A Comparison of Four Premium 135mm Lenses

While 85mm lenses are generally the classic choice of focal length for portraiture, 135mm lenses are a popular second choice that offer a different look and a bit more compression than their shorter cousins. If you are looking for one of your own, check out this fantastic video comparison that looks at four options: the Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE, Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM, Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art, and Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8.

3 Helpful Composition Tips for Mountain Photography

Mountains have always made for a wonderful subject, adding drama and grandeur to any image they grace with their presence. On the other hand, it is not as simple as dropping them in the frame and pressing the shutter. This helpful video tutorial will show you three tips for creating compelling mountain image compositions.

Retro Review: Shooting With a 20-Year-Old Fujifilm/Nikon Frankenstein Monster

The early 2000s were a golden age for digital cameras. Companies like Olympus, Nikon, Sony, Canon, Ricoh, and others seemed to release an endless stream of unique, quirky, and often excellent cameras. I was lucky to work at a large camera store at the time, and almost every day, I remember unboxing some new gadget that was pushing the boundaries of design and resolution. The most fun days were when a new DSLR arrived.

Are You Ready For Back in Person? Consider HOWL, an Ethical Wildlife Photography Conference

As the world slowly opens back up, it's time to consider photography conventions as a means to link back up with like-minded photographers. Postponed last year in the shadow of COVID-19, HOWL, A Wildlife Photo Convention is back. Even if you don't live close to Whitney, Ontario, the gateway to Algonquin, you can still attend virtually. HOWL is running October 21, 22, and 23, 2022.

A Guide to Shooting Panoramic Photos

A good panoramic image can be a real showstopper that catches the viewer's eye and encourages them to get closer and examine every detail. There are some considerations and techniques you have to know before you create one, however. This excellent video tutorial will show you a few different ways to create panoramic photos as well as what you should be aware of while doing so.

A Dangerously Subtle Mistake You Can Make With Mirrorless Cameras

The electronic viewfinder is one of the greatest advantages of mirrorless cameras, offering the ability to preview your exposure in real-time, leaving behind the days of miscalculated shots. However, as this informative video details, it can easily mislead you and cause you to mess up important photos.

A Long-term Review of the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM Lens

A 35mm lens with a wide maximum aperture is a classic choice for a wide range of applications. With a wide but still mostly neutral focal length and lots of light-gathering and subject-isolating power, it is equally at home in the studio, at a wedding, or on the street. For Sony shooters, the top option is the FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, and this excellent video review takes a long-term look at the lens and how its price, performance, and image quality stand up to other options.

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

24-70mm f/2.8 lenses are the workhorses of choice for a lot of photographers and filmmakers, as they cover a range of the most commonly needed focal lengths and pair them with a wide maximum aperture, making for a versatile combo. However, such lenses are rarely cheap. The Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN makes a few smart compromises to bring its price way down, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Subtle Things That Might Be Robbing Your Photos of Sharpness

There are a lot of pitfalls that can cause blurry landscape photos, some obvious and some a bit more subtle. This excellent video tutorial discusses some easily missed causes of blurry landscape photos and what you can do to fix them or avoid them in the first place.

Is it Time to Ditch Fuji Film Simulations? We Review Dehancer Film Emulator

Fujifilm is widely considered the king of film simulations and for good reason. Anyone who has owned a Fuji camera over the past decade appreciates the variety of excellent film recipes that can be created in camera and no doubt has their own go-to simulations they love to use. But is there a better way to give your photos a vintage look? In this review of Dehancer Film Emulator, we will find out.

A Review of the Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens

The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens was widely respected for being a versatile hidden gem in the company's offerings, bringing with it 1:1 macro performance, some of the best image stabilization in any lens, and, of course, extremely sharp images. The RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is its successor, and it brings with it some worthwhile improvements, most notable being its increased magnification. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it.

5 Tips for Choosing the Right Tripod

One of the most useful accessories any photographer can have is a tripod, suitable for anything from allowing you to get sharp images at longer exposures or to take some of the weight and strain off your neck and back. There are a ton of options out there, however, and if you are wondering which one is right for you, check out this awesome video that will give you five tips for choosing the correct option.

Premiere Pro and After Effects Templates That Help You Grow Your Audience

Premiere Pro templates are one of the few quick solutions that can help elevate your video production. Graphics, text, typography, and animations can help you illustrate your points far more effectively. Unfortunately, trying to get all of those elements into your video, especially if creating them from scratch in a software like After Effects, can be expensive or time-consuming. A company called Videvo has a great solution.

How to Change the Color of an Object Using Lightroom

It used to be that if you wanted to change the color of an object, you generally needed to jump into Photoshop to do it effectively. However, Lightroom has gained some quite advanced features in the last few years, and it is now possible to convincingly change the color of many objects without having to resort to Photoshop. This great video tutorial will show you everything you need to know to do it.

Necessary Items for a Successful Photo Studio

Photography studios can be very profitable if you create them the right way. Photography studios can earn you $100K in medium markets and up to $200K+ in some of the larger markets. In addition to photographers renting the studio, there are other alternative methods to booking your studio day and night. There are workshops, yoga classes, private dinners, and even YouTubers needing a space regularly.

10 Helpful Tips for Editing Video More Quickly

Editing video can be a very time-consuming task, and any spot where you can save even just a few seconds can add up to big gains overall. This helpful video tutorial discusses 10 tips that will speed up your editing process and leave you more time for other things.

Can You Use a 2x Teleconverter Instead of Buying Another Lens?

High-quality zoom lenses are expensive, usually running over $2,000, and as such, most of us are always looking to get more mileage out of what we already own. The thought of doubling your zoom's reach with an affordable 2x teleconverter is definitely appealing, but will it work in practice? This great video review takes a look at the situation for Sony shooters.

I'm Switching To Mac After a Lifetime of Windows

For my entire life, I've been not only a Windows user but a MacOS hater. I've loved Mac hardware but I could never get past the annoying limitations of their software. All of that changed when I bought the new M1 MacBook Pro.

Simple Artificial Light for Food Photography in Small Spaces

A lot of food and product photographers begin their journey in a tiny space with limited room for lighting and equipment. Food photographer Rachel Korinek has an amazing setup for recreating big window light in a small space.

A Valuable Lesson for All Landscape Photographers

No doubt, today's world often demands the ability to constantly produce content at a breakneck pace, and that can put a lot of pressure on photographers. Even if you do not make money from your photography, you might find yourself impatient when the right shot just has not materialized yet. This excellent video essay follows a landscape photographer as he discusses how a bit of patience can be one of the best things for improving your images.

Using Diagonals for More Powerful Landscape Photo Compositions

Given the fact that you have no control over the placement of the elements of a scene, composition can be a uniquely tricky aspect of landscape photography. And while there are some tried and true methods like the rule of thirds, sometimes, you want to push your compositions a bit further. This excellent video tutorial will show you the power of diagonals in the frame and how you can harness them to create more compelling landscape images.

The Winners and Losers of Photography in 2021

Do you think you have your finger on the pulse of the photography industry? Who still holds the title for most used cameras: Canon, Nikon, or Sony? What lenses are the top 3 most used lenses? Which specialty of photographers make the most money and which make the least? What genre of photography took the biggest losses during the pandemic?

A Review of the Relatively Affordable Venus Optics Laowa 20mm f/4 Zero-D Shift Lens

If you have ever used a wide angle lens to photograph a building from ground level, you have probably encountered a frustrating dilemma: either you include way too much foreground in the shot or you angle the lens upward and make all the buildings look like they are about to fall over. A lens with a shift function can correct that issue, and one relatively affordable option is the Venus Optics Laowa 20mm f/4 Zero-D Shift. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it.

How Good Are the Nikon Z 9 and NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S?

Nikon has kicked it into high gear with the likes of the Z 9 and NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S, keeping the pressure on Sony and Canon to continue innovating and pushing the envelope. This great video features two photographers testing out the latest from Nikon and discussing how it compares to some of their best DSLR cameras and lenses.

The Best Camera Hack to Get Sharper Photos

There are a couple of things you can do to get sharper photos with your long lens. But what if we want to go even further? This lens hack might be a bit crazy, but it is the best I have ever seen because it really works, and it is feasible on location. Find out how to get sharper telephoto shots.

How To Set Up Seamless Paper Without an Assistant

Working with photo assistants can often make your life easier. Having someone who can do the heavy lifting for you can leave you free to concentrate on working with your client on a shoot. When you don’t have to worry about moving nightstands or doing light checks, you can put more effort into creating a memorable experience for your client.

How to Remove Glare on Glasses Using Photoshop

Millions of people wear glasses, and that can be a real difficulty for portrait photographers, as they tend to pick up a fair amount of glare that can distract from or entirely obscure the most important part of a portrait, the eyes. Removing such glare can be a bit tricky both on set or in post, but this excellent video tutorial will show you the technique a Photoshop pro uses to get rid of it and restore the subject's eyes.

5 Great Tips for Posing Portraits

How to light a portrait and determine the proper exposure settings are things that can be objectively codified, and in that sense, they can be a bit easier to learn. On the other hand, posing tends to be a bit more nebulous and is something a lot of photographers tend to struggle with when they are learning how to photograph portraits. If you want to improve your posing, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you five excellent tips sure to make your portraits better.

Learn to Love Your Images

Have you ever felt unsatisfied or disconnected from your photos? It’s important to know we all go through this and these are a few things you can do to help.

Getting Low for Better Flower Photos

Flowers are abundant (particularly as the weather continues to warm up), and they make for fantastic photo subjects, plus there are a ton of ways to go about shooting them. This fantastic video tutorial will show you the benefits of being willing to get low for your flower shots and the kind of images you can create.

Can This Affordable Lens Keep Up With Professional Demands?

100-400mm zoom lenses are some of the most popular out there, offering a versatile focal length range that can tackle a wide range of scenarios including everything from sports to wildlife photography and more. The Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM is one of the more affordable options among such lenses, though it still offers some impressive performance and features, and this excellent video review takes a look at just what you can expect from it in practice.

Light Pollution Is Totally Reversible

If you’re at all interested in astronomy or astrophotography, there is no escaping the effects of light pollution. Whether that means traveling to darker skies or using post-processing to reduce gradients, we all kind of wish it wasn’t there. Right?

How to Properly Organize Your Photography Website

The website is the calling card for most photographers nowadays, and as such, it is crucially important that you put a lot of careful thought into the design and organization of yours. If you need some help getting yours into top shape, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will guide you through the process of creating an effectively and compellingly organized image portfolio site.

Coming Soon: An Astrophotographer's Dream?

Australian Dylan O'Donnell's over-the-top astrophotography adventure videos often introduce us to new equipment. But his "HOTTEST New Astrophotography Products in 2022" video caught my eye. At the very least, it's a bit presumptuous to think that the hottest products come out in the first half of the year!

How to Simulate Strobe Lighting Using Lightroom's AI Masking Tool

Keeping up with every new feature that is added to Lightroom and Photoshop is a never-ending task I’ve long since given up on. Fortunately, both programs currently perform all the tasks I require from them. Still, I like to periodically make myself aware of improvements to these programs to ensure that I don’t miss something that might speed up or otherwise improve my workflow.

How To Clean a Tripod in Five Easy Steps

A tripod can get dirty over time, especially if used in water, sea water, sand, and mud. A regular cleaning will extend its lifetime. I have cleaned my Gitzo tripod after heavy use at sea, and I will show how it can be done in five easy steps.