I Found the Perfect Travel Tripod: Flm Cp-30 M5 II Review
In this article, I review the FLM CP30-M5 II hybrid tripod. It's the best tripod I've used, and here's why.
In this article, I review the FLM CP30-M5 II hybrid tripod. It's the best tripod I've used, and here's why.
In 2019, I wrote about how I would never quit full-frame DSLRs. Back then, I complained about mirrorless cameras for wonky bodies and mediocre autofocus. Today, I’m eating crow.
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.
While scouting during the day makes sense, it’s not always necessary—sometimes the best shots come from reacting to the light as it changes. Being in the moment allows you to see how shadows fall on the land and create natural compositions. As the final hour of daylight arrives, it’s an ideal time to find frames that bring out the land’s contours, colors, and textures.
Bill Brandt, a notable photographer of the 20th century, left a lasting mark on the world of photography. This German-born photographer's contribution to photography was his ability to elevate the mundane and the ordinary into something extraordinary. Whether on the streets of London during the blackout of World War II or in the stark landscapes of northern England, Brandt had a keen eye for uncovering the poetic and the surreal in the everyday.
Do you calibrate your screen? If you don’t then there are good reasons why you should. If it’s something you decide to do, then Datacolor Spyder X2 Ultra may be the perfect solution.
The right lens can change the way your images look and feel. This comparison between the Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4 S and the NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S breaks down what makes each option stand out for your shooting style.
By learning how to adjust tone, color, and details systematically, you gain control over your creative process, ensuring each image meets your vision. This tutorial walks through every panel in the Develop Module of Lightroom, offering practical insights for improving your workflow.
Focus stacking can take your macro photography to a new level by allowing you to capture every detail of a subject in perfect clarity, even when that subject has considerable depth. It’s especially helpful for macro shots, where your focus plane is often razor-thin. But capturing a sharp, focus-stacked image doesn’t end with taking hundreds of shots in the field; processing them correctly is equally crucial.
So which are you—a photographer or a videographer? In an age when you can do serious work in still and video capture using only a single hybrid camera like the Panasonic Lumix S5IIX that is capable of knocking it out of the park in both, your answer can now be “All of the above!”
Fujifilm Instax cameras are the most popular instant cameras, offering a range of sizes from mini to wide, providing plenty of options. My favorite format is the Instax square film, and with the release of the new Instax SQ40, we conducted a comparison against the SQ6 to determine the best square format instant camera.
Isn’t it time we returned to how we used to share photos? There’s little point in creating photographic art if people are not going to see it, and although it reaches a wide audience, there are good reasons to take a step back from social media and consider other options instead.
Wondering if you should spend extra on the 35mm f/1.8 S prime lens over the new 35mm f/1.4? This helpful video breaks down their features and performance to see if the upgrade is worth it.
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.
Choosing between zoom and prime lenses can significantly impact how you shoot landscapes. Each type offers unique advantages, but which one fits your needs better depends on what you prioritize—whether it’s convenience, sharpness, or control over your composition.
The TTArtisan AF 56mm f/1.8 lens is a budget-friendly portrait lens designed for APS-C cameras. Although it only costs $158, don't let the price fool you because this inexpensive lens packs quite a punch in terms of quality and performance.
Photographing in low light is one of the most challenging tasks you can encounter. This is a scenario where your setup truly matters. Not only should you know what to do with your camera, but also keep in mind which camera to bring for low-light photography. In this article, I will go over the essential gear for such work.
In this article, I share five photo editing techniques in Photoshop you can use to create better night photos.
Buying a new camera that delivers great results without breaking the bank is a tough task. The Canon EOS R10 might fit the bill.
It was inevitable, I think. We've already seen a version of Luminar on an iPad, but most people are taking photos on their smartphones, which often have better cameras, so editing directly on an iPhone just makes sense.
This tripod was so different from all others in the market when it was released four years ago. Now that it’s obvious that many other brands have copied its unique form factor one way or another, it definitely deserves a closer look.
Contre-jour photography offers a dramatic and challenging way to add depth and impact to your images. This style, which involves backlighting your subject, demands an understanding of lighting, exposure, and post-processing. It’s a versatile technique that works across subjects like landscapes, portraits, and nature.
One question we’ve always had about Peak Design is why they didn’t have any bags designed for hiking and outdoor adventures. That all changes today.
For all things photography, documentaries offer a unique window into the lives and works of iconic photographers. They reveal the stories behind their most famous images and the people who shot them. Here's a list of seven compelling photography documentaries that every photographer should watch.
There are a lot of great tools available for editing, and my favorite techniques tend to have large impacts for little effort. Lightroom's masking tool does this better than anything else I've ever used. This guide will teach you everything you could possibly want to know about Lightroom masking regardless of your skill level.
Some time ago, I wrote an article about soft proofing in Lightroom and Photoshop. It's an essential step in any professional printing workflow. Today, I show the additional steps required to create perfect prints.
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.
Every year, I compare the newest iPhone to my daily professional camera and always receive feedback that after compression and scaling, you lose too much detail to be able to tell the difference. So, this year, I've taken the next step by having the images professionally printed on metal and asking random strangers if they can guess which photo was taken with a phone.
If you’ve ever tried removing wires, cables, or other distractions from your photos, you know how tedious it can be. Photoshop’s new AI-powered tool aims to change that. This feature, currently available in the Photoshop beta, lets you erase unwanted elements in a few clicks without the need for complicated selections.
Choosing the right printer can be overwhelming, especially when you’re considering a professional-grade model. This printer is designed for those who want to create gallery-quality prints, but it comes with a learning curve and a significant investment in both time and money.
Macro photography opens up a world of detail, from intricate textures to tiny subjects that escape the naked eye. The Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Macro aims to provide stunning image quality for those close-up shots while remaining affordable compared to other options on the market.
Not every idea is golden, and not all camera systems are destined to become legends. Digital photography has always grown by leaps and stumbles.
I’m on a quest to find the perfect camera bag and have tried loads. How close to the mark does this travel backpack, with its many pockets, reach?
Back in 2017, I received the Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 for review. My experiences with this mirrorless MFT camera were positive. Now, six years later, Panasonic sent me the second version: the Lumix DC-G9 II. I used it under extreme weather conditions at the Opal Coast in France.
This list of five film cameras I can't live without spans 35 years of photographic history—from the height of half-frame popularity in 1966 to the dawn of digital in 2001.
Wedding photography demands lenses that balance versatility and artistic flair. Picking the right ones not only simplifies your workflow but also ensures you’re prepared for every moment of the day.
Timing is everything. If you miss the right moment, you can miss the perfect shot.
When editing landscape photographs, there are many ways to get from point A to point B. In this tutorial, we'll cover using Adobe Camera Raw to get the most out of your raw files.
Before you gear up to become a landscape photographer, there are some crucial things that you should understand if you want to be well-prepared. Landscape photography gets better as you experience different shooting scenarios, but here are some tips to help you get started.
Is swapping a camera system a valid and worthwhile move? I did it for very good reasons, and it's something you might consider if you analyze what you use and why you bought it.
Capturing compelling images in busy, chaotic spaces requires a mix of patience and creativity. With the right techniques, you can turn even the most overwhelming environments into opportunities for striking compositions.
The Sirui Aurora 85mm f/1.4 lens brings an exciting option to the table for anyone interested in fast portrait primes. With its combination of premium features, robust build, and an approachable price tag, it challenges the dominance of established brands without breaking the bank.
It's been a long time that I wanted to review a camera so badly. However, when I saw the Hasselblad CVF100C back, I couldn't be more excited. Is there something better than a 100 MP medium format back? How miraculously good can a camera costing $8,000 even be? Well, suffice it to say that it is one of the best medium format cameras available.
Soft photos are frustrating, especially when everything seems to have been done right. Whether it’s inconsistency or persistent fuzziness, figuring out what’s going wrong can be a challenge.
A frequent challenge for landscape photographers is capturing sharp images. There are several nuances to sharp landscape photography photos; there is more to it than just always using an aperture of f/11 or so. This video looks at some of those nuances to help you get sharp images.
While tools like Adobe Photoshop and Affinity Photo are great Swiss Army knives for photographers, sometimes a more specialized tool is called for. In this artificial intelligence-driven age, two new tools on the block, Aperty and Evoto, leverage this technology and aim it squarely at portrait photographers. Which one is better?
DJI, maker of the world's best consumer and professional camera drones, recently announced the brand new Avata 2 FPV drone. They were able to send me one to test out, and in this video, I ask the question: "is the Avada 2 worth upgrading from the original Avata drone?"
Creating a glowing light spill effect can dramatically alter the mood and atmosphere of your landscape photos. Here's how to do it in Lightroom.
Fog can transform the mood of an image, creating a sense of depth and drama. While it might seem like a task best suited for specialized editing software, Lightroom Classic provides an easy and flexible way to achieve this.
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.