What Makes a Good Photo?

Photography, an art form and a technical craft, is continually evolving, and understanding what separates a good photo from an average one is crucial for any photographer. The difference lies not just in technical aspects, but also in the emotion and story conveyed through the image, a topic discussed in depth in this helpful video tutorial.

Buy the New Gear or Take the Trip?

You're a landscape photographer facing a choice: invest in new camera gear or embark on a photography trip with some extra funds in hand. Which option is the better choice for enhancing your photography?

Two Years With the Fujifilm X100V Mirrorless Camera

Typically, I am not a fan of fixed prime lens cameras, but the Fujifilm X100 series was the exception that won my heart. With its distinctive, engaging, and highly effective design, the X100 series cameras have garnered considerable respect throughout the photography community. The X100V has been with us for about two years now. Can it still compete with the latest options? This excellent video review takes a look.

What One Professional Photographer Would Do if They Could Start Over

If you could start photography over again, there are probably a lot of things you would do differently. I know I would definitely make a few changes. This great video features an experienced professional discussing what she would do differently.

A Long-Term Review of the Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera

The Hasselblad X2D 100C is a very portable camera that packs a real punch inside, offering photographers a lot of power in a package that can easily go anywhere. How does it perform in practice, though? This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect.

How to Grow as a Photographer

Growing as a photographer is not an easy or obvious thing to do. This particularly insightful video is here to help, though, offering practical advice for photographers seeking to elevate their craft, regardless of whether they are beginners or long-time enthusiasts.

5 Important Skills for Budding Professional Photographers

Working to become a professional photographer takes a lot of careful study and practice, with the ability to juggle multiple skills at the same time. If that is your current pursuit, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced photographer sharing five skills budding professionals need to learn.

How to Create Stunning Wave Photos

The beauty of waves is that no two are the same, and you can create dramatic and dynamic photos with just a little know-how. This fantastic video tutorial will show you everything you need to know.

The Best Laptops of 2023

2023 has been a great year for laptops, with fantastic models for both Mac and Windows users. Here were the best models of the year.

The Art of Real-Time: How Visual Effects Revolutionize Sports Broadcasting

If you have watched sports long enough, you know that the quality and novelty of the broadcasts has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years, with an explosion of live visual effects. This fun video pulls back the curtain and takes a look at just what goes into all of that.

5 Crucial Photography Lessons

There are many well-known lessons in photography. However, this enlightening video delves into unconventional wisdom, sharing insightful lessons that challenge standard photography norms.

A Review of the Laowa 90mm f/2.8 APO 2x Lens

Venus Optics, recognized for creating distinct and unusual lenses with remarkable capabilities at budget-friendly prices, has long been respected for the unique offerings. The Laowa 90mm f/2.8 APO 2x is one such lens, standing out by providing double the magnification of standard macro lenses without a hefty price tag and being compatible with all major full frame mirrorless camera mounts. In this insightful video review, the lens is thoroughly examined, highlighting the performance and image quality it offers in real-world use.

How to Change a Facial Expression in Photoshop

Changing someone's facial expression is not something you will do very often, but it can be a real lifesaver for those occasional group shots where someone didn't smile or the like. This great video tutorial will show you everything you need to know to efficienty and convincingly edit facial expressions using Photoshop.

A Review of the Sony a6700 Mirrorless Camera

The Sony a6700 mirrorless camera is a compact powerhouse blending cutting-edge technology and exceptional image quality. Can it give the kind of real-world performance and image quality professionals demand? This excellent video review takes a look.

Things to Consider When Photographing Snow Landscapes

A snow-covered landscape can be truly breathtaking, exuding a pristine beauty and offering a unique canvas for photography. In this article, I will delve into the considerations one must keep in mind when capturing the allure of such a wondrous white world.

This Affordable 85mm Lens Is a Hidden Gem

The market is saturated with a wide array of 85mm lenses, ranging in price from a couple hundred to well over $2,000. While one might assume a direct relationship between cost and quality, there are exceptions offering outstanding image quality at a fraction of the price. The Yongnuo 85mm f/1.8S DF DSM is one such lens, and this detailed video review showcases the performance and image quality it offers in use.

A Review of the Fujifilm XF 8mm f/3.5 R WR Lens

The Fujifilm XF 8mm f/3.5 R WR, with its exceptionally wide angle of view, is versatile for numerous uses, making it an intriguing option, particularly alongside an affordable price. In this excellent video review, the lens is explored in depth, showcasing the kind of performance and image quality it delivers in real-world scenarios.

Staying Warm for Landscape Photography in the Winter

Cold weather landscape photography is one of my favorite times to be out photographing. Familiar landscapes become unfamiliar once again. But you must be prepared and comfortable while out in the elements. Here is my approach to staying warm in the winter.

Will AI Be Your Child's Next History Teacher?

AI is taking the world by storm, threatening to fundamentally rewrite many paradigms. What if children could actually talk to historical figures through AI, learning through conversations with famous figures? This fun video takes a look at one of the first attempts at that.

Photographer Revolutionizes Technique by Holding Lens Wrong Way, Sparks Outrage and Confusion

Los Angeles, CA: In a bold move defying decades of established practice, local photographer Max Carter has turned the photography world upside down—literally—by opting to hold his camera lens over the top, instead of the traditional support from underneath. This unconventional technique has sparked a mixture of outrage, confusion, and reluctant admiration within the photography community.

Mastering the Art of Nighttime Video Lighting

Just like photos, lighting for video is an essential skill that not only helps you get the right exposure, but sets the mood for the frame. This excellent video tutorial will show you four different nighttime lighting setups sure to add a lot intrigue to your shots.

A Review of the Affordable and Portable Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 Lens

Viltrox has rapidly established itself as a reputable lens manufacturer, known for delivering quality results at very attractive prices. Priced at $158, the AF 20mm f/2.8 continues this trend. This lens, with its compact size and a practical focal length, raises the question: can it achieve professional-quality outcomes despite its budget-friendly price? This insightful video review explores the performance and image quality you can expect from it in real-world use.

How To Use Foreshortening for Creative Portraits

In my journey as a portrait photographer, I've found foreshortening to be a creative look that you can use to produce some dynamic images. But what is foreshortening, and how can it add some dynamism to your portraits? Let's dive in.

Don't Get Sued by The Grinch This Holiday Season

During the festive holiday season, capturing holiday-themed family photographs is a cherished tradition for many. However, photographers, especially those conducting holiday photo sessions, should be wary of certain legal pitfalls. One such issue arises with the use of popular characters like The Grinch in professional photoshoots.

Don't Overlook the 15" MacBook Air

The 15-inch MacBook Air rewrote the paradigm between the Air and Pro models, offering a larger screen in the svelte form factor that first made the model popular. This might leave you wondering if you need the Air or Pro for your needs. This great video discusses why you shouldn't overlook the larger Air model.

A Review of the Tamron 17-50mm f/4 Di III VXD Lens

Tamron has emerged as a beloved brand in the photography industry, known for producing lenses that combine excellent performance and image quality with appealing prices. Among these is the 17-50mm f/4 Di III VXD lens, which offers a very pragmatic design, making it an ideal choice for those interested in landscape and architectural photography. This detailed video review explores the real-world performance and image quality that this lens delivers.

Upmarket Gifts That Photographers Really Want to Receive

Every winter, plenty of articles appear suggesting cheap gifts for photographers. However, the best presents are those where the giver has carefully considered the wants or needs of the recipient. Furthermore, let’s be honest, they are also where the giver has spent a bit more money.

A Look at the Incredible Seestar S50 Smart Telescope

The Seestar S50, a portable smart telescope, is revolutionizing astrophotography by making it accessible and straightforward for everyone. This great video review showcases the S50's capabilities, emphasizing how it simplifies the process of capturing celestial images without requiring prior photography experience.

No, You Don't Need To Buy The New M3 MacBook Pro

I spent over $4,000 on the new M3 Max MacBook Pro. It's amazing, but after directly comparing it to my M1 MacBook Pro, I've realized it's probably not worth upgrading.

Next Year Will Bring Another Ridiculous Canon Lens

With lenses like the RF 28-70mm f/2L USM and the RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM, Canon has continued their reign as the premier manufacturer for top-level lenses. It looks like the company has no intention of slowing down, with another extreme lens on the radar for the second half of 2024.

A Review of the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens

Wide angle zoom lenses with an aperture of f/2.8 are often considered the standard for professionals, but there are many genres for which that wide aperture is not really needed, and photographers can take advantage of lighter, more affordable, and more capable lenses if they are willing to use an f/4 lens. One such lens is the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM, and this great video review takes a look at the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Review: My New Favorite Lens

I heard about the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 for Sony cameras almost two years ago, but never took the time to test the lens myself. Now that it's out for Nikon as well, I finally got a copy. After two weeks of shooting both stills and video with this lens, I regret how long I've taken to test it, because I believe It's my favorite lens of all time.

A Look at the Incredible New Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera

Sony's a9 III is one of the most important cameras to hit the market in a long time, finally bringing to the masses the holy grail of a global shutter in a full frame camera. What do you get from a camera so jam-packed with groundbreaking features? This excellent video review takes a look at everything you can expect.

A Review of the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 Lens

Tamron is one of the most popular and respected companies in the market, notable for creating a variety of lenses that use pragmatic design principles to offer a lot of the same capabilities and performance of first-party options at far more competitive prices. One such lens is the 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2, and this great video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

Captive Creativity: Inmates Develop Self-Portraits And Self-Worth Behind Bars

An ongoing exhibition on Long Island shines light on the transformative power of art behind bars. Featuring soul-baring self-portraits from inmates of the Yaphank Correctional Facility, the images emerged from an introspective four-week photography workshop aimed at reawakening dignity in persons serving time for nonviolent offenses.

A Review of the Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens

Sigma's fresh 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary lens offers a compelling blend of a generous ultra-wide field of view and bright constant aperture, and that makes it an intriguing option for a wide variety of creatives. Can it deliver in practice, though? This great video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you will be able to expect.