May 2017

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Do NOT Bring this Weird Homebrew Rifle Stock Lens Through TSA

The folks at Fotodiox found one of the weirdest, most threatening lenses you'll ever see at an antique store recently. Totally homemade—the thing doesn't even include an aperture—this rifle stock lens is one we do NOT suggest you travel with... unless you really want to freak out the TSA.

Video: Journalist’s Chest Mounted GoPro Deflects Sniper Bullet

Iraqi journalist Ammar Alwaely owes his life to a GoPro. The little action camera, which was mounted to his chest for a POV perspective, took a sniper bullet for him while he was working in Mosul, Iraq, almost certainly saving his life. (Warning: This video contains strong language).

What I Learned Switching from Mirrorless to a Rangefinder

Going from a state-of-the-art mirrorless system to a range finder system will be considered a backward move by many. On paper, you're giving up a lot in return for little upside. In reality, though, the story is a lot more complicated.

How to Build a Dirt Cheap DIY Ring Light

Ring lights are a great piece of kit for illuminating your subject evenly and creating a distinctive catch light in the eyes. Unfortunately, these lights are typically expensive, but this short tutorial by Instructables user gravityisweak will show you how to building your own for next to nothing.

How to Safely Retrieve Files Off Failing HDD, SSD, or SD Cards Using Free Tools

All of the drives we are using to store our precious photos and videos are not 100% reliable. Everybody should know that by now (and back everything up) but even if you are doing it properly, there are times when a drive fails and you have nowhere else to get its contents except from the drive itself.

Capturing the Incredibly Rare Moonlit Firefall at Yosemite

This is the famous and elusive Horsetail "Firefall" in Yosemite National Park, but unlike every other image you may have seen—taken near sunset around February—the fire effect in this image is caused by moonlight. That's the only possible way one could see the firefall and stars at the same time.

9 Creative Photography Tricks You Can Do at Home

Ready to get creative this weekend? Good, because our friends at COOPH are back with 9 creative photography tricks you can try out at home when you have a spare minute. From making your own glitter "snow," to magnifying glass macro and beyond, there are some really fun tips in here.

Quick Tip: Composition for Beginners

Improving your composition can bring balance and personality to your photography, simultaneously enabling you to produce more appealing images. And as quick tips go, this 90-second video from Mango Street Lab is absolutely packed full of key compositional advice.

49 Film Photography Blogs Worth Following

I’ve collected and shot film cameras for 40 years, but only started blogging about it in the last decade or so. I went looking for other blogging camera collectors and film photographers, hoping to find community among others of like mind. I found several and have been amply rewarded by sharing in their adventures.

iPhone 7 Plus vs $82,000 Arri Alexa

A few months back, a viral video showed how the iPhone 7 could (in some respects) hold its own against a $50,000 RED Weapon. This side-by-side comparison of the iPhone 7 Plus against an $82,000 Arri Alexa is a bit more... what you expect.

10 Lessons Learned from Botched Motorcycle Photo Shoots

When it comes to motorcycles, I’m the grown-ass man equivalent of the 8-year old girl with the pony sweater that every single person knew in grade school. I’m obsessed: they’re what got me into photography; motorcycle photography brings the funnest edits; and bikes are a huge part of my life.

Sony Developing Fast 400mm Prime Lens for Sony a9: Report

One of the main complaints when Sony releases a high-powered new full-frame E-Mount camera is, "Okay, but where's the glass!?" The release of the impressive Sony a9 'sports camera' was no different, but a new report claims Sony is working on at least one long, fast prime to silence the critics.

Eric Kim Proves the Value (and Fallacy) of SEO for Photographers

In nearly every industry, the Web has enabled a cadre of Internet-famous individuals, who on the merits of their marketing prowess have gained massive followings without necessarily acquiring the skills that has traditionally defined an “expert.”

Instagram Copies Snapchat (Again), Launches Its Own ‘Face Filters’

Arguably Snapchat's most popular feature to date is their augmented reality 'selfie filters' that allow you to augment your face with bunny ears, vomit rainbows, and occasionally trample on someone's copyright. Now, in a move absolutely everyone saw coming, Instagram has copied the feature.

HTC U11 Beats Google Pixel to Become DxOMark’s Top Smartphone Camera

In a totally unexpected turn of events, Googles extremely impressive Google Pixel was just unseated as DxOMark Mobile's best smartphone camera by the new HTC U11. DxO announced the news a few hours ago, giving the U11 a top score of 90, one point better than the Google Pixel and 4 points higher than the iPhone 7.

The Ten Commandments of Retouching

There are some things in life that are universal rules we should all follow—things like not cheating on your wife, not killing anyone, and not stealing. Easy enough, right? And if life has Ten Commandments that are just obvious things not to do, retouching should have them as well.