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Simon Burn
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Articles written by Simon Burn

The Ultimate 35mm Fast Prime Lens For Travel Photography? |  Laowa f/0.95

I’ve spent a lot of time pondering the best prime lens to use in recent years, as I’ve wanted to keep my gear to a minimum. Not so much to save on bulk or weight when taking it on a trip somewhere, but more to simplify my photography. I like just having one or two prime lenses. It forces me to work a little harder and look a little harder for compositions. That, to me, is what photography is all about. We should put a little effort into our craft and enjoy the process as we do it.

Landscape Photography: Focusing on Story Instead of Light

Do you find you have limited time to head out to do landscape photography? I do, and the times I am able to carve out a few hours, when I get to my chosen location, the light is terrible. And disappointment quickly sets in, because I wanted to create a beautiful image. So now, I’ve changed my approach to landscape photography and focus on looking for a story to tell instead.

Summer Street Photography: Best Gear, Tips, and Ideas

For landscape photography, summer is a curse. Harsh, bright light and blue skies give some photographers nightmares. They stay inside and read Fstoppers articles. Probably. No one really knows—they keep so quiet. Maybe they should read this article, because summer just so happens to be a fabulous time of year to grab a camera and wander into town for a spot of street photography.

DuoBoards: A Very Useful Food Photography Accessory

The number of times I’ve been called to a restaurant, hotel, or food manufacturer to photograph food on location, with only tired-looking tables or bar tops to work with, I can’t count on two hands. Or fresh white linen with nasty big creases. I think that’s even worse. Luckily, V-Flat World has the answer with DuoBoards.

Landscape Photography: Saleable Art Versus Worthless Pretty Pictures

Landscape photography has become boring. How many more photos do I have to scroll through on social media of the same old locations? Those must-have photos of the red houses in Hamnøy, Lofoten; the waterfall at Kirkjufellsfoss, Iceland; the lone tree at Buttermere in the Lake District. It’s like looking through a schoolboy’s stamp collection. Every kid has exactly the same stamps because they’re the easiest ones to find and buy with your pocket money.

Tips for Great Street Photography

Street photography has grown hugely in popularity over the past couple of years. For me, it’s become one of my favorite photography genres because it’s easy to do, a lot of fun, and so accessible. Most of us live in or near a large town or city, so a spontaneous outing is feasible without planning. I like that. And you don’t need a lot of fancy, expensive gear.

My Favorite Luxury Camera Accessory: A Hawkesmill Strap

We like to buy ourselves little luxury indulgences once in a while that make us feel good—something as small as a fancy bar of Swiss chocolate, or maybe a new piece of jewelry or a designer shirt. So my thinking is, why not do that with camera accessories? It makes sense. After all, you’re likely to use your camera more than you’ll wear a shirt, and too much chocolate is bad for you. When I treated myself to my Leica Q2 Monochrom, I did just that. I bought the perfect luxury accessory for it: a Hawkesmill strap, proudly handmade in England.

Shure’s New MoveMic 88+ Is Versatile and Impressive

Don’t expect a tech review where I list a whole bunch of numbers and stats—and copy and paste lines oozing hyperbole written by young copywriters looking to impress—from the media release. I’m bored just thinking about that. No, I’m reviewing this neat and rather unique little wireless mic from Shure from the perspective of an actual vlogger and filmmaker. Because, well, that’s exactly what I am.

PolarPro's New Bags For Lightweight Travel & Street Photography

I have two photography scenarios that maybe you can relate to. I like to travel and spend a day or two exploring a new destination but don’t want to carry much—maybe a couple of lenses, some filters, and spare batteries. What I do carry is heavy enough that a backpack makes sense, making photography easier. If I pop out for a few hours to wander around doing street photography, I have one little camera and lens, a filter, and a spare battery. I may have my reading glasses and phone too. I only need a small bag for that, where I can stow the camera if the weather gets bad. Otherwise, the camera is around my neck, so the bag is virtually empty.

How To Master Environmental Portrait Photography

I enjoy environmental portraits more than anything else because it’s something you can do anywhere, indoors or outdoors, across many genres of photography. The obvious opportunities arise with travel and street photography. So what exactly is an environmental portrait compared to a normal portrait? And where do you start?

Essential and Rather Unique Filters: The 135 Series From PolarPro

A circular polarizer (CP) and a mist filter are two filters that, in my opinion, everyone should own. And PolarPro makes some lovely CP and mist filters. I’ve been using their CP for the past couple of years. From travel photography to tabletop food photography in the studio, it’s a great filter. So, with an already great CP and mist filters to their name, why did PolarPro launch new versions?

An iPhone Accessory To Improve Your Photography Experience: PolarPro LiteChaser Pro 16 Slim

Since Apple's iPhone 16 was launched with the ability to shoot 4K 120 fps video with Dolby Vision, improved stabilization, and a new 48 MP ultra wide camera, iPhones have become more popular among content creators. At the very least, an iPhone is a great vlogging camera. So, of course, with all the great tech comes a hefty price tag. Well, that beautiful titanium phone needs protection.

Influencers Are Using Expensive Medium Format Cameras, But You Don't Need One!

YouTube is a great place to learn about photography. You can discover how to do something, research gear, and get inspiration. However, the problem with most photography content is that it’s structured around selling you stuff you don’t need. The latest example—a huge example—is the idea that you might need a 100-megapixel medium format camera.

Thinking of Turning Pro? You’ll Get The Worst Advice on YouTube

There are three pieces of really bad “pro advice” that have cropped up more than once on YouTube channels. We need to talk about this to help you avoid wasting time and losing money unnecessarily if you’re thinking about making a living from your camera.

The New Lumix S1R II Might Be The Best Hybrid Camera Launch of 2025

Panasonic has launched the Lumix S1R II. After sitting through the media briefing, I wondered if I had been daydreaming. On paper, the Lumix S1R II is possibly the best hybrid camera on the market. The specs are simply incredible. Potentially, it’s a creator’s dream come true. Let’s take a look at why.

Leica’s Classic 50mm Summilux-M f/1.4 Has Been Reimagined

Leica first made their Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 in 1959. It’s a classic focal length, arguably an essential lens for most genres of photography. This recent rebirth is based on the optical calculations of the second Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4, produced from 1962 to 2004.

This Slow Shutter Technique Is Worth Trying

If you want to improve your photography, experimenting with new techniques to achieve more creative and interesting results is the way to go. I did just that recently while out doing street photography by playing with a slow shutter speed while shooting handheld.

Shifting From Photographer To Videographer: Where Do You Start?

You’ve been a photographer for many years, and you’re curious about making videos. After all, your camera likely has some amazing video capabilities. But moving to video is daunting; there’s so much more involved than still photography. Here are a few thoughts to help you get started.

Do You Own The Best Photography Book of All Time?

The Decisive Moment is arguably one of the greatest photography books ever published, featuring photos from Henri Cartier-Bresson that capture the precise instant when all elements in a scene come together perfectly to create a powerful and meaningful image.

It’s Better to Be an Amateur Photographer Than a Pro

After 38 years of making a living in photography—either behind the camera or directing other photographers—I’ve come to the conclusion that, for many, it might be best to keep photography as a hobby. It’s something I’ve been thinking about of late because photography in recent years has been elevated to such a glamorous career choice. Now it seems everyone wants to be a pro photographer and turn their hobby into a career. So allow me to share a few thoughts about this.