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Sponsored: Want to ‘Name Your Price’ on Photo Gear? Check Out the New Greentoe App!

Ever notice when you search for photography gear online that all the prices are exactly the same? Does it make you wonder why there isn't at least ONE retailer selling that awesome lens for less?

Have you ever tried to haggle? Maybe you have experienced that awful feeling of negotiating with a super annoying salesperson that was barely listening and every time he said something it was as if you weren't even standing there. You know, that "I don't care about you, I care about my commission" attitude. And even if you don’t mind dealing with that type of seller, do you really want to spend time, gas, and money driving around from store to store?

I Built Myself a 16×20-Inch Camera in 10 Hours

While sitting in a coffee shop last Friday, I really didn’t want to answer any more emails so I went to a bar instead, ordered a pint and sketched out a bit of a doodle for a big camera. I then called my buddy Zach who shares my open schedule and vague ability with power tools, and he stopped by my studio an hour later.

I explained what I wanted to do and showed him my napkin doodle. I think his reaction was something along the lines of “I have no idea what you’re talking about... but sure”. So we went to Home Depot and bought a bunch of wood and some screws. 

Stock in Trade, or: Why It’s Important to Read Photo Modeling Contracts

As photographers in the United States, we hold the majority of power when it comes to our images. We automatically own the copyright to all photos we take, we are the ones who register our photos with the U.S. Copyright office, and we are the ones who license our images to clients, publications, and even the models in the photos.

That copyright, in addition to the model releases we obtain from our photographic subjects, allows us to have a substantial amount of control over what we can do with those photos. This can sometimes create a moral ambiguity as to how we decide to publish those photos, blurring the lines between what is right and what is ethical.

How to Shoot Futuristic Cityscapes of Dubai

I recently went on a 2-week trip to Dubai, a city with a futuristic appearance that looks like it came straight out of a movie like Blade Runner. If you enjoy shooting cityscapes, Dubai is where your dreams come true.

NASA Astronaut Tweets Photos of First Flowers Ever Grown in Space

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly has attracted over 700,000 followers on Twitter by regularly sharing beautiful snapshots of Earth, as seen from the International Space Station.

Over the past few days, however, Kelly has been photographing something a little closer to his home: the first flowers ever grown in space.

Fujifilm is Testing Medium Format Sensors

Fujifilm produced medium format cameras back in the heyday of film, but the company has focused on smaller formats ever since digital photography burst onto the scene. It's not ruling out a return to the medium format market -- in fact, Fuji says it's actively researching and testing medium format sensors.

100 Photographers ‘Flash Mob’ a Couple’s First Dance

During a wedding reception back in September 2013, photographer Tammy Bryan and the couple decided to have a little fun with the guests by organizing a flash mob. Bryan is the organizer of the Greater Cincinnati Photographers Club, and she asked 100 of the group's photographers to help brighten up the first dance... literally.

The Yin and Yang of Photography: The Artist and the Geek

One of the things I love about photography is it appeals to both the geek and the artist in all of us. On the geek side you have the technical considerations of making an image; the f-stops, shutter speeds, depth of field, histograms, dynamic range, all the stuff we must all master in order to communicate our vision.

Of course we can’t forget about all the ‘geeky’ gear, super telephotos, focusing rails, tele-converters, extension tubes, fill flash, and such. On the artistry side things are a little tougher to define, shape, color, composition, mood, balance, and that fickle mistress light, to mention just a few.

These Surreal Portraits with Sharks are 100% Real

Upon first glance, photographer Benjamin Von Wong's latest work looks like a Photoshop composite that shows a model swimming with sharks below the sea. But what you see is the real deal: Von Wong did actually tie down a model underwater with sharks swimming around, all for a series of surreal (but very real) portraits.

I Shot Cinematic Portraits of My Inspiring Grandfather

My name is Dragos Ionescu. I was born in 1992 in Craiova, Romania, and moved to London, UK, almost 5 years ago to study and pursue a career in photography, and am currently in my final year of studying photography at University of East London.

Over the winter holidays I had some free time from university and I decided to shoot a series of portraits of my grandfather.

Artist Creates Striking Self-Portraits with Animal Eyes

Hungarian photographer and retoucher Flora Borsi has a knack for making creative (and viral) photomanipulations, from placing herself into historical photos to turning the world into a coffee-lover's dream.

For her latest project, titled "Animeyed," Borsi created a series of striking self-portraits in which her right eye is "replaced" with an animal's.

The Story Behind David Bowie’s Legendary Mugshot

If you're a fan of the late musician David Bowie, there's a good chance you've seen these police portraits before. Often referred to as one of the best celebrity mugshots, the photos are mistakenly believed to be staged promotional photos. But they're not: they are official mugshots taken after Bowie was arrested for marijuana possession back in 1976.

The history of the photos is also rather interesting.

How to Photograph the Milky Way

If you live in a remote area with dark skies, you are one of the lucky ones; the lucky ones that get to look up on a clear dark night and see a thick band of glowing light stretch across the sky.

Using Photos to Document the Plight of Vultures, the ‘Antiheroes of Our Ecosystems’

If you want to see a photojournalist who cares deeply about the subject they're covering, watch this 3-minute National Geographic video. In it, photographer Charlie Hamilton James discusses his photos of vultures -- one of the fastest declining families of birds in history, and what James calls "the world's forgotten environmental disaster."

James photographed vultures in South Africa from all kinds of perspectives, from placing cameras inside carcasses to shooting the remains of vultures -- one of the most trafficked animals in the world -- being sold in street markets.

Sports Illustrated Lays Off 3 Top Photo Heads

There's more bad news in the photojournalism industry today: Sports Illustrated has laid off Director of Photography Brad Smith, Photo Editor Claire Bourgeois, and Photo Director John Blackmar. This comes almost exactly 1 year after the magazine laid off its entire roster of staff photographers.

Tip: Use a Snowboard Rack for Tripod Organization

If you're a casual photographer, you probably don't have so many tripods that you have a hard time storing and organizing them. But if that is a problem that you or your studio struggle with, here's a clever solution: you can use a snowboard rack as a tripod storage solution.

The New York-based Lixi Studios shares this finding in the 3-minute video above.

8 Reasons You Should Buy a 50mm f/1.8 Lens

When people ask me what lens they should get after buying their first camera, I always tell them to buy a 50mm f/1.8 lens because it's one of the cheapest and one of the coolest lens you could buy. I have an old 50mm which is a little bit dirty and also quite old so I don't use it that often. But recently, my girlfriend bought me a brand new 50mm lens, so I fell in love with using the 50mm again.

This is a very small yet very powerful lens, and many people don't know the tricks that you can do with this lens, so I'll share some of them in this article.

This is Why the World Needs War Photographers

Reporters Without Borders just released this new video, titled "War Reporters," as part of a new campaign to raise awareness and support for conflict photographers.

"Without independent reporters, war would just be a nice show," the video says. "Support those that risk their lives to bring us the truth."

Fujifilm Just Made the Best Argument for Mirrorless Over DSLRs

Fujifilm has a sense of humor. At its major press event today, company Vice President Toru Takahashi made an unusual argument for the benefits of its professional mirrorless cameras over traditional DSLRs: he pointed out that DSLRs weigh 2 cans of beer more than Fujifilm flagship camera.

VSCO Passes 30 Million Active Users

The Oakland, California-based photo software company VSCO is on a roll. After raising a whopping $70 million in venture funding -- $40M in 2014 and $30M in 2015 -- the company just announced that it has passed the 30 million user mark.

Why You Should Keep on Shooting, Even If No One is Watching

In a world obsessed with views, likes, and viral hits, it can be discouraging to feel like no one is paying any attention to the art you make. If that describes your photography, then you should watch this fantastic 10-minute video essay titled "Painting in the Dark: The Struggle for Art in A World Obsessed with Popularity."

In it, Adam Westbrook of Delve takes a look at the life and work of Vincent van Gogh. Although he is now one of history's most celebrated artists, Van Gogh struggled through years of poverty and obscurity during which no one cared about his efforts.

Photographer Albert Watson Shot His Own Real Estate Photos for His $21.5M NYC Penthouse

Photographer Albert Watson has shot some of the most memorable photos of some of the world's most famous people over his lengthy photography career, from Alfred Hitchcock to Steve Jobs.

While his work has mostly focused on fashion, celebrities, and art, Watson recently ventured into a different genre: real estate photography. The photographer is selling his $21.5 million penthouse in New York City, and he shot his own photos for the listing.

Manny the Cat Has Mastered the Art of the Selfie

Manny is a gray tabby cat that's attracting attention for his special camera skills. More specifically, Manny is quite skilled at shooting selfies of himself, and now tens of thousands of people are following his photos on Instagram.

Tulips: Shooting a Series of Macro Photos of Mouths

There is an ineffable allure when it comes the human mouth. The lips and tongue (and much more) help emit wonderful language, tell stories through micro-expressions, and experience the joys of how things in the world taste along with presenting another form of touching.

Here's a look at how my recent project titled "Tulips" came about.

Why Photos of Arizona’s Famous Antelope Canyon All Look the Same

So what is it really like to shoot The Antelope?

The slot canyons of Page, Arizona are on Navajo lands. By law, only native Navajo can conduct business on the property. This has resulted in a number of resident outfitters running operations to visit the twisty, narrow, photogenic canyons. It is strictly controlled by the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department, which serves to protect the area from overuse and preserve its history.

This is Why You Hire a Pro Wedding Photographer

Vogue magazine sparked controversy earlier this month by recommending that brides say "I don't" to "hiring a professional wedding photographer." Needless to say, the suggestion didn't go over well in the photography community.

Now one bride is hitting back at Vogue by posting an Instagram photo that shows why you should hire a pro wedding photographer.

How I Shot a Star Wars-Themed ‘Last Supper’ Photo

Sometimes, photography is about being brilliant at lighting, or capturing a decisive moment, but often it's as much about collaborating with other talented people to realize a vision as it is about your own skills.

The idea of recreating Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper using characters from Star Wars had been in my head for over a year before I was finally able to make it real.