9 Days in Iceland, Part One: The Naughty North

Iceland, with its breathtaking views of glaciers and waterfalls, is on the bucket list of most landscape photographers. With honeypot shots galore, can you really go wrong? Well, that all depends on what Iceland's ever-changing weather has in store for your visit, and it can change rapidly.

How to Ensure You Never Lose a Photoshop File

There is perhaps nothing more frustrating than spending hours working on a Photoshop file, only to discover that you saved the wrong version or that you can't undo a certain step a few changes back. So, what can you do to ensure you never encounter that situation? This fantastic video tutorial will show you three important tips to ensure you always have access to the history of your Photoshop files. 

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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.

The Magic of Photography

Whether you are a professional or hobbyist photographer, it can be easy to get frustrated by a variety of things, whether creative blocks, annoying clients, online vitriol, or something else. Before you let that discourage you from picking up your camera, though, take some time to watch this excellent video that will remind you of the magic of photography. 

Lessons a Professional Landscape Photographer Has Learned After 10 Years in Business

Of all the genres out there, landscape photography is probably one of the most nebulous when it comes to establishing yourself professionally and building a career out of it. This great video features an experienced professional discussing his journey from amateur to professional landscape photographer over the last decade and many of the lessons he has learned along the way. 

I Used the Same Modifier for These Images, or Did I?

Getting new modifiers is exciting. My first one was a simple umbrella with diffusion. As I progressed into my career, I invested more and more into various light shaping tools. The one I was most reluctant to try turned out to be the modifier I am currently in love with. And here is why.

How to Create Dynamic Waterscape Photos

Long exposure images of moving water are popular for both photographers and viewers, but it takes more than slapping an ND filter on the front of your lens to create a compelling one. This helpful video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer guiding you through the process, including equipment, safety, shutter speed, composition, and more. 

What Gear Do You Actually Need for Landscape Photography?

When it comes to photography gear, what do you actually need to get the image and what is probably a waste of time buying? That can be a tough question to answer, or is it? With the photography market pushing everything at you from all corners, it all depends on what you are hoping to achieve with your landscape photography.

What Clichés About Photographers Are Mostly True?

Every profession and hobby has clichés that lurk around them like an unpleasant smell, and photography is no different. But what clichés about photographers do you believe to be mostly true?

Is Macro Photography for You?

Photography authorship has historically been very one-sided. In this video, Vuhlandes is quick to confess that making photographs has historically been a medium for those few people who had the resources by way of money and time to make images.

Wotancraft Releases WWII Military-Inspired SCOUT Bag

Wontancraft has announced their new Scout camera bag. Known for combining old-school craftsmanship and modern-day functionality, their World War II 50s-style bag is designed for just that. The newest bag in their line boasts an accordion-style opening, YKK waterproof zippers,  and water-repellent Cordura fabric. The main compartment is compatible with Wotancraft pocket modules for organizing your gear.

What Do You Do When You're Sick of Photography?

The truth is that no matter how much you love photography, just like anything else is life, there will likely be periods when you are sick of it, whether because of creative frustration, frustrating clients, or something else. So, what do you do when that happens? This great video discusses how to handle those periods and come out the other side with a renewed vigor for photography. 

20 Ways to Grow Your Photography Business in 2022: Part 1 of 4

Growing and sustaining a photography business has never been for the faint of heart, but it is possible to do if you have an excellent, multi-faceted plan. I recently collaborated with Lancaster, PA based headshot photographer Richard Waine to compile a list of 20 steps photographers can take to get their phone ringing, and build a business that stands the test of time. These tips will be presented in four installments. 

A Review of the OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4 PRO Lens

One of the best parts of the Micro Four Thirds system is the wide selection of sharp but quite portable lenses, and if you do not need a particularly wide aperture, the OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4 PRO is especially compact and light while also not breaking the bank. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice. 

Three of the Biggest Myths in Photography

Photography is a complex topic full of myths and misconceptions, and those can lead you astray and be detrimental to your growth and success as a creative. This interesting video essay discusses three common photography myths that can undermine your work and the truth that is often hiding behind them. 

A Small Streaming Startup Big Companies Better Watch Out For

I think it is fair to say that streaming is complex, especially if you want to go beyond “Instagram live from a selfie camera.” Adding several angles, multiple cameras, and overlays is complex, and you would need quite a lot of gear for that. Well, say goodbye to that. RecNGo is a simple app that makes streaming affordable and accessible. 

Have Tripods Become Obsolete?

Modern cameras support fantastic image stabilization, and ISO noise is not a problem anymore. We can shoot freehand in dusk conditions and get stunning, sharp photos. So, have tripods become obsolete?

One of the Keys to Improving Your Landscape Photography

One of the most interesting and sometimes frustrating aspects of landscape photography is that you get no control over the elements of the frame, the lighting, or the surrounding conditions. And that will often mean that things will not be as you hoped or planned, but that should not deter you. This excellent video features an experienced landscape photographer discussing one of the key elements to improving your work. 

A Guide to Retouching Portrait Images

When it comes to portrait photos, lighting and shooting the image is only half of the process. Knowing how to edit your images with a careful touch while still applying your signature creative look is the other half. This excellent video tutorial will show you how one photographer edits his shots using a combination of Lightroom and Photoshop. 

3 Ways to Become a Better Photographer

Today, I’d just like to muse a bit of some lessons I’ve learned over a long career as a professional photographer. Hopefully, some of these concepts will help you as well.

A Review of the Versatile Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD Lens

Tamron has established itself as a manufacturer of superbly practical and affordable lenses in the last few years, but they have also started to push the boundaries of lens design to create some impressively extreme lenses. One such lens is the 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice. 

Why You Should Consider a Superzoom Lens for Landscape Photography

Superzoom lenses are often overlooked because their extreme focal length ranges mean inherent compromises in image quality, but in recent years, we have seen some impressive advances that make them viable options for a lot of work. This excellent video features an experienced landscape photographer making a case for using a superzoom lens for landscape work.

A Review of the New Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE Lens

Samyang has long been recognized for creating affordable and sharp manual focus lenses, but in recent years, they have expanded into autofocus options, vastly increasing the versatility of their offerings while maintaining budget prices. One such lens is the AF 135mm f/1.8 FE, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice. 

How to Create Interesting Images by Dragging Your Shutter

The beauty of shutter speed and aperture is that they are not just for getting technically correct exposures; they allow you to explore creative renderings as well. One way to do this is through dragging your shutter when shooting photos with motion, and this great video tutorial will show you both how to do it and the sort of results you can create. 

Shooting Portraits With an Insane 400mm f/2.8 Lens

Traditionally, portraits are shot with focal lengths between 50mm and 135mm, though there is no reason you can't use a longer focal length. Nonetheless, 400mm f/2.8 lenses are traditionally reserved for professional sports and wildlife photographers who need a lot of reach and the ability to capture as much light as possible. With super-sharp results and a narrow depth of field, they seem like a great (if somewhat impractical) option for portraits, and this fun video shows you what you can expect.