Fstoppers Original Articles

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.

There are many ways to make a photo appealing. Light, composition, and depth of field are the obvious ones. Post-processing is also part of this procedure, regardless of whether it's done in-camera or on a computer. Don’t forget cropping, which is an important part of the process.

A good-looking photo is the result of a relatively long process. It starts with choosing the right composition, focal length, and the use of light and shadow. It often doesn’t end there, especially if you are using the raw file format. Well-thought-out processing transforms the raw sensor data...

The bee photo is a summer rite of passage that any new (or old) photographer needs to take. It's not really officially summer until you get that photo, so here are some basic tips to get started photographing these colorful creatures.

I hadn’t considered the possibility of using an external monitor with my camera, but when Neewer gave me the chance to try their touchscreen field monitor, I wondered whether it would meet a particular need of mine. Now that I have tried it, it is something I am adding to my kit bag. Here’s why.

When you think about controlling the depth of field, the aperture may instantly come to mind. In its simplest form, this would be correct. However, other factors are at play regarding depth of field. Knowing these different factors will help you understand and control your depth of field.

In the never-ending struggle to get your work seen by the right people that can help advance your career, contests and competitions are one of the most accessible. But, after all is said and done, are they worth it?

Making a living as a photojournalist isn't what it used to be. But making a living is still possible.

Telling a story is more than taking pretty images. Here are five tips from photojournalist Natalie Keyssar that will help you build a better story.

Ask any photographer what lens you should purchase for landscape photography, and the answer is almost always a wide angle. But let's challenge this conventional wisdom. Is there a strong case for using telephoto lenses in landscape photography?

There’s no question that photographs from this week's Republican National Convention, merely days after an assassination attempt on former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump, are going to define the narrative of this tumultuous time in U.S. history. There’s also no question about who overwhelmingly seems to dominate the photojournalism field based on this photo that I've linked to below: white men.

Canon has had us all on pins and needles, enjoying the last few days of our padded savings account and anxiously waiting for their announcement of the new EOS R1 and EOS R5 Mark II. The anticipated specs have finally come, and we are here to tell you all about it.

When visiting a new location, the excitement and expectation of capturing something epic are always at the forefront of a photographer’s mind. However, beyond the thrill of the shot lies a deeper responsibility—protecting the places we photograph.

A few months ago, I started processing all my raw photos with a new Lightroom plugin. It led to a significant increase in image quality, as I show in this article.

Landscape photography thrives on flexibility and spontaneity. The ever-changing nature of light and weather requires us to adapt quickly, abandon rigid plans, and let the natural elements guide our shots. This fluid approach often leads to the most captivating and memorable images, showcasing the dynamic connection of light, land, and sky. Here’s why being fluid in your landscape photography is essential, along with some practical tips to help you embrace this mindset.

Island Darkroom presents CEARNS, an exhibition featuring the work of award-winning Isle of Lewis photographer Deljeem Rai. This event marks Deljeem Rai's first solo exhibition and his debut showcase on his home island.

Across the vast millennia of human existence, the total solar eclipse remains the most spectacular and celebrated of astronomical phenomena. As the blue sky dimmed, I suddenly decided to shoot the 2024 solar eclipse on black and white film using my trusty Hasselblad 500 C/M.

The countdown to the Olympic Games is on, and the world shifts focus to the multi-sport event which takes place in Paris this summer. From athletics to equestrian to diving, we explore the best and most versatile lenses for sports photography and crown the best camera body and lens combination for the job.

In today's rapidly evolving media landscape, video content has undeniably surged in popularity, reshaping how we consume information and entertainment from the internet. According to a report from Q2 2023, video content already reaches 92.3% of internet users worldwide and continues to grow significantly. This statistic highlights the growing dominance of video in our digital age. But does this trend mean that video is inherently better than photography? Let’s explore the differences between these two mediums and their impact on viewers.

The Canon EOS 60D was much derided on its release in 2010 for "dumbing down" the venerable xxD lineup compared to its predecessor, the semi-pro 50D.

Not all photos are created equal. Some are objectively better than others. However, the photos themselves may not necessarily be bad; it may just be that the image is badly exposed or the white balance is off. Fixing bad images quickly can be a hassle for some, but it is a piece of cake for Aftershoot. Read on to find out how to fix your bad images quickly.

Willie Nelson has played the same Martin N-20 nylon-string acoustic guitar since 1969. Serial number 242830. The instrument is an eternal flame of creative freedom, one of a kind and beautiful — just like Willie.

Being a photographer for more than a decade, this is probably the shortest love story I have with camera gear, pushing the definition of a love-hate relationship to the next level.

With the announcement of the new Nikon Z6III last week, it inspired me to have a little fun thought experiment as the Nikon lineup of mirrorless cameras continues to take shape.

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.

Do we really need to spend thousands of dollars just to get good photographs? Can you become a good photographer with an old and cheap camera?

The use of AI offers the ability to create almost lifelike images. This has nothing to do with photography. However, AI can also be used for removing unwanted parts of a photo. Is this feature making us lazy, taking less care while photographing? After all, we can easily fix it in post.

Once, photographers converted their precious raw files into DNG files, which promised to be future-proof. There might be another reason: there is a DNG file format with lossy compression. Could this be future-proof and save disk space at the same time?

Embarking on the journey of crafting a portrait as a non-portrait photographer can be daunting, often accompanied by feelings of anxiety and low confidence. However, creating a photograph need not be an overwhelming task. With a few simple pointers, you can step into the realm of portrait photography with a newfound sense of capability and confidence.

Today, let’s talk about life as an artist. Not the Instagram rose-tinted glasses version of reality, but the real thing.

Photographers will face many challenges on their journey. Finding a photography mentor can drastically change the trip from being overwhelmed to having confidence.

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 2023, 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.

As a seasoned studio strobe shooter, I put the Zhiyun Molus B Series LED lights through their paces. Transitioning from my usual larger, heavier strobe studio lights, could these be powerful enough for my needs?

Finding the creativity and inspiration to succeed as a premier fashion and editorial photographer is hard enough, keeping it up for more than three decades is a completely different story altogether. Rankin's new show at 180 Studios is a retrospective of Rankin's first decade of work at Dazed and Confused, one of photography's most influential magazines.

Popular music is getting worse, isn’t it? The reason why has an impact on your photography too.

Photographing live music can be an amazing experience once you embrace the idea that you have no control over any of the elements in your frame. So how do you create great pictures when you have limited angles to shoot from, terrible lighting, and no control over what your subject will do next?

Not every idea is golden, and not all camera systems are destined to become legends. Digital photography has always grown by leaps and stumbles.

When you think of photography, you think of a solo pursuit. We find ourselves mostly alone when creating photographs and advancing our craft. However, consider the inspiring and motivating personal growth opportunities a photography community can provide.

Although any photographer worth their salt knows there is always more to learn, they might not understand what to look for when studying great art. At first, it can seem inaccessible. So here is a first taste of what to look for and consider adopting into your photography.

Long exposure photography is a powerful technique in landscape photography, allowing you to capture the smooth, dynamic movement of clouds and water while keeping stationary elements sharp. One challenge we often face is dealing with moving subjects, such as boats, which can result in blurred images if not properly stabilized. Ensuring the stability of boats is crucial to achieving sharp, high-quality long exposures.

In the last week, Instagram has been automatically labeling any photo touched by artificial intelligence tools as "Made with AI." On the surface, this sounds like a win for photographers decrying the use of AI as intellectual property theft. But in practice, the way Meta has decided to call out AI leaves little room for nuance and debate.

Showing now in her hometown of New York, the first major retrospective in the United States showcasing the work of the late photographer Vivian Maier. This article discusses the extraordinary story of one of the greatest photographers of the twentieth century and how her work was only discovered after her death.

The long wait is over. Today, Nikon announced a major follow-up to its Z6 line of mirrorless cameras, the brand-new Z6 III.

The AI creations we get presented with on social media are getting increasingly ridiculous. A massive tornado over a deep canyon? Bring it on. A burning furnace of ash and embers over the coast? Yes, please. Or really? All those concoctions are missing one essential ingredient. Ok, not just one. But in this article, I'll focus on what I think is the most important piece AI images are missing.

Summer is finally here, and it's the perfect time to embark on your next photographic adventure. You've meticulously scouted locations, carefully booked your night stays, and secured that reliable rental car. But have you honestly considered all the essential gear to make your photography adventure a thrilling success?

As the new Star Wars series, "The Acolyte," and the latest Doctor Who hit our TV screens, there are important photography lessons we can learn from them and our other favorite productions.

Waterfalls have been a favorite subject in my landscape photography. They are often some of the most beautiful and iconic sceneries in many national parks and mountain regions around the world.

There’s a lot of talk about cameras and, consequently, lenses get overlooked. With competing priorities when you buy a lens, here are some things that could affect your decision on which lens to buy.

In a world dominated by short-form video content, integrating your still images into this new trend can seem challenging. However, there is an easier way to bridge this gap.

There was a recent meme that took a jab at photographers from the generation of the pen tool in Photoshop. It personified us as old ladies with walkers being escorted out by a younger generation with their AI tools. In the comments, someone remarked, “Let’s see how these young bucks would survive with the 1999 version of Photoshop.”

For you photographers who have always been curious about the Leica look, this article is specially written for you.