Waking up early for sunrise photography sessions can transform a photographer's portfolio, offering unique lighting conditions and serene landscapes devoid of crowds. This practice is not just about capturing the golden hour but also about embracing the discipline required to seize these moments, for which you'll often be greatly awarded. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

Choosing the right gear in photography extends beyond mere preference; it gets into the strategic selection of tools that profoundly affect the quality and focus of a photographer's work, as well as their bank account. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

100-400mm lenses are some of the most versatile out there, offering a ton of reach suitable for everything from birds to landscapes, making them desirable for many photographer's kits. Nonetheless, such lenses can be pricey, which is what makes the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary an intriguing option. The excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from the lens in the real world. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

The post How to Use HDR Merge in Lightroom: A Step-By-Step Guide appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Andrew S. Gibson. HDR techniques are a great way to maintain plenty of detail in both the highlights and shadows of your photos, especially when dealing with high-contrast scenes (e.g., a landscape at sunset). However, once you’ve captured several bracketed files in the field, you’ll need to merge them in post-processing. Now, there are a lot of plugins that you can use with Lightroom to create high-quality HDR photos, but the truth is that Lightroom’s own HDR Merge feature does an excellent job. With HDR Merge, you can create HDR files right within Lightroom, and you won’t have to...

Here's something that should excite Adobe Lightroom users. It's a plug-in that will index your online or offline photo or video assets and bring them up in Lightroom instantly. It's a Mac app from CYME, the company that has a similar app called Peakto that's currently offered for Mac users. The difference is that Peakto searches those assets and they can be opened in any editor, including Lightroom, Capture One, DxO, Luminar, and others. Peakto Search is aimed at Lightroom users and appears as a menu bar item on your Mac. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Mel Martin)

Mastering Lightroom's masking tools can significantly elevate a photographer's post-processing workflow, allowing for precise adjustments that bring creative visions to life without much work. This helpful video tutorial will put you on the right path. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

The long-awaited firmware updates for the Sony Alpha a1 and a7S III are finally here! They're packing many requested features, new upgrades, and useful enhancements, but are they really the upgrades we were hoping for? [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Reza Malayeri)

Understanding the fundamentals of flash photography is crucial for photographers aiming to elevate their portraits. This fantastic video tutorial shares five tips sure to help you improve. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

Access to key photographic locations is increasingly becoming a concern among photographers worldwide. As iconic landscapes attract more visitors each year, issues surrounding access, preservation, and management arise. This article delves into the factors contributing to the potential loss of access to these sites and explores perspectives from both landowners and photographers. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Darren Spoonley)

The NAB Show is back and is set for April 13-17 in Las Vegas. This year, learn about the creator economy, innovation in media, engage in workshops, and network with industry leaders. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Usman Dawood)

The new Sigma 50mm f/1.2 DG DN | Art is here, and it promises extreme performance and remarkable image quality at all apertures, all for a very reasonable price. How does it perform in the real world? This excellent video review takes a look. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

The post Is Shooting RAW+JPEG the Best of Both Worlds? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jim Hamel. For years, photographers have debated whether to shoot in RAW or JPEG. (Well, maybe “debate” is the wrong word. Usually, it’s a matter of more experienced photographers encouraging beginners to start shooting in RAW and stop shooting in JPEG.) There isn’t much question that RAW files are technically superior. They come with plenty of benefits: greater dynamic range, more color information, and an adjustable white balance, to name just three. However, these benefits can only really be appreciated when post-processing files. So for photographers who don’t wish to edit their files, the advantages of RAW photography don’t really apply,...

Capturing the essence of everyday moments has become a transformative trend, particularly resonating with photographers who seek to find and showcase beauty in the mundane. This trend, which emphasizes the art of noticing the subtle yet profound beauty in our surroundings, offers a fresh perspective. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

For Nikon shooters looking to lighten their load without sacrificing reach, Nikon has just announced the release of the Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR full frame superzoom. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Christopher Malcolm)

Each month this year, Fstoppers is running a genre specific Critique the Community contest with some amazing prizes. The theme for March is "Weddings," and we are giving away $3,000 in prizes to 3 lucky winners. Oh, and one of the most successful wedding photographers I know, Pye Jirsa, will be guest judging the images. Here are the details! [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Patrick Hall)

Photographing a seascape with crashing waves along the shore and the movement of the water can be a challenge for a landscape photographer. This video provides several tips on capturing dramatic images from the seashore with an ultrawide lens. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Jeffrey Tadlock)

The Godox X3 is a premium flash trigger, with a crystal clear OLED touchscreen and minimalist design. But does this trigger have the brains to match the beauty? In this review, I'll test the X3 versus Godox's previous flagship trigger and help you figure out which option is best for your flash kit. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Coleman)

The post How to Make a DIY Ground Pod (for Low-Angle Wildlife Photos) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Elliot Hook. To capture stunning wildlife photos, you must adjust your angle until you’re shooting at the animal’s eye level. (Yes, there are a few exceptions – such as when you’re capturing environmental scenes that include wildlife – but generally speaking, eye-level photos are best.) When an animal is close to the ground, however, shooting at eye level can be tricky. If you’ve ever gotten down low to photograph a bird or small mammal from the dirt, you’ll know what I mean: It’s awkward to support yourself, your camera, and your telephoto lens – while also trying to...

Photography is an art form that allows us to document life’s journey and encapsulate moments that hold profound significance. This fantastic video details one photographer's transformation from a corporate professional to a passionate artist, giving a compelling narrative about pursuing happiness and finding solace in photography. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

Adobe has unveiled a new feature inside its Adobe Firefly portal that gives users more control over the final look of images and art created using Generative AI. The feature is called Structure Reference and offers users control over an aspect of their output that has been unavailable previously. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by John Ricard)