35mm vs 50mm: Beyond the Technical Specs
Is the choice between a 35mm and a 50mm lens about what fits in the frame, or does it fundamentally alter how we connect with our subjects? Let's explore the psychological and technical nuances that define these two focal lengths and see which one truly aligns with your creative vision.
Stuck in a Photography Slump? Watch This
Motivation drops off. You start checking the forecast, see blue skies, and decide it’s not worth heading out. That habit costs more than you think.
Focus Stacking Landscapes: A Step-by-Step Guide
Focus stacking lets you create a landscape image that’s sharp from the closest rock to the distant horizon. When you shoot wide scenes at f/11 or f/16, you still won’t always get everything crisp, and that soft foreground can quietly ruin an otherwise strong frame.
3 Reasons Why Converging Verticals In Photos Can Be A Good Thing
Most of the time, particularly in architectural photography, we are told that converging verticals and lines are something which should be avoided. But there are occasions when they don't have to be avoided by architectural or any other type of photographer.
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1. Use Converging Verticles To Exaggerate HeightWhen shooting close to a building with a wide-angle lens, you can exaggerate the height of the structure with the help of converging verticals however, it can look like the building is about to fall over backwards so it isn't a style everyone appreciates. To exaggerate the sloping walls further, get lower to the ground with your wide-angle lens.
We've talked previously on how vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines can be used to add interest to shots and act as guides. If you take this further so you have multiple lines stretching towards the horizon, they can appear to be moving closer together, which, in turn, will help the viewer to focus on one specific area of the shot.
Where you set your camera up and how the lines move through your frame will change the feel of the shot. The most common way to use converging lines is to position your camera in the centre of the frame so you have symmetry as well as the converging guides working for you. But as the eye often looks at the bottom left of an image first before working across the shot to the top right corner, you can also position the lines so they flow from corner to corner. By having a line which follows this path, you will unknowingly guide the viewer through your shot. Try using multiple diagonals to guide the eye to one spot in the image by intersecting them where you want the attention to fall.
Do watch where the lines are going as if they lead out of the frame it can create a sense of wonder but equally, it could lead to frustration as your viewer doesn't know what's beyond the frame and as they've followed the direction of the line, they'll end up not looking at your shot. However, if you take the time to position yourself so the lines give the impression they meet/end where you want your main point of focus to be, you shouldn't have a problem.
You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition
Instagram Is Changing Wildlife Photography and Not in a Good Way
Stunning Bog Cotton Shot Wins POTW
A field of Bog Cotton caught in a strong wind, with its white fluffy heads swept to one side against a dark, overcast sky, is a wonderful nature shot.
Shot from ground level through the stems and grasses, the movement captured in each head brings real energy and life to the image. The heavy clouds above add wonderful depth to the composition, and the bright white cotton heads stand out beautifully against the moody sky. Getting down low to capture this shot clearly came at a price, but the soggy knees were well worth it. Congratulations on winning POTW, YorkshireSam.
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 2027, we’ll crown our 2026 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!
Why Medium Format Makes Sense Again
The Fujifilm GFX 50R pulls you into medium format for a reason that has nothing to do with chasing megapixels. It’s about seeing the frame the right way before you press the shutter.
Stop Shooting Postcards: A Better Way to Approach Travel Photos
Most travel photos look the same, and you know it when you scroll through your own gallery. You visit an incredible place, come home excited, then realize the images feel flat and forgettable.
Stop Waiting for Confidence: A Smarter Way to Build Your Filmmaking Skills
Fear can stall your progress faster than a lack of gear or budget. When your portfolio feels stuck and your ideas keep dying on the page, the problem usually isn’t talent.
Mastering Lightroom’s RGB Curves for Natural Skin Tones
Skin tones fall apart when edits get heavy-handed or flat. If you want portraits that look editorial and true to life, you need control over tone and color that goes deeper than HSL sliders.
The Truth About Creating Good Images
A gray February woodland does not look promising, yet that is exactly when your skills get tested. If you rely on mist, frost, or golden light, you miss the quiet scenes that build discipline and sharper vision.
6 Top Photo Opportunities Not To Be Missed This Spring
Spring officially begins this month so we want to fuel you with spring ideas and suggestions so when it does arrive, you'll be ready to head out with your camera. So, here's a list of all the best photographic opportunities this spring you won't want to miss.
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1. Lambs
One of the most notable and iconic features of spring is the abundance of baby animals. The easiest of these to go out and photograph freely are lambs. They are spritely creatures, and so to capture them sharply, use a higher shutter speed as they are liable to move just as you have set up your shot. There is more information on lamb photography in our lamb photography tutorial.
2. Flowers
At the beginning of spring, snowdrops and daffodils will begin to shoot and bloom, providing ample opportunity for some macro and flower cluster shots. Head out to your nearest wooded area to find some wild spring flowers as well as waiting for the flowers in your garden to show.
More tips on photographing spring flowers can be found here: Spring Flower Photography Tips
3. The Last Frosts
At this time of year, the weather is getting milder, but you'll still be able to capture some frost if you're up and about early enough. Frost looks great when it forms on newly sprouting plants, as the vibrant colour contrasts nicely with the white of the frost. You can find out more in our frost photography tutorial.
4. Fresh Vegetation
Spring is not just about close-up shots. Take advantage of the blooming colours and fresh greens to create wider landscape shots, or even panoramas, that look more vibrant and alive. ePHOTOzine has plenty of landscape tutorials over in our technique section.
5. Sunrise / Sunset
You can still capture the sunrise at a reasonable time now and the sun is still going down just after most finish work giving you the chance to capture a cracking sunset too.
6. Showers/ Shooting In The Rain
Showers are a key part of spring, and they shouldn't put you off getting out with your camera. Some great shots can be achieved in the rain, and more information on how to capture them can be found in our tutorial on shooting daffodils in the rain and in our tutorial on coping with bad weather.
You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition
ePHOTOzine Daily Theme Winners Week 2 February 2026
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The latest winner of our popular daily photography theme which takes place in our forums have been chosen and congratulations go to CarltonR (Day 8 - Shots With Movement).
Daily Theme Runners-Up
If you didn't win this time, keep uploading your images to the daily competition forum for another chance to win! If you're new to the Daily Theme, you can find out more about it in the Daily Theme Q&A.
Well done to our latest runners-up, too, whose images you can take a look at below.
Day 9Abstract Photography
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Day 10
Action Photography
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Day 11
Minimalist Photography
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Day 12Fruit & Veg Shots
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Day 13
Creative Blur
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Day 14
Flash Photography
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You’ll find the Daily Themes, along with other great photo competitions, over in our Forum. Take a look to see the latest daily photo contests. Open to all levels of photographer, you’re sure to find a photography competition to enter. Why not share details of competitions with our community? Join the camaraderie and upload an image to our Gallery.
Critique the Community: Print Worthy
Welcome to the March Critique the Community! This month we want to see your most "Print Worthy" photographs, and the first place winner will receive a $1000 credit to print their photos through Luma Prints!
Why Physical Media Is Making a Comeback Among Younger Generations
Film photography, vinyl records, analog synthesizers covered in knobs, cassettes, and other once-obsolete formats have enjoyed a sustained revival. Why is that? Boomers often dismiss this resurgence as a “hipster” trend. But when a trend has been growing, evolving, and attracting new participants for more than 25 years, it’s clear that something deeper is going on.
The Need for the PhysicalCreating Half-Frame Panoramic Photos With a Modified Pentax 645N
If you're thinking of trying something new or making the most out of your Pentax 645N, a film photographer's medium format experiment may inspire you.
ePHOTOzine Daily Theme Winners Week 4 February 2026
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The latest winner of our popular daily photography theme which takes place in our forums have been chosen and congratulations go to CathTay (Day 24 - 'Balance').
Daily Theme Runners-Up
If you didn't win this time, keep uploading your images to the daily competition forum for another chance to win! If you're new to the Daily Theme, you can find out more about it in the Daily Theme Q&A.
Well done to our latest runners-up, too, whose images you can take a look at below.
Day 22Twilight Photography
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Day 23
Grey Weather Days
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Day 25
Creative Lighting
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Day 26Family Photos
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Day 27
Building Detail
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Day 28
Snowdrops
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You’ll find the Daily Themes, along with other great photo competitions, over in our Forum. Take a look to see the latest daily photo contests. Open to all levels of photographer, you’re sure to find a photography competition to enter. Why not share details of competitions with our community? Join the camaraderie and upload an image to our Gallery.
5 Reasons To Shoot A Self Portrait Today
1. Something New
If you're usually someone who only shoots one style of photography, having a go at a new genre can not only be fun but educational. It can also fuel you with inspiration, giving you new ideas to have a go at. As you're photographing yourself there's no pressure to get it right first time either as there's no one else to please but yourself.
2. Something For A Rainy Day
Walking around in the rain, shooting landscapes isn't fun so instead of getting wet, set up your gear at home and have a go at shooting self-portraits. You never know, you may find you enjoy it enough to take your gear outside, once the rain has stopped, to shoot some self-portraiture outdoors.
As you're not working with anyone else, you can shoot your photos when and where you want. It also means you can play around with the set-up as much as you like without having to worry about your model getting bored. You don't have to worry about time ticking away either which is something you have to consider when working with a model as they could have another shoot to get to.
4. Experiment
As you don't have a model to direct you can experiment with different poses and expressions much more easily as you won't have to spend time trying to explain the idea you have in your head to someone else. Don't' forget you can experiment with props, too.
5. The Challenge
Working behind as well as in front of the camera comes with its own set of challenges, however learning how to overcome problems and perfecting set-ups to help improve your technique can be fun, plus you're learning and expanding your knowledge in the process.
Some of the questions you may ask include the following: do you want to use a tripod? How are you going to fire the shutter if using a DSLR? Will you need a remote release or do you can have a camera which can be controlled remotely via a smartphone or tablet (although, if you're capturing your images with a smartphone, this won't be so much of an issue)? Are you going to shoot one shot at a time or make the most of a continuous shooting mode?
Take a look at our technique section for answers to these questions and more.
You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition
Third-Party Lenses: The Honest Guide to What You Gain, What You Lose, and What Nobody Tells You
The narrative around third-party lenses has flipped completely in the last five years. What used to be a compromise, trading optical quality and autofocus reliability for a lower price, has become something closer to the default recommendation for most photographers. Sigma's Art line routinely matches or exceeds first-party optical performance. Tamron is planning ten new lenses this year across four mounts. Viltrox just joined the L-Mount Alliance as a full partner.
Mastering Outdoor Natural Light: A Photographer’s Guide
Ever wondered why some professional portraits look effortlessly lit using natural light while others struggle with harsh shadows and flat tones? In this article, with the help of a video, we explore how mastering the simple positioning of your subject can transform ordinary sunlight into a high-end, studio-quality look without a single piece of extra gear.
