Articles from Kim Simpson

For photographers working on location, reliable power is no longer a luxury; it's an essential part of the process. Between strobe or LED lighting, tethered laptops, battery chargers, drones, mobile devices, and client comfort equipment, power requirements can quickly become substantial, especially during long days on location. I recently got my hands on the BLUETTI Elite 400 power station to see if it is worth the hype.

More and more shooters are moving toward lighter, more mobile setups rather than hauling heavy gear to every location. SmallRig have just released their new EDC PRO kit, designed around their Outra 25 camera backpack, I was curious to see whether a curated "everyday carry" system could cover the changing needs of digital creatives.

Buying memory cards used to be a simple decision: match the slot, pick a speed class, done. That's no longer the case, and not just because of price. Every memory purchase has become a longer-term investment rather than a one-off consumable buy, and getting that decision right matters more than ever. But what does this mean if you're thinking of upgrading your camera, for example, shooting on a Nikon DSLR with an aging XQD slot now, but with a mirrorless upgrade already on your mind? If, like me, you're in that position, the card you buy now needs to outlast the camera it's going into.

You've pitched camp at the perfect spot, gear unloaded, base set for the next few days. And now you're waiting — for the fog to lift, the light to change, or an elusive animal to step into frame. Modern adventures in the wild are no longer just about chasing beautiful locations; there's an expectation to stay connected, keep every battery topped up, edit on location, and bring a few home comforts with you for when the light isn't cooperating. And honestly, why shouldn't that include a hot meal and a movie on your laptop while you wait for the clouds to part? We put the BLUETTI Elite 300 through its paces to see just how well it holds up to this kind of outdoor creative pursuit.

For up to two minutes and eighteen seconds on August 12, the sky along a narrow path running from the Arctic to northern Spain will go dark in the middle of the day. Birds may fall silent, the temperature will drop, and the sun's white corona will appear around the moon. It is the first total solar eclipse mainland Europe has seen since 1999, and if you have never stood in the path of totality before, nothing quite prepares you for how strange and beautiful this will be. For photographers, it is one of the most exciting subjects you will ever point a lens at, as it will be over in seconds and unforgiving of a missed setting.

Every corner of Paris feels familiar before you've even arrived, due to being photographed from every angle by countless travellers, tourists and photographers over the years. But in 24 hours wandering through the 7th arrondissement area with the Ricoh GR IIIx in my pocket, I realised that this camera is one that lets you disappear into the city. Small enough to carry all day, yet capable enough to handle whatever was in front of me, the GR IIIx changed not just how I photographed Paris, but how I experienced it.

I've been looking for new ways to exhibit my photo and video work, ways that aren't tied to white walls or interior spaces. That search led me toward projectors, and I found one that fits. The appeal of something untethered is obvious in the fact that you can take your work almost anywhere. I initially expected I'd need a separate power station, but instead I found a quality projector with a built-in battery, making the whole setup far simpler than I'd imagined.

Prime Day is an excellent opportunity to pick up top tech at lower prices, but it can be a little overwhelming when browsing through all the products on offer. The OBSBOT Tail 2 is one such product, which we previously reviewed and recommended, and now has a great Prime Day deal. From vloggers, creators, and YouTubers to live-streaming conferences and gatherings of all kinds, this little PTZR camera is the camera crew that fits in your pocket.

The Neewer Q120 is a compact 120 Ws TTL pocket strobe aimed at photographers who want more power than a speedlight without carrying a full-size studio flash. After using it for outdoor portraits and location shoots, I found it surprisingly capable for its size. Compact and lightweight, the Q120 is clearly designed for outdoor and location shooting, but is it worth adding to your kit bag?

Have you ever wanted to run away to a cabin in the woods, live off grid, and just create freely? It sounds like a dream, but modern photo and video workflows require too much power to make it a reality, that is, until now. I traveled to Paris for the global launch of the Bluetti Balco series to find out how its new plug-and-play solar ecosystem lets creators generate and store their own energy on location.

The world has never been more documented than it is today, with digital creatives of all types capturing and sharing their experiences online. That's why what sits around your camera matters just as much as the camera itself. Here's a battle-tested list of ten non-camera essentials designed to keep you productive, powered, protected, and connected wherever you go.

There are some pieces of gear you expect to be good, and then there are the rare ones that change your expectations altogether. I recently tested the 31L version of the new Wandrd Prvke Pocket Bag, which is an item you don't fully appreciate until you're halfway through a trip, standing in the rain, juggling passports, tech, and camera gear. This article discusses my experience with the bag, traveling long-haul.

Following the strong reception of its D1 Plus and Pro models, TerraMaster has introduced the D1 SSD Enclosure, and its timing couldn't be better. As AI and machine learning workloads continue to drive unprecedented demand for flash storage, SSD prices have climbed sharply, forcing creators to rethink how they invest in capacity. Instead of committing to expensive, fixed solutions, the D1 offers a more flexible approach to pair with the SSD that fits your budget and your needs.

Artificial intelligence has quickly become part of the workflow for many photographers. From culling thousands of images to automating complex edits, there's now a tool for almost every part of the process. But not all AI is built for the same job.

Outdoor photographer Rainer Eder has teamed up with Swiss mountain sports brand Mammut to produce Pushing Boundaries, a visually arresting photo series that reimagines what athletic determination looks like when it's taken out of its natural habitat. Instead of pristine alpine settings, elite athletes are placed into unexpected, often industrial environments — spaces that test their physical ability, adaptability, and mindset.

The nifty fifty has earned its reputation as the go-to standard prime, but the Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO feels like a quiet refinement of that formula. Just a 5mm shift in focal length is enough to change how you see and compose a scene. After testing the new Z mount variety on location, the quality of this lens becomes clear.

Artificial intelligence is transforming creative workflows across countless industries, including photography. From automated writing assistants to advanced image generators, there's now an AI tool for almost every task imaginable. While many AI platforms offer broad capabilities, relatively few are tailored to the specific demands of real estate photography. In a market where speed, accuracy, and visual consistency are critical, purpose-built solutions are required, and Fotello is positioning itself as one of the leading options in this space.

Like many digital creators, I've always justified paying more for quality memory, whether that be SD cards, CFexpress cards, or SSDs. Higher-end memory storage is faster, more reliable, and widely trusted. But I never really stopped to consider why that trust exists. That changed when I recently traveled to China to visit Lexar's facilities as part of their 30th anniversary. Seeing the process firsthand gave me a completely new perspective, and in this article, I will share what I took away from that experience.