What Will It Take for Olympus Cameras to Succeed?

OM Digital Solutions has promised the release of many exciting new products in the next year or so, but with the camera market more fiercely competitive than ever, they certainly face a steep uphill battle. What will it take for them to succeed? This excellent video essay discusses 10 things that will give them a better chance of finding success.

Photon for Mac and Windows Is a Very Unique Color Grading Editor

I understand what color grading and LUTs (Color Lookup Tables) are and how they can improve a photo or video. But a new application for Mac and Windows has a rather revolutionary interface that helps you visualize what your image values are and lets you modify them to your heart's content.

4 Ways to Manipulate the Foreground and Background in a Landscape Photo

If you combine foreground and background in a landscape photo, the two must work together. There are four ways to manipulate the relationship between the foreground and background. You just have to use depth of field, distance, and focal length in the best possible way.

A Lot of Canon Lenses Are Coming This Year

Canon's RF lenses have been highly lauded for their impressive optical quality and boundary-pushing designs, and the company is continuing to develop and release new glass. It looks like the second half of 2021 is going to be particularly exciting, with a huge collection of lenses on the way.

How To Color Match With Curves in Photoshop

In this video tutorial, watch as I show you how to color match with Curves in Photoshop. Curves is one of the most powerful tools to use in Photoshop, so make sure you try to use it in your workflow.

How to Simulate a Long Exposure in Photoshop

Long exposures are a highly popular look, but sometimes, you might not have an ND filter with you or you might not have decided to make a long exposure in the moment. If you have an image with potential that you think would look even better as a long exposure, this quick and helpful video tutorial will show you how to convincingly fake it using Photoshop.

A Review of the Fujifilm GF 80mm f/1.7 for Portraits

Fujifilm's medium format range doesn't have a huge selection of lenses, but it does have some utterly superb glass never the less. Their latest release has turned a few heads, but how good is it for portraiture?

A Guide to Focus Stacking in Lightroom and Photoshop

Often in certain genres (such as landscape or macro photography), you need more depth of field and sharpness than is possible to capture in a single image. When that happens, you will want to turn to focus stacking. It is a relatively straightforward technique, and this fantastic video tutorial will show you a workflow for it using Lightroom and Photoshop.

Is Sony About to Announce a 50mm f/1.2 GM Lens?

This is one that will grab many fans’ attention. Is the Japanese giant just weeks away from announcing a 50mm f/1.2 GM? How much will it cost and will you be placing an order?

Nikon D850 Versus Z 7II: The Ultimate Showdown

As an unabashed proponent of the Nikon D850, specifically my own personal D850, as being the greatest DSLR to ever come off the assembly line, the prospect of ever actually trading in my beloved camera for a mirrorless option has always been met with a healthy dose of skepticism. So, today, having had both a Z 7II and a D850 in my possession for a couple of months, I thought I would try to definitively answer the question of which is the best Nikon on the market, or, more specifically, for me.

A Year of COVID in Two Minutes

Just a year ago, as the pandemic spread around the world, the lives of billions of people changed dramatically. Here is a short video that shows the most impactful moments of the crisis through an emotional narrative.

A Look at the Uniquely Useful Canon Drop-in Filter Adapter

One of the most annoying aspects of using front-mounted circular filters is that there are many different common sizes, which can quickly add up in cost and make you carry around a bag with a bunch of different filters. Canon's unique Drop-In Filter EF-EOS R Mount Adapter solves that issue, allowing you to use a single ND or polarizing filter with any EF lens. This excellent video review takes a look at how it holds up in the real world.

How to Make Fake Ice for Food Photos

There are so many trade secrets in photography, but when I moved into food and drink, I found it almost impossible to get any real info on how to do anything of use.

Canon R5 Versus Canon C70: Which Should You Buy for Video?

Canon has been releasing some superb cameras in the last year, with lots of options for videographers. Two of the chief contenders are being pitted against one another here to see which is the best for video purposes.

Thoughts on Why Gear Doesn't Matter

A lot of us like to keep up with the latest gear, and there is certainly nothing inherently wrong with that; after all, cameras are rather nifty gadgets. But it is important to not confuse enthusiasm for gear with gear being a shortcut to improving as a photographer. This great video essay discusses the topic and offers some good motivation for enjoying what you have.

A Review of the Canon EOS R6 for Wedding Photographers

The Canon EOS R5 has been widely lauded for its highly impressive feature set. However, its sibling, the EOS R6, comes with a lot of those same impressive features and is much more affordable than the EOS R5. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera from a wedding photographer's perspective and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

How I Edited This Photo With Lightroom Mobile

Tired of your nature photos looking drab and dreary? Well, thanks to the power of Lightroom Mobile, you can now breathe new life into your images on the go thanks to its comprehensive toolset.

Inspiration: Conversations With Mick Rock and Fin DAC

One of them spent decades making decisions with the intention of fitting into community norms, creating stability. The other threw caution to the wind and jumped into a world of creativity with both feet before really understanding what life and responsibility were all about. Both Fin DAC and Mick Rock have ended up in the same place, near the top of their chosen artistic fields — inspirations for anyone following in their footsteps. What's even better, they're collaborating on a new show.

What Is the Best Affordable f/2.8 Standard Zoom for Sony?

Not too long ago, any Sony shooter wanting an f/2.8 standard zoom would have only a single option. Thanks to Sigma and Tamron, there are now three more to choose from. Which of these more affordable options is the best?

A Review of the Impressively Fast Fujifilm GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR Lens

Fuji's medium format system has proven wildly popular, and as the company has expanded the lineup, they have released some quite impressive lenses. The GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR is one of those lenses, and this great video review takes a look at it and how it performs in practice.

Can a Canon EOS R5 Stand Up to an iPhone 12 Pro Max?

It's the battle of the best of the best from two titans of the photography industry. No, I'm not talking about Sony versus Canon. I'm talking about the Canon EOS R5 versus an iPhone 12 Pro Max, and the results are surprising, to say the least.

The Pros and Cons of the Canon R5 for Landscape Photography

The Canon R5 has received a great deal of coverage since its release. Of course, much of the initial content detailed specifications and initial impressions. The real test comes after you've used the camera for a while.

My Favorite Budget Film Camera to Date: Fstoppers Reviews the Nikon FE

The Nikon FE is the perfect blend of a lightweight construction that still feels sturdy and has perfect functionality with my favorite camera feature: aperture priority mode. I never thought I’d find a 35mm camera that I’d use more than my F100 or F2, but here we are.

Just Go Shoot Photos

After multiple attempts to capture sunrise or sunset and not getting the conditions I wanted, I decided I was going to take photos no matter what the conditions were, forcing myself out of my comfort zone and pushing myself to be a better photographer.

Five Pieces of Gear That Will Change Your Wedding Photography

What are the obscure items that you carry with you on the day of shooting a wedding that make the day run smoother or make your results that little bit more pro? Here are five things you might not have thought of that could make a big difference.

Stuck at Home Alone During Lockdown? Try These Creative Self-Portrait Ideas With Strobes

At this point, it's fair to say that all of us have felt a touch of cabin fever over the past year, and with lockdowns/restrictions still in place all over the world, it's all the more important to keep the mind and body active, not least of all, the creative mind. This video has a few nice ideas for you to try with some basic gear.

10 360 Tools to Make Your Immersive Image-Making Easier

Times have really changed for 360 shooters. When the cameras first came out, there was no ecosystem of products to make shooting easier. In 2021, that's definitely not the case, and YouTuber and 360 shooter Ben Claremont looks at some of the gear that will make life in 360 a little bit easier.

7 Common Mistakes Photographers Make

Whether amateur or professional, there are certain common mistakes that we all make at one point or another. This excellent video tutorial discusses seven common mistakes photographers make and how to either avoid them or fix them.

Why Shadows Are so Crucial in Photos and Video

We spend a ton of time talking about how to light subjects not only to bring out their features in a flattering way, but to also convey a certain mood or message. But just as important as where you place light is where you do not. This excellent video essay shows you the importance of shadows and how they are used to add depth and meaning to photos and videos.

The Differences Between Various Popular Lighting Modifiers

When it comes to portraits, one of the most important decisions you can make is the choice of modifier. This great video will show you three common modifiers (softbox, parabolic umbrella, and umbrella) along with a lot of helpful example photos to show you how they will render your subject.

5 Great Smartphone Photography Ideas

Smartphones have more and more powerful cameras and tech behind them as the years roll on, opening opportunities for shoots with just your phone.

The Most Important Photo Editing Tools

Post-production on images is a deep and varied process with no one way to do any task. So what are the most important tools and in which order should you use them?

A Look at the Autofocus and Image Quality of the Fujifilm GFX 100S

The Fujifilm GFX 100S is one heck of a camera, taking the company's highly respected GFX 100 medium format mirrorless camera and cutting both its size and price nearly in half. This great video review takes a look at the camera's image quality and autofocus performance, as well as having some fun by adapting some full frame lenses to it.

Should You Buy the Sony FX3 Instead of the a7S III?

There’s not a lot to separate these two cameras, but this overview from Gerald Undone makes a good argument for anyone wondering whether the brand new Sony FX3 is worth the extra cash over the near-identical a7S III.

Fstoppers Photographer of the Month (February 2021): Paola Padron

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.

Why You Should Consider a Personal Photo Project

A lot of professional photographers will tell you over and over about the importance of taking on personal projects. Even if you are only a hobbyist, they are a fantastic way to build your skills, expand your creativity, and become a more confident photographer. This fantastic video essay discusses why you should consider picking up a photography project.

Everything You Need to Know About Aperture in Just Two Minutes

Along with shutter speed and ISO, aperture is one of the three most fundamental parameters that every photographer needs to have an absolute mastery of. This fantastic video tutorial will show you everything you need to know about how aperture works and how to use it for your photos in just two minutes.

What Sort of Camera Strap Is Right for You?

Of all the accessories that come with photography, your camera strap is probably not one you think about very often (if at all). However, with several pounds hanging off your neck for often hours at a time, it is something you should give a bit of consideration, and there are more options than you might have realized. This great video will show you a variety of straps, what they are useful for, and how they can improve your comfort.

Should You Follow Trends or Photograph What You Love?

With the rise of social media, photography trends are more prominent than ever. Should you follow them or just photograph what you want? This great video essay discusses the balance between the two.

How to Create a Dramatic Black and White Image in Photoshop

Converting a photo to black and white is about more than simply pulling all the color out of it; it is a chance to make an entirely new image. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how to convert a photo to black and white in Photoshop and turn it into a dramatic, eye-catching piece.

Should You Buy Photography Products From Kickstarter?

The traditional route for startups to bring great product ideas to market was to fund them directly or find willing venture capitalists to invest. The advent of crowd platforms such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo have dramatically changed the product funding landscape, and this is as true for photography as elsewhere. So, should you buy products from the likes of Kickstarter?

Does a Love of Photography Help or Hinder a Career in It?

Photography is a passion and a hobby for many and a career for a few. But to truly succeed in this competitive industry, does love for photography stand you in good stead, does it make little difference, or does it work against you?