Articles from Kim Simpson

Phone-based content creation has moved well past quick behind-the-scenes clips. Photographers are now shooting more polished promo videos with their phones on a regular basis. That workflow shift changes what your phone needs to be capable of, and internal storage and speed are usually the first barriers.

You have decided to transition from DSLR to mirrorless, and that should feel exciting, with a whole new way of shooting waiting for you. Changing systems does mean planning around the cost, but you may already own more of the funding than you realize. The DSLR kit sitting in your bag can pay for a good part of the switch, and how you sell it decides how smooth the whole process feels.

Inflatable LED lights are one of those ideas that sound gimmicky. A soft, glowing tube you inflate like a pool toy, then use to light a portrait or paint with color in the dark. It's the kind of gadget that could easily be all novelty and no substance.

I love exploring photography in all its forms, and that extends to novelty cameras. When I saw the Godox C100, which looks like it belongs in the 1990s, I had to try it as a new way of making images. It has no rear screen, so you can't perfect your composition, and you can't check a shot after you take it either.

Peak Design built the Everyday Backpack around fast access, real organization, and protection for whatever you're carrying. The Everyday Backpack line is already award-winning, and the newly revamped V3 improves on that solid foundation. Style, security, and day-to-day usability all show up here alongside gear protection and room to expand. 

For over a decade, Pixieset has built its name on gallery hosting and then expanded into photography business management with Studio Manager. Now it turns its head to tackling what happens in the gap between the shoot and the delivered gallery.

Threads of Time is an exploration of legacy and lens. It is a collaborative project between kesi artist Jingwei and photographer Jing Huang, presented at the Leica Gallery in Amsterdam. I went along to see how this collaboration was woven together in a gallery setting.

DJI just gave the 360 camera market something to catch up to. Building on more than 12 years of imaging expertise, the Osmo 360 II delivers new capabilities rooted in a shared lineage from previous generations of DJI's creative camera technology, from the Osmo 360 to the Avata 360. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.