The Secret to Making Low Budget Films Look Expensive

Every videographer and filmmaker has to start somewhere and it can seem as if you need tens of thousands of dollars at your disposal to create anything worthwhile, but you don't. Here is one filmmaker's secret to making low-budget films look expensive.
Flying High: We Review the Sigma 100-400 f/5-6.3 for Fuji X Mount

Over the years Sigma has established itself as a reliable manufacturer of high-quality lenses, known for their performance, quality, and affordability, and this new lens for the Fuji X-mount is no different. With this telephoto addition, the current Sigma lineup consists of 4 prime lenses, and a zoom, giving us 6 lenses in total with a rumored 7th in the very near future.

Five Skills That Give New Photographers an Edge

Sure, it is wise for beginners to learn from experienced photographers, but there are certain qualities that most new photographers have that many experienced photographers spend years trying to recover.

Helpful Advice for Improving Your Photos

No matter what genre you shoot, there are some fundamental pieces of advice that will make you a better photographer. This fantastic video tutorial features an experienced photographer sharing some important bits of advice that will improve your images and help you focus on what really matters so you can find more enjoyment from your craft.

The Telephoto Lens: A Shortcut to Getting Attractive Images

Photography is an art that allows us to freeze moments in time and capture the beauty of the world around us through the form of photographs. Among the many tools a photographer can utilize to create their art, a telephoto lens stands out as a distinctive and excellent choice for those seeking to easily capture attractive and compelling images. In this article, we will discuss the advantages that telephoto lenses offer and also how they can help you get attractive images easily.

A Review of the Nikon Zf Mirrorless Camera

Retro cameras have exploded in popularity in recent years, with many photographers embracing not just the attractiveness of their designs, but the functionality provided by having all of the major photographic functions readily available in intuitive tactile controls. One such option is the new Nikon ZF mirrorless camera, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from the camera in usage.

The Aparo Meteor 30 and 60 RGB Tube Lights Are Pretty Wild

With so many amazing new RGB LED lights on the market, it's easy to see why so many content creators are utilizing these in both their photography and videography projects. Today, I look at the Meteor 30 and 60 Pixel Tube Light by Aparo and show you how I plan to use it in my own studio.

Can You Take Great Landscape Photos at Any Location?

If you look at a lot of the most popular landscape photography on something like Instagram, you will probably notice that many of the images that come up tend to be from a few popular locations. Does that mean you can only create worthwhile photos only at those well-known images? This great video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer discussing the issue and showing you some of the potential even ordinary places have.

A Beginner's Guide to Astrophotography

Astrophotography can be one of the neatest and most interesting genres, but it is also one of the most challenging, requiring a lot of very specific knowledge and techniques, as well as some very specialized gear. If you would like to get started with astrophotography, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you the ins and outs of the genre.

Why Full Frame Didn't Suit Me and Why I Won't Leave Micro Four Thirds

You’ve probably heard many outright lies about Micro Four Thirds. It’s suffered attacks from certain quarters, sometimes from those openly in the pay of its competition. Here’s everything you need to know about the system and why it’s a great option for professional and amateur photographers alike.

A Beginner's Guide to Editing Portrait Photos in Lightroom

When it comes to learning portrait photography, it is, of course, crucial to learn how to work with your camera, light your subject, pose them, etc. However, your work is not over once you press the shutter button. Almost every portrait will take some degree of editing to be finished, and as such, you need to be equally comfortable with working on your images in editing software. This helpful video tutorial features an experienced portrait photographer walking you through a full image edit using both Lightroom and Photoshop.

iPhone 15 Pro Dynamic Range Test

It's a few days after the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro have been made available, and everyone is sharing their opinions about the phone, the cameras, and the new features that Apple has added in their latest and greatest (yet) iPhone release. Something that has always been difficult to get is the raw details of how well iPhone camera sensors perform. This year, one of the features that was highlighted in the Apple presentation was the phone's ability to connect external media via the USB-C port. This allows you to hig- quality video (using the new Apple Log and ProRes codecs) to an external SSD, or as some have experimented and found out, you can even save files to an SD card via an adapter.

Radiant Photo Mobile Gives You a Powerful Editor in Your Pocket

We've looked at the Radiant Photo Editor for Mac and PC in the past. It was created by some professional photographers to speed your editing process by making some smart decisions about your image and making intelligent changes. It was infinitely variable, and some good improved photos could result from the process.

Is This One of the Best Lenses Nikon Has Ever Made?

Nikon has made some awfully impressive lenses in their long history, but the new NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena has been turning heads as possibly one of the best lenses the company has ever put out. Can it match that hype in practice? 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.

A Review of the New Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 Lens

Viltrox has developed a reputation for creating lenses that are often far more capable than their prices might suggest, and they are continuing to grow in popularity among photographers who want pragmatic professional options for a range of applications. One such lens is the PRO Series AF 27mm f/1.2 Pro, which offers users a 40mm equivalent focal length in tandem with an extremely wide maximum aperture, and this awesome video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

Some of the Best Landscape Photography Lenses You Can Buy

Christopher Frost is one of the most prolific, thorough, and consistent lens reviewers on the internet, and so, when he offers his opinion, it is well worth taking the time to listen. In this great video, he discusses three of his favorite landscape photography lenses and why they are so well suited to the job.

The Challenges of Landscape Photography

Landscape photography is a challenging genre that requires a lot of strong technique, understanding of environmental conditions, good post-processing skills, and often, just a bit of luck. And as if the photographic aspects are not tricky enough, landscape photography also comes with some serious mental and physical demands. This great video talks about some of those lesser-discussed issues and persevering through them.

Should You Join a Photography Club?

As a photographer, you are probably a participant in a number of online groups or forums that discuss photography. But have you considered joining your local photography club? Let’s look at the value of joining one!

A Techie’s Review of the iPhone 15 Pro Max

It's another year, and there's another iPhone, but this year's flagship model, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, brings a few new tricks to the table for photographers. The Verge takes a deep-dive into the tech behind the upgrades and what impact it has on the photo quality of the phone.

10 Fantastic Photoshop Features You Might Not Know About

Photoshop is a tremendously complex and multilayered program, and as such, there are some useful features that even seasoned users might not be aware of. If you would like to expand your photo-editing toolkit, check out this fantastic video tutorial that discusses 10 lesser-known Photoshop features and shows you how to use them to your advantage.

Five Tips for Better Mountain Photos

I've always been fascinated by the mountains and the sweeping views they provide to the ones putting in the work and climbing to the top. For landscape photographers like me, they provide endless photo opportunities and inspiration. In this article, I share five tips to help you make your next mountain trip a success.

6 Important Landscape Photography Skills

Landscape photography is a challenging genre that takes a variety of skills to produce successful images, and as such, it is important to be a well-rounded photographer when you undertake the genre. This helpful video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer sharing six skills he feels are important to finding success in the process.

How Good Is the Ultra-Cheap Canon EOS R100 Mirrorless Camera?

Costing just $479, modern mirrorless cameras generally don't get much cheaper than the Canon EOS R100, making it an intriguing option for many photographers ranging from beginners to those who need an affordable backup body. What does it provide at that super-low price? This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

Landscape Photography Is the Perfect Hobby

Some days, while practicing landscape photography, I pause to reflect. Thoughts often drift to the pursuit of landscape photography. With the unique blend of elements it brings together and the hobby's impact on me, landscape photography may be the perfect hobby.

This Is an Incredibly Unusual Lens, But Would You Buy It?

Anyone who has read even a few of my articles will know just how much I love unique lenses; if they have some character and unusual results, I'm all in. So, what is this lens and why has Matti Haapoja called it "the most unique lens" he's ever used?
5 Lighting Hacks You Won't Find in YouTube Tutorials

Learning lighting is often considered the first step toward capturing better photos. When I began my journey, I delved into discovering various techniques and unconventional methods for creating truly unique setups that leave clients in awe. In this article, I will share my five favorite lighting hacks.

How to Create Realistic Lighting in Filmmaking

You can't control what the weather will be on any given day, and that dictates a lot of how natural light will behave. In this video, Rob Ellis takes you behind-the-scenes to go through how to create realistic-looking lighting no matter what conditions you're in.
The Awesome Failing Photographer

This video is for the photographer who wants to give up. Have you ever felt like throwing in the towel when things seem to spiral downward? If you have, you're not alone and I created a video that I hope will inspire you to continue.

What You Need to Photograph Waterfalls Like a Pro

While you can show up to a waterfall with just a camera and a dream, you likely won't walk away with professional-looking images. You'll need a few items and techniques to turn those dreams into reality so you can walk away with world-class images for your portfolio.
A Review of the Fujifilm GFX100 II Mirrorless Medium Format Camera

The Fujifilm GFX 100 II medium format mirrorless camera takes what Fujifilm established with previous GF series models and adds a bevy of new features and upgrades that make it all the more appealing, all while maintaining that highly competitive price that makes it a reasonable alternative to full frame for many professionals. Can it match those impressive specs in real-world usage? This excellent video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect from the camera.

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Is It Time to Shift Your Focus From Your Skill to Your Soil?

As artists, we tend to channel our time and energy into becoming better at our craft. We learn more complex lighting setups, take advanced classes in retouching, buy the latest “must-have” gadgets, and try to bring it all together to improve our skills. We do it all because we have a fundamental belief that, “If I am the best, I will be the most successful”. Have you ever found yourself doing that, pouring months, and sometimes years into ameliorating your craft, but you still have not seen the corresponding financial or opportunity growth you expected?

A Masterclass From a Master Photographer

Landscape photography as a genre can be perceived as quite repetitive to some. However, to others, it can be a multifaceted challenge depending on the light, conditions, and locations that we choose to photograph!

Are You Using Your Photography Skills to Document Your Life?

Whether hobbyist or professional, photography can be a pursuit that takes up a lot of your time and energy, and when you finally put the camera down, you might not have the desire to pick it up again for a while. That can be a mistake, though, as you possess a special set of skills that put you in a position to document your life and the lives of your family and friends. This great video essay discusses the importance of doing just that.

Amateur Photographer Shoots With Nikon Z8

With all of the advances in camera tech these days, it’s easy to get confused when thinking about which camera to buy or which camera to upgrade to! There are a plethora of reviews, videos, and opinions out there on which camera is best for you.

Why Traveling Helps Your Career

I had the privilege of observing people I greatly admire making a living doing what they love. At the outset of my career, my friend, Dago, who directed tour videos for artists like Madonna, Ricky Martin, Celine Dion, Pink, and many others, noticed my keen interest in pursuing a creative path. He observed me closely, even as I occasionally posed some rather absurd questions.

A Comparison of the Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 AF and Sigma 23mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lenses

Both the Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 AF and Sigma 23mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary offer Fujifilm X Series users approximately 35mm full frame equivalent focal lengths in tandem with very wide maximum apertures, making them versatile options for a variety of applications. That being said, Fujifilm's new 40-megapixel sensor can be quite demanding. Can these lenses keep up? This excellent video comparison takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect.

What Has Canon Got up Its Sleeve for 360/VR Video?

Without much fanfare, Canon showed off a prototype consumer 360/180 VR camera shortly after Apple's reveal of its Vision Pro VR headset in June. Now, we have a better idea of what's under the hood.

What Happens When Your Film Is X-Rayed 19 Times?

One of the most frequently discussed topics in any film photography Facebook group is traveling with film. Newbies and old hands alike will share experiences of transiting through various airports, detailing their success rate of asking for hand checks of their film with security staff.

5 Tips for Keeping Your Photos and Lightroom Catalog Safe

Imagine the moment your computer stops working. It contains thousands of photos and a Lightroom Classic catalog. Imagine if all the work and effort you put into it is gone. The risk can be minimized when you take care of four or five things.