Photography News

Strong gear and clever lighting still fall flat when composition is weak. Real estate work lives or dies on how well you guide attention, manage geometry, and shape the way a space feels.

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You’re looking for a compact ultra-wide zoom that stays small, takes front filters, and still promises strong sharpness. If you shoot interiors, real estate, or city nights, take a look at this option.

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Concerts force you to work in low light with unpredictable motion and strict seating, which makes reach, stability, and restraint matter more than price. This video shows how a cheap tele zoom can handle a concert and still deliver lifelike results that many photographers assume require pro glass.

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Motion and movement is a wide and varied photographic subject and as a result there are many ways a photographer can create a sense of motion or movement in their shots. Slow shutter speeds can be used to exaggerate the flow of water while fast shutter speeds will freeze the force of a wave as it crashes against a sea wall. ePHOTOzine has written many tutorials that cover motion in some shape or form and as a result, we've decided to group the most popular ones together so, hopefully, you'll be fuelled with enough inspiration and ideas to make you want to head out to capture motion. Here's our top seven:
 

How To Capture Landscapes That Show Motion

John Gravett shows us how wind movement can make interesting and more dynamic landscape shots. Plus, he includes tips on capturing the popular 'blurry' water shots at the coast and with waterfalls.

 

How To Use Blur To Create A Sense Of Movement

Blur isn't always a bad thing as it can help emphasis speed and create motion in a shot. Read on for tips on using shutter speeds, flash and zoom lenses to create blur.

Photo by David Clapp - www.davidclapp.co.uk

 

Beginner's Guide To Capturing Motion

Mike Browne from PhotographyCourses.Biz shows how easy it is to capture a sense of movement.

 

Camera Panning Techniques

Peter Bargh talks through a few tips to improve your panning technique. Panning is a great technique for action and, once perfected, the main subject will be sharp against a blurred background.

 

Tips On Photographing Action And Movement

Here are a few tips on shutter speeds and how to focus so you get sharp action shots every time.

 

How To Capture Movement

Ben Boswell shares his tips on capturing movement. Tips include making sure movement looks deliberate, when to use a pan, what shutter speeds are appropriate and if a tripod is needed.

 

More Tips On Capturing Movement In The Landscape

Do landscape shots always have to be static? If you think about it you'll realise that they're often not. This tutorial adds to the tips John Gravett gave in his article, covering clouds, trees and people as subjects.

Photo by David Clapp - www.davidclapp.co.uk

For years, I've heard the same argument repeated over and over: micro four thirds cameras just aren't professional enough. The shallow depth of field can't compete, the image quality falls short, and serious photographers should stick with full frame sensors. Honestly, I didn't know if this claim was true or just internet chatter. So when I got my hands on the brand new OM System 50-200mm f/2.8 lens and decided to test it against my Sony a7 IV with the massive Sigma 300-600mm f/4 lens, I knew this was going to be an eye-opening experience.

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Think about the most important photo you want to create. Is it a great wedding photo of celebrities? Maybe documenting a historic event? I've had photos published in National Geographic, had museum exhibitions, and won awards. But it turns out the most important (and romantic) photo I've made was a simple night photo created with a flashlight!

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For a software to thrive in the competitively fierce image editing market, it needs to offer so much more than basic skills. Of course, it should have the essentials such as cloning, layers and exposure control, but contemporary image creators need a workflow programme with the capacity to handle large numbers of high res files quickly and efficiently, video editing skills and there’s the small matter of AI and the creative power that it can bring to your photography. 

Zoner Studio is a powerful software that ticks all the boxes, and it’s great value for money too compared to what's available from rivals Adobe. It’s a subscription only software available for Windows 10 and 11, and it comes with the commitment of two major updates every year.

The latest Autumn / Fall 2025 update has recently dropped with two headline grabbing features, AI Close-ups and AI interpolation, of which more soon, and joins a long and impressive roll-call of innovative and practical editing features.

 

The Manager module makes browsing, selecting, rating and organising images straightforward and speedy.

 

Accelerate your workflow even more in Zoner Studio

Take out a subscription to Zoner Studio and you’ll get two updates each year. For full details of the Autumn / Fall 2025 update, click here. 

Zoner Studio is a modular workflow software with tabbed menus, Manager, Develop, Editor, Print and Video. One of the headline updates is in the Manager module, where the software helps you organise and rate images quickly. 

While it’s wonderful that we have cameras with super-fast burst shooting rates, we can end up with many near-identical photographs, and any tool that can speed up the selection process should be welcomed with open arms.

In Zoner Studio, we now have AI Close-ups, a feature that speeds up identifying keepers and works across a range of subject matter with Faces, People, Animals, Birds, Vehicles and Airplanes available in the drop-down menu. The software automatically zooms into the detected subject so, for example, you can check out facial expression in portraits or wing position in bird in flight shots and quickly rate shots for further editing. 

The second major feature in the latest update is AI Resize which has two options to increase the size of small files, either originals or greatly cropped images, to produce a bigger result.

 

Zoner Studio AI Close-ups tool automatically zooms into images so you can see the subject in greater detail which makes identifying keepers simple.

 

The AI Close-ups tool has a drop-down menu with subject options and zoom percentages.

 

AI Resize (reconstructive interpolation) can be used on single images or in batches and it’s quick because no new content in the file is created. This also limits how large you can make a file and this is around double the size of the original.

If you need a bigger enlargement, there’s AI Resize Generative which increases file size without quality loss. In this technology the software assesses the file and uses AI to fill in missing details and can even look at blurred areas of the image to produce a smooth-looking larger file. Because Zoner Studio isn’t just stretching the image to make it bigger and is working to create content to fill in the gaps, the process takes a few seconds.

 

The starling was captured with a 400-800mm zoom lens but even at 800mm, the bird was small in the frame and needed cropping for a tighter crop.

 

Cropping tightly on the bird took the original 50 megapixel image from 8640x5760pixels to just 2183x1455 pixels.

 

Resizing using AI Resize Generative took the cropped file back to its original size and you can see on the magnified image the benefit of using AI. On the left is the normally resized shot, while on the right is the AI generated image and you can see the extra detail it has produced.

 

AI features designed to make more of your pictures painlessly

Of course, the Autumn / Fall 2025 update is big news, but if Zoner Studio (formerly known as Zoner Photo Studio X) is new to you, it’s worth recapping on some of the huge advances the software has seen in the recent past.

True HDR editing was the leading feature in the Spring 2024 update. More and more monitors and laptops are being introduced with VESA certified HDR capability that can show a greater tonal range, especially in the highlights, than standard SDR (standard dynamic range) screens. The true HDR processing ability of Zoner Studio will help you make the most of Raws to enjoy on the latest monitors.

 

SDR image

 

HDR Image

Zoner Studio has true HDR processing capability which, if you have an HDR compliant screen, helps you produce more detail in the highlights than a SDR image. Image credit: Will Cheung

 

Digital capture nowadays is so good that images can be too clean and clinical, and what Zoner also added in this update was the ability to emulate the look and feel of film with Grain, Glow and Halation tools. Controllable and realistic, the look of images can be precisely tweaked in Zoner Studio to match the mood you’re trying to reflect and it’s all achieved simply with minimal mouse clicks.

AI-powered features arrived in style in the Zoner Studio Autumn / Fall 2024 update and these included AI Portrait Presets, AI Background Removal and AI Automatic Enhancement.

AI Portrait Presets have the power to detect specific facial features and create masks so you can tweak precisely what you feel needs adjusting.

The AI Background Removal tool does exactly what you'd expect from its name and you can use it for portraits among other subjects. Where it comes in useful is with product photography, perhaps when you are preparing images to post on an auction or sales site such as Etsy, and the professional look can drive sales.

 

 

 

Click on Auto-Enhancement followed by Full Automatic at 100% very quickly transformed this underexposed portrait of Daisy. The portraits featured in this feature were taken at a Timelines Events shoot. Image by Will Cheung

 

AI Automatic Enhancement in the Develop module can improve photos very effectively with a couple of clicks. For sheer speed, take the Full Automatic option and set the slider to how strong you want the effect to be up to 100% or choose Portrait, Landscape or one of the tonal control options. 

Masks are very powerful and Zoner Studio has full masking options, so if you prefer to take control, click on the Mask icon. This is also in the Develop module and there’s the option of four AI-powered masks, Subject, Background, Sky and Object, and five traditional masking tools which includes Brush, Linear Gradient and Color Range. Once the mask has been created, it can be fine-tuned as necessary and the selected area can then be edited.

 

 

With four AI-powered masks and five traditional masking tools, it’s easy to pick out the area of the image that you want to edit and adjust. Model Carrie was brightened up with two masks including a radial gradient mask on her face. Image by Will Cheung

 

 

Zoner Studio Pricing & Plans

Zoner Studio is available on subscription and is Windows 10 and 11 compatible. A free, fully working, seven day version of Zoner Studio is available here. No credit card is needed to download.

Individual licence $5.99 a month, $59 for a year. 

Benefits include free updates and new tools twice a year, 20GB of free storage, 15 free photo prints and a Zonerama Premium account. 

Family Plan $9.98 a month, $98 a year

For two or more people in your household. Each person gets their own account plus all the benefits of the individual licence.

Fujifilm’s X-E series just got a real upgrade. You’re looking at a compact body with a 40.2 megapixel sensor, in-body stabilization, and a film simulation dial that pushes quick, intentional shooting without menu diving.

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Walk into any camera store with $1,500 to spend, and you'll likely walk out with a $1,200 camera body and a $200 kit lens. It's the default package that manufacturers bundle together, and it seems logical enough. After all, the camera is the brain of the operation, right? The body has all those megapixels, the fancy autofocus system, the brand name emblazoned on the front. The lens is just glass.

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Many people treat a 35mm lens and an 85mm lens like the two ends of a 24-70mm zoom. That habit costs photographers rich, varied storytelling and leaves a lot of strong frames on the table.

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We all know the feeling when a shoot is going perfectly, your model is nailing the poses, and then something goes wrong. Maybe a light fails, a cable gets unplugged, or your tether connection drops mid-shoot. Suddenly, the creative flow evaporates, and you’re scrambling to regroup.

My creative partner, David, and I build wild, surreal sets for every shoot, and my posing is pretty unconventional. On an average shoot, when I’m directing my model, you’ll probably catch me saying things like, “Okay, now can you bend backwards and raise a foot up?” or “Okay, now scream at the top of your...

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Sony’s new 1.4x macro lens changes how close you can get without adapters or cropping. That jump matters when you want texture-level detail and clean working distance while keeping handling familiar.

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Is the secret to tack-sharp photos just an expensive lens, or does it lie in mastering a single, fundamental camera setting? Let's discuss the three overlooked reasons your pictures aren't sharp and how to fix them with a simple adjustment.

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Sunset at Bluff Knoll by ePz member jowita1226 has won this week’s Photo of the Week (POTW) award.

This is a wonderful shot with great composition and a calm mood. The warm evening light spreads over the mountains, showing soft colours and gentle detail that pull you into the scene. The person standing near the edge adds balance and shows how big and open the view is. The view is stunning, and the light gives the whole scene a warm, quiet beauty.

We think it's a beautiful shot that's full of atmosphere and well worthy of winning our POTW this week.

Every Photo of the Week (POTW) winner will be rewarded with a Samsung 128GB PRO Plus microSDXC memory card with SD adapter, providing top-tier storage for all your creative needs across multiple devices. But that's not all! In January 2026, we’ll crown our 2025 Photo of the Year winner, who will take home the ultimate prize of a Samsung Portable 1TB SSD T7 Shield, courtesy of Samsung. It’s time to shoot, submit, and showcase your best work for a chance to win these incredible rewards!

Seascapes reward nerve and timing. Olympic National Park delivered here, with fast-moving clouds, shifting tides, and sea stacks large enough to bend your sense of scale.

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We are only a few days away from this year’s Bonfire Night and we couldn’t really kick November off without mentioning a few tips that’ll help you capture spectacular firework photos.

Photos by David Clapp - www.davidclapp.co.uk

 

Gear Suggestions

As long exposures are a must you will need to take a support with you. A tripod’s great but at busy events you may be better off with a monopod that takes up less room and is easy to move around with.

If you’re a compact user, it can be harder to capture firework themed images but it's not impossible as most compacts have a range of scene modes and a firework mode can often be found among them. Plus, the longer zooms that are available on some compacts will now get you closer to the action too.

Wider lenses will capture more of the sky, increasing your chances of capturing a burst. You may want to try shooting a few in a portrait orientation, though, to capture the long trails left by the firework as it climbs to the spot where it explodes.

Finally, pack a torch as it’ll be dark and you may need it when making changes to your settings and for putting your kit away.

  Focus And Aperture

Switch to manual focus and turn your focus to infinity (check your manual if you’re unsure how to do this). This is to ensure the firework explosions stay sharp as they can be further than the maximum focus setting on your camera. Setting an aperture of f/8 or f/11 will increase your depth of field, further increasing the chances of capturing a sharp shot of a colourful explosion. Make sure your flash is switched off too.

 

RAW Or Jpeg?

If you shoot in RAW you’ll be able to tweak colours and brightness levels when you’re back in front of your computer once the display has finished.

 

Exposure Times

For shots filled with bursts of colourful explosions you’ll need to switch to Bulb mode. This mode allows you to keep the shutter open for longer but as you need to keep the shutter button pressed, it’s a good idea to use a cable release to prevent shake. If your camera allows it, you could fire the shutter wirelessly via a smart device. 

In Bulb mode, you basically need to keep the lens covered (a dark piece of card will work) until a burst erupts. At this point you need to uncover the lens. Replace the card until another burst occurs and continue to do this with however many bursts as you like. It can take a while to get right as timing is key but you can create some great shots when you’ve perfected the technique.

If you don’t have a bulb mode you can capture single explosions with exposure times between 1-4 seconds. This should give you shots that show a light trail as the firework climbs as well as the final burst of colour at the end.

 

Photo by David Clapp - www.davidclapp.co.uk

Watch The Display

As displays don’t tend to be short affairs it pays to watch a few bursts so you can see where the fireworks are being launched into the sky and you’ll also be able to see how long it takes them to climb, plus how long the explosions last for. This will make framing easier, although you can’t obviously guarantee every burst will appear where you need it to. It’s worth doing a few test shots to make sure you’re happy with the composition too before the big display begins.

 

Add Interest

Buildings and other structures can add an extra level of interest to your shots but if they are illuminated it can mean they end up looking ‘blown out’ so adjust your exposure accordingly.

   

Tell most sports shooters you’re covering a football game with a 100mm macro and they’ll smile politely, the way you smile at someone who swears by decaf. But youth football isn’t the NFL. The field is smaller, the pace is choppier, and the best stories live within arm’s length of the sideline. In that environment—under sun, not stadium lamps—the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro on a Canon 6D is a secret weapon.

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The Fujifilm X-E5 brings improvements to controls, the screen fit, and IBIS behavior during pans. Here’s a look at what speeds you up and where you’ll still need workarounds.

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In 2019, while every other camera manufacturer was embroiled in the race to develop mirrorless systems, a Ricoh executive said something truly remarkable: "After one or two years, some users who changed their system from DSLR to mirrorless come back to the DSLR again." He went further, predicting that "the DSLR market is currently decreasing a little bit, but one year or two years or three years later, it will [begin] getting higher."

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Lightroom’s fall update adds a small control with big impact on color control. If you fight uneven skies or blotchy foliage, this new option helps you smooth or separate tones without wrecking the rest of the frame.

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