The Dwarf II Smart Telescope Is One Amazing Gadget

I've been an amateur astronomer since I was around 11 years old. I had an uncle, a retired engineer, who had a small reflecting telescope, and when I saw Saturn for the first time I was hooked. Photography through a telescope came much later for me, and it was a very difficult undertaking in the film days. I remember taking some star shots to the drugstore for processing, and they told me they threw them away because there were just a bunch of white spots on them, and I should take better care to learn how to take pictures. Oh well.

Five Places in Cornwall You Must Photograph

Cornwall is one of those places I cannot get enough of. I've visited three times over the past years and can't wait to be back. In this article, I show you five of my favorite photo locations in Cornwall.

Which of These Canon Lenses Is Better?

While fast zooms generally get most of the attention, Canon also makes some excellent slower zoom lenses for people who don't need an f/2.8 aperture or who want to save some weight in their bag or money in their bank account. Two such options are the RF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM and RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM, and this great video comparison takes a look at both to help you choose the right one for your needs.

A Closer Look at Luminar Neo Pano Stitching

Shooting panoramas can be a highly rewarding exercise. However, there is always the dread in the back of my mind as to whether I will be able to stitch it correctly when back in my editing suite. I, for one, have had this challenge with an image that I thought was going to be a banger, only for the horizon to slope off or for an important part of the foreground or sky to end up not stitching, resulting in a scrapped image.

We Review theRocknRoller Cart R12T: Every Photographer Needs One!

There is something innately annoying about having to carry stuff. I can't decide if it’s shoulder pain, back pain, or just a general need to do physical activity. If you are a photographer who has to bring out more gear than a camera bag’s worth, this is a product for you. Don’t think so? Then read on!

From the Archives: Stories From Life Magazine's Greatest Photographers

Life magazine was known for its large format photojournalism. In 1984, filmmaker David Hoffman made this not-to-be-missed television documentary about the history of Life, which included interviews with some of their greatest photojournalists. It's just as interesting today, if not more, than it would have been back then.
3 Tips to Improve Your Travel Photography

When traveling, it's often the case that photographers zero in on the iconic sights that everyone else gets: the Eiffel Tower in France, Big Ben in London, etc. But instead of capturing what everyone else gets, there are ways to capture the feel of a place without necessarily getting the "standard" shot.

Why You Should Do Things Even if They Can't Be Tracked

With the availability of complex analytics, deep statistics, and clear reward-for-effort ratios, it's all too easy to become hung up on doing only those things that we can carefully track the results of. In this article, I will explain why you should carve out a place for those things that can't be tracked.
Still Not Taking APS-C Seriously? We Review the Sony a6700

Sony has recently released a successor to a fan-favorite a6600 fittingly called the a6700. Don’t get me wrong, in those few days I had it it performed well, but there are some features that would elevate it to a different level. First things first though, what did Sony do well with the a6700?

Why Your Handheld Photos Aren't Sharp

If you are anything like me, you hate having to lug a tripod around, a hate which is only outmatched by your disdain for unstrapping it, setting it up, and packing it up again. If you are going to shoot handheld, though, you need to have careful technique and awareness to ensure you still come away with sharp images. This excellent video tutorial discusses some of the common reasons why photographers end up with soft images when shooting handheld and what you can do to fix those mistakes.

Why One Photographer Wants to Leave Leica After Four Years

Leica is arguably the most polarizing photography brand out there, though its users tend to be fiercely loyal to the brand, which is why it is always interesting to hear why when one leaves them for another system. This insightful video essay features a photographer discussing why he might leave Leica after four years with the brand and switch to Nikon.

Fstoppers Photographer of the Month (August 2023): Jess Hess

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 2023, 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.

Shooting Portraits on a $10,000 Lens

The Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM is one of the most exciting lenses to come along in several years, and it is tailor-made for the needs of wildlife and sports photographers. Of course, there is no reason you can't use it for other things, such as portraits. This fun video follows well-known portrait photographer Lindsay Adler as she works with the lens for a portrait session.

A Review of the New Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II Lens

The new Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II lens is here, and it brings with it a nice range of improvements and new features that will make it a desirable option for many photographers and filmmakers. How does it hold up in practice? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you will be able to expect from it in practice.

Simply Undefeated: We Review the Datacolor Spyder X2 Elite

If you haven't calibrated your monitor recently — or perhaps ever — you may not realize the impact it can have. It is a rather dry topic and you might want to allocate those dollars toward a new lens, which I understand, but a color-calibrating tool is an essential piece of kit and Datacolor are the best in the game.
Is Stock Photography Worth It in 2023?

One of the biggest questions for many is how to make money from photography. There are many ways of doing it, such as photographing weddings, pets, portraits, or even products, but there are also ways to make money, such as stock photography. In this article, I discuss my experiences of using stock photography websites.

Red Flags in Photography Clients

Perhaps one of the more challenging aspects of running a professional photography business is that you have to deal with all clients yourself, including those who might be looking to take advantage of you. It pays to be aware of some of the red flags these clients will frequently show before you get involved with them in order to save yourself a lot of headaches down the road. This great video essay features an experienced commercial photographer discussing some of the most common things to watch out for.

3 Tips for Taking Better Portrait Photographs

Portrait photography is a challenging genre that requires not just a creative voice and technical command, but the ability to work with people at the same time. If you are new to the genre and would like to improve your portrait images, check out this helpful video tutorial that shares three tips that will put you on the track to better results.

3 Reasons Why One Photographer Uses Prime Lenses for Wedding Photography

Wedding photography is a very challenging genre that requires a lot of versatility both as a photographer and in terms of gear. As such, 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses are highly popular options, but they are far from the only choices for wedding work. This great video essay features a seasoned wedding photographer discussing some of the reasons he prefers using prime lenses for his work instead.

DXO Is Back With a Solid Update to Nik Collection Version 6.3

I go way back with the Nik Tools software. I bought the set before Google snapped it up, then they let it sit virtually idle. DXO got it six years ago and have added their own deep knowledge of photo editing and, I think, fulfilled the dream of what the Nik Collection should be.

How to Edit Portraits in Lightroom

It used to be that Photoshop was the place to go if you wanted to edit portraits, but in recent iterations, Lightroom has implemented some powerful tools that make it easier to edit your images without leaving the application. This great video tutorial will show you how to use those new tools for editing portrait photos.

What’s New With The Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II?

It’s no surprise that the well-loved 16-35mm G Master is getting a revamp, as this one completes the trinity of second generation G Master zoom lenses. But what does it have to offer, and is it worth the upgrade?

Buying Versus Building a New Editing Computer

Getting a new editing computer can be a confusing process. How do you know when to upgrade? What kind of computer do you get for different kinds of editing? Do you build one or buy one? Well, I hope to answer those questions here in this article in a way that will match your specific situation.

How to Become a DOP for Sherlock, Game of Thrones, and Justice League

As I began my interview with Fabian Wagner DOP, he sits there, totally relaxed and easygoing. Describing himself as just an ordinary guy, it quickly becomes clear that my conversation was going to be a very relaxed affair, without pretenses, and totally open to all questions I threw at him.

How to Use the Depth of Field Scale on Manual Lenses

If you've ever owned a fixed focal length wide-angle lens, you've probably noticed the numbers located between the focus ring and the aperture ring. This is the depth of field scale, and it's a valuable tool that helps you check the depth of field for different apertures and focus distances.

We Review the Sony a7cR: Compact But Full Featured

Today Sony has announced three new products: The Sony a7CII, the 16-35mm F2.8 GM II, and last but not least, the Sony a7cR. And unfortunately, I have not been able to use the first two products I mentioned, but, I have been able to use the A7cR quite a bit. In total, I’ve taken about 10,000 images with it so far. So let's talk about it.

A Review of the New Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G Lens

24-70mm f/2.8 lenses are the workhorses of many genres in the industry, combining a useful focal length range with a nice maximum aperture for a zoom lens. If you do not need that f/2.8 aperture, though, f/4 versions offer the same versatility in a smaller package and at a much lower cost. The Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G embodies that and offers an even more versatile focal length range, making it quite desirable for a huge range of applications. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in usage.

This Cheap Lens Makes Everything Look Like a Dream

A lens that costs only a few hundred dollars and gives a unique, dream-like image? That's certainly going to catch the attention of many photographers and videographers, but how good is it?
We Review the FJD PONY 500 Portable Power Bank: A Power-Packed Companion for Your Camper Van Adventures

As a camper and tech enthusiast, finding the right portable power bank to keep all my devices charged while on the road has always been a priority. I do have a leisure battery, which is connected to my van, and this allows me to use devices when parked up after being charged while driving. However, if I want to stay in a spot longer I would be pinched for power.

10 Tips for Improving Your Photography

We all want to be better photographers, but the path to getting there is not always readily apparent. If you are feeling a little stalled out in your progress but looking to grow, check out this helpful video tutorial that features an experienced photographer sharing 10 useful tips that will put you on the path to improvement.

Photographing a New York Times Photo Story on a Large Format Camera

There is no format more extreme than large format, where the negatives dwarf even the biggest medium format sensors and each frame costs upwards of $5. With such intense costs and demands, would you use it to photograph something as important as a photo assignment for The New York Times? This neat video takes you behind the scenes with a photographer who did just that.

5 Secrets of Shutter Speed for Landscape Photography

Hold on tight, my fellow photography enthusiasts, as we dive into the world of shutter speed! Get ready to unlock the five secrets that will make your photographs freeze time, bend reality, and maybe even make your subjects strike a pose like supermodels on a catwalk. So, grab your camera, put on your photography hat, and let's embark on this adventure.

A Review of the New Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD Lens for Nikon Z Mirrorless Cameras

Few lenses on the market right now are more exciting than the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD, which offers an incredibly versatile focal length range in tandem with a particularly wide set of maximum apertures. Now, the lens is available for Nikon Z mount users, and this awesome video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in use.

What We Can Learn From the Unique Work of Daido Moriyama?

The work of Daido Moriyama is some of the most unique of the last several decades, and it is a fantastic source from which to draw creative inspiration. The excellent video essay takes a look at Moriyama’s work and how his creative philosophy shaped his images.

A Photographer's Guide to Pricing: Balancing Passion, Profit, and Personal Life

Photography is as much a business as it is an art. Amid the myriad choices that shape a photographer's journey, one pivotal decision looms large: pricing. For those straddling photography alongside another profession, striking the right pricing balance can be both an art and a science. Navigating my dual professional roles, I discovered that pricing isn't merely a reflection of an image's worth; it's a strategic tool, ensuring equilibrium between passion, profession, and personal moments.

How Good Is the Canon EOS R in 2023?

It has been five years since we first saw the EOS R, Canon’s first full frame mirrorless camera. Though we have seen several newer models since its release, it is still a perfectly serviceable camera that can be had for a bargain now. This excellent video review takes a look at how the EOS R holds up in 2023.

Using a Simple LED Light Setup During a Portrait Session

Remove the complications and long lists of equipment that you think you need to create stunning portraits. Look at what Irene Rudnyk can achieve shooting with this simple LED light set up in her living room.

Leaving Your Comfort Zone: Landscape Photographer Shoots Portraits

As a photographer, my lens has been my window to the world, a conduit through which I've captured the grandeur of nature's landscapes. From the sweeping vistas of mountains to the tranquil embrace of forests, I've dedicated my craft to preserving the beauty of the outdoors. Yet, a whisper of curiosity has tugged at me, urging me to step outside my comfort zone and explore the realm of portrait photography for a long time.

The Importance of Patience in Landscape Photography

Landscape photography can often be a very slow process that requires a lot of preparation followed by a lot of waiting for just the right conditions and right light to develop in front of you. If you are willing to wait, though, you will often be rewarded with worthwhile images. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer discussing the importance of patience in the craft.

A Review of the Affordable and Impressive Viltrox AF 75mm f/1.2 XF Lens

Viltrox has quickly become one of the most competitive manufacturers of lenses, creating options that offer excellent performance and image quality at some of the best prices in the industry. The relatively new AF 75mm f/1.2 offers APS-C users an extremely wide aperture in tandem with a portrait focal length, making it an intriguing option for many photographers, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in real-world usage.

What Is a Centerfield Split Diopter?

Have you ever wondered how photographers achieved that etherial blurred effect? Well, it can be done in Photoshop, but it turns out there's a filter available to create the same results if not better.
What to Think About When You Want to Photograph in a War-Torn Country

I get questions like these daily, mostly from inexperienced or new photojournalists who want to get into documentary photography. I often repeat the same answers, so I figured it might be useful to put it all into a single article. So, here are the bare basics of high-risk documentary photography.

Is Less Camera Gear Better for Your Landscape Photography?

Do you ever feel like you carry too much camera gear when out practicing landscape photography? A camera bag, a camera body, a trio of lenses, batteries, filters, a tripod, maybe a drone or action cam: it all adds up. This video looks at taking a minimal approach and some of the advantages that it brings.