The internal meter in your camera is always trying to balance your settings to create what it thinks is a proper exposure. In the “mind” of the camera meter, it thinks that everything is balanced if it is gray. For most subjects, such as light skin tone and green grass, the meter is going to […]
If you have been photographing long enough, invariably everyone seems to ask what gear you use. I still believe that it’s the craft that is important, but there are always a few things that really make an image stand out. One of those is the lens. So here are my favorite E-mount lenses for portraits. […]
Adobe MAX 2021 — The Creativity Conference is a free virtual event from October 26–28, 2021. Their tagline: “Imagine. Connect. Create.” Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? You’ll be able to find inspiration, connect with other creatives from all over the world and learn ways to bring your ideas to life. All for free! Here are […]
I was doing a lot of batch editing the other night, while working with Topaz DeNoise AI. I realized I had never really dug into the preferences of Topaz’s programs before, so I decided to do so. Imagine my amazement when I saw that my CPU was being used for the AI Processor … instead […]
There are many photographers and internet critics out there who will tell you that DSLRs are dead. However, they’re wrong. Sure, DSLRs may have taken more of a back seat thanks to mirrorless cameras, but there are still plenty of incredible DSLRs out there. In fact, I would say that the vast majority of photographers […]
Pixels has announced a new online contest seeking artwork from independent photographers and other artists, to be used in the company’s upcoming billboard advertising campaign. The contest, which is free to join, is open to artists across the world. “We’ve been in business since 2006 and have built one of the largest online art communities […]
Looking to create stunning B&W pictures? These three tips to edit powerful black and white photos will make an instant difference!
Uninspired. So completely uninspired. Some time ago, I had the opportunity to go up to Milwaukee, WI to meet up with a friend who was in town. I love Milwaukee, I do. It’s a really down-to-earth city with some very cool architecture, which, you know, is sort of my thing. We made plans to check […]
I have been using Photoshop as my photo editor for many years. And a few years ago, I also began using Lightroom Classic. I love their flexibility and power. And I love working with Layers and Layer masks. After all, Lightroom Classic and Photoshop are among the most widely used photo editing tools, and I’ve developed […]
“With the pragmatic brilliance of a Renaissance master, Hiro has changed the way photographs look, and with an endlessly inventive technique has changed the way photographers work.” -The American Photographer The iconic photographer of fashion and still life with a surreal eye, Yasuhiro Wakabayashi known worldwide as Hiro has died at age 90. Robert D. […]
It’s been a really long couple of years, hasn’t it? Where I live in Australia, we are under a constant lockdown threat. We never know when and where one will hit. I am in lockdown right now. I cannot leave my house without a permit, apart from essential shopping, medical needs and exercise. So leaving […]
I recently explored an abandoned waterpark in the Mojave Desert at night. The park has been abandoned since 2004. I was drawn to the entrance, and I thought I could create some great shadows with this. I’ll break down the process behind creating this image using a handheld light. Although I used a ProtoMachines LED2, […]
Our friends at Excire are celebrating the end of summer with up to 40% off their products! From now through August 30, 2021, you can save $35 on the Excire Bundle, which includes both the Excire Foto standalone app, as well as the Excire Search 2 plugin for Lightroom Classic. Excire makes it easy to […]
One of my absolute favorite features inside of Lightroom Classic is the Collections panel. They allow the user to “collect” photos from different folders all into one place to organize projects or ideas. Putting photos into a collection does not move the image; instead, it references the file and groups them however you like, similar […]
Fujifilm cameras and their lenses are a niche product. Why do we say this? Well, their 5.5% share of the market tells us that this is the case. However, this is actually quite perplexing because Fujifilm makes some of the best-looking cameras and lenses on the market. They perform wonderfully too. There are many reasons […]
Impostor syndrome is defined as the fear or worry that your peers or the public at large will find out that you are a fake or phony. It is the self-doubt that makes you feel like you don’t measure up to other professionals. It’s the sense that you’re not good enough, despite evidence to the […]
Often most people tend to think of shooting things at a distance with their zoom lens, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Here is how to get creative with your zoom lens. Get in close There is nothing stopping you from getting in close, apart from your lenses minimum focal distance. I adore […]
Welcome to Mind Your Own Business, the podcast that helps photographers improve their business and their lives! Today we chat with Chicago-based portrait photographer Andrew Michaels about building his business during these challenging times. Get ready to be inspired! All images © copyright Andrew Michaels / State Street Photo Studio / AMS Media 2020 – […]
Last week, I was presented with quite the challenge. I had to photograph a band, outdoors, at night. With no lighting. Needless to say, I was less than thrilled with how the images came out. At ISO 16,000, they were underexposed, noisy and in some cases suffered from motion blur. No matter what I did […]
I have spent three months with the Nikon 85mm f/1.8 lens for the Nikon Mirrorless bodies with a Z mount. This lens rivals the classic F mount lenses, which have been in Nikon's lineup for decades between D and G type lenses.
Update, August 25, 2021: Tamron has announced the launch of the Sony E-mount version of the 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3. The lens will go on sale beginning September 24, 2021. Preorders are now available through B&H. Launch details for the Fuji X-mount version are not yet available. Late Tuesday evening, Tamron announced the development of its first […]
Anytime there is good light, I try to make a portrait. It keeps me sharp, and it’s fun. I often approach strangers when there’s good light and say, “Hi, I’m practicing my photography, and there’s some great light right here, would you help me make a portrait?” I’ve met hundreds of wonderful people this way, […]
I've just started practicing a new sport: Climbing. It reminds me when I was starting photography... And how we all start at the bottom.
The last thing you want to be while traveling is weighed down and overburdened with gear. So, lenses for travel photography need to be compact, light and offer no compromises when it comes to image quality. Fortunately, there are many options on the market today that are all of these things and more. Another positive […]
For years I have struggled with something that is quite silly. You see, I have a bunch of lighting equipment. Some are compact, some are larger. I seriously dislike lugging around big lights. I also seriously dislike using tiny speedlights since they aren’t typically powerful enough for my needs. So oftentimes I just say to […]
I had almost 100 photos of the starry sky. I had taken these in succession while waiting for the Milky Way to appear. I wanted to turn this into a short time-lapse video. But there was one issue — the previous old time-lapse software I had used stopped working. After a couple of hours of […]
Light on location isn’t in our control, and can make or break our images. I was working on a project which included capturing postcard-type images in and around San Francisco. A huge challenge with this project was that I was doing it on my own time, which wasn’t much. That meant that I couldn’t often […]
You can perform selective coloring in Premiere Pro. If you want to change the color of an object in your video, simply use the Lumetri Color panel. Select the clip and open the Hue Saturation Curves section of the panel. You’ll find a number of available curves, but the Hue Versus Hue curve is what […]
I’ve always had an excitement in capturing the macro world. Over the years I’d read a bit here and a bit there to pick up some new techniques and try out ideas. If you want a shortcut to get into macro photography, you don’t have to spend that time searching out the info it took […]
Tamron is having a limited sizzling summer flash sale, offering great savings on lenses for Sony mirrorless cameras. Hurry — these deals end August 29, 2021! For a limited time you can save up to $100 on Tamron’s remarkable mirrorless lenses, including the 17-28mm f/2.8, 70-180mm f/2.8 and 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6. Plus, save $50 on Tamron’s […]
The Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM for DSLRs was a massive success for Sigma. Many photographers have asked repeatedly for a new Sigma 150-600mm DG DN (mirrorless) version of this legendary lens. Well, Sigma has delivered. I’ve had my hands on the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport for the last few weeks. […]
You’ve probably heard of the Rule of Thirds — I learned about it in middle school art classes, and art history in college. It’s a terrific tool for guiding composition in your pictures. Formulaic use of the Rule of Thirds can take you a long way toward making better pictures, and will help you discover […]
Today’s cameras offer everything modern creators need, including top-notch video features. Because of this, the likes of DJI, and Zhiyun have flooded the market with affordable, feature-packed camera gimbals. Now, the Manfrotto MVG220 gimbal wants to get a slice of the pie. The gimbal market is not an easy one to break into. The above-listed […]
White balance is a tricky thing: Getting it right (or wrong) can make or break the consistency of your editing. Here’s how to get the white balance right for your phone photos. Whether you’re shooting on your phone camera, or loading your DSLR photos onto your phone for editing, getting the white balance in Lightroom […]
Whether a seasoned pro or new on the scene, having your work printed and on display is always exciting. And while not everyone will have gallery exhibits in their careers, opportunities to show your work locally still abound. Places like cafes, restaurants and waiting rooms of businesses like doctors offices or dental units often decorate […]
This week we’re getting to know community member, Pam Hymer. Pam is a San Antonio-based photographer who photographs an eclectic array of subjects. Haven’t joined the Photofocus Community yet? Sign up for free today! How did you get started in photography? “Our local vocational school offered summer programs for middle schoolers and photography was one […]
