Articles from Justin Tedford

Most photographers start with a subject or theme. Conceptual photographers start with a question. What does isolation feel like? Not, where can I shoot next? Entering the world of conceptual photography is a beast of its own. It comes with its own challenges and rewards. My biggest question was, how do I start?

Have you ever gone back to look at older images you created? Whether they’re from six months ago or six years ago, there are often elements worth revisiting. As our eyes mature and technology advances, we’re able to see opportunities to refine those images in ways we simply couldn’t before.

For some photographers, firmware feels like a dirty word—especially for beginners. Should you install every update that appears, or leave things as they are if your camera works fine? For many, it starts with a more straightforward question: What is firmware, and why does it matter?

Wide-angle lenses usually fall into one of two categories: large, heavy, expensive monsters or budget-friendly options that often come with compromises not worth the cost. But has Viltrox hit a home run? 

Rugged yet refined, spacious yet sleek—the FocusPoint 30L RollTop is the camera backpack that keeps up with your photography, whether that’s on the road or at your favorite local coffee shop.

Ready to level up your photography in 2026? The year’s most significant creative jumpstart is happening at PPA’s Imaging USA, and you don’t want to miss it.

Sometimes, the most powerful image isn't the one you take, but the one you leave behind. In a society fixated on constant creation, mastering restraint can be more important than clicking the shutter. Modern cameras can shoot 120 frames per second or even more, but the real skill lies in understanding when not to photograph. Cultivating patience and trust and learning to hold back from capturing every moment often requires greater skill than simply snapping endless shots.

You can nail the exposure and still miss the photograph. How? Because numbers teach “correct,” but story teaches truth. A flawless histogram isn’t a finished narrative—and perfect light doesn’t guarantee a picture that speaks.

They say nothing good happens after midnight—clearly, they’ve never tried photographing it. When the world goes quiet and city lights hum against the dark, something magical awakens. The night becomes your studio, the stars your light source, and the silence your companion. While others sleep, photographers step into an open world alive with mystery, color, and adventure.

Photography goes beyond just composition and exposure—it’s a lifelong process of patience, failure, curiosity, and self-exploration. After years of practice, you'll see that it's not only about what’s in front of your camera but also about what occurs behind it. Here are 10 lessons every photographer discovers.

Most photographers start with a subject or theme. Conceptual photographers start with a question. What does isolation feel like? Not, “Where can I shoot next?” Entering the world of conceptual photography is a beast of its own. It comes with its own challenges and rewards. My biggest question was, how do I start?

It’s that time of year again—when the days get shorter, the coffee gets warmer, and the holidays sneak up faster than any of us are ready for. And with the holiday season comes the annual tradition of building out that all-important wish list. If you’re anything like me, a few SmallRig items have probably been sitting in your mental shopping cart for months. Let’s be honest: want might be the polite word, but need feels far more accurate.

The infamous red dot. I am sure that at any given time in a photographer’s career, amateur or not, there has been a dream of owning a camera known for its excellence, sleek design, and quality that rises above other brands. Once, that dream became a short-lived reality.

Film may be back in style, but instant photography has become the life of the party—thanks to Fujifilm and Polaroid. Now Leica, a name tied to photographic excellence for over a century, has stepped into the ring with the SOFORT 2. The question is simple: Can the masters of precision still deliver when the goal is fun, fast, and instant?

A growing number of photographers and creatives, once loyal to Adobe, are walking away. Is this the slow decline of Adobe's monopoly on the creative world?

With the most recent announcement of the Sony RX1R III, the scarcity of the Fuji X100VI, and the popularity of the Leica Q, are we seeing a renaissance of the small compact camera?

We talk a lot about sharpness and resolution, but when’s the last time your image made someone feel something?

War teaches you how to see. Not in an artistic sense, but in a survival sense. Every detail is information, and every flicker of movement becomes a decision. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that constant scanning and forced situational awareness rewired the way I perceive everything. I went to war with a rifle and a camera; only one still shapes how I see the world today.

Do you need Iceland or an exotic location to take great photographs?

Pick n’ Pluck, TrekPak, foam hybrids—Pelican has given us plenty of ways to organize our gear, each with its own quirks and trade-offs. But once you commit, you're stuck—cut the foam wrong or rearrange the dividers, and there’s no undo button. What if there were a system that let you change your mind, again and again, without regret?

Instagram was great until it ruined the art of photography. Somewhere along the way, the app that once celebrated still images traded intention for attention, and in doing so, it didn’t just change photography — it helped ruin the art.

You’ve heard it all: “Shoot manual,” “Golden hour is king,” “Always follow the rule of thirds.” But what if those trusted tips aren’t always right?

Whether you're a travel or commercial photographer, getting your bag around the airport or to your next shoot can get annoying—if only there were a bag that made traveling a little easier.

You can’t argue that the world of film is making a comeback in a big way. This begs the question: Is shooting film an artistic and bold choice or just a trendy throwback?