5 Lessons Learned From a Decade of Street Photography

Street photography is a challenging genre that requires confidence, solid technique, and fast instincts. If you are new to street work and looking to improve, check out this helpful video tutorial that features an experienced street photographer discussing five important lessons he has learned after a decade of work.

Proof That Almost Anywhere Can Be a Photo Studio

Of course, it would all be great if every portrait photographer could afford their own studio, but that simply is not feasible for most of us. That being said, you would be surprised how little space you need to make creative, compelling, and professional portraits. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to light and shoot portraits in a small hallway.

A Review of the Affordable Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary Lens

24-70mm f/2.8 lenses are some of the most commonly used options in a variety of genres, as their versatile focal length range and wide maximum aperture make them at home in plenty of different applications. However, such lenses can be quite expensive, sometimes topping $2,000. The Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 is significantly more affordable. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

5 Helpful Tips for Better Black and White Portraits

A black and white portrait can be one of the most powerful ways to represent a person, but it takes more than just desaturating a color image to make an effective final photo. If you would like to learn how to do that, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will give you five tips sure to help you create better black and white portraits.

Are You Saying Yes Enough as a Photographer?

Photographers are constantly asked to work for less than they are worth or even for free, and that can often put us on the defensive, ready to reject any offer that will not bring us meaningful income. That can sometimes stop us from saying yes when it would actually be the best thing for us. This excellent video essay is a reminder of how saying yes can sometimes bring benefits beyond money.

How to Retouch a Portrait in Capture One and Photoshop

When it comes to high-end portrait retouching, Capture One is the choice of many photographers, renowned for its handling of raw files. If you would like to learn how to process a portrait using both Capture One and Photoshop, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you how to edit an image for the best results.

Creating a Compelling Landscape Photo by Combining Multiple Images

When it comes to landscape photography, the most common type of compositing we engage in is exposure bracketing for increased dynamic range. Of course, you can also use compositing techniques for artistic purposes as well. This excellent video tutorial will show you how an experienced landscape photographer used the power of compositing to create a single compelling image.

5 Common Editing Mistakes Made by New Photographers

Learning all the technique that goes into using a camera to create a compelling, well-composed photo is an undertaking all itself, but then comes the post-processing that is required to create a polished, complete image. Just like using your camera, there are some common mistakes new photographers make when editing their images. This great video tutorial discusses five such mistakes and what you can do to avoid them.

Why One Creative Shoots With the Sony a7 IV More Than any Other Camera

Sony's a7 series has long been respected as some of the most well-balanced cameras available, offering features and capabilities that satisfy the needs of many photographers and filmmakers without more extreme options that often drive prices higher. This great video review features a creative discussing why among multiple brands and camera bodies, the a7 IV was the camera he returned to the most in 2022.

Which Photographer Is the Sony a7R V Intended For? A Critical Review

I received the brand new Sony a7R V from Sony Netherlands for a review. It was a wonderful opportunity to find out if the autofocus is as good as advertised. Looking at the camera in a critical way makes me wonder: which photographer is the camera intended for?

A Review of the Fujifilm X-H2 Mirrorless Camera

Fujifilm's X-H2 mirrorless camera is one of the most major advancements in the popular and highly regarded X Series, bringing a 40.2-megapixel high-resolution sensor and surrounding it with a variety of new features and upgrades, all enclosed in the company's classic design. 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 use.

The 2022 Camera of the Year

2022 is fast drawing to a close. There have been some outstanding releases this year, including lenses, bodies, and accessories. But what is the camera of the year? Take a look and see what comes out on top in the Pixel Awards, run by influential industry insiders.

Which of These 135mm Lenses Is Best?

135mm lenses have long been a popular alternative to the classic 85mm focal length for portrait photography, offering a little more flattering telephoto compression and a different perspective that stands out a bit. Sony users have a choice of two standout lenses, the Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE and Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM, both of which offer highly competitive performance. This excellent video comparison takes a look at both options to help you pick the right one for you.

A Review of the Venus Optics Laowa Argus 25mm f/0.95 APS-C APO Lens

Venus Optics has gained a reputation for producing unique and interesting lenses that allow photographers to explore the boundaries of their creativity. One of their newest lenses is the Laowa Argus 25mm f/0.95 APS-C APO, which offers a wide variety of APS-C users an ultra-wide aperture in tandem with a versatile and relatively neutral focal length. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in usage.

Comparing the Sony a7 IV and Fujifilm X-H2 Mirrorless Cameras

The Sony a7 IV and Fujifilm X-H2 are two of the most well-balanced mirrorless cameras currently on the market at their price point, and as such, they are great bread and butter options for a wide range of photographers and filmmakers. If you are interested in the two cameras and wondering which is right for you, check out this excellent video comparison that will help you pick between the two.

YouTuber Gathers Millions of Votes to Determine the Best Smartphone Camera of 2022

This article could have easily been headlined "the best smartphone camera of 2022" and still been accurate, but in what is an astounding piece of data-gathering work, popular tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee has gathered millions of votes on 16 phones from hundreds of thousands of users to produce what is likely the definitive test for smartphone photography.

Can This Ultra-Affordable 85mm Lens Create Worthwhile Photos?

85mm lenses with wide maximum apertures are some of the most prized options out there, where their short telephoto focal length and narrow depth of field capabilities make them ideal options for portrait photographers. However, such lenses can easily run north of $2,000, which is what makes the Meike 85mm f/1.8, which sits at less than $200, so refreshing. Can it provide the performance and image quality pros need at that price? This excellent video review takes a look.

How Much Does Sharpness Matter in Landscape Photography?

While most genres place a lot of emphasis on sharpness, it is often of particular importance in landscape photography. Should we be placing so much emphasis on it, though? Are there other factors that should take priority? This insightful video discusses the issue and all of the other factors besides sharpness that we should consider before we edit a landscape image.

How to Take Great Photos on Cloudless Days

In a previous article, I shared my favorite way of dealing with an overcast sky in photography. Today, we will focus on the opposite: clear skies. Those can also be a challenge for landscape photographers. But there are ways to take great photos under such conditions, and in this article, we'll explore several of them.

A Practical Beginner's Guide to Shutter Speed

Along with aperture and ISO, shutter speed is one of the fundamental parameters that allow you to create balanced exposures and take creative control over your photos. If you are new to photography and interested in learning about how to use shutter speed more effectively, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you what you need to know.

Are Leica Cameras Worth the Price?

There is probably no camera brand more polarizing than Leica, with some seeing their cameras as overpriced status symbols and others absolutely swearing by the experience and the image output. So, is it worth it? This great video review takes a look at the new Leica M11 to answer that question.

Extension Tubes: They May Save You From Spending Thousands

It's a mystery how this little one-inch wonder remained unknown to me for so long. I finally discovered it when — bemoaning my fate to spend over two thousand on a Canon tilt-shift macro — a colleague suggested trying an extension tube.

Which of These Fujifilm Cameras Is Right for You?

The Fujifilm X-T5 and X-H2 mirrorless cameras are two of the newest and most capable options from the company, offering users a wide array of advanced features and capabilities that make them competent in just about any situation you can throw at them. With a lot of similarities between the two cameras, it might be hard to know which is right for your work. This excellent video will help you pick between the two options.

How to Add Contrast When Shooting Portraits on a White Background

The clean, white background portrait style is a classic look that will always be in demand for a wide range of clients and applications. However, it takes a bit of lighting savvy to create a pure white background while retaining crisp contrast and defining shadows on your subject. If you are wondering how to achieve that, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you everything you need to know.

Best Gifts for Photographers Under $100

Are you struggling for Christmas gift ideas for friends or family members who love photography? Here's a list of great items that all come in under $100.

Testing Out Luminar Extensions: Are They Really That Good?

There are quite a few extensions available by Luminar. Deciding which one is right and if it does what it says can take a while. This excellent video takes a look at all of the extensions and explains how each one works and what it does.

Is the Portable Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM Lens the Best Wide Angle for APS-C Cameras?

Canon's RF lenses have received a lot of acclaim for their high performance and image quality and boundary-pushing designs, but with all those things come high price tags. At $299, the RF 16mm f/2.8 STM is a breath of fresh air, and on an APS-C camera, its 26mm equivalent focal length makes it a potentially interesting option for a variety of needs. This great video review takes a look at the lens on the EOS R7 and if it can provide the performance and image quality you need.

5 Helpful Tips for the Shy Street Photographer

Street photography is an exciting genre that can quickly sharpen your technical and creative skills, but it also is not for the faint of heart. If you are interested in street photography but find yourself a bit shy to tackle it, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced shooter giving five helpful tips for apprehensive photographers.

The Upside of Brand Loyalty For Photographers and Filmmakers

Sometimes, loyalty is the gift that keeps on giving. Now, before a large sector of the reading audience skips straight from the title of this essay to the comment section to tell me I’m a fanboy or being foolish for proposing the idea that committing to one brand is sometimes a good idea, let me start off with a few concessions.

Do You Need Two Card Slots in Your Camera?

If you are new to photography, you have probably noticed professionals talking about the need for dual card slots a lot, sometimes so much so that they will refuse to buy a camera that only has a single card slot. Why is that so important? Do you really need two card slots? This excellent video features an experienced photographer discussing some of the reasons photographers use two card slots and how they can benefit you.

A Review of the Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera for Video Work

The Canon EOS R6 Mark II offers a lot of the capabilities of the EOS R5 at a lower price, making it appealing for many filmmakers who do not need capabilities like 8K raw output. This excellent video review takes a look at the EOS R6 Mark II for video work and the sort of quality and performance you can expect from it in use.

The Ingredients of Fantastic Festive Photos

This is an excellent time of year for photography. Here are some tips for getting better photos to help preserve your memories of these celebrations.

Have You Overlooked the Usefulness of a Superzoom Lens?

Photographers often look down on superzoom lenses, viewing them as too much of a compromise in image quality for the convenience they offer. However, they offer more than convenience, and with advances in image quality in recent years, they are much more viable than in the past. This great video essay discusses some of the reasons why you should consider adding one to your kit.

A Review of the Sony FE PZ 16-35mm f/4 G Lens

The Sony FE PZ 16-35mm f/4 G lens is a portable and remarkably versatile wide angle zoom lens that is also relatively affordable for a professional-level option. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

What Camera Features Do You Want to See in 2023?

Believe it or not, 2023 is just about upon us, and camera technology continues to advance at a breakneck pace. It is an exciting time for gear nerds, but of course, no camera is perfect. If you could pick a feature to add to your camera, what would you choose? This neat video discusses some many of us would like to see in the coming year.

How to Photograph One-Light Pet Portraits

Many of us have pets at home, and what better way to put your photographic skills to use than to create memorable portraits of your furry friends? This great video tutorial will show you how to use one light to create portraits of your pet that capture all their happiness and personality.

Which of These Affordable Lenses Is Right for You?

Samyang has established themselves as a creator of very competitively priced lenses that still offer impressive image quality. After a few years of building out their autofocus lineup, portrait photographers now have the choice between the AF 75mm f/1.8 FE and AF 85mm f/1.4 FE II. So, which is right for your work? This excellent video comparison will help you choose the right one for you.

How Far Has Image Quality Come in the Last Decade?

When it first came out in 2013, the Sony a7R was one of the most powerful and impressive mirrorless cameras ever made, particularly at a time when the technology was still fledgling and finding its footing. Now in its fifth generation, the a7R V is widely regarded as one of the most advanced mirrorless cameras on the market. How far has image quality really come, though? This great video takes a look.

We Review the Versatile TZM-02 Adapter From Techart

When Techart sent for review the TZM-02 Leica M to Nikon Z autofocus adapter, there was one small problem in that I couldn't source any Leica lenses for the review, only Canon EF. But the great thing about the adapter is that it can be stacked with additional adapters, allowing for versatility for a wide range of lenses, including the Canon EF mount. Armed with both adapters, I set about testing the capabilities of these on the Nikon Z 7II.

8 Years With Sony Cameras: The Pros and Cons

When they came to the scene with the a7 series, Sony set the camera industry on fire by bringing a range of innovative designs and features and an aggressive upgrade cycle that kept the likes of Canon and Nikon on their toes. After almost a decade on the market with their full frame cameras, the company's gear is now in the hands of countless photographers. So, how do they compare to other major brands after all this time? This great video features an experienced photographer discussing his thoughts after eight years.

A Review of the Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Lens

Tamron has earned a reputation for producing lenses that make smart compromises to allow them to offer excellent performance and image quality at prices that are significantly more affordable than many first-party lenses. The new 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD is one of their more interesting lenses, offering an unusual focal length range in a small package. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.