A lot of us like to keep up with the latest gear, and there is certainly nothing inherently wrong with that; after all, cameras are rather nifty gadgets. But it is important to not confuse enthusiasm for gear with gear being a shortcut to improving as a photographer. This great video essay discusses the topic and offers some good motivation for enjoying what you have.
The Canon EOS R5 has been widely lauded for its highly impressive feature set. However, its sibling, the EOS R6, comes with a lot of those same impressive features and is much more affordable than the EOS R5. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera from a wedding photographer's perspective and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
Fuji's medium format system has proven wildly popular, and as the company has expanded the lineup, they have released some quite impressive lenses. The GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR is one of those lenses, and this great video review takes a look at it and how it performs in practice.
Whether amateur or professional, there are certain common mistakes that we all make at one point or another. This excellent video tutorial discusses seven common mistakes photographers make and how to either avoid them or fix them.
We spend a ton of time talking about how to light subjects not only to bring out their features in a flattering way, but to also convey a certain mood or message. But just as important as where you place light is where you do not. This excellent video essay shows you the importance of shadows and how they are used to add depth and meaning to photos and videos.
When it comes to portraits, one of the most important decisions you can make is the choice of modifier. This great video will show you three common modifiers (softbox, parabolic umbrella, and umbrella) along with a lot of helpful example photos to show you how they will render your subject.
The Fujifilm GFX 100S is one heck of a camera, taking the company's highly respected GFX 100 medium format mirrorless camera and cutting both its size and price nearly in half. This great video review takes a look at the camera's image quality and autofocus performance, as well as having some fun by adapting some full frame lenses to it.
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 2021, 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.
A lot of professional photographers will tell you over and over about the importance of taking on personal projects. Even if you are only a hobbyist, they are a fantastic way to build your skills, expand your creativity, and become a more confident photographer. This fantastic video essay discusses why you should consider picking up a photography project.
Along with shutter speed and ISO, aperture is one of the three most fundamental parameters that every photographer needs to have an absolute mastery of. This fantastic video tutorial will show you everything you need to know about how aperture works and how to use it for your photos in just two minutes.
Of all the accessories that come with photography, your camera strap is probably not one you think about very often (if at all). However, with several pounds hanging off your neck for often hours at a time, it is something you should give a bit of consideration, and there are more options than you might have realized. This great video will show you a variety of straps, what they are useful for, and how they can improve your comfort.
With the rise of social media, photography trends are more prominent than ever. Should you follow them or just photograph what you want? This great video essay discusses the balance between the two.
Converting a photo to black and white is about more than simply pulling all the color out of it; it is a chance to make an entirely new image. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how to convert a photo to black and white in Photoshop and turn it into a dramatic, eye-catching piece.
While most of us own multiple lenses suited for different purposes, sometimes, whether for convenience or necessity, we want one lens that can handle all possible situations. For Sony shooters, there is the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD, and this excellent video review takes a look at what you can expect from it in practice.
A wide-aperture 50mm lens is one of the most commonly owned and versatile options, useful for a wide variety of situations. This great video review compares two options for Sony shooters, the Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA and the Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA.
It is always better to get a narrow depth of field in camera, but sometimes, you end up with a background you would prefer to be blurrier to bring more focus onto your subject. For those cases, you can blur the background using Photoshop, and this helpful video tutorial will show you how it is done.
A 70-200mm f/2.8 lens is one of the most versatile and popular options out there, but not everyone needs that f/2.8 aperture or wants to spend that kind of money. A 70-200mm f/4 lens offers the same versatility in a smaller and more affordable package, making it a great alternative for a lot of different photographers and filmmakers. This great video review takes a look at Canon's mirrorless option, the RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens.
There is probably no other genre where light is at more of a premium than astrophotography, where ultra-wide apertures, high ISOs, and specialized equipment are the name of the game. This fascinating video shows what two professional astrophotographers were able to accomplish when limited to a very slow kit lens for their work.
Traditionally, professional zoom lenses have filled the role of convenience, while primes have taken on more specific needs and creative pursuits. However, in recent years, we have seen some more extreme zoom lens designs that have approached the capabilities and image quality levels of primes, and this great video review takes a look at one of the most impressive of the bunch.
If you study the work of professional portrait photographers, you will probably notice a lot of them use rather complex multi-light setups, but you will also find plenty of fantastic images created with only a single light. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how to create eye-catching portraits using no more than a single light.
