The Crucial Balance That Makes a Great Photo

We spend a lot of time working on various techniques, thinking about composition, etc., but when you boil it down to its essence, what is it that makes a great photo? Every photo has two important qualities that help it stick in the viewer's memory. This insightful video discusses what they are and shares some examples of how they work together to make compelling images.

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Submit Your Best Long Exposure Shots

Welcome to the June 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 best photograph that feature "Motion Blur".

Is This the New Holy Trinity of Zoom Lenses?

The holy trinity of zoom lenses is traditionally considered an ultra-wide angle zoom (like a 14-24mm f/2.8), a standard zoom (24-70mm f/2.8), and a telephoto zoom (70-200mm f/2.8), so named because they can competently cover the majority of situations a photographer will encounter. However, since that term was coined years ago, the lens and camera market has changed significantly. Is there a new and better holy trinity of zooms? This great video makes a case for one. 

Covering the Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge

I’ve been covering the Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge like clockwork for well over a decade now, and I think it’s fair to say that I’ve picked up a few useful habits along the way. For those unfamiliar with the event, imagine several hundred folks in various stages of near-nudity packed into a corner of the beach. It’s typically rather cold - though some years have been colder than others - and everyone’s working themselves up into a fevered lather. In this excitement, a drum team forms up, creating a corridor from the top of the beach to the ocean. As the sound of those instruments gets louder and faster and more aggressive, the signal is sounded and the mob stampedes towards the Atlantic. 

How to Set Up a Canon Camera for Wildlife Photography

The latest generation of Canon mirrorless cameras brings with it a nice array of features for wildlife photography, including fast continuous burst rates and advanced autofocus features. With such advanced systems, it is worth taking the time to customize the camera to your exact needs to ensure you have the best chances of getting those fleeting shots. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced wildlife photographer walking you through how he sets up his Canon camera. 

How to Compose Landscape Photos Using a Wide Angle Lens

The wide angle lens is the tool of choice for a lot of landscape photography, but such focal lengths can also be particularly tricky to work with. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer showing you how to create more effective compositions using a wide angle lens. 

Which Fujifilm X-Series Camera Should You Buy?

There was a time when you had a few options when buying a camera of a particular brand. That's rarely the case anymore and you can find yourself lost in a sea of acronyms and initialisms.

The Most Annoying Thing About Landscape Photographers

As much as we might hate to admit it, we all have things that really get under our skin when it comes to other people or groups of people. Landscape photographers are not immune to our petty grumbles, but what's the most annoying thing about them?

Joshua Tree Through a Diffusion Filter

Have you ever looked at a scene and thought it was just a bit too sharp, almost harsh? It can be overwhelming, right? But, at the same time, you don't want to make your shots blurry in an attempt to soften things up. Well, that's where diffusion filters come in.

Don’t Be Afraid to Say No to Work

Starting a freelance career might be one of the most stressful things a human can do to themselves. I am exaggerating, but you get my point. Naturally, your first instinct might be to start chasing every client possible and get as many jobs as possible. Here is why you should stop doing this and focus on something else.

Not Sure How to Add Depth and Wow to Flat, Boring Photos? Here’s How

Do you sometimes look at your images and think there's something missing? Something you can't quite put your finger on, but instinctively know? Very often your images are flat and lack depth. Here's exactly how to fix that issue and add real pop and life to your photos.

Is This the Best Laptop for Photographers and Filmmakers?

Apple's introduction of the M1 series of chips was a major paradigm shift for the company, bringing with them some of the efficient performance ever seen, allowing for powerful laptops that still managed to last all day. That, combined with other features, like a large and vibrant display, make the 16" MacBook Pro with the M1 Max chip the seeming frontrunner for creatives on the go. Can it keep that title in practice? This excellent video review discusses one creative's thoughts after a year with the laptop. 

Why You Should Consider Doing Public Work Instead of Pursuing Client Work

It is the dream of many amateur photographers to be hired for celebrity photo shoots and high-status advertising gigs. What could be more exciting than photographing a famous singer in a large photo studio with stylists, digital techs, and assistants at your beck and call? Imagine how great it would be to see your photographs published on a magazine or album cover. Best of all, commercial jobs can pay well over $10,000 for a single day of work. Surely this is better than just photographing ordinary folk, right? Maybe not.

The $10 Camera Photographers Are Snapping Up

A well-made camera that can make great pictures and only costs $10 sounds too good to be true, right? Here's why you need to add a point and shoot to your camera bag.

5 Helpful Tips to Improve Your Snowflake Macro Photography

Many of us are mired in the cold and snow of winter, but that does not mean our creative juices should stop flowing. In fact, winter offers a vast range of unique photo opportunities, some requiring long trips and some only needing you to step outside your back door. Macro snowflake photography falls into the latter category, and this excellent video tutorial features an experienced photographer giving five tips to help you come away with the best possible images. 

Photoshop Compositing: Supercharge Your Images

Compositing in Photoshop comes in many forms, from product and portrait enhancement to fantasy-style images. Every digital artist will have their own workflow, as there are many different ways to get the final results.

A Review of the Highly Affordable Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Lens

Traditionally, decent image quality from a supertelephoto focal length costs a pretty penny, which is what makes the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM, which costs less than $1,000, a particularly intriguing lens for many creatives. Can it offer performance and image quality that punch above that budget price, though? This excellent video review takes an in-depth look at what you can expect from the lens.