great video review takes a look at the Venus Optics Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Zero-D Shift and the sort of image quality you can expect from it in practice.
The M1 architecture released by Apple late last year completely blew away the expectations of many tech enthusiasts, myself included. Now that the dust has settled after a few months for apps to grow into the new system, how well does the M1 chip handle photo and video editing?
Retouching is a daunting prospect to anyone who has yet to try it and even more daunting for those who have just started. In this video, you'll learn about the basics of retouching and color correction while an instructor edits a portrait.
Hands down, the best zoom lens you can get for the Sony mirrorless system is the 70-200mm f/4 G lens. I’ve been using it professionally for over three yearsm and it lives up to its reputation. Let me tell you why.
A common issue in landscape photography is shrunken backgrounds due to using a wide angle lens. This excellent video tutorial will show you a neat technique for fixing the issue in Photoshop.
The art of boudoir photography can get lost in translation and become something other than what it was intended to be. Don't the photographer that fails to hit the mark and misses out on an amazing opportunity.
A wide-aperture 24mm lens is useful for a huge range of applications, from events coverage to astrophotography and more. The Viltrox 24mm f/1.8 is highly affordable but still offers rather good image quality, and this great video review takes a look at what you can expect from it.
Every photographer has their own workflow, and most of us start by making edits in our raw files. Sometimes, I start in Lightroom Classic; other times, I open them with Photoshop, which takes me to Camera Raw. At times, I use Luminar AI. Now, with the debut today of DxO PureRAW, photographers have a better way to start their editing sessions, with some compelling advantages over what you are using now.
Samyang has just released the previously rumored AF 24mm f/1.8 FE lens. According to their official statement, the lens is designed specifically with astrophotography and landscape shots in mind.
Marc Klaus is one artist who has a voice uniquely his own. He has used visuals and storytelling to create a meta-narrative; the video has no words but acts as a deeply insightful look into Klaus's process through clever camera work, in-camera collage, and performance art.
Smartphones are becoming a larger and larger part of many photographers' kits. They are a Swiss Army knife of utility, and Sony has just announced two new phones that boast impressive specs.
Canon’s latest product announcement has sent heads spinning: a resurrected product name, a breakthrough in Canon’s sensor technology, and features that make it look a lot like a 1D X Mark III — and then some. What can we expect from the forthcoming Canon EOS R3?
With increasingly complex automation, turnkey editing has become easier than ever, and the line between photography and digital art is blurrier than ever. So, at what point does an image stop being a photo and become something else? This interesting video essay examines the topic and offers some insight.
Canon is showing no signs of stopping, with three new mirrorless lenses hitting the market, each with impressive features: the RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, RF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM, and RF 600mm f/4L IS USM, each with quite interesting features.
Canon has confirmed the upcoming EOS R3 mirrorless camera, and they are not messing around.
A lot of new photographers view weddings as an easy way to break into professional photography while making a lot of money with minimal time, effort, and gear. As a professional wedding and portrait photographer, I can tell you part of that is true.
Black and white images have been revered in photography since they were the only option and continue to do so today. What makes a great black and white image, however, can often come down to post-production.
Shooting film might be a dying industry, but don’t let that hold you back from the joy of this lost art. I would also argue that occasionally shooting a film will make you a better photographer! The same things we love about our digital cameras are the things that make us lazy.
Landscape photography is a bit of a different genre: there is not as clear a path to being a pro as in other areas, and there are many different ways to engage with it. If you are wondering about the genre, this interesting video discusses five things no one really tells you about being a landscape photographer and offers some great tips and advice in the process.
In an industry where every day seemingly brings the announcement of a new camera system promising to up your photography game while simultaneously depleting your bank account, it can be hard to know what is really worth the investment. So today, I’ll have a quick look at three areas where I’ve found you almost always get an appropriate level of bang for your buck.
While gimbals are a staple of videography these days, in-camera image stabilization (IBIS) has improved to a level that with a bit of know-how, you can get great shots handheld too. Here are ten different styles of shots you can create without a gimbal.
Are you a creative content producer that needs to save time when it comes to editing video content? Look no further than Wondershare Filmii which quickly organizes your video content for a fast upload.
A lot of popular landscape photography is very rich and vibrant, with complex and multilayered compositions. And while you can certainly create compelling images in that style, it is not the only one. At the other end of the spectrum is minimalism, which is quite challenging in its own way. This great video tutorial details some helpful tips for improving your minimalistic landscape images.
As a film photographer myself, one of the biggest struggles when going out to shoot is deciding on the right film. Considerations of film speed and color rendering are two of the most important and these are two that differ considerably between Portra and Ektar.
At just two inches (five cm) long and 8.1 oz (230 g), the Sigma 24mm f/3.5 DG DN Contemporary is an exceedingly portable lens at an ideal focal length for walkaround work or quick and versatile events coverage. This great video review takes a look at the lens and if its image quality and performance can match its sleek design.
We know the EOS R1, Canon's flagship mirrorless camera, is on its way at some point this year. However, a leaked image of another camera just dropped, and it looks like Canon has big plans.
An unusual situation has occurred on several occasions in the social media era, and it is as counterproductive as it is interesting. In this article, I will discuss the irony of trying to remove a photograph from the internet and the implications of a public persona in modern life.
For many film photographers, processing color-negative film (C-41) is a bit of an intimidating task. This guide walks you through the steps to make it feel more approachable.
Sony shooters are now blessed with an array of fairly fast 35mm prime lenses, a glaring void in its lineup not too long ago. The latest addition is the Sigma 35mm f/2, a faux-vintage lens that brings a lot of tactile refinement to a compact and classic form.
Few film cameras have the reputation and the history of the Mamiya RB67. The Pro-SD version has been somewhat elusive as it's the most recent of the three versions of the RB.
The Really Right Stuff PG-01 Compact Pano-Gimbal Head allows you to shoot multi-row panoramas without parallax. I bought one a couple of years ago and it's time to share my findings of this compact solution for panoramas.
Everything is copyable in the digital age and that's not including copyright infringement or stealing imagery. Nor is it an indictment for following the popularity curve. When something is trending on any online platform, creators are going to jump on the bandwagon. It's not an if, but a when.
As a wedding photographer, having a gallery of my work has never been something that has crossed my mind. So when I was approached by The Apollo on Emma about putting some of my work on display, I had to dive down the rabbit hole of possibilities.
While a $20 Best Buy tripod might seem like a good value, that’s not the case when in just a few short years you have to buy 6 of them because they keep breaking on you. I know from experience. After missing enough shots because my tripods kept breaking, I broke down and bought a professional tripod and haven’t looked back since.
Olympus UK has just released another Facebook Live video as part of their "Learn with Olympus" series. Their Ambassador, Gavin Hoey, talks about wide-angle photography.
You do not have to spend a ton of money for a top-level landscape photography camera. This excellent video discusses one particularly good camera that might be flying under your radar.
Staying focused is a premium in the 21st century, and nothing makes you feel more lost in the sauce than not knowing which way your lens is pointed. This method will help you stay focused and help create a system to save all the information you come across in a searchable database for future reference.
A good macro lens is one of the most versatile a photographer can have in their bag, offering both the ability to capture close-up detail shots and ultra-sharp portraits. This awesome video review takes a look at one such option, the FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro lens, and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
For some time now, I've been hearing that straight photography is dead. Well, dying anyway.
Fujifilm's GFX 100 was one of the most groundbreaking cameras of recent times, offering a medium format sensor, top-level image quality, loads of resolution, and a wide variety of advanced modern features, all in a package that significantly undercut traditional medium format prices. The GFX 100S takes all the capabilities of the GFX 100 and cuts its physical size and price almost in half. This great video review takes a look at the camera and its image quality and performance in real-world usage.
The annual Lyrid Meteor Shower is nearly upon us, peaking on the evening of April 21-22. While it’s not the best of the annual meteor showers, it is a good opportunity to try your hand at the challenge of capturing an image of a meteor. And even better, you may already have all of the equipment on hand: tripod, DSLR or mirrorless camera, and wide angle lens.
Nikon started out its mirrorless Z mount with mostly pragmatic lenses, but as time has gone on, the library has expanded to more extreme designs. One such example is the NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S lens, and this excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the kind of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.
Recently, I was lucky enough to have a portfolio review with a photography agent. It was only my second review ever and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect — so when four agents from the one agency popped up in the Zoom meeting, I was a little intimidated. They were lovely and warm and welcoming though. I just wanted to knit them a hat.
How do you position your artificial light sources?
Fujifilm has launched its latest instant camera the Instax Mini 40 along with a the new Contact Sheet instant film. The new film has been described to mimic the look of classic contact sheet film.
The EOS 3 was one of the last film cameras from Canon, and it brought with it a range of advanced and unique features that make it a great choice even today. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera and how it holds up in 2021.
Are dull, flat skies ruining your photographs? Learn how to capture real clouds and dramatic skies in camera, no sky replacement or Photoshop needed.
