The Beauty of Bad Light in Landscape Photography

When you think of memorable landscape images, you probably think of golden hour shots with dramatic rays cascading across the frame, but there is a lot more to life than that. Any light, even "bad light," can produce worthwhile images, and if you spend your time waiting for those magic golden hour moments, you are missing out on a lot of photo opportunities. This great video discusses the issue and the sort of personal philosophy that can make bad light days more enjoyable.

A Review of the New Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE Lens

Over the past few years, Viltrox has quietly grown into a leader for third-party lenses that often punch well above their weights in terms of their price-to-quality ratios. Their latest offering, the AF 16mm f/1.8 FE, promises to continue that trend by offering an ultra-wide focal length in tandem with a particularly wide aperture, making it useful for quite a few applications. 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 practice.

How to Use Some of Lightroom's Most Powerful Tools

While it remains primarily a cataloging program, Lightroom has made some significant steps forward in editing capabilities in recent years, and it is now possible to complete entire edits within the program, making your workflow far more convenient and efficient. This helpful video tutorial takes a look at the three of Lightroom's most useful tools, the Masking panel, Healing Brush, and Panoramic Merge, and how to use them.

Why You Need to Do Things You Don't Like to Be a Successful Professional Photographer

It would be nice if finding financial success as a photographer was as easy as taking great pictures and being paid for them, but it involves so much more than what you do behind the camera and often requires you to do things you might not really enjoy. This excellent video essay features an experienced professional discussing why you have to "play the game" if you want to make photography a career.

Common Photography Business Mistakes and How to Fix Them

It is one thing to be a good photographer, but running a successful photo business takes a large set of skills that have nothing to do with a camera. If you are new to working as a professional, check out this fantastic video tutorial that discusses some common business mistakes photographers make and how to fix them.

How to Photograph the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights season has now drawn to a close. However, the next couple of seasons could be very special indeed for auroras chasers. Join me as I discuss the beauty of the Northern Lights, some of the science behind them, and how I capture this magical experience.

Unfortunately Beautiful: World War II Photographer Tony Vaccaro

In the midst of chaos, there exists a small group of brave individuals who risk their lives to document the horrors of war: combat photographers. These individuals point their cameras at the atrocity of war, capturing the brutal reality that unfolds across the landscape of battle. What's created is a visceral reminder of the violence, allowing the public to get just a small glimpse into the nightmares faced by those touched by the fire of combat. The photos we see once the silence has settled offers us a small chance to witness the harrowing experiences they endured, what they needed to do, and what they still carry with them as they try to live their lives in peace.

Focus Stacking on Steroids

With the advancements in camera technology and software, focus stacking has never been easier. You can now even stack complex woodland photos without significant difficulty. In this article, I share how to approach such scenes.

POV Portrait Shoot in the Rain With the Nikon Z8

Manny Ortiz is well known for his urban portraiture on the streets of Chicago, and this time, the windy city becomes the rainy city, as he captures some beautiful portraits of his model, Elizabeth, with the new Nikon Z8.

Strobe or Natural Light? Let the War Begin.

I love watching other photographers at work. In this video, you will see one of my favorite fashion photographs, Lindsay Adler, who is known for studio lighting and Dani Diamond, who prefers natural light. They go head to head on the streets of New York with the same model.
A Review of the New Fujifilm X-S20 Mirrorless Camera

The latest camera in Fujifilm's highly respected X Series line of mirrorless cameras, the X-S20, is here, and it brings with it some great features at a reasonable price, making it an appealing option for many photographers and filmmakers alike. This great video review takes a look at the new camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

How to Become a Commercial Photographer

Have you ever walked by a beauty image on the shelf at ULTA or scrolled by a brilliant shot on Instagram and thought: “I want to make images like that”? Or perhaps you are a photographer who saw a picture and thought: “I could have shot that better!” You have the skills, but you don’t know how to break into the commercial market. In this article, I’ll share about how to break into the market and disclose tips and tricks to succeed in the commercial photography space.

Photographing a Newly Discovered Supernova

Deep sky astrophotography has long intrigued me. The targets that can be found in the vastness of space are nothing less than impressive. In this video by Trevor Jones of AstroBackyard, he visits the Texas Star Party and captures something incredible!

4 Habits You Should Practice to Grow as a Photographer

Photography is as much a learned skill as it is a natural talent for some. Whether you fall into the former or the latter category, there are a few practices that you can practice every day that can help you become a better photographer.

Is This the Ultimate Bokeh Lens for Medium Format Mirrorless Cameras?

While apertures like f/1.4 are totally normal for full frame and APS-C cameras, they are almost unheard of in medium format, where most lenses open as wide as f/4 or maybe f/2.8. And so, that makes the Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster 65mm f/1.4 quite the intriguing lens right off the bat. Add in its very affordable price, and it becomes an option almost every Fujifilm GFX user should at least take a look at. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

How Good Is Lightroom's AI Denoise Feature?

Lightroom's new AI Denoise feature has been monumental step forward for the program, but it also enters the market at a time when there are numerous highly advanced noise reduction applications. How good is it? This great video takes a look at the new feature, including its performance and how to use it on your own images.

10 Different Ways to Print Your Photos

We may be firmly in the digital age, but there will always be something special about printing your images. However, there are dozens of ways to print your images, and it comes down to cost, your taste, photo content, final location, and much more. So, before you start spending a lot of money, it is worth taking a look at some of the options. This helpful video will show you 10 different ways to print your images, including the pros, cons, and aesthetic differences between them.

How Much I Made From YouTube Full-Time in 2022

While my focus revolves around landscape photography, much of the information I break down through this article would apply to any photography content channel. I've been doing YouTube full time for over two years. This is a breakdown of all of my revenue from 2022.
Wildlife Photography With the New Nikon Z8

Camouflaged to the max, Morten Hilmer is going full stealth mode on his farmland with the brand new Nikon Z8 for wildlife photography. Join Hilmer as he captures some magnificent wildlife with this new offering from Nikon.

The Power of Lightroom for Landscape Photographers

It can be overwhelming for a landscape photographer when it comes to the editing process. Between all the sliders and sections in Lightroom and a myriad of options in Photoshop, it can be difficult to know where to start. This video walks you through some simple steps in Lightroom to enhance your photograph, with the final touches done in Photoshop.

A Message Every Photographer Should Hear

Have you questioned your own work or struggled with constantly feeling like you aren't finding success as an artist? Hearing this might help remind you that we all experience similar struggles and many times, we are our own worst enemies.
What's In The Night Sky For June 2023

For astrophotographers around the world who are wondering what there is to shoot in June, Alyn Wallace has you covered with this in-depth guide to what's in the night sky.

Three Tips to Find Your Own Style

As a photographer, you’re attracted to everything that catches your attention, which sometimes leads to a very disparate amount of files. When you observe your portfolio, you can’t get a sense of coherence from it. Here are three tips that might help you identify a pattern in your photography and find your style.

A Review of the Impressive Colbor 220W Bi-color COB LED Video Light

LED video lights have made remarkable strides in the last few years, and you can now get professional-level options at affordable options. One example of this is the new Colbor 220W Bi-color COB LED video light, which offers impressive features and performance at a very affordable price. This excellent video review takes a look at the light and how it holds up in usage.

A Review of the Fujifilm X-T5 Mirrorless Camera

The Fujifilm X Series features some of the most respected cameras on the market, with the X-T5 sitting atop the lineup, bringing with it some of the company's most advanced design and capabilities in tandem with the series' classic design. How does it hold up in practice? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it.

How to Fix This Issue With Photoshop's Generative Fill Feature

Photoshop's new Generative Fill feature has taken the industry by storm in the last week, with its remarkable capabilities capturing the attention of many for its potential to invigorate creative tasks and streamline workflows. It is not perfect, though, and it has one issue that you should be aware of should you plan to use it for professional work. This helpful video tutorial will show you the issue and a quick and effective workflow to ensure you get high-quality results.

Reasons to Jump to Micro Four Thirds: We Review the System and the OM-1

The tired arguments against the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) standard are obsolete and rarely voiced now. Furthermore, the release of the OM-1 a year ago has seen a massive migration to the system, and for good reason. Many consider giving their creativity a boost by swapping to an MFT camera.

Which Canon Supertelephoto Zoom Is Right for You?

The Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM is a highly respected lens, offering some of the company's best performance and image quality, but at nearly $3,000, it is a rather expensive option. The RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM offers a similar focal length range at a price not even a quarter that of the 100-500mm, making it an intriguing alternative. How does it hold up? This great video comparison takes a look at both lenses to help you decide.

A Guide to Woodland Photography

Woodland photography can be tremendously rewarding, but it can also be a particularly challenging sub-genre of landscape photography. If you are interested in improving your forestry photos, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced landscape photographer sharing some of his best advice.

Fstoppers Photographer of the Month (May 2023): Daria Fomkina

The Fstoppers community is brimming with creative vision and talent. Every day, we comb through your work, looking for images to feature as the Photo of the Day or simply to admire your creativity and technical prowess. In 2023, we're featuring a new photographer every month, whose portfolio represents both stellar photographic achievement and a high level of involvement within the Fstoppers community.

The Difference Between Mechanical and Electronic Shutters

One of the nicest features of mirrorless cameras is the electronic shutter, which allows you to shoot in total silence, a fantastic option for situations where being discreet is key. That does not mean electronic shutters are without faults, however. Knowing when to use an electronic shutter and when to use a mechanical is important, and this great video tutorial will show you everything you need to know.

A Review of the New TTArtisan 100mm f/2.8 2x Macro Tilt Shift Lens

The new TTArtisan 100mm f/2.8 2x Macro Tilt Shift lens offers some of the most versatility ever seen in a lens: high levels of magnification and tilt-shift capabilities, all wrapped up in a popular focal length and an affordable price. Can it deliver on all those fronts it promises? This great video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you will be able to expect from this intriguing lens.

A Practical Beginner's Guide to ISO in Photography

Along with shutter speed and aperture, ISO is one of the three fundamental exposure parameters that have a significant impact on the technical quality of your image and on the creative decisions you can make. If you are new to photography and feeling a bit unsure about how to handle your ISO, check out this helpful video tutorial that takes a very pragmatic approach to the topic with five useful tips.

How Good Is the Affordable Canon EOS R10 Mirrorless Camera?

The Canon EOS R10 mirrorless camera offers an affordable entry point into the RF mount system, making it a nice first camera or backup body. If you are interested in how the EOS R10 might fit into your workflow, check out this great video review that takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Can You Use These Full Frame Lenses on Medium Format Cameras?

Many photographers who get into medium format come to it with large collections of full frame lenses, and as such, it would be great if they could work on their new gear. Two of the best candidates are Canon's TS-E 17mm f/4L Tilt-Shift lens and TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II Tilt-Shift lens, and these helpful videos take a look at how they hold up on a Fujifilm medium format sensor.

Is the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 Another Winner for the Fuji X Mount?

The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens for Fujifilm was first released in 2022 and added to their growing line of X Mount prime lenses, which also includes the 16mm and 30mm. This trio of contemporary lenses is designed to be compact while delivering high-quality results at an affordable price. While these lenses offer slightly less features than the Art series of lenses, making them more affordable to a wider audience, the image quality is not compromised in any way, and these relatively inexpensive prime lenses make them a compelling option to explore.

A Review of the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Lens

Any photographer who walks long distances or spends hours on their feet with their equipment knows that every last ounce matters. And so, the idea of a single lens that can cover just about every focal length is quite intriguing. Tamron's 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD makes that promise, and this excellent video review takes a look at it and the image quality and performance you can expect from it in usage.

A Look at Lightroom's AI Denoise Feature

Adobe recently released AI-driven noise reduction in Lightroom, which represents a major step forward for the program. How good is the new feature? This great video takes a look at everything you can expect.