Lighting can make or break a portrait. Knowing when and how to use a two-light setup can elevate your work and help you control tricky lighting situations.

Intimate landscape photography captures the subtle, often overlooked details in nature. This approach offers a new way to explore and appreciate the beauty of small-scale compositions. By isolating textures, colors, and patterns, it enables you to find compelling visuals even in familiar or seemingly unremarkable locations.

Choosing a lightweight lens often means trading off build quality and image quality for portability. But for those who need something compact and capable, the Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.7 XF offers a lot.

Five years ago, I suggested that Apple get into the dedicated camera game again by turning its long-neglected (and now officially dead) iPod touch into a sweet connected camera. It didn't happen, but apparently there are some folks who appreciate iPod cameras just the way they are.

The 7artisans Photoelectric 60mm f/2.8 Macro lens is a budget-friendly option that aims to provide macro enthusiasts with impressive close-up shots. This lens, unlike some of its predecessors, offers a full frame image circle, making it more versatile for those who want to experiment with extreme magnification. While the low price and features are tempting, the lens has some significant shortcomings you’ll want to consider.

There are two distinct approaches to photography: reactive and proactive. The type of photography you do depends on your personality and how comfortable you are with each of those approaches. What kind of photographer are you?

Light is more than just a way to illuminate your subject—it’s the key to creating mood and emotion in an image. With a blank wall and a single subject, the right use of lighting can turn an ordinary scene into something that tells a story.

Capturing the perfect moment often means waiting in less-than-ideal conditions and hoping for the light to turn. That’s exactly what happened during this trip to Yosemite National Park. In search of moody, winter-like weather, it became a waiting game against sunny skies and limited time.

Lightroom Classic can get cluttered quickly if you’re managing a large catalog of folders and collections. Finding the ones you access frequently can become frustrating, especially if your organization style is all over the place. There are a few quick tricks you can use to make your go-to folders and collections stand out, saving you time and hassle.

Finding a compact telephoto lens that offers good reach without adding too much bulk to your kit can be challenging. Enter the TTArtisan 250mm f/5.6 Reflex, a mirror lens designed to provide a long focal length in a small, lightweight package. While mirror lenses don’t have the best reputation for image quality and usability, this one stands out as a modern take on a classic design that attempts to overcome some of those limitations.

The Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70-200mm f/2.8 ASPH lens has been highly anticipated by users who want quality optics without the bulk of larger telephoto options. For sports and wildlife shooting, it’s essential to have a lens that not only delivers sharp images but also handles well during fast-paced action. But does this lens really meet those needs?

Cool mornings and beautiful afternoons mean one thing: fall is knocking on our doorstep. Fall is my favorite season for photography as the possibilities are endless, from colorful trees creating reflections in the water to cool, foggy mornings. Capturing the beauty of fall doesn’t have to be hard with a few simple tips and reminders.

The Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM II and Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S are two of the most impressive lenses out there. Whether you’re chasing the perfect bokeh or prioritizing weight and size, it's hard to go wrong.

A quality 85mm lens with a fast aperture is a go-to option for portrait work, offering a balance of image quality and background separation. But getting those features with autofocus at a budget-friendly price is rare. The 7artisans Photoelectric 85mm f/1.8 AF aims to do just that, delivering solid performance at just $299.

If you want a compact film camera that mixes classic style with modern convenience, the Rollei 35AF could be the perfect fit. As a modern take on the original Rollei 35, it retains the compact size and design while introducing autofocus, making it more practical for everyday use. This remastered version captures the spirit of the original while adding a few contemporary touches to enhance usability.

Finding the right lens for sports or wildlife photography often comes down to speed, clarity, and performance in tough conditions. With a fast f/2.8 aperture, the Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS offers all of these qualities in a surprisingly compact package. This lens brings high-end performance in a lightweight body, making it an enticing choice if you need long-range reach without the bulk.

The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary is a compact, lightweight lens designed for Fujifilm users looking to keep their gear portable without sacrificing versatility. While Fujifilm’s own lenses are known for their excellent build quality and performance, they tend to be heavy, making them less suitable for travel. That’s where the Sigma 18-50mm comes in. But how does it actually perform in real-world use?

You are a small-town American doctor, and to your surprise, aliens have replaced your community. Plant spores have fallen from outer space, creating seed pods capable of making identical human copies. Pod people take on traits and memories along with unique personalities. Slowly, an invasion has started. Wait a minute, hold up, reverse that! Sounds scary, right?

The right lens can change the way your images look and feel. This comparison between the Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4 S and the NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S breaks down what makes each option stand out for your shooting style.

Umbrellas might seem like a basic lighting tool, but with the right approach, they can produce stunning, professional results. Using them can add depth, shape, and drama to your images, whether you're in a studio or on location.

The Fall upgrade from Skylum will have users excited, as it contains new features that add a lot to the program's many capabilities, but users will also see some long-standing requests granted. The fall update is available for download or upgrade on October 10.

Experimenting with different focal lengths can take your work in unexpected directions. If you’re used to a 35mm lens, switching to a wider angle might feel like a dramatic shift, but that’s where the creativity happens.

Exposure is a key element in photography that greatly influences how we frame our shots. It determines the amount of light reaching the camera sensor, affecting the brightness and overall look of an image. Understanding and controlling exposure is vital for creating well-balanced photos and achieving the desired visual impact. In this article, we'll explore how exposure affects composition and why it's crucial to align your framing with the exposure settings.

When shooting in harsh lighting conditions, it’s common to encounter issues like lens flares or blown-out highlights. This is particularly relevant if you're trying to capture outdoor scenes with direct sunlight in your frame. In such situations, managing the light effectively can make a huge difference in the quality of your final image.

Tamron’s 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD offers an interesting option for those seeking a versatile zoom lens. It expands the standard range of 70-300mm telephoto lenses to start at 50mm, making it more flexible for a variety of shooting scenarios. Whether you’re capturing landscapes at wider angles or zooming in for distant details, this lens aims to cover it all.

Coming to you from Christopher Frost, this thorough video review dives into the features and performance of the Tamron 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD. Frost highlights that while the lens delivers a wide...

Achieving accurate color in your photos can be a challenge, especially when lighting and other variables keep changing. Getting consistent results across different shoots requires using the right tools to match what you see in person with what shows up in your images. That’s where a Color Checker Passport comes in.

Knowing how to guide your subjects and adjust your light placement is essential for achieving the polished and professional look you’re aiming for.

Compact, affordable, and surprisingly capable—pancake lenses are a popular choice for their lightweight design and versatility. The new Viltrox 28mm f/4.5 pancake lens is no exception. With its ultra-slim build, this lens is ideal for travel, street photography, and situations where you need to keep a low profile without sacrificing image quality.

As a landscape photographer, my passion is usually capturing the natural beauty of the outdoors. However, having versatile and powerful lighting is crucial when working in controlled environments, like in my studio or during indoor shoots.

Getting the perfect shot often comes down to lighting, but sometimes, natural light just doesn’t cooperate. Instead of relying solely on what’s available, you can take control and shape the light yourself.

Every photographer has faced it—that sinking feeling of disappointment when things just don’t go as planned. Maybe it’s a matter of expectations, or perhaps a missed opportunity. But these moments are part of the process. Understanding how to handle these frustrations is crucial for anyone serious about photography.

Color grading can take your landscape images from good to great. This video tutorial walks through how to use Photoshop's Color Balance feature to enhance highlights, midtones, and shadows, creating depth and contrast in a natural and subtle way.

Macro photography often brings to mind extreme close-ups and tight compositions, but what happens when you pair it with a wide angle lens? This setup offers a new perspective, giving your images context by incorporating the surroundings. Understanding how and when to use a wide angle macro can help you capture more dynamic and story-driven shots.

Connecting with nature can have a profound impact on your well-being. Whether you’re standing in front of a tranquil lake or hiking through a dense forest, these moments provide a sense of calm that can’t be replicated elsewhere. While many people see landscape photography as a way to capture beautiful scenes, it’s also a way to experience the healing power of nature firsthand.

Improving your landscape photography isn’t just about finding a stunning scene—it’s about how you approach that scene with your camera. Whether you’re a beginner or someone looking to refine your skills, these three essential tips will elevate your work.

Quite recently, Viltrox introduced the AF 40mm f/2.5 lens from the “Air” series at a very budget-friendly price, considering the quality of images the lens produces. Viltrox is known for their glass quality and as a budget-friendly third-party manufacturer, and again they haven’t disappointed with this lens for both.

Every photographer, no matter how experienced, makes mistakes. This video outlines seven common mistakes in photography and provides practical tips to correct them.

5DayDeal is back with a photography bundle that's better than ever. This year, Fstoppers is including our tutorial with Elia Locardi, "Photographing the World 2." The full bundle only costs $166 and is 95% off the total value of the bundle.

Editing mistakes can lead to images that don’t look polished or professional. Editing is not just about pushing sliders around—it's about recognizing and correcting issues that might not be obvious at first glance. This video addresses some of the most common editing mistakes in Lightroom and how you can fix them.

Black and white photography has a unique way of bringing out the essence of a scene. It’s not just about eliminating color—it’s about mastering light, contrast, and texture.

Why is it so hard to move from a stable 9-to-5 job to a full-time photography career? Many people, especially those passionate about turning their creative skills into a living, struggle with this. If you've ever considered making the leap, you're likely familiar with the challenges. It’s a big move that takes more than just skill behind the camera—it requires time, energy, and a bit of financial risk.

What happens when you combine just about every feature and size into a line of camera bags? You end up with a pretty great bag (and a long review)! In this review, I’ll be taking a look at PGYTECH’s 40L Flex bag from their new OnePro line.

As a professional photographer, the issue of over-editing is a topic that holds significant importance in our work. In this case, the term over-editing refers to the excessive use of post-processing tools and techniques, often resulting in images that deviate from the natural and authentic representation of the subject. While we cannot deny that the process of editing is an essential aspect of photography, overprocessing images can sometimes compromise the integrity of the image and do more harm than necessary. Here are several reasons why one should refrain from over-editing their images.

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 2024, 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.

Photographers tend to have passionate opinions about their craft, and some of those opinions can spark heated debates. Certain topics, though, repeatedly surface in the photography world, leading to complaints that can feel redundant.

It’s one of the more popular vintage lenses: the Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8. It’s famous for its soap bubble bokeh. You either love the effect, or you hate it. I decided to buy one and used it on a Canon EOS R5. I want to tell you about my findings.

If you're considering the Canon EOS R5, R5 Mark II, or R3, you’ve likely wondered which one fits your needs best. Each camera brings distinct advantages, from advanced video capabilities to top-tier autofocus. Here's which is best for you.

Every photographer encounters issues like motion blur or exposure mishaps, and it’s not always possible to fix them in-camera. Fortunately, Photoshop offers powerful tools to correct these common problems.