Understanding the dynamic between photographer and model is pivotal in creating compelling portraits. This interaction goes beyond the technicalities of camera settings or lighting; it's about the exchange of creative energy and understanding between the two parties. It's a balance of communication and collaboration that can significantly elevate the outcome of a photo shoot.
Transforming a photograph from its raw capture into a visually compelling final product requires both vision and technique. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how to do just that with a woodland image.
Photography, at its core, is a visual language that communicates through light, composition, and color. Understanding color theory and its application in photography can elevate a photographer's work from good to extraordinary, making it crucial for photographers who wish to deepen their connection with their audience and enhance their creative expression.
Inspiration is a fleeting yet crucial element in the creative process for photographers. Understanding how to spark and sustain this inspiration is vital, especially during times when creativity feels stagnant.
The zoom telephoto lens pool for Fujifilm X mount is growing larger each year, and that can only be a good thing. Fujifilm already offers multiple great candidates. Tamron and Sigma are also getting involved as they too want a piece of the pie. Do they stack up? The Tamron 150-500mm certainly does, but how about the Sigma? Let’s have a look!
Sigma continues to impress, and the new 500mm f/5.6 DG DN OS Sports lens is no stranger to that trend, offering a ton of reach for users like sports and wildlife photographers. This fantastic video review takes a deep look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
Navigating the early stages of a photography business is fraught with potential missteps that can significantly slow down progress. This fantastic video tutorial addresses these common pitfalls and offers invaluable advice for beginners, aiming to fast-track their success and avoid common obstacles that can hinder growth.
It’s not that I hate Godox or that I am paid by a different lighting brand to hate Godox every month. It is simply that when it comes to producing professional work, their lights are just not fit for the job. Here is why I will not use Godox for professional work.
As a landscape photographer who is addicted to the big vista, I have often wondered just how hard or easy it would be to force myself to only use one lens, and that lens being the 70-200mm. The versatility of this lens is fantastic, and many of you will know this already. However, the best thing about having my 70-200mm is that it's always in my bag and ready to be deployed whenever I need it, but what if I were only to have this lens?
Sony just announced the new 24-50mm f/2.8 G lens, and I’ve been able to use it for a few weeks now. Does this unique focal range deserve a space in your camera bag?
Rejection in photography, much like in any other aspect of life, is inevitable and often necessary for growth. This video addresses this universal experience, offering insights and strategies for photographers to handle rejection constructively. Understanding and embracing rejection is crucial, not just for the development of a photographer's technical skills, but also for their personal growth and resilience in a highly competitive field.
Fujifilm Instax cameras are the most popular instant cameras, offering a range of sizes from mini to wide, providing plenty of options. My favorite format is the Instax square film, and with the release of the new Instax SQ40, we conducted a comparison against the SQ6 to determine the best square format instant camera.
I've looked at previous version of the Radiant Imaging software, which focused mostly on landscape images. This latest version, Radiant Photo 1.3, offers new portrait tools that focus on natural skin tones and Color Style tools that should simplify the editing process. It's a free update for all Radiant Photo customers.
Within the genre of landscape photography, there is often debate about how much editing is too much. When does the photograph go from natural to manipulated? Does it even matter? How much editing is too much for your photos?
Venus Optics is respected for making some of the photography market's most interesting lenses, and the new Laowa 10mm f/2.8 Zero-D FF Autofocus continues that trend by offering and ultra-wide focal length in tandem with a wide aperture. This great video review takes a look at the new lens for landscape usage and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
Whenever someone asks me what camera they should buy, I am shown a ton of triple-digit-D versions. Unfortunately, entry-level cameras are nowhere near as good as full-frame equivalents. Full frame doesn’t have to be expensive. Here’s a cheap full frame camera you can buy in 2024.
Mastering photography extends beyond understanding shutter speeds and apertures; it's about capturing the essence of your subject. Whether it's a gourmet dish or a breathtaking landscape, the true art lies in making the subject shine, a principle that every photographer should embrace.
Wake up, get out of your funk, and do something new. Those are words that I say to myself quite often, and if we are all being honest, we all say them to ourselves often too, and if not, then we should. Why, you may ask? Because if you don’t, then you will either continue to be stuck in a rut or you will be, unknowingly, damaging our potential for growth and overall satisfaction.
Lightroom has some advanced tools for realizing your creative vision, split toning being one of the most useful for landscape photographers. This fantastic video tutorial demonstrates how Lightroom's split toning tools can significantly enhance an image's visual appeal, offering a practical guide on adding depth and contrast to photos.
Understanding and mastering lighting patterns is a critical skill for any photographer focusing on portraiture. This great video breaks down five primary lighting patterns and their storytelling purposes, offering invaluable insights for photographers looking to elevate their portrait work.
The new Sony FE 24-50mm f/2.8 G offers users useful focal lengths in a compact package. This great video review takes a look at the new lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.
Sigma's new 500mm f/5.6 DG DN OS Sports lens promises users a ton of reach suitable for genres like sports, wildlife, and more, making it an intriguing option for many users. This great video review takes a look at the new lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.
OM Digital Solutions has announced the much-anticipated firmware update to the original OM-1.
The Apple Vision Pro is all over the news lately. It's an expensive $3,500 wear-on-your-head device that offers augmented reality, virtual reality, and what Apple calls "Spatial Computing." (That's just the base price. Adding memory and prescription lenses adds to your ticket.)
Venus Optics, well known for producing some of the most unique and innovative lenses out there, recently announced the Laowa 10mm f/2.8 Zero-D FF Autofocus lens, offering an extremely wide focal length in tandem with a wide aperture and autofocus, making it desirable for many different users. This excellent video review takes a look at the new lens and the sort of performance and image quality you'll be able to expect from it in practice.
There is a war going on in the lighting community: To dome or not to dome? Does the recessed front make a difference? Are the flat-front lights not usable anymore? Well, having had the privilege of owning a number of lighting variants, I did rigorous testing to settle the debate once and for all.
The new Sigma 500mm f/5.6 DG DN OS Sports lens offers users extreme reach with the promise of exceptional results. This excellent video review takes a look at the new lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.
The new Sigma 15mm f/1.4 DG DN Art continues the company's tradition of offering top-level optics at competitive prices. What can you expect from this unique new lens? This excellent video review takes a look.
Sometimes I am sent lenses to test, and I can’t wait to send them back. Others stay attached to my camera for as long as possible before they are returned. What I chose to do with this 150-600mm lens took me by utter surprise, and there is good reason why it is making a mark.
The significance of diversifying one’s photography practice cannot be overstated, offering valuable lessons and skill enhancements across various genres. This helpful video tutorial focuses on practical advice that transcends the conventional wisdom of merely capturing sunsets or the oft-repeated general tips scattered across the internet.
Understanding the economics of camera upgrades and their impact on a photographer's business model is critical, especially in the professional realm. This helpful video essay addresses this topic head-on, shedding light on a common misconception among photographers about the relationship between new equipment and client charges.
Capturing the perfect photo is often seen as a blend of art and science, fraught with challenges that can make or break a shot. Understanding the myriad reasons why photos fail is crucial for photographers looking to improve their craft and achieve consistent results. This fantastic video tutorial features an experienced photographer sharing some useful advice to help you approve.
Busy week of production, so, this week, I’d like to just offer a short story about how, sometimes, a successful shoot is about more than just the final product.
As professional photographers, we carry around a bunch of stuff. I can easily rock up to a shoot with way too much kit for the job. My daily carry-around equipment is quite different, though. Let's talk about some of the must-carry items.
Most gear enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Canon EOS R1 and EOS R5 Mark II, and while those will certainly be some of the most important cameras to come along in a while, Canon might have another crucial camera waiting in the wings.
There are a lot of great tools available for editing, and my favorite techniques tend to have large impacts for little effort. Lightroom's masking tool does this better than anything else I've ever used. This guide will teach you everything you could possibly want to know about Lightroom masking regardless of your skill level.
Effective composition is a linchpin in the creation of compelling photographs, distinguishing memorable images from mere snapshots. This fantastic video dives into the topic and offers some practical advice.
The distinction between a good photo and a great photo is nuanced but significant, touching on the heart of what makes photography an art form. This fantastic video takes a look at the distinction and how it can help us improve.
Exploring familiar territories with a fresh perspective can often feel like a daunting challenge for photographers. Yet, it's this very pursuit of novelty within the well-trodden that can breathe new life into one's work, pushing the boundaries of creativity and observation.
Photography, at its core, is about capturing light, yet this fundamental aspect is often overlooked in the quest for the perfect subject. This fantastic video dives into this topic, emphasizing the importance of understanding and utilizing light to transform good photographs into outstanding ones.
The successor to the worldwide popular, and rightfully so, Fujifilm X100V has finally been revealed! The new X100VI brings forth some very welcome features while staying true to what made the X100 lineup great. We’ve used it for a while and loved it! How was it? What’s new? What stayed the same? Is it worth upgrading? Will you even be able to get one?
Times when the main creative outlet for photographers was taking and editing photos are long gone. For many, recording videos plays an equally important role now. But, the creation of videos is not only about the visuals. Audio is equally important. And for it, you need a good microphone, like the Saramonic MV7000.
January had been a difficult month for me. I was shooting a lot less, and as a result, I had a ton of time to think about my career and my direction. I ended up in a fairly bad place with my mental health. Like almost every other artist, I ended up hating much of what I do. Here's why it sucks being a photographer, and what you can do about it.
There are many small, simple steps, that you can take to drastically improve your portrait photography today.
I'm a bit of a neat freak when it comes to my gear. Anyone who has bought any of my used gear has usually told me it looks like new, save for maybe by the tripod mount, which I usually attach a plate to while I'm camped out by lighthouses.
Why are photographers obsessed with shallow depth of field? And why I think it can ruin your photography as it almost did with mine. Read on about how it started to affect my photography and what I did about it.
Landscape photographers often speak about the advantages of scouting locations, but a certain creative energy can be lost with too much pre-planning. In this video, we follow along as a landscape photographer explores an area which has some benefits and downsides.
Honeycomb grids are a fantastic tool for taking your lighting to the next level. They offer precision and control that can transform an image's mood and focus.
