I like to carry minimal gear and travel light when on vacation or a travel photography adventure, and my favorite camera hasn’t changed after 7 years of ownership—it’s the Nikon Z50. Finding the right lens has always been a struggle, though, until I got my hands on Viltrox’s AF 27mm f/1.2 Pro.
Every year, I make it a ritual to look back at the photographs I’ve taken—not just to see if I ended up with a set of images I’m actually happy with, but to understand what they say about me. Reviewing a year’s worth of images can reveal patterns you didn’t know were there: the subjects you’re drawn to, the way you use light, the emotions you chase.
Xtra is an innovative U.S.-registered startup founded by an experienced team dedicated to advancing imaging technology. Having established a strong foundation with products such as the Xtra Muse, Xtra Sphra360, Xtra Edge and Xtra Edge Pro.Xtra’s latest product is aimed at those needing a lightweight, highly versatile solution to film BTS and POV content on the move. They call it Atto.
I’ve owned a Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 for a few years now, and it’s been one of two lenses I take everywhere with me, the other being a 35mm f/1.8. I’ve found f/1.8 to be a very handy aperture for low light shooting, but I still encounter a few situations where I need to crank up my ISO, as it’s not quite fast enough.
In a world oversaturated with colorful images showcasing the latest trends in color editing effects and presets, I’m seeing a quiet and growing resurgence of black and white photography. Why is that? I believe it’s a mix of nostalgic, emotional, and creative reasons. Some of us are seeking to create images with more meaning and purpose. Let’s dive in and discuss.
I should say "My Essential Lens Filters." I get a lot of people asking what I use, so I thought I’d share what they are. I have a few filters that go everywhere with me. Sometimes they reside in a backpack when on an outdoor adventure, or in a small shoulder bag when exploring urban environments.
One of the most enjoyable genres of photography is travel photography. Who doesn’t love to travel to interesting and exotic foreign destinations and wander around with a camera? It’s great to return home with a collection of images that capture your adventure—images you can show people that give them an idea of where you visited and what you experienced.
Three years after the success of Henri Cartier-Bresson’s "The Decisive Moment", "The Europeans" was published in 1955. Cartier-Bresson traveled around Europe between 1950 and 1955—often working on assignments for publications such as Harper’s Bazaar, Life, or Paris Match—and curated 114 of these images.
Here are five things we might not think we need, but could turn out to be very useful to have. I curated them because I use them all myself. They also happen to be small items that make the perfect stocking stuffers—so pass this article on to friends and family if they’re short on ideas for what to get the photographer in their life!
PolarPro Defender Body Cap
If you buy a luxurious German-made Leica, it makes sense to want a luxurious German-made bag to keep it in, right? A bag that oozes understated elegance and quality, just like your camera. That’s exactly what a hand-made Oberwerth Leica Q Bag® delivers.
When I am out and about doing street and urban photography—and even a lot of travel photography—my preference is to have minimal gear with me. So the ideal bag to hold what little I carry is a small shoulder bag. But there are plenty of times when I need something a little larger to carry a second camera or action camera and audio equipment for vlogging.
Not so long ago, a 40mm prime lens was an uncommon sight. When selecting a standard focal length prime lens, the choice was 35mm or 50mm. So why are we seeing so many 40mm primes now? And more importantly, why would we need one?
I’ve been testing the new Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW III and I like it—a lot.
I’ve owned a couple of Lowepro backpacks over the years, and they’ve been functional and reliable. I’ve never had a backpack as large as the ProTactic BP 450 AW III, though. With a 28 L total volume, it’s actually a very practical size for two scenarios.
Owning a Leica is merely a dream for many. Their gorgeously designed and incredibly well-made cameras and lenses are expensive. Like a Rolex watch, they’re an indulgent luxury item, and many of us simply cannot justify the cost.
Inspiration and influence—these are things I’ve been thinking about lately. Why? Because it’s clear to me that so many new photographers are getting their influence from other photographers on social media. This isn’t always a good thing.
Leica launches the first M with an integrated electronic viewfinder, the Leica M EV1. But what will the M purists say?
For photographers and vloggers who travel and shoot on location, continuous lighting has always been a challenge, particularly when working outside in inclement weather. Harlowe has addressed this with its new Max Air 40W LED light, engineered for outdoor shooting.
If you’ve purchased a lovely camera, shouldn’t you buy a lovely, luxurious camera strap for it? That’s a rhetorical question—of course you should! If your camera is your pride and joy—something you’ve aspired to own for a while—and you finally bit the bullet and treated yourself, it’s fitting to give it a beautiful handcrafted shoulder strap.
I believe great photography is a result of great lighting. As someone who has spent a lot of time traveling and shooting in a variety of conditions, light has always been a top priority. Small portable LED lights started to become popular around 5–6 years ago, when dozens of brands began making a variety of lights in different shapes and sizes.
Maybe you can relate to this. You have filing cabinets full of negatives and transparencies you shot back in the film days that have remained untouched for decades now. What do you do with them? I’ve tried various scanners over the years, and none have given me the results I want. So I stopped bothering and continued to let them sit in their dark tombs, unloved and forgotten.
I’ve been thinking a lot about why we feel the need to show our photos to the world. Is it really about creating art, or just about getting someone—anyone—to say they like it?
Who doesn’t love going on a trip to explore a new destination with a camera? However, when we’re traveling, weight can be an issue. If we’re flying, there’s only so much gear we can take in our carry-on luggage. When we reach our destination, a heavy, bulky camera and lenses can be a nuisance to take on a stroll and can get conveniently left in the hotel.
Some say film photography is better than digital. Film has a more organic, natural look. Shooting with an analogue camera is a better experience and a purer form of photography. Others say digital photography is better because computer technology makes photography easier. You can shoot more frames and focus quicker, and experiment more by shooting more without the need for a second mortgage.
Shooting portraits in natural light, if you get it right, can be very rewarding. You can easily create beautiful, moody, and very natural photos—with just a camera in your hand and a willing subject in front of you. Here are some thoughts that may help you get the best possible results.
Getting into video production? Want to record a podcast? Maybe interview someone for a vlog? There are microphone solutions for all of these individual audio scenarios, but there isn’t any one handy solution that covers them all. Until now.
When I was young and took my first driving lesson, the instructor explained to me what was happening with the gearbox and engine when I changed gear, and how what I did controlled the vehicle’s speed. I learned in a manual (stick shift) car. We all did back then in the UK.
As a photographer and videographer/filmmaker, having a small LED light or two in my bag is essential. I’ve accumulated 5 or 6 over the past few years, keen to try out different brands and styles of lights. Recently, I came across a relatively new brand called Harlowe. They just launched a pocket-sized light called the Iris 5 Spectra.
No grand mountain vistas or stunning Renaissance architecture near you? No problem. It doesn’t mean you can’t go out with your camera and capture some great images. There are three exercises—or projects—I like to do in my local towns or when I travel. They're a lot of fun. And a huge bonus is they do help make you a better photographer too, because they help you to see. Really see.
Viltrox lenses are a better choice than Nikon’s Z-mount native lenses. There, I said it. And this is coming from someone who has used Nikon for 40 years and may even be somewhat of a “fanboy.” I’ve been impressed with Viltrox lenses for a few years now—and own three—but the new Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB full frame is a whole new level of impressive.
As someone who often shoots video more than photos these days, a filter kit is essential. There are three filters I use: a variable neutral density (VND) filter, a circular polarizing filter (CPL), and a mist filter.
I visited my local camera store in Canada recently and chatted with the guy working there about film photography. He confirmed what I was already experiencing from spending too much time on YouTube, telling me how popular it’s become and how the popularity continues to grow.
Who doesn’t love to travel and explore new places? And if you have a camera with you to document the experience, well, I can’t think of a more fun thing to be doing! I’m not including the obvious things most tip lists include, like planning ahead, shooting during golden hour, or traveling light.
Leica producing their own black and white film comes as no surprise to me. It actually makes complete sense considering the popularity of vintage Leica film cameras in recent years and the rebirth of film photography. As someone who started out shooting black and white film, this is rather exciting news.
Ultra-reliable memory cards and storage are the most important things for a photographer and filmmaker. If there’s one area where I’m not going to penny-pinch, it’s on a new memory card for my camera. A few months ago, I was approached by a company called Novachips, asking if they could send me their latest memory card and card reader. I’d never heard of them but thought, why not?
I’ve been a fan of SanDisk’s portable Extreme Pro SSDs for many years. When I travel with my laptop, I take a couple with me so I can back up my photos and videos each day. The ones I’ve been using transfer data up to 2,000 MB/s (sustainable read and write speed). They’re also very durable, with good water and dust resistance (IP65).
