The Near Perfect Peak Design Coyote Colorway Everyday Backpack Hits the Market
A few months back, I reviewed the new Peak Design Coyote Colorway straps. They have now released a raft of new gear in the same color but with some improvements to the build. Let me introduce you to the new Coyote Everyday Backpack.
Mastering Portrait Lighting: Five Versatile Setups
Lighting is one of the most critical aspects of portrait photography, significantly influencing the mood and impact of your images. Here are five useful and versatile setups.
How Spontaneity Can Lead to Your Best Photos Yet
Photography doesn’t always go as planned. Sometimes, it’s the unplanned moments that yield the best results.
Essential Equipment for Your Office
As I write this article, I am sitting on the Hinomi X1 ergonomic chair, and I've never been more comfortable working in my office. I got this chair three weeks ago and have spent many hours testing it. In this review, I'll share my experience.
The Complete Landscape Photography Workflow
Capturing a great landscape photograph involves more than just pressing the shutter. To truly elevate your work, you need to understand the entire process—from planning your shoot to perfecting the final image.
Is Medium Format Worth It?
High-end gear can be tempting, especially when it promises unmatched image quality. But is it always worth it?
Why Unpopular Choices Can Lead to Unique Photography
Choosing your own path in photography isn't always easy, especially when popular opinion often points in a different direction. This video is a thoughtful reflection on how your personal tastes can influence your photographic journey, even if those tastes aren't mainstream.
Adobe Announces Integration of Lightroom and Frame.io
Adobe has announced an integration of camera hardware and software that will be a game changer for news and event photographers. Beginning today as a beta implementation, photographers using a camera with C2C (camera-to-cloud) technology built in will be able to upload images from their camera into Frame.io, where images can be instantly edited using Adobe Lightroom. This workflow will allow a photographer to shoot an all-day event without stopping to download images onto a computer. Culling, editing, and delivery can be handled by an off-site editor anywhere.
Fujifilm X-H2S: Performance Powerhouse With Ergonomic Drawbacks
The Fujifilm X-H2S is a powerful option for photographers who need quick, reliable performance in high-pressure situations. For those who shoot large volumes, this camera could make a noticeable difference in your process.
Why Every Photographer Needs a Portfolio
Creating a photography portfolio might seem like a task reserved for professionals, but it can be important even if you’re just an amateur. It’s not just about showcasing your work. It’s about growth, self-evaluation, and keeping your passion alive.
Has the Backpack Ecosystem Arrived? Nanuk’s N-PVD 30L Backpack Reviewed
After 10+ years, I’ve realized no single camera bag is perfect, but some get close. The Nanuk N-PVD 30L combines a high-quality bag with a useful storage system. In this review, I’ll go through what I loved and explain how it fits into Nanuk’s broader “N-CUBIK ecosystem.”
How to Balance Planning and Spontaneity in Landscape Photography
You’ve probably experienced those moments when the weather changes unexpectedly or you find yourself on the wrong trail. These challenges are all part of the landscape photography journey, but how you handle them can make or break your shot. Preparation, persistence, and a little flexibility can lead to stunning results.
How to Create a Stunning Glow Effect in Lightroom
Creating a glowing light spill effect can dramatically alter the mood and atmosphere of your landscape photos. Here's how to do it in Lightroom.
How to Master Photoshop’s Generative Fill for Complex Edits
When using Photoshop’s Generative Fill, you might assume it’s the perfect solution for removing unwanted objects. However, reality often tells a different story. Removing complex elements like fences can quickly turn into a frustrating task, especially when Generative Fill keeps replacing one fence with another. Here's how to get around those issues.
A Month in Monochrome: Exploring the Leica M10 Monochrom
If you’ve been contemplating a shift in your photography, especially if black-and-white imagery has intrigued you, you’re not alone. Sometimes, a new tool or a different approach is what it takes to reignite your creative spark.
The Differences Between Photo and Cine Lenses
The evolution of camera technology has blurred the lines between photo and video gear, leaving you to navigate a mix of options. One key area where this confusion is most apparent is in the choice between photo lenses and cine lenses.
Review: Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI – A Game-Changer for Smartphone Filmmakers
As a passionate landscape photographer, I often emphasize that a phone will never fully replace a professional camera. However, in an age where social media dominates and more photos and videos are being captured on personal phones than ever before, it's important to acknowledge the innovations enabling phone users to capture incredible footage and photos. The Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI is one such innovation worth noting.
Tips and Gear for Beginner Astrophotographers
When you first look through a telescope, something changes. You’re no longer just gazing at the night sky—you’re exploring it.
Confronting Thieves Who Stole $25,000+ of Camera Gear
it's one thing to have your camera bag stolen. But what if you could track it down?
Are You Tapping Into the Full Power of Adobe Lightroom’s Masking Tools?
Adobe Lightroom has continued to improve as various tools inside the software have matured. One area in Lightroom that has made tremendous advances is masking, but are you maximizing the masking options in your photo editing to take advantage of these impressive features?
The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8: A Must-Have Lens for Canon APS-C Users
The Canon RF mount has been limited in its lens options, particularly for APS-C users. If you've found yourself frustrated with the lack of fast, versatile lenses for Canon’s APS-C mirrorless cameras, you're not alone. However, there's good news. Canon is finally allowing third-party manufacturers to develop for the RF mount, and Sigma's 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary lens is a standout in this new lineup.
Restoring Natural Skin Tones in Lightroom
Skin tones can be tricky, especially when using on-camera flash at events like weddings. The bright light often washes out the natural color, leaving skin looking pale or flat. However, there’s a quick and effective method in Lightroom to bring back those natural tones.
Has Camera Technology Already Passed the Threshold for What Most Photographers Actually Need?
With the plethora of new camera features that manufacturers have rolled out in recent years, it begs the question, “How much more do we actually need?"
The Leica Q3: Is It Worth the Hype?
With its distinctive design and premium price, the Leica Q3 is an intriguing camera. Does it deliver enough to justify its steep cost?
How to Use Backlighting for Dynamic Portraits
Backlighting is a powerful technique that can transform your portraits by adding depth, dimension, and a distinct visual impact. By positioning a light source behind your subject, you can create striking highlights that outline the contours of your subject’s hair and body, making them stand out against the background.
Tips from a Pro: We Interview Live Music Photographer Kevin Kerr
Live music photography is an area that intrigues many, yet few really find a breakthrough. We recently spoke with Kevin Kerr, who swapped his Silicon Valley profession for a career in live music photography. Find out what is in his gear bag and what goes into a great live music photograph.
How to Choose Between Canon's R1 and R5 Mark II
Canon recently released two high-end cameras, the R1 and the R5 Mark II, both packed with features that make them standouts. Choosing between them depends on what you plan to shoot and how you shoot it.
Why Black and White Films Are Easier on the Eyes
Color is essential in filmmaking, yet black and white has an enduring appeal that transcends time. Black and white films offer a unique visual experience, allowing viewers to focus on composition, contrast, and texture. This often leads to a more intense emotional connection with the story.
Vivo Launches The V40 Pro and V40: Affordable Smartphones with Advanced Camera Technology
Vivo has launched its latest V40 series of smartphones, featuring the V40 and V40 Pro. Co-engineered with ZEISS, these new models promise several key features that improve on the popular previous V30 series.
Strategies To Help Revive Your Declining Wedding Photography Business
It’s no secret that photographers from various genres are experiencing a decline in bookings. The ease of using a smartphone and the quality that anyone can get from those devices have reduced the need to hire a professional for small and even mid-level shoots. Wedding photography is a genre where people are accustomed to hiring professional photographers, and the smartphone has had a lesser impact here.
Quick Photoshop Tricks for Instant Photo Improvements
When your photos don’t quite capture the scene as you remember it, quick fixes in Photoshop can make all the difference.
The Versatile Nikon 28-400mm: Is It Worth the Investment?
In challenging environments like the mountains, versatility in your gear is key. A lens that can handle a wide range of focal lengths gives you the flexibility to capture diverse scenes, all without the hassle of constant lens changes.
PortraitPro 24: Redefining Digital Retouching
Retouching has long been a time-consuming process that not many of us photographers enjoy. Yet, it is inevitable to have to retouch your photos. Fortunately, PortraitPro 24 is introducing more advanced features and capabilities that have further cemented the software’s reputation as a must-have tool for portrait photographers. Read on to find out why.
Luminar Neo Fall Release Adds New AI Features
Skylum, the company that offers AI editor Luminar Neo, has some very desirable updates coming in October.
Exploring Wabi-Sabi Through Black and White Polaroid Photography
Black and white photography isn’t just a nostalgic nod to the past. It’s a powerful tool that strips away distractions, leaving only the essence of a moment.
How to Use Photography to Push Boundaries and Express Yourself
Photography serves as a gateway to more than just images; it opens doors to self-discovery and creative freedom. Finding your purpose in photography can change how you see both the world and yourself.
7 Telephoto Lens Mistakes to Avoid for Better Landscape Photography
Using a telephoto lens is one of the most powerful tools for capturing landscape photography. It enables you to explore perspectives far beyond what classic wide-angle shots can achieve, allowing for creative and compelling compositions. However, using a telephoto lens can be tricky, especially if you’re just getting started. In this article, I share my top seven mistakes to avoid when using a telephoto lens, along with some technical advice and creative tips to enhance your photography.
3 Ways Photographers Sabotage Their Own Careers
As a professional photographer, you must face all sorts of obstacles. But the highest hurdles tend to be those you put in your own way.
We've Used the Zoner Photo Studio X 2024 Update and You Might Want To As Well
When it comes to photo editing software, the selection out there is not huge by any means. However, the programs that are available to us at least stand out from one another in interesting ways. Today we’re going to talk about Zoner Photo Studio X, more specifically the 2024 update.
Lightroom Masking: A Step-by-Step Guide
Lightroom’s masking tools can dramatically transform an image by targeting specific areas for enhancement. Here's a look at a powerful approach to editing using them.
Common Photography Portfolio Mistakes to Avoid
Whether you're looking to advance your career or simply improve your craft, the way you present your work speaks volumes. A polished portfolio distinguishes you from the amateurs, showing not only your technical skills but also your ability to curate. Understanding which shots to include—and more importantly, which to leave out—is a crucial step in this process.
10 Simple Tips to Capture Professional Photos With Your Phone
Continuous Light vs. Flash: Which Is Right for Your Photography?
The debate between continuous light and flash is more relevant than ever as advancements in technology blur the lines between the two. Knowing when to use each lighting type can make all the difference.
Why the New Tamron 28-300mm Is a Great All-in-One Lens
The Tamron 28-300mm f/4-7.1 lens might not seem like an obvious choice for professionals, but it’s a versatile option for a wide range of situations. Whether you're traveling, exploring the outdoors, or simply need an all-in-one solution, this lens offers a lot in a compact package.
Mastering Harsh Sunlight for Stunning Portraits
Shooting portraits in challenging light can be intimidating, but it’s also a great opportunity to explore creative possibilities. When you’re out in bright, harsh sunlight, knowing how to manage that light is key to producing compelling images that stand out.
Navigating Financial Challenges in Photography
The financial landscape for photographers has always been unpredictable. You might have a great year followed by months of little to no work. This ebb and flow can make it difficult to maintain a consistent income.
Monopods: When and Why to Use Them
Monopods are a versatile and often overlooked tool. They offer a unique blend of stability and mobility that can be crucial for certain types of photography.
3 Reasons Why Choosing a Specialty In Photography Is Key To Business
Being an artist means keeping an open mind to all possibilities. But sometimes, limiting your scope can lead to a world of opportunities.
Outdoor Family Portraits: Lighting and Location Essentials
Scouting locations for outdoor family portraits requires a thoughtful approach to lighting, composition, and finding the right environment to make your subjects shine. Whether you’re dealing with direct sunlight or working in shaded areas, understanding how light interacts with your surroundings is crucial.