Photography News

Yes, there's really a rock in the shape of a heart in Joshua Tree National Park! This is the story behind this night photo, including how I went about lighting it.

[ Read More ]

VSCO has introduced VSCO Workspace, a studio and client-management platform that integrates the Táve Studio Manager CRM and adds new tools aimed at helping photographers run day-to-day operations in one place. The software is designed to scale from solo operators to multi-person studios, with an emphasis on workflow automation and business organization.

[ Read More ]

Insta360 has announced the GO Ultra, a square, magnet-mountable pocket camera built around a 1/1.28" sensor and a new 5 nm AI chip. The camera records up to 4K 60p and adds swappable microSD storage (up to 2 TB), longer run time, and new low-light processing.

[ Read More ]

Photographers are often asked about their “worst bridezilla” stories. My answer is always the same: I don’t use that term. I don’t appreciate its sexist origins, and I don’t believe it reflects reality. The bridezilla stereotype paints brides as self-centered, high-maintenance figures on their wedding day. In truth, the behavior people label this way is often the product of immense stress and societal expectations, especially in cisgender, heterosexual relationships.

[ Read More ]

Spec sheets can look like alphabet soup—ED, ASPH, OIS, STM, USM, MFD, 0.5×—but each line quietly predicts how a lens will behave on a job. This guide strips out the marketing and shows you what matters, why it matters, and how to make smarter buys from your desk. No test charts needed; just practical translation from spec to outcome.

[ Read More ]

The Sigma 200mm f/2 DG OS Sports lens is the kind of lens that makes you stop and take notice. A bright f/2 aperture at 200mm is rare, and Sigma has managed to package it into something lighter and more manageable than its older rivals while keeping the build and image quality up to a professional level.

[ Read More ]

The Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art lens is the first zoom of its kind, combining a wide focal range with an unusually fast aperture for APS-C and Super 35 cameras. Here's a look at what you can expect.

[ Read More ]

The Fujifilm X100 series has always been wildly popular, and for good reason. Its compact design, fixed lens, and film-like rendering have made it a favorite for people who want a camera that feels simple yet powerful. More than specs, though, what matters is how a camera changes the way you see and photograph, and the X100 has done that for many.

[ Read More ]

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a huge arts festival that runs in August and even though you need tickets for many of the shows at the Fringe, you can visit the Royal Mile for free where you'll find plenty of street entertainers you can capture images of.

Due to the event's popularity and the variety of things on offer to photograph, you will see all sorts of photographic approaches so there's not really hard-and-fast rules to follow more like guidelines that'll help you capture the best of what the Fringe has to offer. Also, although taking photos is fun do remember that you're actually there to enjoy yourself so do take your eye away from the viewfinder occasionally and just enjoy the atmosphere.

 

Photo by Cattyal

 

1. Lens Choices 

A standard zoom is perfect for the sort of distances you'll be taking photos from. If you own a telezoom do take it, however, someone will more than likely get in the way if you're using a longer lens so use it for tightly-cropped shots rather than trying to get a shot from a distance. Wides can work but make the point of getting in close to fill the frame and accept that you are going to get fussy backgrounds.

 

2. Know Where You Are Going

Pick up a guide as it lists times as well as locations of where things are happening, plus if it's your first time visiting, there's usually a handy map included to help you find your way. The best location is on the Royal Mile where you get street performers and artists promoting their shows with mini-performances.

 

3. Be Patient 

It does get bustling with visitors and performers coming and going all day but hang around for long enough and you will find something to aim your lens at.

 

4. Take Care 

Due to how busy the Royal Mile gets remember to take care of your possessions and don't leave anything unattended. It can also get hot at this time of year, so remember to keep hydrated and you'll probably encounter a sudden downpour, too so keep a brolly handy.

 

Photo by  Cattyal

 

5. Payment For Performance 

Some performers would like a payment for posing and it is up to you if you want to make a contribution. Some of the shows are excellent and you might feel that a sample of enjoyable street theatre is worth some small change.

 

6. Be Polite 

As they're performing in public, on the street they tend to not mind you photographing them. However, if the opportunity arrives, it is always polite to ask them if it's OK to take a few shots. 

 

7. Capture Close-Ups 

As they're passionate about their performance you'll have plenty of interesting expressions and movements to photograph so get in close if the opportunity unfolds.

 

8. Crowd Or No Crowd? 

If there's a big crowd or the street they're on is particularly cluttered hide it by cropping in close to the performer. However, if the crowd's having a particularly good time, having them in the shot can work well in an image with the performer. Alternatively, just capture an image of the spectators watching the show. 

 

Photo by David Pritchard

9. Speed & Position 

Shoot quickly, watch the background and move around to explore different camera angles.

 

10. Different Perspective 

Performance shots are great but don't overlook capturing shots of performers scooping up change from guitar cases or moving position to set-up for the next part of their act.

 

11. Continuous Shooting & Focus 

Switch to continuous shooting but don't be tempted to constantly machine-gun away. Instead, take the time to watch for the key moments that are worth capturing. Continuous focusing will help you maintain focus on the street performers.

 

12. Shutter Priority 

Consider using Shutter Priority so you can decide how much you freeze / add motion blur to action shots. To add crowd movement to your shot you'll need a slower shutter speed and a support. Tripods take up too much space so use a monopod or even your camera bag as a support. Use a small aperture and low ISO to get the slower speeds you need. You may need to experiment to find the exact shutter speed that works but the beauty of digital means you can check the screen, adjust and take another shot.

 

You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition

 

The basic function of a tripod

First, let's quickly examine what a tripod will do for us. First and foremost, it supports our camera, attached lens, and some of the other gear, like a flash unit, etc. It helps us position our camera at an odd angle at times. It helps us get higher than our typical shooting stance, and get lower at times for macro work. The most appropriate tripod for you will depend on your shooting style and choice of subject matter. There is not one tripod out there that is better with every subject matter; on the contrary, many tripods are specialist.

 

 

So, what areas should your tripod excel to be useful for outdoors shooting?

If you are planning to shoot nature, there are certain aspects of the outdoors which your tripod will have to endure, which it would not, if it was used indoors.

1. Moisture is an enemy of photography gear. If you plan to shoot landscapes in the wilderness, wild animals, birds, etc., your camera and you will end up in some wet environments. As such, you have to make sure that your tripod choice reflects this fact. Many manufacturers build tripods specifically meant for the outdoors, and they are built to be moisture resistant if not proof.

2. The terrain is always a concern outdoors. A good tripod should have spiked feet, simply because you will often end up on loose soil, dirt, and other surfaces that will be uneven, and require sharp spikes to secure the tripod, and attached gear. You can buy spare spiked feet from manufacturers if you don't have any.

3. The load is a very important aspect to consider. How heavy is your camera and your heaviest lens? Are you planning on getting larger heavier lenses in the future? While it is tough to predict, always try to plan ahead. Your choice of a tripod will reflect your future purchases. Always, make sure your tripod has at least 30% of capacity for future upgrades to your equipment. If you plan to shoot wildlife, you will have some really heavy lenses, and a tripod will have to support them and allow you to pan smoothly when shooting animals in action.

4. Weight is probably the main determining factor in your purchase. Remember, when you travel and explore, you will have your tripod with you, and depending upon how much walking you do, the weight of your tripod will be more or less important to you. However, always aim for the highest ratio of weight to load. In other words, look for lightest tripod rated for highest weight. Outdoors are often rough environments and every pound counts. 

5. The flexibility of shooting positions is important when you change subject matter on the fly. If you are like me, you will shoot macro, landscapes, panoramas, and perhaps even some animals, depending on the time of day and weather. If so, a flexible centre column is a must feature. Look for a tripod which allows for multiple positions of the centre column. A tripod should allow you to get low, and have more than one-foot angle. The best tripods for this job will offer up to three different angles for the feet, which will allow you to get very low if need be, to shoot flowers, insects, etc. 

 

 

How much money?

Choosing a tripod is not easy. Some manufacturers do make things easier and group them into specialities, like outdoors, studio use, etc. Do as much research as you can, because there is no one ideal model that suits everyone. Remember the old saying: "You get what you pay for". This is very important when deciding how much you are willing to pay. Keep in mind, a huge budget will not always mean you get the best tripod, but it will mean that you do have more choices.

Do not look for a cheap tripod, which you think may suffice. Your shooting requirements will change, and within a year or two, you will be shopping for another one. Strongly consider carbon fibre as they are lighter than any alloy, more durable, will not bend, and flex under the weight of your gear, and do not rust, corrode, or are adversely affected by moisture. They are more expensive, but without a doubt worth the extra money. Look at this purchase as a long-term investment in photography. After all, your images will only be as good as your shooting ability and your gear

 

You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition

Ricoh has announced the GR IV, a pocketable APS-C compact that continues the fixed-lens GR line with a higher-resolution sensor, a newly designed 28mm-equivalent lens, expanded in-body stabilization, and much larger internal storage.

[ Read More ]

Every so often, a product launch doesn’t just release something new. Rather, it changes the tone of an entire ecosystem. This is what Sigma has just done with two lenses that, on their own, would be remarkable, but together feel like a tectonic movement. And they show that the big three (Canon, Nikon, and Sony), might be on notice.

[ Read More ]

Specs aren’t everything. There are factors beyond what we can see in spec sheets that matter more when it comes to choosing gear, and we should always keep them in mind.

[ Read More ]

Thomas Heaton drops a quick gut check on the state of film: remember when old point-and-shoots gathered dust in thrift stores, then suddenly became flex pieces on Instagram? Overnight, Contax compacts leapt from a few hundred bucks to nosebleed prices. That wave carried a lot of us back into the darkroom.

[ Read More ]

Samsung Electronics’ 9100 PRO is the newest addition to the company’s lineup of consumer SSD products. With its PCIe® 5.0 interface, the 9100 PRO offers advanced performance and seamless multitasking productivity, along with broad compatibility across laptops, gaming PCs and game consoles. Now available in up to 8TB capacity, it delivers even greater storage and high-speed performance for today’s data-intensive applications and next-gen gaming experiences.

 

Expansion of SSD 9100 PRO Line-up With Two New 8TB Models for High-Performance Users

Samsung has unveiled two new 8TB additions to its high-performance SSD 9100 PRO series: the 9100 PRO 8TB and the 9100 PRO 8TB with Heatsink, designed to deliver improved thermal efficiency and sustained peak performance.

These new models follow the earlier launch of the 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB versions in March, and mark a significant step forward in offering the highest capacity PCIe SSD released to date by Samsung, providing ultra-high-capacity options for gamers, content creators and professionals demanding top-tier speed and reliability.

The 8TB variants offer exceptional performance, with sequential read speeds reaching up to 14,800 MB/s and write speeds up to 13,400 MB/s. They also provide outstanding random read and write speeds – up to 2,200K IOPS and 2,600K IOPS, respectively – making them ideal for intensive workloads.

Built on the PCIe® 5.0 interface, both models are engineered to deliver ultra-low latency, reduce load time, and ensure seamless gameplay, even in the most demanding environments. The Heatsink- equipped model adds an extra layer of thermal management for consistent performance during extended use.

With this expansion, Samsung reaffirms its commitment to delivering cutting-edge storage solutions optimized for the evolving needs of modern computing.

 

 

Improved Performance and Increased Capacity

 

• A new 8TB storage option offers expanded capacity for large game libraries.

  • With this 8TB SSD, users can install about 80 popular PC games, based on an average game size of 90.6GB

  • Calculated using the top 11 titles from Steam’s “Best of 2024: New Releases” list. *

    * Ref.  https://store.steampowered.com/charts/bestofyear/bestof2024?tab=2

• Features the PCIe 5.0 interface, offering double the speed of the previous PCIe 4.0 generation

• Achieves sequential read speeds of up to 14,800 MB/s and write speeds up to 13,400 MB/s, delivering a performance boost of up to 99% over its predecessor, the 990 PRO

                    *9100 PRO 4TB’s sequential read speed is 14,800MB/s while 990 PRO 4TB’s sequential read is 7,450MB/s

• Enhanced random read and write performance with speeds of up to 2,200K IOPS and 2,600K IOPS, respectively
• Power efficiency improved by 49% compared to its previous model, thanks to advanced heat management solution

                    *9100 PRO 2TB’s sequential read and write power efficiency is 1,822 and 1,703 MBs/s per Watt, respectively while 990 PRO 4TB’s sequential read and write is 1,221 and 1,255 MBs/s per Watt, respectively

 

 

Enhanced Overheating Protection, Expanded Storage and Broad Device Compatibility

 

• 1 terabyte (TB), 2TB, and 4TB models are integrated with 8.8mmT heatsink, ensuring improved thermal control and preventing overheating. Also complies with the PCI-SIG® D8 standard.
• Even as a high-capacity 8TB PCIe 5.0 model, its 11.25mmT Heatsink is specially designed to ensure compatibility with the PlayStation® 5 series.
• The 9100 PRO is compatible with a wide range of devices, from laptops and desktop PCs to gaming consoles, making it an ideal choice for seamless upgrades in both performance and capacity.

 

The 1TB, 2TB and 4TB models are currently available for purchase at Samsung.com and other retailers, and the 8TB model will be available from mid-September. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRPs) for the 8TB model is £781.49 with M.2 model and £796.99 M.2 with a heatsink model, respectively.

For more information, please visit samsung.com/SSD or semiconductor.samsung.com/internal-ssd/.

 

Zoos and wildlife parks are great places to get up close with wildlife, but the fences and glass keeping us and the animals safe can cause a few problems for photographers.

 

Height Is An Issue

Fences often rise above eye level and the tops aren't in easy reach (for good reason) so you can't hold your camera up above it to take your shots. As a result, we often have to take photos with the cage in front of us but this doesn't mean the fence has to appear and as a result spoiling the shot.

Sometimes it's easy to capture fence-free shots as the gaps in the mesh are just big enough for a lens to be poked through, however, when it's not, you'll have to use a few other tricks to capture your wildlife shot. 

 

Close With Wide Apertures

One way is to get as close to the fence as possible and select a wider aperture. Then, line up your lens so it's over a gap or if they're too small, try and wait so the face of the animal you're photographing is in a gap. Once the animal has put some distance between them and the fence, take your shot. The fence will, hopefully, be thrown our of focus, thanks to the reduced depth-of-field, so you won't even notice it while your subject will be sharp. 

You may find that Auto Focus tries to focus on the fence rather than your subject so switch to manual focus to ensure your subject is sharp. 

 

Longer Lenses

If you are using a lens that doesn't have a particularly wide aperture then don't worry; you'll still be able to capture a mesh-free shot with a longer focal range. If you can't shoot through or throw the fence out of focus you can often clone it out later using an image editing program. 

 

You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition

Shooting in harsh midday sunlight is something you’ll probably avoid whenever you can, but sometimes it’s your only option. That kind of light can leave you with dull results, which makes editing an essential part of the process.

[ Read More ]

Photographer Brownie Harris has spent five decades capturing both the famous and the ordinary, with a portfolio that stretches from John F. Kennedy Jr. to factory workers and Hollywood sets. Earlier this year, Harris released Brownie Harris Retrospective 1970–2020, a book that brought together a lifetime of images and stories.

[ Read More ]

A 200mm f/2 lens isn’t the kind of glass you see every day. Sigma’s new entry changes the equation, bringing a prime of this kind to full frame mirrorless cameras for the first time.

[ Read More ]

Sigma has added something unusual to the APS-C lens lineup. A 12mm f/1.4 ultra wide angle lens opens up creative options you don’t normally get at this focal length, especially if you want to work in low light or experiment with depth of field. This means more flexibility whether you’re shooting landscapes, interiors, or even the night sky.

[ Read More ]