It's Halloween today! And all across the world, people are dressing up in costumes and enjoying the festivities that come with the fun today. If you're a passionate photographer, then you're probably going to bring your camera with you.
In order to capture moments above clouds or fog, you have to find them first. In some places, this can be an easy task, while in others it can be a rare occurrence. [Read More]
Fact: if you care about shooting portraits, most of the tips that you see online have to do with having your subjects stand. But sometimes, that doesn't always mesh with the vibe of the shoot. So what about sitting poses? And how are they different for those who identify as men vs.
One vital data point that you may not have considered when you started off on your photography journey is that success might not come down to how good of a photographer you are.
You already know that apertures change the depth of field. Of course, they also affect light gathering. But when using a flash, the game changes entirely. Lots of photographers have no idea how your flash works.
Shooting dancers can be one of the most daunting photographic subjects but also one of the most rewarding in terms of the final images captured. Dance can be an unforgiving subject, and unless one delves deeper and tries to understand the movement, the choreography, the piece, and how to capture the light hitting the dancers, it will prove tough to achieve award-winning imagery. [Read More]
I thought we'd have a bit of fun when we were out shooting the street and started naming our street compositions according to winning hands when playing cards. So from a truly exceptional hand to the simplest card, read on to discover how to score the winning hands! Mind you, to be a Royal Flush, the photograph has to be pretty special!
If you're buying your first camera, then congratulations! It's time to look at some of the essential things you need. And we'll do that as quickly as possible in this short blog post for you. Take a look!
If there is one method that photographers love to light with, it's Rembrandt lighting. Lots of folks think they know what it is, but they don't actually get it right. In this roundup of photography cheat sheets, we're putting the spotlight on Rembrandt Lighting.
It's spring! That means *ACHOO* that it's time for you to get out and *ACHOO* shoot spring photos! Photographers everywhere love this time of *ACHOO* year because of the natural beauty of the world.
For some of us, street photography is a way to meditate. We're in love with the thrill of capturing moments as they happen. It requires you to be truly in tune with everything that's happening around you.
If the weather forecast shows clear skies and bright sunlight, it doesn't mean photographers should abandon their plans for a landscape shoot. Photographer Michael Shainblum has shared tips on how he leverages these weather conditions to come home with a successful set of photos. [Read More]
35mm film is wonderful! At its best, it delivers a look that can't be had digitally without a lot of work while letting you be in the moment. So we recommend always combining it with the best film camera that you can get your hands on.
The best thing to do is realize that you really love black and white photography. And with today's cameras, you really don't need to do it in post-production. Lots of cameras let you apply the settings to the RAW file.
The Leica SL2s has quickly become one of my favorite cameras. It's got character. It feels great. And more importantly, it's far different than all the other cameras on the market. If a lot of cameras on the market are boring you, then the Leica SL2s is probably what you want and need.
Back when I was taking pictures just for the fun of it, I never once thought to optimize my preparation. There was no preparation — no shot list, no scouting, no mood board. That all changed when making pictures became my job and my livelihood.
There are lots of great tutorials out there to teach you all about how to take better photos. Some are better than others. But there's a major lack of photography content out there teaching you awful tips.
The battery life on your camera can be a big issue. The joke used to be that you bought a camera body, a lens, and five batteries for Sony cameras. Luckily, the camera's battery life has much improved over the years.
The Blue Hour doesn't get as much play as the Golden Hour. But nonetheless, it's a lovely time to photograph. If you're using a flash, it's a nice time to shoot portraits. If you're walking around, it's the best time to shoot cityscapes.
There aren't many lenses that can be versatile, like an 85mm lens. We learned a while back that it's a great choice for basketball. And we've known for a while that it's great for portrait photography.
For most photographers, it’s been an interesting past year and my experience is no exception. My regular work shooting for commercial clients and agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area was upended by the Coronavirus pandemic, and keeping busy has meant constantly shifting gears to keep the calendar full. The pandemic has also meant a […]
There are many places where drones are banned and many laws restricting how, when, and where you can fly, but what if you absolutely must capture some drone shots in one of these off-limits locations? Well, you can just fake it! San Francisco-based viral video wiz Karen X. Cheng has put together some fun ideas […]
If you’re looking for a fun project to try at home, the George Eastman Museum just published this short 5-minute video that explains how to safely make a 35mm Daguerreotype without dangerous chemicals or expensive equipment.
Lots of photographers want better bokeh. But to get something truly unique, you sometimes need a special lens. What helps define bokeh are the lens coatings and the aperture blades. Generally speaking, the more aperture blades there are, the smoother the bokeh can be.
This video is for all of you professional and aspiring professional photographers who want to communicate more effectively with your clients as well as feel like you’re having more effortless photo shoots.
It's a fairly common problem with all sorts of cameras. You're out shooting, and you suddenly feel the camera get pretty hot. We've had it happen with a lot of different ones that we test, and we always try different approaches.
Now that most of us are stuck at home with possibly no income, times are tough. But we can use these times to our ‘advantage’ and do things we normally wouldn’t do or don’t have time for. Some of us can’t even go out anymore to take pictures in nature because we’re grounded. I live […]
No presets. No one-click edits. While presets may be a welcome time-saver for wedding, portrait and travel photographers (often offering a solid base to then apply custom adjustments), editing a landscape photo is different.
As camera technology continues to progress, the way in which we operate them is changing as well. Photographers should always use the most familiar and effective technique to get the shot, and to that end I want to be clear about the purpose of this article: I’m not trying to convince anyone to blindly stop […]
Photographer and YouTuber Ted Forbes of The Art of Photography just released an interesting video in which he tries to make some sense out of the world of optics. His goal is to try to separate fact from opinion, and give photographers a framework that might help them select the right lens instead of throwing […]
Most outdoor photography tutorials are focused on getting the shot: what equipment to use, how to set up your camera, and how to edit your shots. But in his latest video, Danish photographer and former special forces soldier Morten Hilmer takes some time to address an even more important topic: how to stay alive. If […]
The latest crop of smartphones all feature incredible low-light photography modes that can capture things that were unthinkable just one year ago. Case in point: Zach Honig, Editor-at-Large of The Points Guy, recently captured the Northern Lights in Coldfoot, AK using just an iPhone 11 Pro Max… handheld! Honig shared his experience on his popular […]
When it comes to negotiations, as a photographer (or any freelance artist, for that matter) you’ve got to master the art of not being emotionally invested in the outcome — something that is nearly impossible to do.
I’m not going to beat around the bush, not everyone is going to want to hustle and work for free to get these shots. But getting out there,working on your portfolio constantly and thinking outside of the box will most certainly create those opportunities.
Want to get creative without leaving the comfort of your own home? Here’s a 5-minute video by COOPH that contains 5 ideas for macro photographs you can do with a small budget, simple gear, and everyday items.
Today we are going to talk about placing a softbox — not the positions that you would use, like a Rembrandt, a butterfly, or a loop, but how to place it once it’s in position. Let’s talk about how to finesse the look that you want to achieve while using a softbox. We have our […]
I started photography on perhaps the most popular focal length, 35mm, in the form of my RX1R, which I shot through my time at university. From there I moved to 50mm, which was a revolution to me in the way I saw and thought about my images. I now shoot the majority of my favorite […]
Want more Useful Photography Tips? Click Here. When shooting street photography, mirrorless cameras have always had one major default disadvantage. You're shooting with the camera and by default there is an eye-sensor.
For many photographers in the northern hemisphere, the Fall is a favorite time of year to go out and create some photographs. Leaving the sweltering summer heat in the rear view mirror, it's much more comfortable for photographers to be out and about with their gear during the Autumn months without having to worry about sweating through their clothes every five minutes.
Recognizing personal progression and improvement is a wildly beneficial yet often overlooked exercise for our confidence. It’s human nature to want to be “better” at things. We don’t have to be the best right now, but we all want the affirmation that we’re improving and moving in the right direction. Photography is no different and […]
For all us Makeup Artists out there, we can probably think of many things we’d like to say to all the photographers we’ve worked with. I’m sure all you photographers have a thing or two you’d like to say to us as well.
Landscape photography is simultaneously one of the easier photography niches to get into, while at the same time being one of the harder disciplines to really master and be known for. But assuming your goal is simply to take better landscape photography images, there are some things that you should really have in mind while you are out in nature looking to capture the beauty of the world around you.
Whether you’re aware of the correct terminology or not, you have likely experienced color contamination happening in your photographs already. Put simply, color contamination is when one color is affected by the presence of another color in close proximity.
I think we have all been there at one point or another in Lightroom, when you are working with one of the sliders and you keep moving it to the left and to the right in order try and narrow down to the point you like best.
I think we have all been there at one point or another in Lightroom, when you are working with one of the sliders and you keep moving it to the left and to the right in order try and narrow down to the point you like best.
This post isn't necessarily meant to talk down to photographers; specifically the ones who have only joined in the past few years, but more about giving a little bit of sage advice from a calm standpoint.
85mm, THE classic portrait focal length. If you are just getting into shooting portraits, or maybe have been shooting on the wider end with a 35mm or 50mm lens, then shooting with an 85mm lens could be something that you are looking for tips on.
I am a firm believer that personal creative shoots are key to photographers growing and pushing themselves forward with their skills. The key to getting better isn’t buying more expensive equipment or binge watching online tutorials.
At the Fujifilm Festival in NYC, we had the chance to pick the mind of David Hobby: otherwise known as the Strobist. He gave us a number of tips on how to get into flash photography if you're just getting started.
One of the reasons why you use telephoto lenses in landscape photography not only has to do with capturing an entire scene, but also being more artistic about the format in one way or another. What some of the more advanced landscape photographers do beyond looking for layers of sky and land is look for shapes in a scene to focus in on and play with. So how do you do this?
My name is Martin Bissig and I am a Canon Ambassador and a professional photographer from Switzerland. My previous work has been published in over 30 countries and I work for national and international clients around the world. [Read More]
I love street photography, I teach street photography, I promote street photography, I defend street photography, and want everyone to experience the fun of doing street photography! [Read More]
The resurgence of interest in film photography is astonishing. Newcomers revel in the challenge of having only a limited number of photos per roll. They enjoy the suspense of waiting a lengthy period for the film to be processed before they see whether their photos have turned out. [Read More]
Opening your own photo studio can be an incredibly large undertaking. There are many things to consider, the least of which is what pieces of gear you'll need. Having recently helped out a friend in setting up their first studio, I’d like to share a few ideas on what you may include. [Read More]
One of the biggest challenges for a photographer learning how to light with an off-camera flash isn't necessarily the type of lights they have but rather learning how to control it. [Read More]
It’s a wonderful time to be considering a new camera. There are so many options for camera type, features, prices, and sensor sizes that the choices can seem overwhelming. For this conversation, we’re going to focus (pardon the pun) on the sensor sizes you might consider for your next camera. Full disclosure: I photograph with […]
Released in 2016, the Canon 5D Mark IV got a range of reviews, with most being quite negative. 5 years down the road, how does this camera hold up in professional jobs, and will I be upgrading from it? Last year, just before things got slightly out of hand, I upgraded from a 5D Mark […]
There have been thousands of articles written about cheap and expensive lights, cameras, and lenses. To me, the light is not as important as the modifier. In simple terms, the thing that you put on your light determines the results you will get.
Any event photographer gets tons of requests from people asking for specific photos from an event. Sometimes they will acquiesce, but often not. Don’t nag them if they don’t get back to you or say no.
I want to start by saying that if you or your family and friends are impacted by the current events of COVID-19, I send my sincerest condolences. The tragedy, pain, and suffering that the world is going through is immensely saddening and should not be taken lightly, so we should all be taking the necessary […]
In an attempt to help its customers stay “inspired, engaged, and growing” during the worldwide coronavirus lockdowns currently in place, Nikon USA has made its entire Nikon School Online curriculum free for the month of April.
As the name of the filter alludes to, these lens filters do indeed lower the overall contrast of a shot. To clarify what that means in relation to photography: these filters will reduce the darkness of the shadows by allowing light to bleed into them from surrounding highlights. From the example images below, you should […]
If you develop your own film or wet plates, photographer Markus Hofstaetter has a great tip for you. With just a tiny little DIY tweak, you can turn a $5 all-in-one IKEA gadget into the perfect all-in-one Darkroom timer, thermometer and clock.
The problem with technology is that it can look dated the older it gets. How good does a VHS tape look on your 4K TV? The same thing can happen with cameras. While 24-megapixel cameras are making great pictures, what they are going to be compared to is about to change… radically. You need to […]
Using a graduated neutral density (GND) filter is fairly easy and doesn’t require any advanced techniques in post-production, but the easiest option isn’t always the best choice; due to the filter’s transition being horizontal, anything above the distinction will be darkened and anything below will be left alone. This is a good solution when there’s […]
Standing on top of the desolate mountain, 4000 meters (13,000 feet) up on the Tibetan Plateau, our bodies were freezing and our batteries were dying but we needed to get the final shot for the documentary.
Photography is unique, as far as artistic media is concerned. Behind the camera, we can freeze time, turning once-in-a-lifetime moments into indelible mementos that have a good chance of outliving the gear that created them. [Read More]
Food photography is one of the easiest photography disciplines to start out with. You can arrange food however you like. It doesn’t scamper away mid-shoot and doesn’t get tired.
Most people today own a smartphone with a camera that they bring with them everywhere they go. These state-of-the-art mobile cameras arguably make everyone a photographer (in some sense of the word). [Read More]
There can be a lot of gear-envy among photographers when they see others with tons of expensive camera gear, lighting equipment, and modifiers. It is also all too easy to say that you can’t be creative because you don’t have access to a particular light or piece of equipment. [Read More]
Now is the perfect time to refresh your Licensing collection, set new goals, tackle new concepts, and attract more buyers to your portfolio. The post Make your Licensing photos more salable with these simple tips! appeared first on 500px.
Photographer Michael Shainblum chose to capture photos with only his 16-35mm f/4 lens and shares how he composes his seascape images with such a wide angle and how he crops them for a polished finished photo.
Landscape photography does not always have to be about dramatic sunsets and striking light. In his latest video, photographer Michael Shainblum demonstrates how to bring out the nuanced beauty of an overcast day.
We dived into the data to find out what makes a photo sell. Here are the 5 things we found the majority of our best-selling people photos had in common. The post 5 Things the Best-Selling Photos of People Have in Common appeared first on 500px.
I wanted to see how Luminar AI works when compared to Lightroom in 2021, and to do so I took one image — a photo of a lavender field in the south of France — and processed it in both. First, let’s start with Lightroom. I chose to do some basic development to get the […]