photography

How to Build a Giant Soft Box on the Cheap

Cinematographer Shane Hurlbut of the Hurlbut Academy recently shared a great DIY tutorial in which he shows you how to build a giant soft box using just some foam core and a few lengths of 1x3-inch wood. The result allows you to create a large, soft light source without breaking the bank.

Canon EOS R5 vs Sony a7R IV: A High-Res Shootout for Photographers

Over the past few weeks, a ton of reviewers have been comparing the new Canon EOS R5 against the new Sony a7S III, but for stills shooters this is the wrong comparison. That's why photographer Matt Granger decided to compare the 45MP R5 against its most obvious high-res stills competitor: the 61MP Sony a7R IV.

YouTuber Debunks Viral Photography ‘Hacks’ She Found Online

Professional photographer and YouTube Jessica Kobeissi recently decided to take on some of the viral "DIY photography hacks" that she's seen online, and see if they work as expected... or at all. As you might imagine, for the most part, the answer is "not really." But it makes fur a fun video actually investigating these hacks.

David Burnett: An Open Letter to the NPPA on Ethics

World-renowned photojournalist David Burnett recently published an open letter to the National Press Photographers Association in response to the recent debates surrounding photojournalistic ethics and the controversial new Photo Bill of Rights that calls for, among other things, consent from subjects in public spaces.

Cambridge Uploads Powerful Archive of Photos by Jewish Doctor Exiled by Hitler

The Cambridge Digital Library recently uploaded a powerful collection of images captured by Albert Eckstein in the 1930s. Eckstein, a German Jewish doctor, was exiled by Hitler and the Nazi party in 1935 and he chose to spend his exile in Turkey helping to fight the scourge of infant mortality in the country's poorest communities.

Aerial Photographer Captures Olympic Sports from Above

Sydney based aerial photographer Brad Walls recently ventured into the world of sports photography, to see if he could capture a unique perspective on sports like Gymnastics, Tennis, Figure Skating, and Synchronized swimming.

Speedlights vs Strobes: A Guide for Beginners

Portrait photographer Miguel Quiles is tackling one of the most common beginner questions out there: should I invest in speedlights or strobes? In this video, he covers the pros and cons of both, and which you should go with depending on your needs and shooting style.

Street Photography is Alive and Well in Taipei

In most parts of the world, life has turned upside-down over the past few months. People are staying in their homes, freedom of movement is restricted, schools, parks, restaurants and many shops remain closed, and businesses are suffering.

Why I Will Never Give Up on My Travel Photography Dream

After a recent bad experience in Ukraine, I returned to the UK upset, fed up and tired of things not going my way. I can't get into details about what happened in Ukraine and although it was personal, it acted as a catalyst which then got me reflecting negatively on other areas of my life too.

Ilford: Stockpile Rolls of Film, Not Toilet Paper

Yesterday, UK-based film manufacturer Ilford released an official company statement regarding its handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic. And while the statement covered all of the important updates, Ilford also took the opportunity to strike a cheeky, lighthearted note.

The Coronavirus Has Already Changed the Photo Industry Forever

Amid countless updates about major industry events being cancelled (or not cancelled), gear being delayed, and factories being temporarily shut down—to say nothing of the day-to-day realities of dealing with a pandemic that have nothing to do with photography—it’s easy to overlook the long-term impact that this virus will have on our industry... has already had on our industry.

Wedding Photography vs. Videography: Pros and Cons

So you’re about to shoot someone’s wedding. That’s amazing -- it’s an incredible opportunity to be part of one of the most intimate and beautiful experiences in human love. But between photography and videography, which medium gets the job done?

Does Photographing a Moment Steal the Experience From You?

Countless photographs are snapped every day by people looking to preserve their life's experiences, but is the incessant picture taking actually robbing us of them? Travel photographer and writer Erin Sullivan recently gave this interesting 8-minute TED Talk on the subject.

Why Artists are Never Happy: A Candid Message for Creatives

Whether you're a photographer, a filmmaker, a YouTuber, or a painter, this latest video by Kaiwan Shaban will probably hit home on some level. It's an honest, candid message for artists of all stripes who struggle with the fact that they are never quite satisfied with the work they are creating.

How to Get Better at Street Photography

It goes without saying that if you want to get better at something you have to practice. Simple, right? The thing is, that unlike more structured pursuits such as sports or music, the idea of practicing street photography seems a bit hard to wrap one’s head around.

Filmmaker Tries 5 Creative and Crazy S*itty Rig Camera Hacks

Filmmaker and YouTuber Dan Mace is a big fan of the S*itty Rigs blog, where creatives share the crappiest DIY rigs they've ever used in order to get the shot on a budget. In his latest video, Mace tries out five of the rigs that he felt had the most potential... so you don't have to.

The Mavic Mini is the Right Drone for Most Photographers

Consumer drones were first released in 2010, and over the years, the technology, size and price have improved considerably. The DJI Mavic 2 Pro, for example, folds up to the size of a brick, features a Hasselblad-badged 20MP camera, and cost about $1550. But unless you’re a photographer who specializes in aerial photography, the cost is still steep for a “see if you like it” approach.

‘Can We Have All the Photos from the Shoot?’ No, And Here’s Why…

Sooner or later, every professional photographer runs into similar situations. Situations that are uncomfortable for the photographer and the client. One is the topic of post-production and retouching. Some clients might tell you that your retouching fee is too high. Others might tell you to not do any retouching. And then some others might ask you to send them all the pictures.

Why Ego is Crucial for Photographers, and How it Can Get in Our Way

Photographer Sean Tucker's latest video is a departure from the gear or technique videos that typically make the rounds in the photo world. In fact, it's not even specifically about or for photographers. It's for all artists, and it's about the importance of understanding (and balancing) your ego.

Photography is the Bastard Art

Photography is the bastard art. There are many reasons for this, not the least of which is that everyone owns a smartphone and many of those people are under the mistaken impression that they are “excellent” photographers.

How is Photography Affecting Us?

In the past two decades, most people went from not carrying a camera to always having a smartphone camera with them at all times. With millions upon millions of photos shot (and shared) every single day, how is this explosion in photography affecting us? Here's a 10-minute video by WIRED that explores that question.

Are These Photographers Cheating?

Where is the line between acceptable photo manipulation and cheating in photography? That's the question photographer Jamie Windsor asks and explores in this new 12-minute video.

Photography Saved My Life

I'm going to start from the beginning. I didn’t have a bad upbringing. My parents worked hard for our family and always provided for me and my sister. They taught us right from wrong, how to be kind, loving and caring. We weren't rich, but we never ever went without.

Photography is an Antidepressant

For me, photography is an escape. It offers a creative release which isn't generally available in everyday life. Those creative escapes can often be far more satisfying than just enjoying a few beers or binging Netflix.

10 DIY Photo Gifts for the Holidays

Trying to think of a photography-related present for a photography-obsessed person in your life? Here's a 4-minute video by COOPH that features 10 great DIY gift idea for this this holiday season.

8 Reasons Why Photographers Should Learn Video as Well

As photographers, it is very easy to focus on stills and ignore the world of videography. However, video is an increasingly powerful tool and understanding it can benefit your work and career as a stills photographer. This 5-minute video by COOPH offers 8 reasons why you should be getting to grips with moving images and how you can quickly improve a short film.

Dear Minted, About Your $100 In-Home Photo Shoots…

Dear Minted,

I’ve been photographing families for seven years. Let me tell you; it’s been a long slog. I’ve learned so many things through the years that make my work consistent and creates happy clients, I’ve also learned that I work in a community of other independent photographers and we have also come to help, rely on and yes, compete with one another and still be friends at the end of the day.

10 Predictions About the Future of Photography

How might photography evolve in the coming years and decades? The folks over at COOPH took a look at current trends and research projects to come up with 10 productions about the future of photography. They're discussed in the 4.5-minute video above.

I Gave Up Painting to Do Photography, And It Shows in My Work

Painting and photography are often considered similar artistic expressions. Henri Cartier-Bresson was a painter before he became a photographer, and became a painter again in his retirement. While his artistic sense informed his photography in terms of his ability to see the world in constantly changing light and compositional potential, he never considered photography as art.

What Makes a Photographer?

In an age where everyone has a camera in their pocket and fashion magazine covers are being shot with iPhones, what makes a photographer? Erik Wahlstrom muses on what he calls ‘the democratization of photography’ in this 5-minute video.

The Three-Year Itch in Photography

When you glance through a women magazine, different rules about relationships and their make-or-break moments turn up. One such …

Pros and Cons of Using Teleconverters

Everybody wants to get closer when shooting wildlife, and one of the most affordable ways of doing this is to buy a teleconverter. These little gadgets will instantly add to your lens magnification without making your wallet thousands of dollars lighter... but are they worth it? Let's find out.

6 Tips for Photographers Who Want to Try Shooting Video

Photographers, especially wedding photographers, might be tempted to start playing around with video or even offering some video services alongside their still work. This short tutorial will cover some basic tips that will help you navigate the chasm between shooting photos and capturing video.