What Is Really Important in Photography?
There are hundreds if not thousands of posts discussing why creative vision is the most important aspect of photography. Why, then, are we so obsessed with gear?
There are hundreds if not thousands of posts discussing why creative vision is the most important aspect of photography. Why, then, are we so obsessed with gear?
Featuring an HDMI port, a 4K display, and the promise of streaming 4K footage over 5G, you can understand why Sony is referring to its new Xperia Pro a “communication device” rather than merely a smartphone. Does it live up to the hype?
In the first two parts of this three-part series, I discussed my initial impressions of the new Nikon Z 6II, a bit of casual shooting, as well as a fun trip to photograph some birds. Today, we will put the camera to a real test in a professional shooting situation to see how the camera might handle a commercial advertising campaign.
Got dust? Yea, thought so. In this article we'll delve into the surprising array of effects that different types of lens and sensor contamination can have on image quality. Some of them kind of cool. None of them good.
GuruShots is a photography website that hosts "The World’s Greatest Photo Game,” In their latest challenge, they invited participants to submit their best photos of "Impressive Architecture." The challenge received thousands of entries and millions of votes. You can see the three winners of the challenge as well as hundreds of top rated images below.
Photography studios come in many shapes and sizes, from family portrait studios on the high street to elaborate YouTuber sets. In this article, I walk you around my studio and explain why I have the layout and kit that I do for my work.
It has almost become a truism: social media creates mediocrity. In an effort to gain a share of the social media pie, artists are rewarded for blending in, not standing out.
A seasoned press photographer has been arrested and had his memory card seized after he took photos of protesters at a controversial former military barrack.
When it comes to new cameras, 2021 has already started off with a bang, with the release of Fujifilm GFX 100S bringing high-level medium format capabilities down to unheard of price levels, and the Sony a1 pushing mirrorless full frame into exciting new realms. With 11 months still to go in the year and a lot of exciting gear rumored to be on the way, what can we expect? This great video discusses what we might see.
Fujifilm recently announced the X-E4, the latest camera in the company's beloved X Series line of mirrorless cameras, and it pairs their latest X-Trans sensor with a lot of new features and capabilities at an affordable price. This excellent video review takes a look at the new camera and the pros and cons you can expect from it.
70-200mm f/2.8 lenses are some of the most versatile and highly popular optics out there, but they are rather expensive and heavy. For those who want the flexibility of the reach of a 70-200mm but do not need the extra light-gathering power, the 70-200mm f/4 is a fantastic option, and this great video review takes a look at Sony's option, the FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS.
Tamron made waves a few years ago with its 28-75mm f/2.8 lens for Sony full frame cameras. Now there’s an APS-C version and it might make the equivalent Sony lens look massively overpriced. How good is the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 for Sony crop-sensor cameras?
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.