In the world of photography, the debate over whether gear truly impacts the quality of a photographer's work has been going for years. Some argue that it is the photographer's skill and vision that matter most, while others firmly believe that having the right gear can significantly elevate one's abilities. This article aims to shed light on the argument that gear does make you a better photographer, by exploring how advanced equipment empowers photographers, enhances creative possibilities, and enables the pursuit of excellence.

Photography has long been regarded as an art form that captures moments, emotions, and memories, preserving them for generations to come. The constantly evolving photography landscape is mostly driven by the advancement of the tools and technologies used to create and deliver photographs. While the art of photography has progressively changed and improved, the way images are developed has not changed much and often lagged behind based on the traditional lab approach.

Flash can sometimes be used to create dramatic, otherworldly portraits whose lighting jumps off the screen, but other times, you want to use flash to mimic the look of natural light. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how to use flash for a subtle effect that looks like it was natural light the whole time.

It’s been a minute since I shot color film. I’ve been shooting digital on a Canon 5D Mark IV for years. How does The Canon EOS-1N RS with Portra 400 compare?

Overcast days can produce rather flat light that lacks dimension and can feel rather boring, and as such, it can be a bit tricky to product images that are compelling. That does not mean you should just pack it up and head home, though. Flat light can actually lead to fantastic images, and this excellent video tutorial will show you how to find and shoot them.

Landscape photography is a challenging genre, but when you get a good shot, it makes all the time and effort worth it. If you would like to improve your landscape photos, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced photographer sharing a range of useful advice to help you get on the right track.

Landscape photography offers endless opportunities to capture breathtaking scenes and create stunning images. However, one common issue that can plague your landscape photographs is the presence of dust spots. These pesky little specks can appear on your images and distract the viewer's attention from the beauty of the scene. In this article, we will explore several effective techniques to help you avoid dust spots in your landscape images and maintain the integrity of your photographs.

When it comes to portrait photography, the classic focal length is 85mm, but of course, that is not the only option you can use for creating worthwhile images. 135mm lenses have long been a popular alternative to the classic 85mm option, and this great video essay discusses why you should consider using one in your work.

The three-year-old camera is already seeing some solid discounts, for a variety of reasons.

Most modern photographers interact with social media at least to some degree, and it can have more of an effect on your work and your creative evolution than you might think. This insightful video essay discusses how social media can lead professional and amateurs alike to make a mistake that handcuffs their ability to grow and to enjoy the craft of photography.

When taking landscape photos, it can sometimes be helpful to put yourself into the scene to provide a sense of scale. The same is true for night photos. But the long exposure times make it hard to create sharp selfies. In this video, Alyn Wallace shows how to solve this problem.

With an array of flagship features and a gigantic folding display, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 looks like the sort of powerhouse phone that creatives who want to do serious work on the go crave. With an improved hinge, brighter display, and faster processor, should you place your preorder? This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you will be able to expect.

In the world of photography, capturing the perfect shot often requires meticulous attention to detail. From adjusting camera settings to framing the subject just right, photographers invest significant effort in creating stunning visuals. However, amidst all the technicalities, there is one often overlooked but indispensable tool that can make or break the outcome of a photograph: the tripod.

Canon has filled out their APS-C mirrorless line quite nicely with an array of models that offer everything from highly affordable options to professional-level models capable of tackling just about anything you can throw at them. So, which model is right for your budget and needs? This helpful video gives an overview of every option to help you choose.

After thorough consideration, I made the decision to purchase the Shimoda Action X50 backpack a few years ago as my primary backpack for photography travels. Now, after several years of use, I want to reflect on its performance. Is it worth the investment? Let's find out.

We all want to be better photographers, but rarely is the path to accomplishing that plainly obvious, and it can be easy to make unconscious mistakes that stop us from reaching the next level. If you feel like you are a bit stuck in a rut, check out this insightful video essay that features an experienced photographer discussing five common reasons photographers fail to improve and how to break free and take the next step forward.

The beauty of artificial lighting is that it allows you to create just about any photo your imagination can envision with total control over every last detail. And while we often aim for bright, soft, and flattering lighting in our portraits, if you want to explore your artistic side a bit more, a dark and moody look can yield some very interesting images. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how to light and shoot those dark and moody portraits.

Landscape photography is a challenging but rewarding genre, and with all the time and effort it can take to get to a location, it is worth considering the approach you take once you are there to ensure you come away with as many great photos as possible. The insightful video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer discussing the philosophy that helps him to consistently produce worthwhile images.

After four years, Sony finally released this new APS-C camera. This is the a6700 with a completely new design. It features the new A.I. engine for identifying and tracking subjects. Unfortunately, Sony forgot to make a few other improvements.

In today's age, billions of photographs are uploaded to the internet. We're accustomed to it. It's the norm. However, like anything on this planet, it started somewhere and some time. Photography was invented in 1822, 39 years before the opening shots of the American Civil War. Digital photography made its appearance 48 years ago. Comparing this, you can say digital photography has been barely a thing even though it's something that's such a staple in today's world. But to those that lived in the mid-19th century, photography was a thing of magic.

If you’re looking to get your fine art photography into a gallery, this is a great video that answers the basic questions.

Landscape photography is a rewarding and captivating pursuit that allows us to capture the natural beauty of the world around us. However, it often involves long hours of carrying heavy camera gear and traversing various terrains. To fully enjoy and excel in this art form, it is crucial to prioritize the health and maintenance of your back and lumbar region. In this article, we will explore the significance of good back and lumbar maintenance for landscape photography. We will discuss the role of a suitable camera bag, the importance of ergonomic camera gear choices, and various exercises that can help you maintain a healthy spine, ensuring longevity and comfort in your photographic journey.

Superzoom lenses offer the ultimate level of convenience, replacing several other lenses and allowing a photographer to travel lighter and work faster. For Nikon mirrorless shooters, there is the 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from the lens in real-world use.

American documentary photographer Alec Soth's work has a strong element of narrative and metaphor, making it not just powerful imagery to enjoy, but worthwhile instructional material for improving our own photos. This fantastic video essay takes a look at Soth's work, how it creates such powerful narratives, and how we can use the lessons we take from it in our work.

If your dream camera doesn't exist, it might be time to craft one yourself. Here's how to hack a GoPro into a multi-use camera.

As a beginner photographer, your natural instinct often tries to capture everything that catches your eye. If you’re standing in front of the most beautiful view you’ve ever seen, of course you’ll want to show the whole scene in your image, but you’ll often create the most compelling images by showing less.

Just like portrait photography, the height you hold your camera relative to your subject makes a significant difference in how your wildlife images come across to your viewers. If you would like to improve your wildlife images, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced photographer discussing the impact camera height has on storytelling in your photos.

DJI Air 3 versus Mini 3 Pro versus Mavic 3 Pro versus Mavic 3 Classic. It is all a bit much now, isn't it? Just like Sony, DJI is constantly releasing updated versions of their products, at varying price points, and with different sets of features, so it is tough to know which one to get. In this video, Kai looks at the four latest drones from DJI and breaks down what might be best for you.

Landscape photography is a pursuit that requires patience, dedication, and a persistent mindset. From waiting for the right conditions to refining compositions during challenging moments, as landscape photographers, we face a range of experiences that test our resolve. This article delves into the significance of persistence in landscape photography, exploring how embracing unfavorable conditions can benefit our skills, how enjoying the rewards of successful shots can continue to benefit us long after the shoot, the importance of how considered post-processing and printing of our banger combine and contribute to help us become a successful landscape photographer.

Canon has taken advantage of the additional capabilities offered by the RF mirrorless mount, creating a variety of highly capable lenses that push the boundaries of lens design. It looks like they have no intentions of slowing down, with yet another high-level professional lens likely on the way soon.

Nowadays, your website is one of the most important parts of your photo business, and as such, it is well worth putting a lot of time and effort into making yours as good as possible. If you would like to make sure yours is as good as possible, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced wedding photographer discussing a common mistake creatives make with their websites and how to ensure yours rises above the rest.

AI has caused a ton of excitement and controversy in the last year, and the photo industry has not been immune to it. This has led to many creatives wondering how the role of the professional photographer will evolve under the shadow of AI. This insightful video essay features an experienced commercial photographer discussing his thoughts on the topic.

Do you find yourself arriving at a landscape photography location, getting the tripod set up, the camera out of the camera bag, and then walking away disappointed with your images? Something not quite right? I have some tips for finding your shot, whether it is a new location or one of your old favorites!

There is a lot of questionable information and hacks pertaining to photography on the internet. No genre is as notorious as food photography, where some people suggest pouring motor oil on pancakes and using PVA glue instead of cheese. However, some of these practices are literally illegal. Read on to find out why.

Contrast is one of the most fundamental properties of a photo, and it offers you many powerful ways to create a mood, make the subject clearer, and more. As such, learning how to leverage it and all the factors that influence contrast in the frame is crucial. This fantastic video tutorial discusses contrast and a variety of different ways to use it in your images.

Today, I’d like to recount a fun story about how the past is never really the past. It is only a prologue.

Shooting outdoor portraits offers a lot of creative opportunities, but it can be a bit of a pain to lug lighting to a location. Knowing how to work with natural light and a reflector can give you a lot of the versatility of an artificial light without all the inconvenience. This fantastic video tutorial will show you four different ways to use a reflector for outdoor portraits.

Canon has produced some incredible RF mount lenses thus far, and they have shown they have no plans of slowing down. A new set of patents have emerged, and they show quite a versatile lens in the works.

The mistakes you make in life, including photography, leave a tart, bitter taste in your mouth, especially when they’re your fault and entirely avoidable. The solution? Don't make them. Here are three easy steps photographers from any genre can implement to immediately improve compositions and eliminate unnecessary errors.

Photoshop is a tremendously complex program, and as such, there is often more than one way to accomplish any one task. One of its most fundamental but overlooked tools is Curves, which many photographers shy away from due to its intimidating appearance. Nonetheless, once you master, you will be hard-pressed to find a more capable and efficient tool for many needs. This fantastic video tutorial will show you the ins and outs of the Curves tool and how to use it to edit your images.

Viltrox has gained a reputation for creating high-quality prime lenses for different lens mounts. Allowing for accessibility to everyone due to a very affordable price bracket, these lenses are sharp, robust, and fast and Viltrox is very rapidly establishing itself as a top contender in the 3rd party lens market.

Lightroom can be a surprisingly intricate program, and as such, some of its best features can be easily overlooked. Lightroom has some powerful filtering features, and if you are someone with a catalog of images in the tens or even hundreds of thousands of images, you will find it highly beneficial to learn the ins and outs. This fantastic video tutorial will show you everything you need to know.

The Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM is an absolutely tiny lens, making it an intriguing option for anyone who wants a nice walkaround setup that will not break their back or bank account. How does it hold up in practice? This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you will be able to expect from it in use.

Today, a brief thought on when, sometimes, the solution isn’t X or Y, but X and Y.

Photographers make mistakes; it is part of the hobby of photography. They happen from not knowing how to use the camera adequately, to forgetting to change a setting, to post-processing errors. This video covers seven landscape photography mistakes you can easily correct, whether you are a pro or a beginner.