Whether you're shooting landscapes, outdoor portraits, or even architecture, natural lighting conditions can make or break your shoot. But what do you do when the sunlight doesn't cooperate?
Using rim lighting can be a great way to create a portrait with a very different look than the more standard shot. If you have not tried it before, this great video will show you how you can use rim lighting (even in a small space) for portraits and walk you through some problem-solving associated with the technique.
The internet is inundated with advice on how to improve your photography, and while a lot of it is good and can certainly help you become better behind the camera, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to take it all in. This excellent video discusses something a lot of us do not do that much, but that will help improve anyone's photography.
Most macro lenses offer 1:1 magnification, which is more than enough for most work. However, when you really want to push the limits, there are lenses that can offer higher levels of magnification. This helpful video review takes a look at such a lens, the Zhongyi Mitakon 85mm f/2.8 1-5x Super Macro lens.
If you haven’t wrapped up your holiday shopping yet, consider buying secondhand in exchange for a great deal.
Wotancraft’s new camera backpack gives you versatility and camera storage without looking like a camera bag.
No matter if you’re creating your own portfolio or taking photos for paying clients one thing you need to be able to do is create consistent and repeatable results. When looking at images next to one another you will immediately notice if there is a color shift or inconsistent lighting between photographs which can be a detriment to you developing your style or landing the perfect client. Let’s talk about the fastest and easiest way to help elevate your photography and fix those color and exposure issues quickly.
When it comes to obvious accessories for your photography, a camera bag is probably one of the first things that come to mind. However, do you really need one?
Big flat lays are very much in trend both commercially and with social media. Here are three ways that I set up the camera on an overhead rig as well as their pros and cons.
Over the last year, I've tried and used a good number of different gimbals. In my view, the DJI Ronin-SC has been one of the best gimbals I've used so far when it comes to the kind of footage it can help produce. This gimbal actually replaced my previous favorite, the WEEBILL Lab; so, I wanted to how it performed against the new and improved WEEBILL-S.
There have been some fantastic deals available in the run-up to Christmas and B&H has some great offerings on Green Monday, with bundles such as $400 off on a Sony a6500, and $500 off the Canon EOS R.
Spend any appreciable amount of time on the internet getting feedback on your work and you will likely have some harsh or unpleasant interactions. And yet, the harshest critic you encounter might actually be yourself. Is that the case for you? Check out this excellent video that discusses that issue.
Photography can often be a solitary pursuit, and as such, it might be hard to know what to do when you feel like you are stuck in a rut and unable to improve. If you feel like you are currently in such a place with your work, this helpful video discusses five reasons why your photography might not be improving.
Photography is a strange art form in that instead of creating from a blank canvas and only your own ideas and materials, you start with reality and take it from there. So, how do you approach the art of photography? Do you aim to represent or to interpret? This quick but thought-provoking video will give you some helpful things to think about the next time you are behind the camera.
Both beginner and intermediate photographers are sometimes surprised to find out just how limited a camera meter is. Understanding how the camera meter works and how you can compensate for different lighting conditions is something that can significantly improve your photography.
If ever one day perfectly encapsulated the reasons I’ve lived in Japan for 15 years, this was it. From kindness, to kimonos, kids, and ancient culture, these images tell the story of why I love living in Japan.
Photography can be an expensive game, but there are some bits of kit that you really don’t need to spend big money on. Here are six bits of kit you can skimp on.
Most good photographers also have a wide and varied book collection to draw from when they need it. If you want to grow as a creative, then you should seriously consider some, if not all, of these book suggestions.
Usage of high frame rate is still seldom in theatrical movies, but despite that, there are opinions that it is going to prevail over the 24 frames per second standard. John P. Hess from Filmmaker IQ takes the unpleasant task of debunking some predictions about high frame rate.
One of the biggest challenges in creating a composite image is generating realistic shadows for a subject you may have moved into a different background. But what if you didn't need to create a new one?
If you’ve ever wondered how to assess the sharpness of a lens or perhaps read an MTF chart and been curious as to how it’s made, check out this short video that quickly runs you through the basics.
Modern sensors are quite remarkable, and pretty much any newer camera can produce good-looking JPEGs so long as you properly expose. With that in mind, you might wonder if you really need to shoot raw files all the time, or if you can go with the ease and convenience of JPEG. This great video will answer that question for you.
It doesn't get much closer than this. Tragedy was narrowly avoided this past week when a photographer got so close to a passing train that it tore a hole in her coat as it sped by.
The Mavic Mini is one of the smallest HD drones on the market right now, and it actually performs well. If you are looking to get into drones, but don't want to break the bank, this could be what you are looking for.
DNG, JPEG, TIFF, PSD, PSB, and more: photographers have more options than ever for saving their files, but not every option is a good choice. Do you know the benefits of each file type and when you should use them?
It goes without saying that every walk of life is affected by memes and photography is no different. However, instead of just sending the cutest baby Yoda, you actually get a chance to creatively add to them. So here are four of the best urban photography memes that you can get out and shoot yourself.
A successful Hollywood director created what is arguably some of the best snowball fight footage the world has ever seen in a new commercial for Apple.
This video is produced by Matt Day, he runs through 10 suggestions for holiday gift ideas for the photographer in your life.
There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes. In this video Rodrigo Prieto, the DOP of the movie, discusses how they used three cameras and infrared markers to make it possible to de-age them in post. He also talks about using different LUTs in different eras of the movie to emulate the most popular film stock colors used in these different times.
In 2019, it’s almost unthinkable not to be shooting 4K video, even if it’s not the final resolution of the video you’re delivering to a client. While I’ve made 4K editing work on something even as lowly as a 2013 Macbook Air, chances are, you’ll want a little more horsepower than that. Here’s a video that has you covered on building your own budget 4K editing PC.
Canon has been on quite the roll when it comes to lens design lately, and they seem to be showing no signs of slowing down, as a new patent has emerged that shows a truly ridiculous lens.
Nikon made something of a non-announcement when it announced its forthcoming flagship DSLR back in September, but we might suddenly be a bit closer to knowing the specifications, and it might be arriving a bit sooner than we expected.
Lightroom's Adjustment Brush and Spot Removal Tool have improved in leaps and bounds over the past few updates, opening the door to quicker, easier portrait retouching for photographers of all editing skill levels. Here are five steps to quick and easy portrait retouching in Lightroom.
Each and every one of us is looking for appreciation. Showing our images to friends and family, most of us hope for a nice comment or feedback. Professionals are even dependent on their clients’ excitement and recommendation. How far do you tweak your images to reach that?
Most photographers, especially the big-shot professionals, are very selective and even grandiose with their gear, but here's why having a casual and compact camera for everyday use is a great idea.
Every year, there seems to be a holiday commercial that captures the minds and hearts of the viewers. Ads like Coca-Cola's polar bears or the Budweiser Clydesdales in a New England winter come to mind. But this holiday season, a little YouTube video is capturing the hearts of the public, and it only cost $130 to produce.
When a teen was caught by her parents letting boys into a sleepover, they gave her a choice of punishment for the crime: she could either give up her phone for a month or give up the phone for two weeks, but also give them control of all her social media. Apparently, an extra two weeks was just too long, because dad had a blast on her Instagram, and the results are hilarious.
Before I knew anything about flash, I ranted at everyone about how I was an available light photographer. Now that I understand flash, I can safely say that I understand available light.
Pantone, one of the biggest authorities on the subject of color, has just declared its color of the year for 2020. Which did they choose, and why do photographers need to know it?
The industry has been waiting for Canon to launch a truly professional mirrorless full-frame camera, and there’s a chance that it might be announced as soon as February. The specifications being rumored would certainly make an impact.
Photographer Manny Ortiz has been pretty impressed when testing the Canon EOS R, especially in light of the recent firmware upgrades to the eye autofocus. In this short video, he puts two premium prime lenses under the microscope, pitting Sony’s 85mm f/1.4 lens attached to his Sony a7 III in direct competition with the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 attached to the EOS R. Which will he prefer and why?
As we finally draw to a close of 20 years of awkward decade names (the Noughties and the... Teenies?), it's time not only to reflect, but to look forward. So, I want you to give me your best predictions for changes to the industry over the next 10 years.
You lose information when an image is saved in JPEG format. This is acceptable, unless you save the same image more than once. Let’s have a look at how much information you really lose.
I’ve shot this camera in a studio, taken it on long hikes, shot it in a blizzard, and taken it out into the dessert. I’ve used and abused it and it’s still going.
As we enter the winter photography season for the northern hemisphere it’s the best time to get out to the desert or arid areas to shoot landscapes. Cooler day time temperatures and some interesting areas in the national parks make for a great trip especially in places like Death Valley with its ubiquitous sand dunes, but how do you edit those images to really make them stand out?
There are loads of articles and online tutorials showing you how to achieve certain looks or perfect a set technique. But more important than this, for me, is showing up.
Gucci has recruited cult classic film director Harmony Korine to shoot two campaigns. The campaigns feature celebrities, wild parties, and tacky vacation vibes.
The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 lens is less than half the price of Sony’s 24-70mm f/2.8 GM. Does this lens live up to the hype?
Have you started to dabble into creating videos simultaneously with your photoshoots? Having the capability and provide your clients with the option to include a slow motion boudoir video along with their photos could help set you apart from the rest. So, where do you begin?
The winners of the 5th Red Bull Illume action sports photo contest have just been announced. Just as in previous years the images are an excellent example of what the sports and adventure genres of photography are capable of.
