Creating Powerful Portraits with Simple Lighting Techniques
Light is more than just a way to illuminate your subject—it’s the key to creating mood and emotion in an image. With a blank wall and a single subject, the right use of lighting can turn an ordinary scene into something that tells a story.
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The Frustrations and Triumphs of a Photography Trip
Capturing the perfect moment often means waiting in less-than-ideal conditions and hoping for the light to turn. That’s exactly what happened during this trip to Yosemite National Park. In search of moody, winter-like weather, it became a waiting game against sunny skies and limited time.
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Streamline Lightroom Classic With These Quick Folder and Collection Tips
Lightroom Classic can get cluttered quickly if you’re managing a large catalog of folders and collections. Finding the ones you access frequently can become frustrating, especially if your organization style is all over the place. There are a few quick tricks you can use to make your go-to folders and collections stand out, saving you time and hassle.
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Compact Telephoto on a Budget: Testing the TTArtisan 250mm f/5.6 Reflex Lens
Finding a compact telephoto lens that offers good reach without adding too much bulk to your kit can be challenging. Enter the TTArtisan 250mm f/5.6 Reflex, a mirror lens designed to provide a long focal length in a small, lightweight package. While mirror lenses don’t have the best reputation for image quality and usability, this one stands out as a modern take on a classic design that attempts to overcome some of those limitations.
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The Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70-200mm f/2.8 ASPH.: A High-Quality Lens with Some Drawbacks
The Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70-200mm f/2.8 ASPH lens has been highly anticipated by users who want quality optics without the bulk of larger telephoto options. For sports and wildlife shooting, it’s essential to have a lens that not only delivers sharp images but also handles well during fast-paced action. But does this lens really meet those needs?
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Fall Photography Essentials: Techniques for Capturing the Season's Splendor
Cool mornings and beautiful afternoons mean one thing: fall is knocking on our doorstep. Fall is my favorite season for photography as the possibilities are endless, from colorful trees creating reflections in the water to cool, foggy mornings. Capturing the beauty of fall doesn’t have to be hard with a few simple tips and reminders.
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Sony vs. Nikon: Which 85mm Lens is Best for Portraits?
The Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM II and Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S are two of the most impressive lenses out there. Whether you’re chasing the perfect bokeh or prioritizing weight and size, it's hard to go wrong.
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Is the 7artisans 85mm f/1.8 AF a Good Budget Portrait Lens for Nikon Users?
A quality 85mm lens with a fast aperture is a go-to option for portrait work, offering a balance of image quality and background separation. But getting those features with autofocus at a budget-friendly price is rare. The 7artisans Photoelectric 85mm f/1.8 AF aims to do just that, delivering solid performance at just $299.
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Rollei 35AF: A Compact Film Camera With Retro Charm
If you want a compact film camera that mixes classic style with modern convenience, the Rollei 35AF could be the perfect fit. As a modern take on the original Rollei 35, it retains the compact size and design while introducing autofocus, making it more practical for everyday use. This remastered version captures the spirit of the original while adding a few contemporary touches to enhance usability.
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Why the Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Is Worth the Investment
Finding the right lens for sports or wildlife photography often comes down to speed, clarity, and performance in tough conditions. With a fast f/2.8 aperture, the Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS offers all of these qualities in a surprisingly compact package. This lens brings high-end performance in a lightweight body, making it an enticing choice if you need long-range reach without the bulk.
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A Review of the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens
The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary is a compact, lightweight lens designed for Fujifilm users looking to keep their gear portable without sacrificing versatility. While Fujifilm’s own lenses are known for their excellent build quality and performance, they tend to be heavy, making them less suitable for travel. That’s where the Sigma 18-50mm comes in. But how does it actually perform in real-world use?
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The Great AI Debate: Will Artificial Intelligence Revolutionize or Ruin Photography?
You are a small-town American doctor, and to your surprise, aliens have replaced your community. Plant spores have fallen from outer space, creating seed pods capable of making identical human copies. Pod people take on traits and memories along with unique personalities. Slowly, an invasion has started. Wait a minute, hold up, reverse that! Sounds scary, right?
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Which Nikon 50mm Lens Is Right for You?
The right lens can change the way your images look and feel. This comparison between the Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4 S and the NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S breaks down what makes each option stand out for your shooting style.
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Three Unconventional Umbrella Lighting Techniques for Dramatic Studio Portraits
Umbrellas might seem like a basic lighting tool, but with the right approach, they can produce stunning, professional results. Using them can add depth, shape, and drama to your images, whether you're in a studio or on location.
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46 Ways to Improve Your Photography
Taking professional grade images takes time, but it's much easier when you have the right teachers and the right tools. For the next few days, there's an incredible photography deal offering incredible education and tools for 95% off.
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Luminar Neo Readying Fall Upgrade
The Fall upgrade from Skylum will have users excited, as it contains new features that add a lot to the program's many capabilities, but users will also see some long-standing requests granted. The fall update is available for download or upgrade on October 10.
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Why Shooting With a 24mm Lens Is so Challenging
Experimenting with different focal lengths can take your work in unexpected directions. If you’re used to a 35mm lens, switching to a wider angle might feel like a dramatic shift, but that’s where the creativity happens.
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Critique the Community Landscape Photogrpahy
For our next photography contest, we want to see the best Landscape photos you have ever taken!
Rules This contest is 100% free to join Each photographer may submit up to 3 images Each photograph must include a small description that includes details about how the photograph was taken, what post processing was done to it, where it was taken, and anything else useful for us to discuss PrizesFstoppers is excited to be giving away some amazing photography related gear for each of these critique the community contests. For October's Landscape Photography critique we...
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Dissecting How Exposure Shapes Our Composition
Exposure is a key element in photography that greatly influences how we frame our shots. It determines the amount of light reaching the camera sensor, affecting the brightness and overall look of an image. Understanding and controlling exposure is vital for creating well-balanced photos and achieving the desired visual impact. In this article, we'll explore how exposure affects composition and why it's crucial to align your framing with the exposure settings.
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Improve Your Landscape Shots by Blocking the Sun With This Simple Trick
When shooting in harsh lighting conditions, it’s common to encounter issues like lens flares or blown-out highlights. This is particularly relevant if you're trying to capture outdoor scenes with direct sunlight in your frame. In such situations, managing the light effectively can make a huge difference in the quality of your final image.
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