2019

How to Create Killer Match Cuts like Daniel DeArco

Creative consultant and talented videographer Daniel DeArco is one of the best there is at creating impressive transitions from shot-to-shot in his videos. In his latest video, he'll take you behind the scenes to show you exactly how he created one of the coolest cuts in his recent empathy video.

Google Pixel 4 vs Canon EOS RP Low Light Photography Shootout

Ever since Google debuted Night Sight, people have marveled at how capable the computational photo technology has proven to be. But how does it compare to good old fashion sensor size? Andrew of the YouTube channel Denae & Andrew decided to find out.

$57K in 57Hrs: Why I’m Focusing on Public Portraits Over Commercial Work

Commercial photography seems so glamorous and it certainly can be. But I’ve found that a few things were really bothering me over the last several years. Don’t get me wrong: I’m always crazy honored when any client anywhere chooses to hire me to photograph something for them. I realize that a client has hundreds if not thousands of choices when it comes to choosing a photographer. So I’m not bitter, I’m thankful. Always.

Back to Basics: A Beginner’s Guide to Capturing ‘Moody’ Portraits

Rachel and Daniel of Mango Street—one of the most popular photography channels on YouTube—have put together a great, straight-to-the-point guide to capturing that "moody" style of portrait that's become a popular counter-point to the "dreamy" overexposed look that often dominates lifestyle imagery.

Photoshop on iPad Isn’t Complete, But Adobe Promises it Will Be — Do You Believe Them?

Adobe has launched Photoshop on the iPad, a fully rebuilt application on the real base of Photoshop that purportedly runs smoothly and efficiently despite being on the pseudo computer that is the Apple tablet. Normally, this achievement would be seen as a gigantic accomplishment, but multiple stories over the past year have put a damper on what would otherwise be a celebrated announcement.

Dramatic Portraits with An Optical Snoot

When a light source is large relative to a subject, that light is considered “soft.” Soft light casts a shadow with a less defined, soft edge. Skin and other kinds of texture will be minimized. When a light source is small relative to a subject, that light is considered hard. Since the light comes from a smaller area relative to the subject, the shadow cast by hard light will have defined edges and the appearance of skin texture will be maximized.

Photoshop on iPad Has Arrived

Adobe just launched Photoshop on iPad. After murmurings and a confirmation last year that the company would be bringing "full Photoshop" to the iPad, version 1.0 of the brand new app finally launched to the public today.

Sony is Falling Behind in the Spec War It Started

Over four years ago in 2015, when we were all still optimistic about the Canon 5D Mark IV, Sony released the a7R II. This was a 42.4MP full-frame camera that also offered the ability to shoot 4k video using the full width of the sensor. This camera took many photographers by surprise because almost no one was expecting Sony to release such a camera. Sure, it had lots of flaws and it was somewhat of a beta release; but still, it put Sony on the map.

Canon Designed a Lens That Sucks

Canon engineers have designed a lens that quite literally and intentionally sucks. The lens pulls in air, swirls it across the image sensor in the camera body, and then pushes it out in order to get rid of the internal dust that causes nasty dark spots in your photos.

Computer Games, Spatial Awareness, and Photographic Composition

One of the most unintentionally useful influences on my photography has turned out to be the time I’ve spent playing computer games. Some photographers use cinema as a learning tool to observe the way cinematographers and DOP’s use their cameras to capture a scene. This can be a great source of inspiration, but I think it can lead to some photographers heading out and seeking to recreate shots or aesthetic styles (color palette, depth of field, grain, etc) rather than capturing anything unique for them.

Faking FPV Drone Footage with a OneWheel, a GoPro, and a Selfie Stick

Jonathan Lucan of Lucan Productions recently came up with an ingenious "hack" that allowed him to capture "dynamic and innovative shots" that look like they were shot with an FPV drone... except that they weren't. They were captured using a GoPro HERO 6, a 9-foot selfie stick, and a OneWheel.

This is the World’s First Hyperlapse of a Solar Eclipse from 165,000ft

In August of 2017, the team at Sent Into Space travelled to Fort Laramie, Wyoming to capture something incredible for the BBC. Using a high-altitude weather balloon and a 360° camera array, they captured what they claim is "the world's first hyperlapse of an eclipse from the edge of space."

21 Small Items that Can Save Your Next Photo Shoot

Portrait photographer Miguel Quiles has put together an incredibly useful video that reveals the contents of his personal 'Mig'Gyver Kit: a set of 21 items that could save your butt during your next portrait session.

Veteran Photographer Steals $15,000 of Gear from Fellow Photogs at NYC Studio

Earlier this year, a group of well-known professional photographers was robbed... by another photographer. Approximately $12-$15K worth of gear was taken from their studio by a peer almost three months ago, and they were only able to recover the gear earlier this week, though they still don't feel they've received anything resembling justice.

Nikon Confirms that the Z50 Does NOT Have Image Sensor Cleaning

A few days ago, Nikon Rumors pointed out that Nikon had suddenly removed "image sensor cleaning" from the tech specs of the recently announced Nikon Z50. Earlier today, we were able to confirm with Nikon USA that this feature is, indeed, missing from the company's latest mirrorless camera.

Canon Has ‘Moved On to HEIF,’ But Won’t Ditch JPEG Completely… Yet

A report by Digital Camera World earlier this week initially claimed that Canon was ditching JPEGs, replacing them with 10-bit HEIF files in the upcoming Canon 1D X Mark III, and possibly beyond. And while Canon eventually clarified that they are not getting rid of JEPG, the format may be (ought to be?) on its last legs.

Leica is Working On a New Monochrom Camera with a 41MP Sensor: Report

If you thought the Leica M Monochrom cameras were a gimmick that had already enjoyed their moment in the sun, it looks like you were wrong. According to the latest reports, the iconic German camera maker is working on a new Monochrom camera with a 41MP sensor and a design similar to the current Leica M10.

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.

Parents Outraged by Photo Retouching Services Offered by 8-Year-Old’s School

Arizona-based journalist Sam Walker sparked social media outrage this week when she tweeted about her young girls' school photos. Apparently the school is offering various retouching services—including blemish removal, teeth whitening, and evening skin tones—and Walker is not alone in feeling this is ridiculous and possibly harmful.

A Contrapposto Pose Makes Women Look More Attractive, Study Finds

Contrapposto, Italian for "counterpoise", is a type of pose used since ancient times in which a person stands with most of his or her weight on one foot so the shoulders and arms twist away from the same plane as the hips and legs. It seems artists of old were onto something, as a new study has found that contrapposto posing makes people look more attractive.

Macro Photography Trick: Create ‘Rainbow Flares’ with a CD

The glorious colors of summer are fading away, and the windy weather makes outdoor macro photography difficult. In other words, it’s the perfect time to take photography inside and stage creative photos with things around the house.

Canon Just Added 24p Video to Both the EOS RP and 90D via Firmware

Earlier this month, Canon promised to add 24p video recording into some of its most recent cameras like the mirrorless EOS RP and the Canon 90D DSLR, where the feature was conspicuously absent. Today, Canon began to deliver on that promise by releasing this update for both the EOS RP and the 90D.

These Daguerreotypes Were Made by Painting Light Onto Body Parts

Chimacabres come out at night. They are around during the day too of course, but the night is when they really thrive. In the dark, it’s harder to tell if you’re face to face with a fellow person or if it’s a chimacabre in front of you, and they don’t even have faces.

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.

Photography Ban Outside AZ Supreme Court is Unconstitutional, Say Critics

An recent court order banning photography outside the Arizona Supreme Court in Phoenix and Court of Appeals in Tucson is being criticized as unconstitutional. The court says the order is meant to stop "abuse and intimidation," but critics say it infringes on people's First Amendment rights and puts photojournalists in an "untenable position."

This Crash Course Will Help You Master Luminosity and Luminosity Masks

Photoshop expert Sid Vasandani of StyleMyPic has put together a fantastic, in-depth look at luminosity masks that could significantly speed up your photo editing workflow. If you don't understand luminosity or you've never used luminosity masks, this tutorial could legitimately change the way you make selections.

Over the Horizon: Aerial Photos of the USSR’s Giant Nuclear Detection System

The DUGA over-the-horizon radar was one of the most important elements of the early warning system against an American nuclear attack on the USSR. More expensive to build than the nearby nuclear power plant, the complex consisted to two massive sets of receiving antennas located in Chernobyl and one transmission unit—which no longer exists—60km away in the town of Lubech-1.

If You’re Using Multiple Catalogs in Lightroom, You’re Doing it Wrong

Lightroom is misunderstood and under-utilized by many photographers. Hardly a day goes by without someone asking about how to arrange their catalogs, and great swathes of people replying that you should use a new catalog for *every* *single* *shoot*. A clear indicator that they’re missing out on some incredibly useful tools Lightroom has to offer!

A Beginner’s Guide to Black and White Photography

Video journalist Logan Baker over at Shutterstock put together a handy primer for anybody who is looking to get into black-and-white photography for the first time. The tutorial amounts to an easy-to-follow beginner's guide that we highly recommend you check out if you're just getting started in this genre.