Review: Topaz DeNoise AI Ups the Game for Removing Noise

I took a look at Topaz DeNoise AI earlier this year and found it effective at removing noise without killing the details in your images. My only complaint was that it was not a speed demon. On some large images, I had to wait almost a minute before the image was cleaned up. Is that better in the latest version?

New Macbooks! Sony SD Card Deals, Rebates from Manfrotto and More!

We're back with more deals and announcements from B&H and this time we've got some newly announced Macbooks, a 25% discount on 16GB Sony SD Cards, nearly half off Manfrotto 190 tripod's after mail in rebate and big savings on Olympus lenses! If you're interested in any of these deals, check out the links below!

[Video] Shooting Fighter Pilots In Flight

Justin de Reuck takes us with him on his job of taking photographs of fighter pilots in flight. Though there is no dialogue, the visual element speaks for itself. Photography is difficult enough as it is, but try doing it under excessive g-force and being upside down! He almost makes it look too easy. If you think this is cool, check out the full post to see an F18 pilot with his GoPro camera. You don't want to miss seeing this!
Snapchat's Spectacles Sales Are Dropping

Snap Inc’s wearable camera sunglasses, aptly titled Spectacles, launched with plenty of momentum and seem to be a hit among those who have already purchased the device (since Snap recently begun selling Spectacles on Amazon, user reviews are predominately positive). However, according to Snap’s Q2 earnings, interest among perspective buyers may be waning.

The Wednesday Rundown 11.30.11

Howdy and welcome to the Wednesday Rundown. This week we have some more of the entries from the 2011 Behind The Scenes Contest. We are in the final stretch for this contest and if you are still working on your video you need to finish it soon. Don't forget who we have as the judges this year, if the prizes are not enough the judges should make this contest worth your time. Check out the contest entry "Sand Storm" and see how this team creates a high fashion desert shoot inside. If you have a video that you think we might like to post, please click on "submit content" above.




Panasonic Lumix GH4 Available For Preorder

Panasonic has been really quiet on when the new Lumix GH4 would be formally released to the public, and for what price point. Boasting 4K video at 24p, videographers everywhere hope to see this little mirrorless system be the next workhorse in the budget videography world. Good news came late tonight, as B&H finally decided to give us a price, and a link for preorder on this exciting new camera.

A BTS Look At The Making Of A Modern Wedding Video

Visual Masterpiece is back with another BTSV of their latest wedding video and once again, it's top notch. Not only are these guys amazingly good videographers, but they also know how to make an informative video. It appears that the most used piece of gear was the Cinevate Atlas 10. I own and love the Atlas 10 but since I like traveling light, I prefer the new Atlas FLT.
Aerial Photographers That Evoke Inspiration

If you’re interested in drone photography and video, I’ve compiled a list of people and sites you need to go to for inspiration, tips, tutorials, and insight. Aerial photography has changed with the drone. When you put costs aside, the other advantages of flying a drone vs a helicopter are that it can get closer to the subject, it doesn't create the ripples in water as much, it doesn’t cause a wind force blowing out the leaves of trees and plants, and it can make for some great shots through mountain gorges that helicopters simply can’t fit through.

Mercedes-Benz Documents the Return of Instant Film

Mercedes-Benz – yes, the automobile manufacturer -- has shared a nice video featuring The Impossible Project and their quest to bring instant film back to the marketplace.

As the video explains, six years ago IMPOSSIBLE started with a factory and little else. The company was able to redevelop the necessary processes and materials to produce instant film. They now offer 600-type film, SX-70-type film, and even 8x10 black and white instant sheets.

How Elia Locardi Uses Graduated and Solid Neutral Density Filters in San Juan

Welcome to the next, and 5th episode of our 8-part video tutorial series about long exposure photography, and how different filters can produce dramatic results. As a reminder, every time we release a new video, we give away some great prizes. Make sure to follow the instructions in this post to enter this week's contest.

A Timelapse View Of Earth At Night From The International Space Station

The timelapse videos we see from NASA get better and better. This time, Knate Myers took photographs taken from the International Space Station and put them together to make this beautiful time lapse video. “Every frame in this video is a photograph taken from the International Space Station.”

[BTSV] Behind The Scenes At The Winter X-Games

In this behind the scenes video from Vimeo (say that five times fast!), we get a look at the wide variety of gear that is used to capture the action at Winter X. From freelance photographers and videographers to full-scale production efforts, this video has a little bit of everything. See the video, which displays a staggering amount of gear, in the full post.
Matthew Jordan Smith Discusses a Long Fashion Career and Tyra Banks’ ANTM

When a fashion photographer travels between both coasts of the U.S., shoots assignments in the Caribbean islands, and spans the continents of Europe and Asia for work, it’s safe to say he’s “made it.” Living through those experiences when the stakes are so high prepares you for anything – and that’s experience from which we are all lucky to learn.

10 Tips for Capturing Stunning Star Trails

Photographing star trails is more than just taking pictures. It takes time to shoot on location, and it takes even more time to edit the images afterward. I have ten tips that can help you get amazing star trails.

"Epochs" Timelapse Is Epic, With Write Up On All The Location And Setup Details

How many times have you seen an amazing timelapse project, and wondered where exactly the photographer was when they recorded their exposures? Or maybe you wondered what they had to do to get to such an amazing vantage point? Sean Goebel created his timelapse film "Epochs" and documented the location and equipment details for most scenes. Sean told me some about his background, and links to his work and shot setups are also inside.

Exploration Inspiration for 2020: Guess Where These Places Are?

Happy New Year! If you’re like me, you probably made about 20 New Year's resolutions — most of which seemed like far poorer ideas once the wine wore off. A few I do have to admit would make me a better person, but don't sound like much fun. There's only one am I excited about: Explore more!

PBS's 'Off Book: The Art of Portrait Photography'

What draws us to portraits? In this video from PBS's 'Off Book,' photographers Matt Hoyle, Bex Finch, Jamie Diamond and Ethan Levitas offer their perspective on portraiture and why it is important to us as human beings. At the core of portrait photography, it is a documention of our existence, but it often surpasses that and becomes art.

RED's Dragon Sensor: 65mm Film's Newest Rival

Film has always had an unmistakable feel to it that is difficult if not impossible to reproduce digitally, but the days of that being true may be numbered. RED, a company known for the EPIC line of digital cinema cameras has recently released the above test image from their newest sensor, Dragon and I'm stunned. With over 18 stops of dynamic range, Jim Jannard of RED has said that the new sensor shouldn't even be compared to 35mm film.

What To Do With "Down Time"

So you have some down time eh? You’ve been pacing the floor, obsessively checking email, conjuring up clients etc and still nothing is coming your way? Welcome to the harsh reality of freelance life.

Fuji: Velvia No More

This is a sad day. While I don't foresee the end of the world, the Mayans tell us we still have time...it can still happen. Certainly, this being the third post about discontinued film since I started on Fstoppers just six months ago, this is the start of the photographers' Armageddon. But don't go hang yourself just yet -- there's just enough good news to keep me going just a little longer.

Start Using Smart Previews to Speed Up Your Workflow

Being connected to your devices may not always be practical for editing, especially when traveling. Smart previews can help you edit on the go but also free up your storage as well. With the WPPI conference fast approaching this is the best time to create your previews and let your external hard drives stay put at the house.

Applicants for a US Visa Now Required to Share Details of Their Social Media Pages, Including Instagram and Flickr

Anyone intending to apply for a US visa will now face the additional step of surrendering their social media handles, after it was announced the State Department will require such information before agreeing to proceed. The move is a “vast expansion of the Trump administration’s enhanced screening of potential immigrants and visitors,” with the options listed ranging from Facebook, to photo platforms such as Instagram and Flickr.

Phlearn's Aaron Nace Teaches How To Plan Your Dream Photoshoot

If you haven't spent any time on Phlearn.com then you are missing out on some amazing post production tutorials. Phlearn founder Aaron Nace has teamed up with Fstoppers for our first ever Fstoppers Workshops! During May 28 - June 1st, Aaron will be teaching a 2 day workshop in the Bahamas where you and 7 other students will plan and execute your "dream photoshoot".

Ever Shot on Location and Felt Stuck? Here Are a Few Tips to Help

I shoot for a clothing boutique and we shoot outside at the same area weekly. To say I have overused the available locations is an understatement. Sometimes I find myself on the side of the road, next to a rundown building I’ve shot at 20 times already, and think to myself, how in the world can I make this different? I’ll bet most of us have been there at some point.

Add a Deeper Kind of Depth to Your Photographs

In last week's article, we spent some time discussing methods of adding the illusion of depth to your images using compositional techniques. This week, we will take that a step further and look at adding depth to the content of your images.

Markus Andersen’s New Book “Rage Against The Light” Beautifully Showcases His World Of Sydney Australia

Markus Andersen, certainly one of the leading street and fine art photographers in Sydney, Australia, and known globally, has just released pre-orders for his first book – and it looks stunning. “Rage Against The Light” published by TG Publishing showcases his wonderful work around his home town of Sydney (and for the first 100 pre-orders, 42 remaining pre-orders, comes with a free print).

Three Reasons to Edit More Photos on Your Phone

Up until a few months ago, I had an elitist view and was of the opinion that my editing process on my 27-inch iMac was the “best” way to edit a photo. But smartphones have changed the game dramatically. Here I've shared some reasons to help you consider including or switching to your phone for your editing workflow.