3 Portrait Lighting Setups Using 2 Lights
Tutorials on using a 1-light setup for portrait photography are commonplace, and rightly so. There are several ways that a single light source can be positioned to create flattering lighting on a subject. You might think that switching to a 2-light setup would be twice as complicated. This isn’t the case. There are several 2-light arrangements that are easy to understand and quick to set up. Using 2 lights can make it easy for you to transition between a clean headshot and a dramatic portrait.
The Story Behind One of History's Most Famous Photographs
"Migrant Mother," a photo by Dorothea Lange, is, by far, one of the most important and well-known images ever taken, having become an iconic symbol of the Great Depression. If you do not know the story behind the photo, check out this great video that will show you some of the history that went into it.
How to Get Rid of Dark Circles Under Eyes Using Photoshop
By far, one of the common retouching requests photographers receive when editing portraits is to lighten dark circles under the eyes. Thankfully, it is not an especially difficult problem to address, and this excellent video tutorial will show you everything you need to do to lighten those circles in a convincing and high-quality manner.
Is This the Best Landscape Photography Lens for Fujifilm GFX Users?
The Fujifilm GFX line of mirrorless cameras has become popular for making medium format more modernized and financially accessible than ever, making it a legitimate alternative to full frame for many photographers. For landscape photographers using the system, the GF 20-35mm f/4 R WR looks like the ideal lens. 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.
I Subjected Myself to the Cheapest Camera on Amazon so You Don’t Have To
"Vintage" point-and-shoot digital cameras are all the rage among Gen Z today, and while you can cruise eBay to find something used to scratch that itch, what can you get for about the same money new?
Beware of This NFT Scam
In this article, I share my experience with a new NFT marketplace called Fantasea.io. There's not much information available about it online. The domain has been registered just a little over a month ago, and the homepage currently feels like a work in progress. Because more and more photographers seem to get contacted to sell NFTs on this site, it's important to determine if it's legit.
Common Composition Mistakes to Avoid to Improve Your Photos
No matter how incredible the vistas are in front of you, your resulting images can be ruined by poor composition. In this video, learn some of the most common composition mistakes and how to avoid them.
Eye-controlled Autofocus Is Coming to More Canon Cameras
Eye-controlled autofocus, in which the camera selects the autofocus point by detecting which one you are looking at, is one of the niftiest features in the Canon EOS R3 mirrorless camera. In a bit of good news, Canon has confirmed that the feature will be coming to more mirrorless models in the future.
Product and Food Photography: This Is the Way
When it comes to product and food photography, lighting is critical and can make or break the final image. Achieving the perfect lighting can be a complex process, even more so if you are just starting out with this type of photography.
How Bad Is This $8.50 Photography Tripod From Amazon?
Would you use a camera tripod that costs as little as $8.50? Let's see what you get when you buy the cheapest tripod on Amazon.
How to Make Yourself Look Better on Zoom Calls
If you've ever looked at your face on a Zoom call and wondered why you look so bad, you're not alone. Here, we look at how to add color corrections and pop to your face so you look so much better on Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype, and more.
Giving Back As a Photographer: An Interview with Michelle Valberg
I'm sure most, if not all, of you have heard about the idea of paying-it-forward. Did you know that recent studies have shown that this phenomenon is a learned behaviour? How can we as photographers use our skills to encourage others to benefit projects and philanthropy close to our hearts? I had a chance to chat with photographer Michelle Valberg, whose habit of giving back just saw her appointed to the Order of Canada this past summer.
If Camera Brands Were People
Likely the most controversial topic in the photography world is which camera brand is best. What if you took those brands and personified them into a conversation with each other?
How to Enhance Eyes Using Photoshop
The eyes are one of the most important of any portrait, and as such, they deserve a little bit of extra attention when you are in the post-processing stage of your work. If you would like to improve your portraits, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you how to brighten and enhance the eyes in a portrait for natural, compelling results.
The Future of In-person Photography Education
Photography education is a constantly fluctuating space, ever evolving from one approach to the next in an effort to differentiate from the pack. The Photo Creators Conference is the next evolution in the chain.
3 Reasons the Fujifilm X-T5 Is a Great Camera
The Fujifilm X-T5 mirrorless camera takes the company's well-established and respected X-T line and adds a range of new features and capabilities, most notable being the new 40-megapixel sensor, the highest ever in an X Series camera. The great video features an X-T5 user discussing three reasons why he recommends the camera.
How to Use a Wide Angle Lens for Landscape Photography
Wide angle lenses are the tool of choice of countless landscape photographers, but they can be particularly tricky to work with, especially when it comes to composition. If you are new to landscape photography and hoping to improve, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you how to use a wide angle lens for creating effective and compelling landscape images.
How to Choose Binoculars: We Review the OM System Olympus 10 x 42 PRO
A good pair of binoculars are often invaluable to photographers. There are many important things to learn about buying them. Here's what led me to the OM System Olympus PRO binoculars, why they are my perfect choice, and why my old ones were a mistake.
A Look at Canon's Seven Craziest Lenses
Canon has a long history of producing some of the most interesting and extreme lens designs out there, and they can be a blast to look back on and even use today if you can track them down. This fun video takes a look at the company's seven most extreme designs, ranging from an insane 5200mm f/14 lens from the 1960s to one of the most useful options on the market today.
Will the Canon EOS R5 Soon Shoot 400-Megapixel Images?
Recently, news broke that Canon is likely planning a significant firmware for the EOS R5 later this year, including a high-resolution pixel-shift mode. Now, it appears that mode may offer a whopping 400 megapixels of resolution.
Innovative Design Meets Quality Performance: Fstoppers Review the Hobolite Avant LED Light
Hobolite has recently entered the market with what could possibly be the most aesthetically pleasing LED lights created by any company within the past decade. In this article, we will be looking at the new Hobolite Avant, a mid-tier 100-watt LED light.
A First Look at the Impressive Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S Lens
The new Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens has arrived, and with it comes some of the company's most extreme design and impressive optical performance. And while it looks impressive on paper, can it hold up in the real world? This great first look video examines the new lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.
A Deep Review of the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM Lens
A good wide-aperture 50mm lens is one of the most versatile optics a photographer can own, capable of comfortably tackling a huge range of genres and needs. For Sony users, the new FE 50mm f/1.4 GM offers the promise of high-level performance and image quality in a relatively portable package. This excellent video review takes an in-depth look at everything you can expect from it in practice.
Improve Your Photography Website Without Shooting Anything New
It’s time to spring-clean your photography website! Don’t leave it until you've finally shot that new body of work you’ve been meaning to shoot. There are several things you can do to your website to freshen it up without shooting new images first.
How to Create Beauty Lighting With Speedlights
When it comes to studio lighting, you might think that you need powerful monolights or pack and head systems, but you can accomplish quite a bit with speedlights. This great video tutorial will show you how to do just that using affordable and easy-to-use speedlights.
We Interview Rhy Dyball: Understanding the Human Condition Through the Uncanny
Rhy Dyball is a photographer and artist working with themes uncanny and eerie images.
Canon CPS Is Changing for Professional and Enthusiast Photographers
Canon CPS is changing for the better? We talk to Frankie Jim, the man in charge of Canon’s Professional Services in the UK, to find out what’s changing and assess if these changes happening are for the better or worse?
Use These Simple Steps to Ensure Sharp Photos
A Beginner's Guide to Working With Flash
Working with flash intimidates a lot of photographers, but it is well worth taking the time to learn it, as it will make you a vastly more versatile photographer and enable new creative opportunities that simply would not be possible with only natural light. This excellent video tutorial will help you learn the basics of flash through examples and have you up and running in no time.
5 Easy Tips to Improve Your Drone Photography
Drones provide photographers with incredible image opportunities but still lack dynamic range and pixel count of their grounded handheld counterparts. What if you could increase your dynamic range, resolution, and take better images?
Is Samyang Planning a 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Lens?
Tamron's 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD has been praised for being remarkably versatile and for pushing the boundaries of lens design. Samyang might be joining the party soon, as rumors that the company is planning a similar lens have emerged.
The First Lens Landscape Photographers Should Buy
If you are interested in landscape photography, you might think that the first lens you should pick up is an ultra-wide angle zoom. Those can certainly be useful tools, but there might be a better first lens. This excellent video will show you a potentially better choice.
Canon 5DS Long-term Review: Fantastic Image Quality, Even in 2023
When I was looking for a camera that could shoot higher resolution than my Canon 5D Mark IV, I had three options: Phase One, Canon 5DD, or mirrorless. I ended up getting the Canon 5Ds, and after using it for a bunch of work, here are my long-term thoughts.
Can This Affordable Canon Lens Keep Pace with a Legend?
Few lenses are more famous than the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM, renowned for its extreme design and insane bokeh, making it a favorite of numerous portrait and wedding photographers for many years. Now available on the used market for about the same price as the far newer RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, you might wonder which is right for you. This great video comparison will help you decide.
A Review of the Sony FE PZ 16-35mm f/4 G Lens
The Sony FE PZ 16-35mm f/4 G is an impressively versatile and portable wide angle zoom lens at a very reasonable price for the features and image quality you get. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.
3 Great New Features of the Latest Major Update to Zoner Photo Studio X
An Important Lesson for Every Photographer
Being a photographer, whether a hobbyist or professional, is a complex endeavor in today's world, and it can be easy to be sidetracked by a wide range of issues or red herrings. If you sometimes find yourself struggling with that, check out this important video that is a useful reminder of what matters in photography and what the real nature of progress is.
Some Helpful Advice for Beginners Regarding Shutter Speed
Along with aperture and ISO, shutter speed is one of the three fundamental parameters that determine the overall exposure and look of a photo. Shutter speed has both a technical and creative aspect, as you can also leverage it for making effects that would not be visible to the naked eye. If you are new to photography, check out this helpful video tutorial that will give you some useful advice regarding choosing shutter speeds.
Why I Bought the Original Nikon Z6 in 2023
I just got a new camera! Well, sort of.
A Review of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S Lens
The 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 is a classic design used by countless creatives for genres like sports and wildlife photography, where its versatile focal range and modest aperture offer a lot of reach at far more reasonable prices than top-shelf supertelephoto prime lenses. For Nikon mirrorless shooters, there is the NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S, and this great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
Is the Samsung Galaxy S23+ the Best Balance of Performance and Price?
In the middle of the lineup between the Galaxy S23 and S23 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy S23+ offers a lot of the most advanced features available in smartphones without the top-level price of the Ultra model, making it an appealing option for many users. This excellent video review takes a look at the S23+ and how it holds up in daily usage.
DPReview Is Shutting Down
In what is some of the most surprising news the industry has seen in a long time, DPReview, one of the oldest and most respected photography publications on the web, is ceasing operations in less than a month.
Photography Will Never Be the Same: Content Creators Are Replacing Photographers
Are you a photographer or a content creator? More and more photographers take on several roles and end up being content creators rather than traditional photographers. The industry is changing every year, and as it looks now, you have to learn content creation to stay in business. Photography is not enough.
Should You Purchase the 14" or 16" MacBook Pro?
The MacBook Pro is the computer of choice for countless creatives who need high levels of power for advanced editing tasks in a portable device. Now in the M2 generation, the lineup offers a variety of options, but perhaps no choice is more fundamental than size: should you get the 14" or 16" version? There is more to the decision than just size and price. This insightful will show you everything you should consider to ensure you pick the right computer for you.
Photo Backup Systems for Everyone
If you have used computer hardware for any period of time, you probably know that all hardware will eventually fail. With it could go all your precious images and videos and the memories that you have captured over the years. You've probably thought about different ways to back up your computer, mobile phone, and other devices and have already put some of these strategies into place. But are you missing a simple trick or two that will allow you to make all of this really simple and foolproof?
AI's Incredible Advancements Just in the Last Week
Unless it's your full-time job, you probably don't know how fast AI is improving. Let's look at the incredible advancements that took place just last week.
What Rewards in Photography Do You Chase? Some are Worth More Than Others
There are many reasons why we take photographs. It's the intrinsic motivation that has the greatest value, and for me, it has paid off. Have you discovered why you should be seeking that and neither the money nor a pat on your back?
A Review of the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Lens
The 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is the primary tool of choice for a huge range of photographers and filmmakers who value its versatile combination of a practical focal length range and wide maximum aperture. Such lenses can easily run up to the $2,000 mark, though, making them a purchase many consider twice. However, Sigma's 24-70mm f/2.8 Art lens sits at about half that, making it quite intriguing. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and if its performance and image quality can match the pricier options.
Creating Long Exposure Photos With an iPhone
A few years ago, the idea of taking quality long exposures on a phone would have seemed absurd, but major advances in the quality of the cameras in phones and in computational photography have enabled numerous techniques that simply were not possible before. This neat video takes you behind the scenes to show you just what you can accomplish with an iPhone.