The Worst Advice I've Received as a Professional Photographer

Being quite young and eager to be a photographer, I received tons of advice from all sorts of people. Everything from "quit right now" to "pretend to be someone who you’re not." Between these extremes, I had some decent, but also some horrible advice. In this article, we will look at the worst things I was advised.

What Can We Learn About Photography From Picasso?

Photographers can learn a lot from the realm of the visual arts, and few artists were more groundbreaking than Pablo Picasso. What can Picasso's works, approach, and philosophies teach us about modern photography? This excellent video tutorial discusses the topic and offers a wider range of useful advice for growing as a creative. 

Active Contests
7 269

Enter your Best "Dark" or "Low-Key" images

Welcome to the April Critique the Community!  For this contest/critique, we are doing another abstract theme that should allow more photographers to enter. For this month we want to see your most "dark" or "low key" photographs.

5 of the Best 20mm Lenses You Can Buy

When you get into wide and ultra-wide angle lenses, two of the most common focal lengths are 16mm and 24mm. There is a significant difference between those focal lengths, though, and something in between can be just the ticket, which is where the 20mm focal length comes in. With many options, you might wonder which is right for you. This fantastic video review features an experienced lens tester detailing five of the sharpest 20mm options you can purchase. 

The Strange Relationship Between Hobbyist Photographers, Professionals, and Influencers

Influencers have invaded just about every space in which there are products for sale. If there is money to be made, there is probably an influencer for it, whether you realize it or not. Photography has not been immune to this, and it has left hobbyist and professional photographers in a strange place. This insightful video essay features a long-time pro discussing the issue and offering his thoughts. 

Why Film Photography Is the Only Right Way To Start

When I started out in photography, I started learning on film. While it was very much in the digital era, I still shot film. The reason being it was what was available to me at the time, and buying film stock was not as expensive as it is now. Shooting on film has taught me a ton and has helped me be a better digital photographer. Here is why beginners should consider film photography as their first step in the journey.

A Beginner's Guide to ISO

Along with shutter speed and aperture, ISO is one of the three fundamental exposure parameters, and as such, mastering it is crucial to taking full control of your images. If you are new to photography, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you the ins and outs of how ISO works and how to use it.

10 Tips for Capturing Stunning Star Trails

Photographing star trails is more than just taking pictures. It takes time to shoot on location, and it takes even more time to edit the images afterward. I have ten tips that can help you get amazing star trails.

A Review of the Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR Lens

50mm lenses with wide apertures are some of the most useful and versatile options a photographer can own, suitable for a wide range of genres and applications, including portraits, low-light events, and much more. For Fujifilm shooters, there is the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR, this excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in real-world usage.

Easy Focus Stacking Technique for Sharper Ecommerce Photos

Ecommerce images represent a product on the web to provide potential customers with an accurate representation of the products. Therefore an efficient workflow that enables you to get an image of a product that is fully in focus is extremely crucial. Check out this article to find out how easy focus stacking might be the answer for you if you find yourself struggling with focusing issues.

The Power of Intentional Imperfection

In the world of photography, capturing moments with precision and perfection has long been the pursuit. However, there's always a different approach. The compelling alternative photographers can explore is being intentionally imperfect. Today, social media bombards viewers what some believe to be a perfect lifestyle, even what a perfect cup of coffee can look like. Now, like anything else, it's all subjective. 

This Viltrox 75mm Anamorphic Lens Looks Incredible

Anamorphic lenses were once rare and extremely expensive, but they have become more common and slightly more affordable. This latest offering from Viltrox is still reasonably expensive, but it's certainly capable of creating some amazing visuals.

Is It Time for You to Quit Photography? Signs to Look Out For

Although rare, we all have the thought of quitting photography at one point or another. Despite being young, I have been told to quit several times already, all before even starting. In this article, I want to highlight some valuable reasons why and when you should consider quitting photography.

A Review of the Google Pixel 7A Smartphone for Photography

The Google Pixel 7A smartphone offers a lot of features and capabilities at a reasonable price, making it a nice choice for a wide range of users. This great video review takes a look at the phone's photo and video capabilities and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice. 

Behind the Scenes of Bird Photography in Scotland

Bird photography is a challenging discipline to master and it's even more difficult when you are in locations that have erratic and invasive weather. In this video, Brent Hall goes to Scotland to shoot birds on cliffs and in rivers, with Scottish weather behaving exactly as it always does: poorly.

Using a Prime Lens for Landscape Photography

The standard lens of choice landscape photography is an ultrawide zoom, something like a 16-35mm f/4. When working in a genre in which you have no control over the placement of elements in the scene and there is often significant physical effort to get to a location, a zoom can be a major convenience. Nevertheless, a prime lens still has its place. This great video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer sharing the benefits of using a prime lens for landscape work. 

The Importance of Aspect Ratios in Landscape Photography

The digital age and the ability to crop our photos however we want instantly has reduced the attention placed on aspect ratios. Nonetheless, aspect ratio has an important impact on many factors of your image, ranging from composition to printing. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer discussing the effect aspect ratio has on images and how to leverage it to improve the quality of your photos.

Save $1,700 on a Top-level MacBook Pro Today Only

The MacBook Pro is the most popular laptop of choice for creatives, able to tackle just about any task you can throw at it with ease, while also offering a beautiful display and all-day battery life. Today only, you can get the top-level model of the 16-inch MacBook Pro for $1,700 off.

Nobody Cares About Your Photography, and That's OK

OK, now that I have your attention, let's get something out of the way: I'm not trashing your photography. I'm sure it's all fantastic, and I sincerely hope you keep creating those amazing images. 

A Review of the Portable Sigma 50mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Lens

Sigma's Contemporary line of lenses offers a nice balance of portability, affordability, and image quality, with one of the most intriguing options being the 50mm f/2 DG DN, which offers a popular focal length in tandem with a fairly wide maximum aperture. Can it back that up with good performance and image quality? This excellent video review takes a look at what you can expect. 

A Review of the Impressive Acer Swift X 14 Laptop

The Acer Swift X 14 Laptop offers a wide range of modern features, but perhaps the most exciting is its OLED screen, which promises stunning contrast and vibrant colors, making it an intriguing option for many creatives. Is it the right option for you? This excellent video review takes a look at the laptop and the sort of performance and experience you can expect from it.  

So... You Wanna Photograph the Northern Lights

The northern lights are one of the great unicorns of the photography world. Researching how to find them can sound as complicated as entropy. Luckily, this video breaks down everything you need to know about analyzing the science behind hunting the auroras.

How Good Is the New Panasonic Lumix S5 IIX Mirrorless Camera?

Panasonic makes some of the best hybrid cameras out there, and their latest, the Lumix S5 IIX, brings with it some of the company latest and greatest features. This excellent video review takes a look at the new camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.