Few of us will ever become truly great photographers, but giving yourself the best chance of it is still very much worthwhile. There is one method that is certainly a key ingredient, but it's often overlooked because it's not as interesting as buying new equipment or traveling to new places.
If you're on this site, you're likely a photographer or interested in becoming a photographer. In either case, if you're new to this wonderful craft, there are some bad habits that can really hold you back, and they're worth noting. Here are five I think you ought to be wary of, but make sure to add your own in the comment section.
Every profession and hobby has clichés that lurk around them like an unpleasant smell, and photography is no different. But what clichés about photographers do you believe to be mostly true?
Cameras grow in complexity year on year and it can be difficult to use any body to its maximum potential. In this video, Caleb Pike takes you through 10 tricks for filmmakers to get more out of their Sony camera.
The Nikon Z-series has a highly impressive firmware update coming, particularly for the Z9. Version 2.0 turns Z9 into a videography and sports photography titan, and if you have any interest in using it for either of those (or a great many other uses), you're going to want to check this out.
Being self-critical is too easy or too hard, but in both cases, it can be difficult to be effective with it. In this video, Nigel Danson takes you on a shoot and discusses some of the ways he ensures his photography is improving.
Much of great portraiture — particularly in a studio — is the art of great lighting. However, you don't need a 5-light setup and an elaborate scene to create great images, and the beauty dish is far more versatile than its name might imply.
Continuous, LED lights have become stronger and more affordable over the past decade, to the point where they're challenging a lot of strobes. The new Amaran LED might just top them all, however.
Rangefinder cameras are a long way from necessary, and yet, they are still popular, particularly because of Leica. What is it about rangefinders that makes them appealing and is this new Pixii camera a good example?
There are many characteristics of great movies that you may miss unless you spend the time to really consider all the components. Color is a major factor in any visual medium, but did you know about the 60-30-10 rule?
I didn't ever intend to be a professional photographer, I didn't even intend to be a part-time photographer. Nevertheless, I am approaching 10 years of making money from my camera, and I took the time to write down some key lessons and takeaways.
Technology moves quickly, and it only takes a few generations for there to feel like a profound divide between age groups. What do you think the next generation will not know about the photography of today or will be surprised by?
There are many staple lenses in portrait photography that are recommended to beginners and professionals alike. However, there is something of an unsung hero lurking in a different genre entirely that could complement your gear arsenal perfectly.
Kodak Gold 200 film is a popular choice and one of the most affordable stocks you can get, but the 120 format version was discontinued, much to the disappointment of medium format film photographers. Well, after some well-known folk in film photography — at least insofar as social media — kept asking for it, Kodak decided to deliver.
Video content is more in demand than ever before, both in terms of social media and commercial applications. However, post-processing can be time-consuming and expensive, which puts many photographers off. In this video, Jan Wegener walks you through how to speed up your workflow and use a free editing suite.
Portraiture is one of the most versatile genres of photography, housing many sub-genres within it. One of the most impactful skillsets you can acquire for the craft is lighting and so it is important to know the basic setups and what different lighting styles achieve.
There are few things that can make or break a photograph like composition. If you organize a brilliant composition of a scene, you could turn an average photo into something special. However, conversely, if your composition is poor, it can undo a lot of hard work.
There are a lot of camera bag addicts in our community and it's easy to see why: they can revolutionize your shooting experience when outdoors. Of all the genres of photography that need the right camera bag, landscape is right up near the top. Here is one landscape photographer's new favorite bag.
There are few genres of photography I find more interesting and engaging than street, but it's a tricky discipline to master. In this video, Pat Kay walks you through five essential tips that could help you improve.
Business is tricky at the best of times, but what should you do when it becomes entwined with family and friends? There can be a number of awkward conversations and it can lead to more than that. So, should you give discounts or not?
There are a handful of places in the world that are simultaneously beautiful for photography and incredibly difficult to ever visit, but Antarctica is one of them. In this video, James Popsys takes you behind the scenes of his trip there and the wonders that await.
When traveling has been so difficult, videos of distant locations become even more appealing. Watch as a Canon ambassador creates a beautiful short film in northern Norway, battling the elements and the pandemic.
Leica is a polarizing brand by virtue of their prices and almost nothing else. But, if money was no object, would you shoot with them? Their Noctilux range is on many wishlists, but how good are they really and can they justify the price?
There are certain rights of passage in photography that we all should try at some juncture of our time with a camera. They act as both important learning tools but plainly, they're good fun to do. In this video, Pye Jirsa walks you through how he created a great-looking portrait using a smoke bomb.
Most of us have made hasty purchases at one point or another, but have you ever bought something you genuinely regretted? In this video, Mattias Burling discusses five cameras he regrets buying and why.
Travel photography is a staple genre of the craft and one that most photographers try at some point. However, with such a broad scope and the many other genres that it encompasses, it can be hard to keep your kit bag light. So, what's the best prime lens?
You don't need a ton of equipment to create a number of looks in a single shoot. In this video, John Gress discusses which background you should go for if you're looking for maximum versatility, showcasing five different looks.
With Canon successfully moving into the mirrorless space, they have a dichotomy of gear. But, in a real-world scenario, how do two of the same lenses — one for mirrorless and one for DSLRs — compare side-by-side?
The discussion of expensive versus lower-budget gear is age-old and well-covered. However, it's always worth reminding yourself of just how much you can achieve with your images without buying the latest and greatest cameras. And what better way than to look at images from the same shoot with a cheap and an expensive cared, side-by-side.
There are a lot of confusing elements when it comes to photography, particularly when you're looking at printing. Perhaps the most misunderstood is PPI — pixels per inch — and when it's useful, because it is often not useful at all.
Drones have become something of a staple in modern photography for a number of genres, with the financial barrier to entry now lower than ever. But, there are also high-end drones that cost a fair whack, so are they worth it?
It has been an eventful few years for Olympus and many of their fans have worried for the future of the camera brand. Finally, a new body has been released and photographers are getting a chance to test it out.
There are few horrors in life quite like dropping your camera or knocking it off of a table. We've all been there, but there are lots of ways you can prevent damage. In this video, David Bergman goes through a few of the methods you can use to safeguard your equipment.
Shooting video has never been better for consumers and with C-Log and C-Log 3 profiles on some Canon cameras, you gain access to far more malleable footage when it comes to post-processing. However, when you look at the preview of log footage, it looks like it's sitting beneath a high pass filter in Photoshop, so how do you properly expose for it?
Final Cut Pro has become a staple of video editing and attracted many editors to it. Like most modern software, it is deep and nuanced, however, and you can always learn more. In this video, one expert takes you through some of his best tips.
