Fstoppers Original Articles

Exclusive articles and expert opinions written by Fstoppers’ talented team of creative professionals. Here we cover everything from the latest photographic techniques to advice on running a successful photography business, to first hand accounts of working in the photography industry.

Will AI Help You Become More Creative?

We all want to improve our photography and create amazing images, right? We want to become more creative. Should we use technology to help us? Can it help us? I have some thoughts.

The Use of Vintage Lenses Can Stimulate Creativity

Photography is not just a method to document the world around us—it is also a means of expressing creativity. Achieving this creative expression, however, can be more challenging than expected. Perhaps the use of vintage lenses can stimulate the creativity of the photographer.

Be Efficient, Buy Used

We, as photographers, are very often gear geeks. There’s no shame in it. We drool over the latest and greatest the camera industry has to offer and dream of owning the ultimate gear setup that will, of course, undoubtedly help us ascend to new heights of photography. But we truly do not need to.

Three Decades of Lomo: We Interview The Lomography Founders

I went to meet the founders of Lomography, Sally Bibawy and Matthias Fiegl, on an unseasonably warm Halloween morning in Brooklyn. For three decades, this unicorn of a company has maintained an unwavering commitment to analog long before analog’s recent renaissance, and I was eager to uncover what has fueled their commitment, what currently drives them, and how it might shape Lomography’s future.

Fstoppers Photographer of the Month (November 2024): Vicky Papas Vergara

The Fstoppers community is brimming with creative vision and talent. Every day, we comb through your work, looking for images to feature as the Photo of the Day or simply to admire your creativity and technical prowess. In 2024, we're featuring a new photographer every month, whose portfolio represents both stellar photographic achievement and a high level of involvement within the Fstoppers community.

Education, Software, and Gear at Big Discounts

Ready to turn your passion into profit? This Black Friday, take your photography to the next level with The Well-Rounded Photograper, our most comprehensive tutorial that features eight top instructors teaching eight genres, all for only $49. Plus, take a look at some other incredible deals happening between now and Cyber Monday.

2024 Black Friday Deals for Photographers

Over the next week the best brands in the industry are offering their best prices of the year. Whether you're in the market for new gear, a faster workflow, or want to study a new skill, there's a way to save money on what you need.

The Future of Streaming: Meet OBSBOT Tail Air

In the post-apocalyptic post-COVID world, video conferencing and streaming have become bigger than ever. The smart features of the OBSBOT Tail Air camera make it far more than just a simple camera with video capability. It has features that you will find in high-end remote cameras. It's small, high quality, and made for everything from large concerts to live interviews.

Editing Ideas For Midday Landscape Photography

Rumor has it landscape photography on bright sunny days with blue skies is not a good idea. I would disagree. Here are a few ideas for editing photos shot in the midday sun that might just inspire you to go out and shoot more in bright conditions.

Download These Raw+JPEG Files From Sony's a1 II Flagship Camera

The arrival of a new flagship from a top camera maker inevitably sparks a debate regarding how much sense it makes to upgrade to the latest model. Camera makers boast of the many improvements their new models offer, but each photographer must determine if those improvements are worth the cost of upgrading. How the manufacturers name their latest offering can sometimes offer clues about the extent of the improvements. In 2021, when Sony introduced their newest flagship under the name a1 rather than some variation of the a7 or a9 moniker, there was an expectation that the a1 would stand apart from the brand’s other mirrorless cameras.

Best Holiday Gift Ideas for the Photographer in Your Life

When that special person on your Christmas list spends their day thinking about flash sync speed, focal length, and the latest “glass,” you may find yourself at a bit of an impasse on what to get them. When you Googled “new Canon lens,” you quickly determined that you didn’t like them that much, but you still want to get them something that makes them feel special. While there is one gift you should never give a photographer, there are countless other choices, from budget-friendly gear to office décor, that will make them feel special. Ready to boost your gift-giving cred? Here are some of my favorite gifts to get that special photographer in your life this holiday season.

In Defense of 'Over-Editing': 3 Reasons I Love It and Reject the Criticism

I woke up with my morning coffee to these thoughts: “Overprocessing images can sometimes compromise the integrity of the image and do more harm than necessary. Here are several reasons why one should refrain from over-editing their images.” I thought to myself, “I need to caffeinate further before finishing this article” and took a big gulp of my coffee.

Does Gear Matter? One Pro’s Perspective

Someone on social media stated “A pro would never use a Z50!” If you’re not familiar with Nikon, this is their crop sensor entry-level camera, costing $860. I’ve heard similar statements dozens of times—matter-of-fact assertions about what pros do, usually made by photographers who aren’t actually professionals.

The Best Single Lens for Travel Filmmaking: 24-70mm

I love prime lenses—they’re always my preference—but I had to travel across Spain recently to make a documentary film and was traveling light. I had to pick my lenses carefully, so I chose the 24-70mm as my main lens. I quickly discovered it was the perfect travel lens.

The Next New Compact Film Camera

So many of us photographers seem to have an insatiable appetite for camera gear. For some, it’s G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome), while others are honing their photographic experiences into a seemingly futile and almost never-ending quest to trade up to the perfect camera. For a rare few, they have found their gear and are sticking to it.

The Camera Hack You Never Knew You Needed!

Landscape photography, often romanticized as a calm pursuit, is, in reality, a demanding test of patience. Unlike studio photography, where they control the lighting, backdrop, and subject, we landscape photographers must yield to nature’s rhythm. Whether it’s the color at golden hour, a dramatic storm, or a perfectly composed scene, capturing the ideal moment requires unwavering patience.

How White Balance Shifts Affect Our Perception

To fully understand how white balance affects our perception, we must first explore how color shapes our emotional response in photography. Since the dawn of time, we humans have become accustomed to associating certain colors with specific contexts. The ability of humans to read visual cues for signs of danger is likely an instinct as a survival mechanism. For example, brightly colored insects scream danger without having to look into the species.

Building a Composition Without Using Common Composition Rules

One of the most difficult things to accomplish is achieving a great composition. There are many rules and guidelines—enough to make your head spin. Perhaps there’s a better way to create an attractive composition, and that’s by ignoring the rules at first and concentrating on what you want to show.

DIY Theatrical Portraits: Using a Spotlight

I've been seeing spotlights used in shoots everywhere, so I wanted to jump on the trend and put my own twist on a spotlight shoot. Here’s how my creative partner, David, and I created a theatrical portrait session using a spotlight.

The Trials and Tribulations of Experimenting With Infrared Photography

A few months ago, I explored a new photography challenge and invested in an infrared filter for landscape photography. I could've bought an already converted used camera, but after looking at what was available on the used market and specialist conversion services, investing in a filter seemed to be at a more appealing price point and the best of both worlds. After several trials and tribulations, I became hooked on this newly discovered world of infrared photography.

Will Modern Lenses Have an Increased Dependence on Lens Corrections?

I see a growing number of new lenses hitting the market that rely on lens correction. These lenses have some benefits, but are lens manufacturers taking shortcuts with these lens designs? Will we be seeing more and more lenses with this reliance on lens correction in the near future?

Thoughts on The FUJIFILM GFX Eterna Filmmaking Camera Development Announcement

This week, Fujifilm announced the development of a new camera designed with filmmakers in mind, the Fujifilm GFX Eterna. The camera builds on Fuji’s GFX line of medium format still cameras but will be focused on video capture and is aimed at independent filmmakers and documentarians.

The Viltrox 16mm f/1.8: A Budget Ultra-Wide with Pro Performance?

When it comes to lenses, photographers who hear "ultra-wide" and "fast apertures" are usually bracing for an equally impressive price tag. The Viltrox 16mm f/1.8, however, seeks to deliver excellent optical quality and unique lens features at a reasonable price—in this review, I’ll see if Viltrox can execute a truly great ultra-wide prime.

What Big Photography Gift Should Your Buy (Or Want) for the Holidays?

As the season of goodwill, giving, and receiving rapidly approaches, what do you buy an established photographer if you want to spend more? Here are some big presents for those photographers nearest to us, or ideas your loved ones might consider for you.

Why Your Photography Website Isn’t Getting Traffic: 7 Key Elements to Doublecheck

Let’s walk through the top seven mistakes (because, let’s be honest, ten is too many, and five just feels lazy). Here’s the thing: your website is your storefront. It’s how people find you, decide if they like your work, and, ideally, hire you. But if it’s buried in search results, slow to load, or difficult to navigate, you might as well be taking those gorgeous photos and tossing them into the digital void. Whether you’re wondering why your site isn’t showing up on Google or why potential clients aren’t booking after visiting, this list will help you turn things around.

The Art of Intention: Transforming Pictures into Photographs

Is there a difference between a photograph and a picture? In my mind, yes! A picture is a snapshot documenting a person, place, thing, or moment without intention. A photograph is created with intention, process, and technique.

The Joy of Using Vintage Lenses on Modern Cameras

Modern lenses are perfectly sharp and crisp. But perfection is overrated and can be rather boring. I have a solution to add some character back into my photography and videos.

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.

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.

Building My Dream Camera

It’s that time again when my brain starts to ponder the endless question: What would be my idea of a perfect camera?

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.

Fstoppers Photographer of the Month (October 2024): Atul Saluja

The Fstoppers community is brimming with creative vision and talent. Every day, we comb through your work, looking for images to feature as the Photo of the Day or simply to admire your creativity and technical prowess. In 2024, we're featuring a new photographer every month, whose portfolio represents both stellar photographic achievement and a high level of involvement within the Fstoppers community.

Learning To Let Go With MPB

It is never easy to let go, whether it’s your favorite camera, light, or shoes that are just beyond repair. I’m the worst at letting go and don’t recall the last time I sold a light, if ever. The process seemed tedious and simply unnecessary. However, letting go can be much easier. Here’s the best way to let go of old equipment.

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.

Introducing the New Profoto D30 Strobe

Profoto just announced their new 500 Ws studio strobe, the D30. I've been playing with it for the last few weeks, and today I am finally able to share with you a full photoshoot using this powerful light.

Photographic Presents Under $100 for the Coming Season of Goodwill

Sadly, the world in which we’re living has become more polarized, with hatred splitting communities and war tearing countries apart. Many people roll their eyes when the holidays approach, but perhaps we should all be happy it’s only a few weeks away and think about what would help other photographers and brighten their days.

3 Gimbal Upgrades I Wish I Made Months Ago

For any videographer, getting your equipment setup just right is key to achieving smoother workflows and better-quality shots. Recently, I upgraded my gimbal setup with a few accessories that have made a significant impact on both my shooting experience and footage quality. Looking back, I wish I had invested in these upgrades much sooner.

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.