Abstract photography could be your next creative breakthrough, especially when traditional subjects no longer inspire you or you're facing restrictive shooting conditions. By removing context, abstract images emphasize shapes, colors, and patterns, opening entirely new avenues for creativity.

Photographing eagles requires patience and precision, and understanding how to adapt quickly in changing conditions makes all the difference.

Standing out as a photographer today goes far beyond simply taking great pictures. With social media feeds overflowing with impressive work, capturing someone's attention long enough to build your photography business demands strategic branding and presentation.

Photography can help improve people's mental health. It’s a mindful activity that brings moderate exercise outdoors, which can help our mood. However, with every advantage in photography, there is always a disadvantage, and the damage photography does to our brains is exacerbated by AI.

Maria noticed it first during her daughter's birthday party. She'd positioned herself discreetly across the room with her camera, hoping to capture genuine moments of joy and surprise. But something felt wrong. The children weren't behaving naturally—they kept glancing toward phones, adjusting their positions slightly when they sensed potential photo opportunities. Even the adults unconsciously angled themselves for better documentation.

As landscape photographers, we have all been there—tried to get a shot on many occasions and failed for one reason or another. The most frequent reason is that the weather didn't play by the rules we had in mind; however, sometimes it does, and when it does, it makes it all worthwhile. This is my story about persistence and sticking to my guns to get the dream shot.

Panasonic has added two new cameras to their Lumix S-Series lineup, the S1 II and S1 IIE. For anyone considering Panasonic’s full-frame system, here's how they compare to the popular S5 II and S5 IIX.

Photoshop has released a wave of new updates, and knowing these fresh tools can easily streamline your editing.

Want to give your landscape shots a distinctive look? Check out this helpful video tutorial on easily color-grading your photos in Lightroom.

Understanding the order in which your photo editing software applies adjustments can dramatically affect your images. Nailing this concept helps you avoid unexpected results and makes your workflow smoother and more predictable.

Infrared photography can dramatically change your images, giving black and white shots a unique, almost surreal character. Exploring infrared doesn't require an expensive setup; you can start with a simple, budget-friendly filter.

Photographers make photographs, right? It’s obvious. And we all regularly share and view images, even as the technology underpinning the craft has changed. But what makes a photograph a “finished” product that we can put out into the world?

Marcus had spent three years perfecting his technical skills. His exposures were mathematically precise, his compositions followed the rule of thirds religiously, and every image emerged from his camera tack-sharp from corner to corner. His Instagram followers praised his "flawless" technique, photography forums celebrated his pixel-perfect images, and his technical knowledge could answer any camera setting question. Yet Marcus felt creatively empty.

Charles Cramer is one of the photographers whose work I greatly admire. Cramer is one of the very premier landscape photographers in the world, having printed his photographic work first using the dye transfer process, then Cibachrome/Ilfochrome (which I have also printed), and now using digital means. I thought it might be interesting for people to see what was necessary to make color prints as recently as 50 years ago.

Adobe's new "variance" feature in Camera Raw completely changes how you adjust colors and tones. If you regularly edit portraits, landscapes, or any imagery involving varied color ranges, it's worth understanding exactly how this tool can improve your editing efficiency and results.

Bird photography is more complicated—and more rewarding—than you might expect. From unexpected hours spent waiting in unbearable conditions to moments where the world narrows down to you and the perfect subject, the process stretches far beyond gear and technique.

Adobe recently updated Lightroom Classic's noise reduction, a significant change affecting how you batch process your images. Here's how to get the most from it.

Done right, gradient colors offer flexibility and creative freedom beyond standard color adjustments. Here's a creative way to make them in Photoshop.

Taking sharp wildlife and bird photos isn't easy, and understanding exactly why your images aren't crisp can be frustrating. Tackling the top reasons behind blurry wildlife shots can drastically improve your work, giving you the clarity you're after and making your images pop.

Air travel can be filled with uncertainty, and more so with camera gear. I've traveled domestically in the United States and internationally as well, learning a few strategies along the way. I'll share some of these tips to help you fly with photography equipment a little easier.

Jennifer's heart rate spiked the moment she saw the camera. Her shoulders tensed, her smile became forced, and her natural warmth disappeared behind a mask of visible discomfort. The photographer, confused by her sudden transformation, kept shooting while Jennifer grew increasingly rigid and self-conscious. By the session's end, both parties felt frustrated—the photographer couldn't understand why such a vibrant person became wooden in front of the camera, while Jennifer felt embarrassed about her obvious discomfort and disappointed with the stiff, unnatural results.

New York City recently hosted an excellent, two‑day photo expo aimed at photographers, content creators, and filmmakers. Presented by BH Photo, the oddly named BILD Expo hosted presentations and panels featuring photographers from a variety of genres and eras as well as a packed showroom floor with vendors of every level.

Zoner Studio’s Spring 2025 update introduces a smarter, faster way to edit photos, built around a powerful new AI-driven Local Adjustments tool. Formerly known as Zoner Photo Studio X, the software has been renamed to reflect its evolution—but everything familiar is still here, just with more power under the hood.

Adobe has released, without fanfare, a work-in-progress camera app for iPhones that shows tremendous promise, and I think it will excite photographers. The app is part of Adobe's Indigo Project.

Composition isn't just about sticking to basic rules. If your compositions fall flat, you're probably relying too much on traditional methods and overlooking something even more valuable: context.

Editing your images goes far beyond simple adjustments—it shapes your vision into reality. These unique editing techniques will help you create distinctive visuals and refine your photographic style.

An 85mm lens with reliable autofocus and decent optics can make a noticeable difference in your portrait work. But with costs often in the thousands, getting great portraits often means balancing price, functionality, and performance carefully.

Getting your camera settings right from the start not only improves image quality, it helps you become more deliberate as a creative. Choosing a manual approach can shift photography from a reactive activity to something more intentional and rewarding.

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.

As a professional photographer, I'm always on the lookout for tools that punch above their weight, especially when it comes to lighting. When I first got my hands on the Viltrox Vintage Z1, I'll admit, its retro aesthetic did scratch an itch for me, being an insufferable vintage aficionado. It's a remarkably lightweight unit, coming in at just 116 grams, and at a mere $50, my expectations were tempered.

Sarah thought she'd found the perfect wedding photographer. The portfolio looked stunning, the price seemed reasonable, and the photographer's enthusiasm during their initial consultation convinced her they were the right choice. She signed the contract and paid the deposit immediately, excited about the beautiful photos she'd receive.

Landscape photography is crowded with opinions and advice, and sorting out the myths from reality can lead you toward more trouble-free results. Common misconceptions often cause unnecessary limitations in how you approach your photography.

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’ll take a look.

Adjustments and adjustment layers are tools you'll regularly use in Photoshop to fine-tune brightness, contrast, color, and tone in your images. Knowing how and when to use each method effectively can sharply increase your editing flexibility and efficiency.

Good portrait photography takes more than just choosing a spot and pressing a button. Mastering your control over lighting precisely sets apart average snapshots from truly captivating images.

Learning from mistakes is great, but learning from someone else's mistakes can save you a lot of trouble. If you're starting out in photography or even if you've been at it awhile, paying attention to hard-earned lessons can simplify your creative journey and help you focus better on the right priorities.

Instagram isn't what it used to be, especially if you're sharing your photography. Likes often seem scarce, and the frustration of competing against content like viral cat videos or controversial posts is real.

I can already see it. Many of you are clenching your fists and saying, "Never!" Certainly, there are many cases in which it's not acceptable to use AI-generated images for your photography. First, I'm going to discuss several instances of when it might be okay to use AI-generated images for photography. Then we'll examine the not-so-great applications.

The photography industry has convinced beginners that better equipment equals better photographs. Photography forums buzz with gear recommendations that prioritize technical specifications over learning fundamentals. But this advice, however well-intentioned, is fundamentally wrong.

New camera iterations often offer incremental upgrades that don't always align with specific needs. Yet, some cameras break the mold, igniting a genuine sense of intrigue and the undeniable pull of Gear Acquisition Syndrome (G.A.S.). Enter the Sigma BF. This isn't just another camera; its promise of being uniquely good, undeniably quirky, and refreshingly different made it an instant standout.

Although designed for gamers, the 16.1" Arzopa Z1FC Grey display should also be great for photographers and especially videographers with its HDR facility. Here's the result of my deep dive into it.

If you've struggled with editing photos that have excessively bright highlights and deep, dark shadows, Lightroom's Adobe Neutral profile could fundamentally change your approach. This lesser-used tool offers distinct editing advantages, especially in complicated lighting situations.

Adobe Photoshop's June 2025 update is here with powerful new tools that simplify tasks you've probably found tedious in the past. Here's a look.

Grip equipment might not sound exciting, but mastering these essentials can save you headaches and streamline any shoot. Having the right gear is critical—not just to keep your set running, but also to make your work smoother, safer, and more professional.

Mistakes are an unavoidable part of film photography, often teaching lessons far more memorable than successes. You may be all too familiar with the frustration of putting effort into your photos, only to ruin the results later in the development stage through impatience or oversight.

Destin at Smarter Every Day recently released a brutally honest video about attempting and failing to make a simple product in the USA after 4 years. Most people don't understand why it's so hard, and what's wrong with our manufacturing. Let's take a deeper look.

Peak Design has announced three new tripods that they are launching through a Kickstarter campaign. I’ve been lucky enough to play with the prototypes, and what I have seen has impressed me so much that I think the company should win the tripod crown.

Every photographer today carries in their camera bag technologies that would have seemed like science fiction to previous generations. Features we consider basic—automatic exposure, instant image review, face detection—represent decades of engineering breakthroughs that fundamentally transformed how photography works. Understanding the revolutionary nature of these now-mundane features reveals both how far camera technology has advanced and how quickly we adapt to miracle becoming ordinary.

When you're out shooting, nothing is more frustrating than dealing with flat, dull skies. But boring skies shouldn't mean boring photos.