Kobe Bryant, Photography, and the Meaning of Work

As often is the case, the aftermath of tragedy has drawn my attention away from the cool gadgets and techniques of the photographic profession and caused my mind to drift back to the why. Allow me a moment to indulge a larger question.

Three Quick Reasons Why You Should Use the Modeling Light on Your Strobes

The vast majority of studio strobes have modeling lights built in, which most of us think of as being useful for showing how the shadows are going to fall when we take a shot, but they are useful for more than just that. This quick and helpful video will give you three reasons why you should always use the modeling lights on your strobes.

The Simple Secret of Creating Dramatic Landscape Photos

The difference between a mediocre edit and a superb edit is sometimes subtle. This subtle difference can often be just a matter of applying a minor dodge and burn, vignette, or other editing technique that gently finesses the image into a masterpiece.

Adobe Premiere Adds Pro Productions Features

Adobe Premiere Pro is set to receive a major feature set update, focused on professional productions. Built from the ground up “with top filmmakers and Hollywood editorial teams” in mind, these features could change how you work on large or complex projects.

Can You Understand This Baffling Camera Setting?

Do you ever get the feeling that people who make menu settings on cameras and manual instructions to follow are having a laugh at your expense by making things so confusing? Can you explain this Canon menu riddle to me? Because it's baffling me.

Critique the Community Submit Your Best "Action" Photo

Congratulations to the Winners!

Congratulations to the lucky 20 images chosen for this Critique the Community, and congrats to the top rated image by Alexis Cuarezma. This week's random winning submission goes to Chris Manning.  Please contact Lee Morris to claim your free tutorial from the Fstoppers Store.

A Beginner's Guide to Removing Blemishes in Photoshop

If you are photographing people, one of the most fundamental skills you will need is the ability to retouch blemishes. If you are new to the process, this helpful video will show you how to use Photoshop to do it.

Professional Photographers Are Now Offering Cameraphone Courses

The omnipresence of camera phones and their prospect of "replacing" professional cameras has caused an uneasy stir within the photographic community. And now adding to this agitation are a few professionals who are offering photography workshops based on shooting with smartphone cameras.

The Importance of Learning Not to Care as a Creator

One of the biggest aspects of the vast connectedness of the modern world is how easy it is to access a wealth of information and content from millions of creators and educators. But that is not always a good thing, and this great video discusses why you should try to care just a little less and gives you an actionable plan to accomplish that.

Vimeo Is About to Add Some Useful Tools to Their Service Offering

YouTube has become the go-to space for video. We have famous video creators that earn a good living doing so. And then, we have Vimeo, the professionally orientated video-sharing platform that many professionals use to host their projects and productions in the best quality possible online.

Review of the Elinchrom ELM8 After Four Months of Use

Elinchrom focus has mostly been on light shapers and strobes ever since they've existed. However, the ELM8 they released last year may be a hint they are serious about getting into continuous light. After four months of use, here's my opinion on the Elinchrom ELM8.

If Canon Is Releasing Four Full-Frame Cameras This Year, What Should They Be?

There’s been a lot of speculation about what camera Canon would add next to its new range of full-frame mirrorless bodies, and we might be a step closer to seeing what will emerge over the next twelve months. According to rumors, one is pretty certain, but the other two are a little more unexpected.

Why Do Cameras All Have Such Stupid Names?

Sorry, Nikon, but why you ever thought that calling hundreds of different camera models COOLPIX would be a good idea will always confuse me. It's not just Nikon, though; camera names and naming conventions are a car crash of branding and lack of foresight. Why are they all so terrible? And which is the worst?

3 Ways to Master Abstract Photography

Abstract nature and landscape photography is a subgenre in its own right. It is a fascinating approach to nature, where the feeling of the photo is usually more important than the subject.

Submit Your Best "Quirky" Image
Critique the Community

Submit Your Best "Quirky" Image

Critique the Community "Quirky" Edition

We want to see your best images that capture "Quirky" for our next Critique the Community. 

This contest has ended.
Scientists Record Incredible Footage of Atoms Bonding

Forget macrophotography. Nanophotography is pushing the boundaries of what was thought possible to record, as scientists have, for the first time, captured incredible footage of previously unseen physical processes.

A First Look at the New Fujifilm X-T200 Camera

The Fujifilm X-T200 is the latest camera body from the company and the newest member of the beloved X Series line of cameras. With some notable features and a very reasonable price, it looks to be like a potential winner for lots of photographers and filmmakers. This great video takes a first look at the camera and what you can expect from it.

Using the New Canon 1D X Mark III to Shoot the NFL Playoffs

The 1D X Mark III is undoubtedly a powerhouse on paper, with specs that are sure to make any photographer drool. But do those specs translate to the sort of real-world performance working pros need? This excellent video discusses how it holds up when put to the test in the challenging environment of the NFL playoffs.

Are Your Photos Interesting Enough?

We all talk about the importance of finding your visual style, but do you really know why you need one? It's more than just being unique; a visual style is key to shooting photos with interest. And it's that interest that keeps people coming back.

Film Isn't Vegan: Why You Should Potentially Reconsider Shooting It if You Care About Animals

Film photography is enjoying a bit of a resurgence at the moment, with many people flocking to it for reasons ranging from the abundance of cheap used equipment, to the enjoyment of the process, or the look of the results. And while film can certainly be both a fun and rewarding way to shoot, it is important to be aware of its downsides as well, one of them being the fact that it is not friendly to animals.

How to Edit a Raw Image in Photoshop

Photoshop is a tremendously capable program full of tons of capabilities, but one of the most fundamental and useful of them is Camera Raw. If you are new to Photoshop, this helpful video will show you just how much you can accomplish using Camera Raw to edit your images.

How to Color Grade Your Images Using the Levels Tool in Photoshop

Color grading is a pivotal step in putting the finishing polishes on an image and developing your own personal style. If you are new to the technique, this great video will show you how you can quickly and effectively color grade an image using the Levels tool in Photoshop.

What Was the First Photo You Took That Got You Hooked on Photography?

If you were anything like me when you first started in photography, you probably took a metric ton of pictures of just about anything you could point your camera at. But what was the first photo you took that got you truly excited about photography? Did it change your path through photography or even life itself?

When Should You Underexpose Your Images?

Underexposing is one of the most common techniques photographers in many different genres use, and it can be quite a beneficial way to shoot, but that does not mean it is always the appropriate way to shoot. This helpful video discusses the benefits of underexposing your images, when it might be right for your workflow, and when you should avoid it.

Top Five Life Rules for Photographers

Photography is a microcosm for the real world, and in many ways, it mirrors it. Here are my top five rules for life that I've transferred to photography.

5 Helpful Tips for Retouching Portraits in Luminar 4

Skylum's Luminar 4 is quite the fascinating application, particularly with its artificial intelligence features that are meant to save you lots of time in post-processing work while still delivering quality results. If you are interested in using Luminar 4 to retouch portraits, this great video will give you five tips to ensure you get the best possible results.

Should Fujifilm Completely Discontinue the X-H1 Series of Cameras?

When the X-H1 was first announced, I wrote an article talking about how it was a disappointing release from Fujifilm. My thoughts about that camera haven't really changed; however, since rumors of the X-T4 started to circulate, I've had a think about the H series and where it sits in the line-up.

Understanding Color Space and How It Affects Your Photos

Do you understand the differences in color spaces? Have you ever exported a photo out of Adobe Photoshop after some editing, and once you upload it online, the colors appear to be completely different? Perhaps the colors now look muted and dull?

Here's Why It's a Great Idea to Invest in Digital Asset Management

When I first started out in photography I didn't have any specific process to manage any of my images and files. This is one of the primary reasons I don't have many of my early images anymore. It's a shame because I was quite proud of some of the images I had produced.

My 3 Favorite Tips for Photographing Models

Photographers: if you're looking to have a smoother shoot, you might want to try these few tips that really contribute to my photography sessions. Remember, it's how you manage a shoot that really contributes to someone's opinion of you, assuming the photography is already done well.

Reducing the Environmental Impact of Your Photography: Hahnemühle's Green Papers

Optical printing is a dirty and time-consuming process. The chemicals involved in printing are bad for you and bad for the environment. Digital printing hasn’t changed much of this impact for the better. The chemicals used to treat photographic printer paper aren’t great for the environment. The paper itself uses a significant amount of resources to cultivate. Do you ever wonder if there is a better alternative?