Hohem iSteady MT3 and MT3 Pro Review: One Gimbal to Rule Them All?
Hohem, a global leader in intelligent imaging and stabilization technology, has long focused on empowering creators through precision engineering and smart design. They are also among the first to pioneer AI tracking in gimbal technology. The latest Hohem iSteady MT3 and MT3 Pro represent the brand's vision of an all-rounder, multipurpose gimbal designed for professionals who need flexibility across different shooting scenarios.
ePHOTOzine Daily Theme Winners Week 3 March 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 Mike43 (Day 21 - Rivers & Waterfalls).
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 15Spring Landscapes
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Day 16
Small Mammals
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Day 17
Towns At Night
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Day 18Macro Photography
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Day 19
Low Light Photography
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Day 20
Moon
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Day 22
Seascapes
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Day 23
Faces
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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.
Compact, Convenient, and Complete: Saramonic Air SE Review and Demo
Simplicity has an undeniable charm, especially when it comes to setting up for filming. This new, thoughtfully designed wireless microphone from Saramonic offers exactly that.
UGREEN’s Thunderbolt™ 5 Docking Stations Are Here and We Take an Exclusive Look
Just when you thought Thunderbolt™ 4 was fast, here comes the new generation that takes it further. UGREEN's new docking stations offer to upgrade your workflow if you're up for it.
The Only 5 Camera Settings That Actually Matter for Beginners
If you're new to photography, you might feel overwhelmed by the variety of settings and controls on your camera. But don't worry, there are only a few you actually need to worry about.
What Happens to Your Photos When You Die and What to Do About It Now
Most photographers spend years building an archive worth protecting, but very few have a plan for what happens to it after they die. Copyright, physical media, cloud accounts, and stock licensing don't sort themselves out automatically, and without a plan, decades of work can vanish or get tied up in legal chaos.
The Case for Slowing Down in Landscape Photography
Landscape photography has an intimidating reputation, built up by an industry of tutorials, workshops, books, and courses that treat it like a discipline requiring years of study. But this video makes a compelling case that most of that complexity is noise.
10 Top Tips To Teach Photography Newbies
With good cameras becoming more reasonably priced and nearly all phones having one built-in, photography's something that most people can now easily dabble in. Even though this is true, there are still people out there, kids for example, who haven't picked up a camera before and need a little guidance. So, that brings us on to our ten basic photography tips to teach someone new to photography.
1. Hold The Camera Correctly
This may seem like a really obvious thing to be telling someone, but camera shake, which can occur when you're not holding the camera correctly, is a problem those who are new to photography face. In fact, those who use mobile phones to take photos and hold one hand out while trying to press the shutter button will know all too well how it can result in blurry, wonky shots. To stop this, hold your camera/smartphone with two hands, quite close to your body, position your feet shoulder-width apart to give yourself a more stable base to shoot from.
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If you're using the LCD to compose your shot don't stick your arms out too far in front of you and keep your arms/elbows tucked in when possible.
Before you take your shot, make sure your fingers aren't over the flash (if using it) or blocking the lens and keep a firm grip of your camera but don't squeeze too tightly as you can cause the camera to move, resulting in shake.
Having your arms tucked close to your sides and standing as still as possible will stop any blur caused by movement from spoiling your shot. Don't move your camera/phone away as soon as you've clicked your shutter button either as shutter lag can mean your camera's still processing the shot so you'll end up with a blurry photo of another part of the scene rather than the person or object you want a photo of.
Using a tripod will keep the camera still and help keep shake to a minimum. There are various light-weight, easy to use models which are designed to be used with smaller cameras.
If you don't have a tripod, use a nearby solid object as a support or lean against a wall, tree or whatever object you can find that won't move.
Being conscious of your breathing can further minimise shake. Some suggest taking a deep breath, holding it, taking your shot and exhaling while others prefer to do it the other way around. It's not something that's recommended for very long exposures though!
4. Hold The Camera Straight
Check the framing of your shot before hitting the shutter button as having a photo where it looks like everything's about to slide out of frame's easily done. Having said that, there are times when shooting on an angle can work really well but most of the time, you'll want your horizons to be straight. Using a tripod can help as some models have built-in spirit levels which can tell you when the tripod's not straight. There are the occasions where the spirit level will tell you the shot's wonky but your eye will know different so trust your instincts on these occasions.
5. Different Modes
Camera modes are there to help you capture the best possible images you can so learn what they're for and switch to them when needed. There's also aperture and shutter priority which give you more control over how your camera takes photos and are a great way to start your journey into the manual world. For more tips take a look at these tutorials:
As well as using different modes for different situations, have a go at shooting from different angles and positions too.
6. Shutter Button
Don't be too heavy-handed with the shutter button as this can cause the camera to move which can mean you end up with a slightly blurred shot.
Another important thing to learn about the shutter button is that it can be pressed halfway to focus your shot. This can be used in all shooting situations but is particularly important for shots where your camera doesn't know what your main focus point is and as a result, you end up with blur in the wrong part of the shot. An example of this would be when you position your subject to the left or right of the shot, leaving more space towards the centre and opposite side. As your subject is off-centre your camera may not think they're what you want to focus on and as a result, they'll be blurry while you'll have a background that's nicely in focus. However, using focus lock (half-pressing the shutter) will stop this from happening. Have a look at our previous tutorial for more tips on how to use this: Focus Lock.
7. Backgrounds
Check the background for unsightly items and objects sticking out of your subject's head. If you're not planning on throwing your background out of focus (some drive modes do this automatically) so it's blurred, make sure it's not too distracting or cluttered.
Use the optical zoom on your camera to bring your subject closer, filling the frame and creating more interest. A person can look dwarfed in a wide landscape or surrounded by buildings so use your zoom so you don't lose them in the frame. If you're using a camera phone which doesn't have an optical zoom use your feet to move you closer to your subject rather than using the digital zoom which can lower the quality of the shot.
A shot needs a focal point otherwise your eyes will be left searching the image and they won't find anywhere to settle. You can have more than one focal point but make sure the point that's secondary doesn't fight your main focal point to be the centre of attention. Once you know what your main focal point is there are various compositional tricks you can perform which includes using various elements within the frame to draw the eye to one focus point, you can adjust your framing to make a more pleasing composition or zoom in to really focus on your subject, eliminating other items in the process.
Many professional photographers focus on one type of photography, but this isn't something you need to do straight away. Experiment with various subjects, learning how each needs to be approached differently in the process. It'll also give you the chance to find out which you enjoy shooting the most so if you do want to start shooting more regularly, you'll have a particular subject you can work on perfecting.
Don't be afraid to take lots of shots either as getting out there and actually pressing the shutter button is the best way to learn. Do take the time to evaluate your work too so you know what needs to be improved and just as importantly, know what techniques work successfully. You can also ask other photographers, family members and friends for their feedback too as sometimes they'll see things you've missed. Finally, make sure you have fun and enjoy taking photos!
You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition
The 3-Step System for Accurate Interior Real Estate Colors
Getting white balance right in real estate interiors is harder than it looks. Competing light sources, colored walls, and reflective surfaces all pull your colors in different directions, and fixing it all globally in post rarely works.
MacBook Neo by the Numbers
There's been a lot of press about how the new MacBook Neo performs on one photo or video task or another, and largely the consensus has been that it can do a number of things, but not all things. Well, what does that mean in actual raw data?
Nikon Europe Offers Free Five-Year Warranty on NIKKOR Z Lenses
Nikon Europe has introduced a free extended five-year warranty on all newly purchased NIKKOR Z mount lenses, offering photographers added confidence and long-term protection. The warranty applies to all Z mount lenses, including kits and teleconverters, purchased from authorised Nikon retailers, the Nikon Store, and Nikon Plazas across most European countries. This initiative highlights Nikon’s trust in the enduring quality of its NIKKOR lenses, built on more than 90 years of optical innovation.
From Nikon:
Nikon Europe announces an extended, free five-year warranty on all newly purchased NIKKOR Z mount lenses.
Purchasing a new NIKKOR Z mount lens now comes with added peace of mind, as the lens will be covered against faults that might occur within the first five years of ownership.1
The new warranty is applicable in most European countries2 and covers NIKKOR Z lenses purchased from authorised Nikon retailers, Nikon Store and Nikon Plazas in Europe.
All NIKKOR Z mount lenses are covered by the new warranty, including kit lenses and teleconverters. If a claim fulfils the conditions during the extended warranty period, the lens will be repaired free of charge by authorised Nikon technicians.
Customers simply need to register their NIKKOR Z lens product within 90 days of purchase via an easy online process and it will be covered for five years from the date of purchase.
Nikon has been designing and manufacturing NIKKOR lenses for more than 90 years, pushing innovation in optical science alongside a dedication to the highest possible quality products. This extended free warranty reflects Nikon's confidence in the enduring quality of NIKKOR lenses.
For more information, please visit the Nikon Europe website.
1 Terms and conditions apply
2 See terms and conditions for the full list of applicable countries
5 Low Light Mistakes That Are Costing You Image Quality
Shooting in low light is one of the most technically demanding situations in photography, and a handful of bad habits can quietly ruin your results before you ever open an editing program. Most of these mistakes are easy to fix once you know what to look for.