Behind The Scenes with Ben Von Wong on a Photoshoot Where Nothing Went as Planned
14
by

Being an adept problem solver is a key skill found in most successful photographers, and with complex photo shoots, the likelihood of something not going according to plan gets pretty high. On a recent project, Ben Von Wong had everything lined up, only to have things change and be forced to cancel the shoot, or make something else happen in a very short time.

Copyright Rules of New NYC Landmark Allow Owners to Use Anyone's Photographs for Licensing
49
by

Visitors to the newly-opened Hudson Yards, which is the largest private real estate development in the US, features a giant structure called Vessel. The 16-storey building is open to the public – but by visiting, you agree to hand over the copyright of any photos taken while there, and in doing so permit the company to use the images royalty-free worldwide.

Is Canon Really Plotting a Pro Camera With a Hybrid EF/RF Mount?
18
by

Rumors are circulating that Canon is planning to incorporate a hybrid EF/RF mount in the flagship mirrorless full frame camera that is expected in the next 18 months. While this would be appealing to many Canon shooters, is it actually possible?

[Gear] New iPhone App Is DSLR Remote Unlike Any Other
16
by

UK Company Triggertrap have been making camera triggers for some time now, and recently released an iOS app that offers remote control of many DSLRs, in addition to control the iOS camera itself. Unlike other remote apps available though, the Triggertrap Mobile can be triggered by things like sound, vibration, and facial recognition. Other notable features include eased timelapses that create a ramped-up speed effect over time, distance-lapses, and doing HDR captures.

Originality Is Dead: Long Live Instagram
24
by

Instagram is awash with copycat images, from yellow jackets in front of waterfalls to feet dangling off rooftops. But given that we supposedly value originality so highly, why does mimicry proliferate across social media, and why is it so successful? More importantly, is it killing our capacity for new ideas?

Using the Liquify Tool in a Non-Destructive Way
3
by

One of the benefits of using layers in Photoshop is to edit pictures in a non-destructive way. However, there are a couple of techniques and filters that will require you to flatten a file or create a merged layer. The liquify tool is one of them. To use it, you must create a merged layer of the area you want to edit. Sometimes it means a merged layer of the whole image. In this article, I will show how to avoid this problem using a simple, yet very powerful tool Photoshop offers. We are going to see how to use the liquify tool in a more efficient way than on a merged layer. This way you will be able to go back into your retouching process without losing anything and even edit your liquify.

Vandal Defaces National Parks Across The West...And Documents It On Instagram
17
by

Outdoor enthusiasts and landscape photographers have been beside themselves with anger and bewilderment this week after Modern Hiker told the story of a 20 something New York woman who was painting "art" in National Parks all along the western United States. What gave her away? She was brazen enough to document it on her Instagram account.

Smithsonian Magazine Announces Photo Contest Finalists
20
by

Smithsonian Magazine has just announced the 50 finalists in their 10th Annual Photo Contest. The contest received over 37,600 entries from photographers in 112 countries. They have narrowed that number down to 50...10 in each category. Categories include: The Natural World, People, Travel, Americana and Altered Images.

Apple Introduces 'Breakthrough' iPad Pro, Magic Keyboard
22
by

Apple has announced the fastest, most cutting-edge iPad Pro it has ever produced, alongside a new, more capable keyboard. The latest iteration of Apple's flagship tablet also boasts a dual-camera setup and LIDAR scanner that expand the possibilities for creatives.

6 Tips for Better Interior Photos
8
by

The past four months I've been staying in many Airbnbs and hotels while traveling through Portugal, Costa Rica, and Panama. What I noticed while looking for accommodations were the often unprofessional photos those places use for their listings. Some were so bad that I directly skipped to the next listing, not even looking at the reviews. And it's so easy to create better real estate photos, even just using a cell phone, which I'll show in this article.

Photographing The World's Remotest Tribes Before They Pass Away
26
by

Watch this early cut of a potential series about Jimmy Nelson now. Getting past the overly-dramatic-action-movie intro, this is a show you will want to watch. "Before They Pass Away" follows Nelson around the world on his journeys to photograph indigenous tribes before they go extinct. In the first episode, Nelson and his team travel to the Vanuatu Islands where they photograph five different tribes that live on the 83-island chain.

The Free Skin Softening Software You've Probably Never Heard Of
8
by

Almost all portrait photographers will incorporate some degree of skin softening during their retouching workflow. Some of these techniques can involve hours of painstaking dodging and burning. For photographers that routinely shoot families, weddings, and newborns, a quick finishing step can generate rapid and pleasing results. Here I go over how to use my favorite free skin softening plugin.

Why One Great Shot Is Better Than Hundreds in Landscape Photography
5
by

In landscape photography, there's often a misconception that success is measured by the number of great shots captured in a single outing. However, this mindset can be limiting and lead to burnout for many. Sometimes, the true reward comes from capturing just one exceptional shot. Focusing on quality over quantity not only enhances your craft but also deepens your connection with the landscape. Here’s why and how to embrace this approach.

Learn How to Edit an Environmental Shutter Drag Portrait in Lightroom
0
by

Last week, we walked through How to Capture an Environmental Shutter Drag Portrait. A shutter drag portrait is a portrait that captures movement around a subject using slower shutter speeds. Following the steps in the video, we wound up at a final raw image. In this video and article, I'll be walking through the editing process from start to finish in both color as well as black and white to get to our final images!

Is Film Making a Comeback Because We Are Lazy Photographers?
30
by

Film photography has been making a steady, slightly unexpected comeback for the past few years. In this article, I break down some of the reasons why that is happening, as well as say why it may be slightly dangerous for creatives.

Three Tips to Survive With Photoshop CS6 in 2018
32
by

Though Adobe Photoshop CS6 came out more than six years ago, there are a good many people still using it in 2018. Some don’t need to upgrade, others can’t afford the monthly fee, and still others refuse to buy into the software as a service model.

Introduction To Off-Camera Flash: Three Main Choices in Strobe Lighting
12
by

I'm often asked about the best way to get started with off-camera flash. The problem is, there's no single answer for everyone. There's a lot of different ways to accomplish the same end goal of getting that flash off the camera. In this video I'll break down the three main choices when choosing your method of strobe lighting.

What Two Cameras Is Sony Going to Announce in the Next Six Weeks?
4
by

After a comparatively quiet period, Sony is said to be preparing for some fairly significant gear announcements before the end of June. What is the Japanese giant planning, and can it take the shine off the news of the forthcoming Canon EOS R5?

This Intense Long Tracking Scene from the New Netflix Original Series 'Daredevil' is Simply Mindblowing
14
by

Forever losing memory of that dreadful "Daredevil" movie starring Ben Affleck from 2003, we have found a new standard in superhero movies thanks to the partnership of Marvel and Netflix. Finding its place with beautifully shot shows like "House of Cards" and "Peaky Blinders," Netflix adds the masterpiece that is "Daredevil," starring Charlie Cox as the masked vigilante. Each scene matches a tone devoted to the comics, and one stood out as beyond epic making it a must see!

Joey L's Guerrilla Fighters of Kurdistan Gives an Inside Look into the Syrian & Iraqi Conflicts
12
by

Unless you've been living under a rock for the last 7 years or so, you've probably seen some of the fascinating work produced by photographer and aspiring film maker Joey L. Whether it's his Holy Men series, or his work done with National Geographic, Joey L has always been able to create incredible cinematic story telling in his work, with a strong sense of honesty. In his latest project, Guerrilla Fighters of Kurdistan, Joey L shows us the tragic conflicts taking place in Syria and Iraq.

…And The 2015 Pulitzer Prize Winners Are…
8
by

The 2015 Pulitzer Prize winners were announced yesterday - and the images are outstanding. What does it take to produce an image worthy of a Pulitzer, and what do the images that win look like? Take a few minutes to peruse these images and honor those photographers risking life and limb to bring us some of the most incredible, thought-provoking photojournalism of the last 12 months.

How Far Is Too Far When It Comes to Skin Retouching?
23
by

The thought process of skin retouching seems to vary between photographers. Many favor a smooth, glossy effect, some like it natural, and others don’t retouch at all. So, where do we draw the line? There’s no right or wrong answer, but what do most people prefer?

High End Lexar Memory Cards Are Currently On Sale
11
by

If you have been waiting for a deal on Pro level memory cards, your wait is over. Today only B&H has high end Lexar memory cards on sale from 16gb to 128gb. Keep in mind that many of these cards are still very expensive because they are some of the fastest cards money can buy (up to 150mbps). The discounted cards are broken up into 3 levels; mid level CF cards, top level CF cards, and SD cards.