Filmmakers Robbed at Gunpoint: Running The Entire Length of Africa

Over 100 days ago, Russ Cook (aka The Hardest Geezer), who aims to become the first person ever to run the entire length of Africa, set off on this epic 15,000-kilometer journey. Join me in this article as I interview the filmmakers behind this epic adventure and find out what has happened.

Which of These Incredible Lenses Is Better?

As a Canon user, perhaps no lens has me more jealous of other camera systems than the 35-150mm f/2-2.8. Arguably one of the most versatile lens designs, such lenses can cover a huge range of needs and applications. Both Tamron and Samyang make 35-150mm f/2-2.8 options with different advantages and prices. Which is right for you? This excellent video comparison takes a look at both to help you decide.

Robert Capa at D-Day: What Was and Could've Been

In the archives of photography, few moments have been as pivotal as Robert Capa's coverage of the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944. Capa stepped onto the beaches of Normandy and captured the raw intensity of one of the most significant events of World War II, and, it can be argued, one of the most significant events in history. Despite the chaotic atmosphere, Capa's work stands as a testament to the power and importance of photojournalism. We've all seen the photos. They are some of the most iconic images captured during war. However, due to a darkroom mishap, many of those moments he captured are gone forever.

How to Light a Fashion and Hair Competition Portrait

Lighting can make or break a portrait, and sometimes, you will be asked by a client to tailor your lighting design to accentuate specific characteristics or features of your subject. In this great video tutorial, you will see a photographer team up with a world-class barber to create images for a hairstyling competition and learn how a combination of lighting and editing came together to create the final images.

Why Sharp Photos Sometimes Don't Look Sharp

It can be a strange experience to take a photo you know is sharp, only for it to look soft despite getting everything right. If you know your technique is solid, but your photos still do not look sharp enough, check out this great video tutorial that discusses some of the reasons technically sharp photos can look soft and what you can do to improve them.

Simple Editing Tricks for Adding Emphasis to Your Landscape Photos

Almost no landscape image is finished when you press the shutter; pretty much every photo you take is going to require some level of editing to produce a finished product. Editing does not have to be complicated, though. This fantastic video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer sharing some useful and straightforward techniques for creating compelling edits of your landscape images.

Macro Gone Mobile: We Review SANDMARC Macro 100mm for iPhone

If you've wanted to try macro photography but didn't want to outlay on all the special equipment necessary, you're in luck. If you're an iPhone user, SANDMARC has a 100mm Macro lens you can screw onto your phone, and I put it through its paces.

Canon Readies More Advanced Camera Sensors

The Canon EOS R3 represented a major step forward for the company, bringing with it the first stacked sensor in a Canon camera, helping them to get back into competition with the likes of Sony. It looks like the company intends to bring that technology to more cameras soon.

A Review of the Pergear 14mm f/2.8 Mark II Lens

14mm f/2.8 lenses are useful for range of applications, particularly landscape and astrophotography. At less than $300, the Pergear 14mm f/2.8 Mark II is on the affordable end of the spectrum, making it an intriguing option. Can it keep up with more expensive lenses? This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

What Happened to Photo Credits?

Back in my college days, when I first started taking photographs, I pursued magazine photography because I loved seeing my name printed in the magazine. Often, I wasn’t being paid for my services and the photo credit was payment enough for me. When I incorporated my business some 20+ years ago, I named my company "photo: John Ricard, LLC" because it resembled a photo credit.

Are You Cropping Your Landscape Photos Correctly?

One of the best benefits of digital images with high resolution is that you can crop them to essentially aspect ratio you please, but there is a drawback as well: we often do not put as much thought into the final crop of a photo before we press the shutter as we did in the days of film. This great video tutorial discusses the issue and offers some helpful advice for better crops of your landscape photos.

A Review of the Versatile Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM Lens

In the past few years, we have seen some nice advancements in the quality of superzoom lenses, and there are now several options that offer good results along with the unmatched versatility of a huge range of focal lengths. For Canon shooters, there is the RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

Is This the Ultimate Wedding Photography Lens?

Wedding photographers place a lot of demands on their lenses: they need wide apertures, great autofocus performance, sharp image quality, and a variety of focal lengths. As such, most wedding photographers carry several lenses, which can be both expensive and a bit of a logistical pain. And so, the thought of a lens that could replace several lenses and do so at a far cheaper price is quite intriguing. Can it offer the sort of performance and image quality wedding photographers need? This great video takes a look.

How to Price Your Photography

There are no hard and fast set of rules for how to price your photography, which can make it difficult to know how to set your prices in order to make a decent profit without driving away too many potential clients. If you are new to the business of photography, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you some fantastic advice on pricing your work.

Canon Continues to Restrict Third-Party Lenses, Frustrating Photographers

Canon's RF mount has generally produced some quite impressive lenses, but the company has also been quite aggressive in stopping third-party manufacturers from creating lenses for the mount, much to the frustration of many photographers. In a recent interview, the company has confirmed that their strategy has effectively not changed.

The Perfect Frames for Your Photos

Finding the perfect print option for your images can be daunting. Figuring out which paper to use is just the first part of the task. At least equally important for a printed photo's visual appeal is the right frame choice. And in this article, I show you frames that can elevate your images.

A Long-Term Review of the Fujifilm X-T5 Mirrorless Camera

The X-T5 mirrorless camera took Fujifilm's highly popular X Series platform and upgraded it with a huge range of new features and advancements, the most notable being that new 40-megapixel sensor, the highest ever seen in such a camera. This great video review takes a long-term look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from the camera in real-world usage.

The Power of Leading Lines in Landscape Photography

Leading lines are one of the most fundamental and powerful tools a photographer has for creating compelling compositions that invite the viewer into the frame. If you find yourself unsure of how to use leading lines, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced landscape photographer giving an in-depth explanation of the different kinds of leading lines and how to leverage them to create more powerful landscape photos.

A Look at the Asus 15.6" Vivobook S 15 OLED Laptop

If you have ever seen an OLED TV, you know that they offer unparalleled picture quality, which is why it is so great that OLED displays have started becoming a regular appearance in computers. The Asus Vivobook S15 OLED offers such a display in tandem with a range of other features, and this great video takes a look at the computer and the sort of performance and display quality you can expect from it in use.

We Review the Hobolite Micro: The Cute Little Light That Could

In the world of LED lights, Hobolite has once again pushed the envelope, revealing the “Micro” to their lineup. At first glance, its compactness is enchanting, promising both convenience and functionality. The real question, however, is: does it deliver?

Major Milestones in the History of Photography

This year, we celebrate the 184th birthday of photography, and in those nearly two centuries, we have seen some remarkable accomplishments and advancements. This fantastic video essay takes a look at the craft we all love and some of the most important milestones in its history.

10 Good Habits for Landscape Photographers

Good habits make good photographers, and landscape photography is no different than any other genre. Getting in the habit of doing certain things every time you head out can help give you the best chances of coming home with winning shots. This great video tutorial details 10 such habits and why they can have a positive impact on your work.

B&H’s Bild Expo: Who Will Be There and What You Will Learn

B&H is turning 50, and they are celebrating with their Bild Expo September 6 and 7th at the Javits Center, in Manhattan. It is a free event where you can take advantage of a lineup of industry giants spanning across genres. Whether you're in need of renewed inspiration, valuable business advice, or acquiring new skills, you can expect an abundance of the most experienced voices at the expo.

Sirui 150mm Anamorphic Lens: The Lens That Rekindled My Passion For Filming

Sirui's launched the Venus 150mm T2.9 1.6x Full-Frame Anamorphic Lens. Beyond its sharp imagery, pleasing bokeh, and unique anamorphic flare, its standout feature is the remarkably close minimum focus distance. This capability sets the lens apart, elevating it to a distinct tier of optical brilliance.

Is This the Best All-Around Camera?

The Nikon Z8 is arguably the most capable camera for the price on the market right now, able to tackle just about any photo or video need and then some. Is it the best camera you can buy right now? This great video review takes a look at the performance and image quality it offers.

How to Take Outdoor Group Shots Like a Pro

Group shots might seem just like wider-angle portraits, but my word are they annoying. In this video, watch a tutorial of a professional group shot of a children's football team that yields superb results despite bright natural light!
The Drawback of Film Photography

Film photography has enjoyed a notable resurgence in the last few years, and while it can offer an enjoyable and different experience over digital, it is not without its drawbacks. The cost is the most commonly cited con to the format, but there is something arguably more crucial to consider. This excellent video essay discusses the issue and what you should consider before you pick up your film camera.

A Simple Guide to Focus Stacking

Focus stacking/bracketing consists of taking several shots of the same frame (in this case, a landscape) at different focus points within your frame to ensure sharpness throughout. Is it necessary? In most cases, no, as an aperture above f/9 will typically cover any slight variations in depth of field. However, if you are using an ultra-wide lens with subjects close to the lens and a large distance between the foreground and background elements, it is beneficial to ensure sharpness throughout.

A Beginner's Guide to Prime and Zoom Lenses

Few things are more fundamental to photography than the difference between zoom and prime lenses. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, and knowing which one is right for various applications will help you choose the right one for your creative tendencies and ensure you get the shot. This helpful video tutorial will teach you the differences and show you which is right for your work.

A Versatile and Effective One-Light Portrait Setup

When you are new to learning, it can be tempting to think that you need complex multi-light setups in order to create compelling professional portraits, but that cannot be further from the truth. While such setups certainly have their place, you will be surprised by just how much you can accomplish with only one light. This fantastic video tutorial features an experienced portrait photographer sharing four effective single-light setups and how to use them.

Why You Should Always Watch the Light When Shooting Wide Angle Portraits Outside

When you think of a portrait, you probably think of focal lengths mostly between 85mm and 135mm, but, of course, that does not mean you can't use wider focal lengths. A wide angle portrait outside can be a great way to add a sense of drama and adventure to the frame, but you need to ensure you are carefully balancing the light. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to read the light and ensure you get the best possible images.

Why Wedding Photography Is Harder Than It Seems

Many new photographers will find themselves in or around wedding photography at some point — it is the inevitable call of those who take even a reasonable image. But, don't be fooled, it's harder than it seems.
The Age Old Question: Which Camera Brand Is Best?

It isn't a new question and the answer is ever-changing, but periodically, it's worth looking at each brand from an objective point of view to see the state of play. Which brand is currently the best for each type of photographer?
A Quick Tutorial on Using Lightroom's Masks for a Powerful Portrait Edit

In the last few iterations, Lightroom has taken some remarkable steps forward in its masking capabilities, offering powerful and precise tools in tandem with some of its classic features that allow you to not only make precise edits, but take images in entirely different creative directions. This awesome video tutorial will show you a quick walkthrough on using the new tools for adding creative lighting to a portrait.

Can Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR Lens Keep Up With High-Resolution Cameras?

35mm lenses with wide apertures have long been treasured for their usefulness and ability to tackle a huge range of needs and situations with ease, including portraits, weddings, street photography, and much more. The Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR has earned a lot of respect among photographers. However, now that the company has also released X Series cameras with high-resolution sensors, can it keep up? This great video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect.

The History of Extreme High Speed Photography

What does an atomic detonation look like with a 1/1,000,000 s exposure? If you drop milk onto a red table, do you make art? This article holds an interesting discussion about high speed photography.

5 Common Beginner Landscape Photography Mistakes

Landscape photography is a challenging but rewarding genre that requires the confluence of several different facets of technique and knowledge in order to produce a winning shot. If you are new to the genre and ready to improve, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced pro sharing five common mistakes beginners make and how to fix them.

A Straightforward Tutorial on Using Flash Outside for Portraits

Flash does not have to be restricted to the studio; in fact, you can make some pretty creative and fun images by combining flash with natural light outside. If you would like to get started with working with flash for outdoor portraits, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will guide you through lighting and shooting such a set of photos.

The Viltrox 27mm f/1.2: A Brilliant New Lens With Autofocus

Viltrox has been making some superb lenses of late — affordable, compact, and fast — and they join a growing market of off-brand manufacturers who produce superb glass. This latest offering is another great addition!
How Useful Are Wireless Connections Between a Camera and a Smartphone?

Almost every modern camera comes equipped with some form of wireless connectivity. Manufacturers are even making them a prominent selling point. But just how valuable is this feature in reality? In this article, I want to dive into the possibilities and their value.

Printer Ink: It's a SCAM

We all know that printer companies hook you with a cheap printer and then make their money with overpriced ink. I just didn't know it was this bad.