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Beginner Tips for Your Next Photography Adventure
Nature photography is one of life’s most enjoyable and rewarding passions, but it can also be incredibly challenging and, at times, bearably frustrating. I’ve dedicated many years of my life to an endless pursuit of capturing stunning images of the natural world, and over that time, I’ve learned a…
3D Prints for Photographers & Videographers
A few months ago, I was spending a lot of time looking for a converter ring that would convert Bowen mount lights, so that they worked for Profoto modifiers. The system seems simple enough, but like so many other times in my career as a photographer, I could not find this tool that would be so…
Should I Buy a Medium-Format Digital Camera?
I get asked this question a lot; so often, I will write a general response. This doesn’t replace the personalized advice that I have given and will continue to give, but it will add to it. For whom is this article intended? I’m thinking of someone who already owns an interchangeable lens full frame…
Best Travel Cameras for 2024
Travel offers the chance to witness unforgettable sights and experiences, and having a good camera is an ideal way to capture those moments. But the best camera in the world doesn’t always make the best travel camera. You want something relatively easy to use, compact, and feature-rich. Given these…
A Technical Review of the Nikon 58mm f/.95 Noct
This is an outstanding lens. I’ve worked with f/0.95 lenses before, and they’ve all been severely optically compromised. You can’t say that about the Nikon 58mm f/.95 Noct. It’s sharp across the frame wide open, and amazingly so stopped down to f/1.4. It has few aberrations by any standard, and…
A Technical Look at the Hasselblad XCD 135mm f/2.8
The Hasselblad XCD 135/2.8 is one of the first batch of lenses for the Hasselblad X1D and X2D (X mount) cameras. It is usually sold bundled with a matched 1.7x teleconverter (TC) and a tripod collar that attaches to the TC. Except for the focusing ring, the lens is completely devoid of controls –…
Comparing Canon’s Best Mid-Range Zoom Lenses
With their introduction into mirrorless six years ago, Canon has had one of the most aggressive lens development periods in photographic history – averaging over six lenses each year to help fill out their RF series lens lineup. While there are still some holes in their lineup (most notably only…
Your Breakdown of Lens Filters
We’ve talked about filters on the blog a few different times before – from Roger’s deep testing of the clarity levels of UV filters to my discussion on how to use ND filters to help balance natural and artificial lighting on location. But despite these years of articles about various filters, I…
The Art of Backlighting
When lighting a subject, it makes the most sense to have the light in front of the subject. However, when shooting with the light in front of your subject, it’s easy to make your image appear flat and uninteresting. By using a backlight, you’re able to further separate your subject from the…
Explaining the Different Types of Tripod Heads
A quality tripod can last your entire career as a photographer or videographer, so finding the right tripod system for you is immensely important. While the legs for a tripod are pretty self-explanatory, find one that matches the height you need, decide on carbon fiber or aluminum, and click buy.…
Finding an Alternative to the Fujifilm X100VI – My Time with the Fujifilm X-T5
I’ve never really found much use for walkaround cameras. Believe me, I want to love them, but as a commercial photographer, I don’t feel super comfortable carrying my camera around with me – it has always been a tool for the work I produce. As a photographer, I’ve always believed in purposeful…
Building an On-Set Grip Kit to Save You From Your Next Production Day Mishap
If you’ve ever had a photo shoot on location, and you’re anything like me, you’re likely hit with moments of anxiety on the drive to the location – questioning yourself if you brought everything with you to make this photo shoot a success. From lenses to memory cards, to batteries, it’s really easy…