Michael Zhang

Founder, Editor

Michael is a photography enthusiast, entrepreneur, and programmer based in Northern California near San Francisco. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with two degrees in computer science.

Articles by Michael Zhang

A 10-Minute Guide to Getting Started in Astrophotography

Photographer Trevor Jones of AstroBackyard started doing astrophotography back in 2010 using his smartphone and point-and-shoot camera. After working on his craft for nearly a decade, Jones just made this 10-minute video guide sharing what he would do if he were starting out in astrophotography all over again today.

This is the First Magazine Ad for Kodak Film in Many Years

In the heyday of film photography, Kodak was a major advertiser in magazines -- people flipping through all kinds of publications would see ads for its film. But over the past several years, both the camera film and the magazine industries have struggled to adapt to a changing and increasingly digital world. So news of a new Kodak film ad in a print magazine may seem anachronistic, but it's real.

The 7 Hardest Parts of Photography (and How to Conquer Them)

Photographer Nigel Danson recently asked his 50,000+ followers on Instagram -- most of which are outdoor and landscape photographers -- what they think the hardest part of photography is. After getting back 1,827 responses, Danson made this 20-minute video to share the responses.

Photographer Turns a Skyscraper Into a Giant Camera

Brendan Barry is a UK-based photographer who's known for turning all kinds of unusual things into working cameras, from food and mannequins to shipping containers and camper trailers. But his latest project was his most ambitious yet -- turned a Manhattan skyscraper into a giant camera.

Amazon Lists $550 Sony Lens for $250… But Gives Buyers $20 Instead

Amazon sparked a frenzy on Prime Day back in July after it accidentally listed a wide range of cameras and lenses -- some worth over $13,000 apiece -- for $94.48 each. While we've heard of strange pricing errors before, what's crazy is that Amazon honored the orders and buyers actually received tens of thousands of gear for hundreds of dollars. But it seems Amazon's generosity (or oversight) was limited to its Prime Day festivities...

What Are Aspherical Lens Elements?

When camera lens makers announce new lenses, one of the specs they always tout is how many aspherical elements the lens designs have. If you're not sure what those elements are and what they do, here's a short and helpful 4-minute video by Michael the Maven that'll bring you up to speed.

How to Take Macro Photos on a Budget

Want to get started in macro photography but don't have much to spend? There are ways to jump into the niche using mostly the gear you already have (assuming you don't have a dedicated macro lens). Here's an 8-minute video by NatureTTL that'll point you in the right direction.