What I’ve Learned Through Teaching Other Photographers

There are many benefits that come with teaching up-and-coming photographers, as I’ve come to learn. But some of them surprised me—namely that I would learn a lot more about photography, as well as myself, in the process. Consider this a short list of those benefits, along with some insights along the way.

The Ultimate Photo Editing Workflow

In this article, I share the photo editing workflow I use for all my photos, and if you want to achieve high-quality results, this is for you.

How to Overcome the Challenges of Natural Light

Natural light is one of the most important elements in landscape photography. It shapes the landscape, creates mood, and brings depth to a scene. However, natural light is also highly unpredictable and can either enhance or ruin your shot. For landscape photographers, understanding and ultimately mastering light is crucial, but it comes with several challenges. In this article, I want to explore the complexities of working with natural light and how you can overcome these challenges to improve your landscape photography.

Compositing Is Broken: Adobe Aims To Fix It

Before the recent advent of AI-based retouching, I struggled to make rather basic adjustments to my portraits. Using AI plugins, however, I can quickly whiten teeth and eyes, smooth over wrinkles in the fabric, and remove blemishes from a face. Portrait retouching has benefited greatly from AI-based intelligence. One area that has been neglected in this technological revolution, however, is compositing. To put it succinctly, compositing is broken. Fortunately, Adobe is aiming to fix it.

Mastering Softbox and Umbrella Lighting at Weddings

Modifiers like softboxes and umbrellas serve as powerful tools for photographers to shape and control light. Whether they want to emulate natural window light with a touch of soft, diffused light or create an epic environmental portrait with darker exposures and higher flash powers, these tools provide portable and powerful means for photographers to bring their vision to life. In this article, we've gathered practical tips and techniques to help you effectively use softboxes and umbrellas to elevate the quality and mood of your wedding portraits.

Sennheiser Launches Profile Wireless: A Compact Audio Solution for Creators

Sennheiser has introduced the Profile Wireless, a versatile, two-channel, 2.4 GHz microphone system for creators and videographers. This all-in-one system connects to a wide range of devices, including mobile phones, cameras, and computers, and can be used in various configurations, such as a clip-on, handheld, or desktop microphone. The Profile Wireless aims to offer flexibility and reliability for recording in different environments.

We Tested the World's Brightest Full Frame Zoom: The Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 DG DN Art

Firsts are always an exciting thing. Now, world’s first? That's another category in and of itself. At Fstoppers, we had the pleasure of testing Sigma's brand new 28-45mm f/1.8 DG DN Art lens for Sony E mount. A behemoth of specs in a tiny package. So, of course, we had to take it somewhere epic—and what better place than the lush, dark, and moody ancient forests of central Pennsylvania?

Important Things to Look For When You Choose a Camera Bag

There is a bamboozling range of different camera bags on the market, and deciding which to buy is a veritable minefield. Here are some explanations of the various bags, their purposes, and what to look for when choosing yours.

Fujifilm Announces the X-M5: A Lightweight Mirrorless Camera for Content Creators

Fujifilm has unveiled the X-M5, the newest addition to its X Series lineup of mirrorless digital cameras, aimed at content creators seeking versatility in both photo and video capture. With a compact design, intuitive controls, and features geared toward creators on the go, the X-M5 offers a lightweight option for various shooting scenarios.

Nikon Announces Development Of NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ Lens

Nikon, a brand with a long history of quality in photography, continues its growth in the video market today with the development announcement of a new NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ lens with filmmakers in mind.

Are You Using Color to Its Full Potential in Photography?

As photographers, we intuitively understand that color profoundly impacts our images, and there’s much more to it than meets the eye. Here are ways you can elevate your images by employing the power of color.

Review of the New Amaran App for Remote Light Control

On August 20, 2024, Amaran released a brand-new app for wireless light control on mobile devices and desktops. It offers an interface for controlling an ecosystem of multiple lights at once and promises simpler, more intuitive, yet powerful control of lights that support wireless connections.

Fujifilm Announces the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II Lens

Fujifilm has introduced the FUJINON XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II, an updated version of the popular XF 16-55mm lens first launched in 2015. The second-generation lens offers improved optical performance, faster autofocus, and a more compact, lighter design, making it an attractive option for photographers who require versatility and durability.

Apple Expands M4 Chip Family With New M4 Pro and M4 Max Processors

Apple has introduced the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, rounding out its M4 family designed to power MacBook Pro laptops and other Mac models. These chips, built with second-generation 3-nanometer technology, promise improved performance and efficiency compared to previous generations, specifically catering to professionals and creative users with advanced processing needs. M4 Pro and M4 Max also bring Thunderbolt 5 connectivity to Mac for the first time, enabling faster transfer speeds and expanded memory capabilities.

remove.bg Review: A Game-Changer for Automated Background Removal

In recent years, the demand for user-friendly design tools has skyrocketed. With more businesses and individuals needing quick, high-quality designs without advanced design skills, solutions like remove.bg have become popular. This AI-powered tool stands out by providing a streamlined, automated service that photographers can rely on to achieve clean, precise extractions in seconds. Whether for commercial shoots, product photography, or creative projects, its accuracy and simplicity make it an invaluable tool for professionals who want to focus on creativity, not the tedious work of post-production.

This NAS Has an Insane Amount of Storage

Every couple of years, our network access storage (NAS) gets nearly full of old photoshoots and video projects. Today, I am installing our biggest system yet, and it can hold a whopping 160 TB of data. Oh, and it's also 10 GbE, which allows us to edit video projects directly off the network.

Apple Introduces New MacBook Pro With M4 Chip Family and Apple Intelligence

Apple has announced its latest MacBook Pro lineup, featuring the powerful M4 chip family and the addition of Apple Intelligence, a new feature focused on enhancing privacy and personal productivity through machine learning capabilities. The new models, available in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, are now offered in both space black and silver finishes. Preorders are open, with availability starting November 8.

The Family Archive is Dying: Protect Your Family Photographs Now

Access to photography has never been greater, yet now the risk of the family archive dying out has never been more of an issue. This article explains why the digital age has put the family archive in danger, and what we, as photographers, can do about this.

Mastering Sharp Focus in Landscape Photography: Hyperfocal Distance, Double Distance Method, and Focus Stacking Explained

Have you ever struggled to get your image from the foreground to the background in focus? As photographers, especially in the genre of landscapes, the ultimate goal is to achieve sharp focus from the foreground to infinity. Have you struggled with this in the past? You can use hyperfocal distance, double the distance method, and focus stacking techniques to achieve sharp focus from foreground to infinity. While a few of these methods can be challenging, with a little knowledge, they are more accessible than one might think.

Apple Unveils New iPad Mini With A17 Pro Chip and Apple Pencil Pro Support

Apple has announced the latest iteration of its iPad mini, featuring the new A17 Pro chip and integration with Apple Intelligence. The updated model promises enhanced performance, more powerful AI-driven features, and improved connectivity. Available for pre-order starting today, it will begin shipping on October 23.

Lomo 92 Film Stock Review

Over the years, I’ve accumulated a truly embarrassing amount of film stock. I’ll freely admit that it’s a sickness. If I’m being honest with myself, it likely stems from a fear of missing out on something creative and new and a fear that one day it’s all going to be gone. One day, the last roll from the last batch of the last stock is going to come off the production line, and that’ll be that.

Canon’s New Patent Hints at a Game-Changing Lens for Professionals

Canon has set its sights on a lens many photographers have only dreamed about: a high-speed, mid-range zoom with impeccable optical quality. With their recent patent for the RF 70-150mm f/2L IS USM, Canon appears ready to push boundaries in both image quality and innovation.