Short Film Explores the Process Behind Analog and Large Format Photography

Peer into the dedication and passion that film photography requires, especially with more technical mediums like large format photography. 

Surprising as it may still seem to some, there are still photographers who prefer the rigors of film photography, despite the prevalence of the more convenient digital workflow. This is especially the case for those who develop and print their own snaps and also shoot in more specialized mediums like large format. In his short film, director and cinematographer Will Campbell went to find out what keeps film shooters and large format photographers going despite the arduous processes involved in their chosen craft.

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Elizaveta Porodina Brings Out Playful Colors in “New York Blues”

All images by Elizaveta Porodina. Used with Creative Commons permission.

Feel like getting a little experimental with your portrait and fashion photography? One way to do it is to play around with colors. Munich-based Elizaveta Porodina is certainly one of the photographers who we can take a page from, as we can see in this playful fashion editorial from 2017.

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How To Turn Your Photography Writing Into A Form of Income

In the digital age, blogging has become an integral part of a photographer’s business. If you’re looking to turn your photography writing into a form of income, this one’s for you.

Thanks to the internet everyone can get their words down on virtual paper and try to spread their message to the world. Certainly over the past five years the idea of writing from your laptop — and making money from it — has become a very attractive profession, especially to millennials. The term “Digital Nomad” was born and everyone wants a slice of the pie. The idea of taking great photos and writing articles to go with them has become big business — hence why so many want to get involved. But while some believe that all you need is an internet connection, a blog account, and a strong yoga pose in your avatar, the reality is it takes a lot of sacrifices to start making money from writing about photography.

In this piece I’m going to share my personal journey and the steps you need to take if you’re aiming to earn an income from writing.

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Synology Announces a New Network Storage DiskStation, The DS1019+

network storage

If you need a back up of your backup’s backup and you need to stream your files, this new network storage DiskStation may be for you.

 

Being able to store and backup all of your RAW and processed image files is incredibly important. We all know that if anything happens to those precious files we would be totally lost. Being able to access those files from anywhere on any device is also important; it means we can work on the road without having to carry external hard drives, and we can share images with clients with ease. Synology have been making network storage solutions for a long time now, and they have just announced a new member of their family, the DiskStation DS1019+.  Continue reading…

New Updates Come to the Thrifty Phottix Raja Softbox Lineup

Still looking for the right softbox for your studio needs? Phottix has a couple of new offerings under its Raja softbox series that could just be what you’re looking for.

Whether you’re just getting into shooting portraits in the studio or already a seasoned portrait master, light modifiers like the softbox remains crucial tool for your work. It can be challenging to choose from all the available options out there. Fortunately, Phottix has recently announced a couple of new additions to its popular Raja line of softboxes. You might want to check them out if you’re still looking for the right softbox for your studio.

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You’re Saying the Word Bokeh Wrong, Same with ISO!

These common photography words and names have been stumping the masses for ages. 

 

Have you ever been in a conversation with another photographer and you both end up trying to correct each other over the correct pronunciation of certain photography words and names? I know I have, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Fortunately, a new video from Gerald Undone goes over a few common photography words such as ISO, EOS, and Bokeh and tries to set the record straight once and for all. Join us after the jump for the video. Continue reading…

AP Sets Up GoFundMe for Family of Photojournalist Desmond Boylan

The Associated Press was one of the news outlets that Desmond Boylan was stringing for, right up to his final moment while on assignment.

Above: Desmond Boylan at work in Cuba. May 2012. Alejandro Ernesto Pérez Estrada

Photojournalist Desmond Boylan was on assignment in Havana on December 29  for The Associated Press when he felt unwell and soon died of a heart attack. With his passing, his family also lost his only source of income. This is why AP took to crowdfunding to help raise additional funds for his family at this difficult time.

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Here’s How a “Digital Collodion” Compares to a Real Wet Plate Photo

Wondering if it’s possible reproduce the wet plate look in a digital photo? We have the answer for you in this quick comparison video.

Can you achieve the unique look of wet plate photography in a digital photo? The short answer, of course, is yes. But the real question should probably be, how close does it look to the real thing? We find out in this interesting quick comparison video.

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Henri Prestes Takes Us Along Moody Cinematic Night Drives

All images by Henri Prestes. Used with Creative Commons permission.

Is the dreamy look of foggy nights and misty landscapes your frequent photography inspiration? We can’t blame you, as we’ve also found it to be a highly effective look for crafting emotive imagery, regardless of the genre or subject matter. Case in point is a gorgeous series by London-based photographer and cinematographer Henri Prestes, which takes us along a moody ride across various foggy locations.

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Kosmo Foto Launches Popular Kosmo Foto Mono in the Flavor of 120 Film

Kosmo Foto Mono 120

This launch of Kosmo Foto Mono 120 will no doubt please users of Medium Format film cameras to no end.

Following the successful launch of Kosmo Foto Mono 35mm film back in 2017, Medium Format users have been hoping that the emulsion would one day make its way to their platform. If you’re one of those people who have been wishing for it, you’ll be pleased to hear that Kosmo Foto have just announced that the Kosmo Foto Mono 120 version of this popular film will indeed to making its way to the world of Medium Format cameras. For more details join us after the break. Continue reading…

Cheap Photo: 1850 PS Actions $29, X-T20 Kit $799, + Big Sales on Glass

Photography software and tutorials, camera deals, discounts on quality glass; you can find all the best photography deals right here.

If you’re looking to upgrade, or want to add new gear to your existing collection you’re in the right place. We have found all of the hottest photography deals and have put them in one place just for you. The Fuji X-T20 with a 16-50mm lens is down to just $799! The Canon G7 X MK II has a discount of $171 making it $528! If Nikon is more your thing you’ll be pleased to know that you can pick up the D7200 with two lenses for just $896.95. There are stunning Fujifilm lens bundles available, and there’s a large selection of Nikon glass that’s on sale too. Don’t forget to check out the photography deals like the 1850 Photoshop Actions bundle which is a steal at $29! That deal will save you $471! Check out all of the hot photography deals after the break.
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These Two Pro Photographers Share Their Tips on Posing Couples

All images by Vanessa Joy and Tracie Maglosky, used with permission.

One of the common challenges many portrait photographers will face at some point during their careers is how to best pose their subjects to capture them in their best light during a photoshoot. When photographing couples, things get more difficult because now you’ve got to worry about not one, but two subjects. We recently had the opportunity to speak with New Jersey-based wedding photographer Vanessa Joy as well as Cincinnati-based wedding and portrait photographer Tracie Maglosky, and these seasoned veterans generously shared some valuable insight into photographing and posing couples. Vanessa is perhaps best known for her wedding photography education work on top of being one of Profoto’s Legend of Light, and Tracie is one of Olympus’s Visionaries and a Profoto Legend of Light as well.

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The Fujifilm XP140 Can Go as Deep as 82 Feet Under the Sea

The latest tough camera on the market is the Fujifilm XP140, and it’s showing a bit of promise.

I’d be telling you a complete lie if I said I wasn’t at all hoping for an X Trans APS-C sensor at the heart of the Fujifilm XP140, but when I saw the rest of the specs I was pleasantly surprised. The camera is rated to be able to shoot in 82 feet of water. Practically speaking, you still have the tiny sensor and you need to consider just how little light there is in the deep, but that tells us exactly how functional it is. What that also means is that it could be a fun camera for street photography in the rain–you know, because we still don’t have that weather sealed X100 camera yet…

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First Impressions: Fujifilm X-T30 (Look What They Did to the JoyStick)

The Fujifilm X-T30 features most of the tech from the X-T3 in an even smaller body.

While most of the digital imaging industry has been focusing heavily on full frame mirrorless cameras as of late, Fujifilm has remained firmly committed to their crop sensor mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras–and that’s evident with the Fujifilm X-T30. The company has built up a very loyal following thanks in large part to the excellent build quality, well thought out ergonomics, and overall refined user experience that is core to every Fujifilm camera’s DNA. The fact that Fujifilm has managed to incorporate some of the latest digital imaging innovations into their cameras while keeping them very competitively priced further sweetens the pot. With the newly announced Fujifilm X-T30, Fujifilm incorporated a lot of the advancements found within the much-loved X-T3 that was released last year and crammed them into an even more compact camera body. The XT-30 shares the same 26.1 MP 4th generation X-Trans APS-C CMOS 4 sensor as well as the 4th generation Quad-Core X-Processor 4 CPU as the top of the line X-T3.

We got our hands on the Fujifilm XT30 yesterday during a press briefing, and shot with it briefly in around a rather snowy and wet New York City.

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First Impressions: Fujifilm XF 16mm f2.8 R WR (A $399.95 Beast)

The Fujifilm XF 16mm f2.8 R WR is a fast ultrawide housed within a compact and lightweight body

In addition to introducing the brand new Fujifilm X-T30, Fujifilm also showcased the new Fujifilm XF 16mm f2.8 R WR, a fast aperture ultrawide angle lens that is so compact and lightweight that you can fit it inside one of the pockets in your pants. With 10 lens elements arranged into 8 groups (2 of which are aspherical), the Fuji XF 16mm f2.8 is designed to take advantage of the increased resolving power of Fujifilm’s own 4th generation 26.1 MP X-Trans CMOS 4 Sensor and promises to produce images with edge-to-edge sharpness. We had the opportunity to personally fondle the lens, and here’s what we think so far.

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The Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S Has a Little Info Panel on Top of It

Professionals opting to use a Nikon z6 or z7 may want to check out the Nikon Z 24-70mm f2.8 S.

In what promises to be Nikon’s first really usable zoom lens in Z mount, the Nikon Z 24-70mm f2.8 S is being billed as an option for the pro who wants to shoot weddings, landscapes, portraits, events, etc. We found its older, f4 variant to be too soft for our liking, and the Nikon Z 24-70mm f2.8 S has something added to it that is quite interesting. It’s called an ARNEO coating and is designed to cut down on ghosting and flare entering from vertical angles.

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The Nikon z6 and Nikon z7 are Getting New Autofocus Updates, Eye Detection

The Nikon z6 and Nikon z7 have autofocus performance issues; and those are being addressed by Nikon.

Coming in May 2019, a firmware update will be of great use to those who didn’t return their Nikon z6 or Nikon z7 cameras out of frustration. Nikon announced today that this new firmware update will address and fix the issues that photographers have been having with the system. The XQD-Card-using-but-otherwise-not-bad camera system has been under scrutiny of many bloggers, reviewers, vloggers, etc. With competition from Sony and others seem to have better autofocus, there have been promotions to get units moving as much as possible.

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First Impressions: Canon EOS RP (A $1299 Full Frame Camera)

The Canon EOS RP represents the company’s attempt to win the entry level users over at a $1,299 price point.

Alas, we aren’t being treated to Canon’s high end EOS R camera, but with the Canon EOS RP we’re getting a pretty interesting candidate in the mix. The Canon EOS RP is being aggressively priced at $1,299 and has the same sensor at the heart of the Canon 6D Mk II. That wasn’t always my favorite sensor, but after Tony Northrup’s video on it a while back the internet swooned over it again. My issue is that in Lightroom, we found the highlight recovery to be awful but in Capture One it was quite good. Beyond this are some head scratching features in the Canon EOS RP, like silent shooting mode being a dedicated shooting mode with no manual controls in the same way that you get with the Canon EOS M50. This isn’t the case with the EOS R, which has an option for silent shutter photography. Maybe with the professional level camera, Canon will finally take this feature seriously–and during my time in New Orleans with the camera, I heard many other journalists agree.

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Canon Will Be Releasing 6 New Lenses for the EOS RF System This Year

While some may not find the camera to be a very exciting announcement, the new Canon lenses surely are.

In what I personally find to be the more exciting of the two Canon announcements tonight, the company is announcing their latest lineup of lenses that will be coming on their roadmap for this year. While company already produced some stunners in the form of a 28-70mm f2 L USM, 50mm f1.2 L USM, and a 24-105mm f4 L IS USM, there’s more coming. In fact, some of these are pretty new innovations that haven’t been done by a manufacturer at all, let alone one in the mirrorless camera world.

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6 Great Lights That Will Take Your Portrait Photography to Another Level

Adding external lighting and off camera flash into your portrait photography will make your images so much better.

Adding external lighting into your portrait photography workflow will really help you make images that will stand out from the crowd. While natural lighting is great, adding flashes and monolights into the mix can really make your images incredibly dynamic. There are so many lighting options on the market though, so it can be hard to choose between the options out there. In this feature we will take a look at six different lighting options that are affordable, and easy to use. There’s no doubt that they will help you take your portrait photography to new levels.  Continue reading…

Learn Deep Sky Photography in This Comprehensive Course

If astrophotography is your thing, you might want to support this project and learn from its extensive tutorial videos on deep sky photography.

Want to learn astrophotography but don’t know where to begin? There are lots of tutorials out there, but if you want to learn from experts who have been doing it for decades, here’s a Kickstarter project you might want to support. No complicated equipment and special software involved — all you need are this in-depth course, your DSLR or mirrorless camera, and Adobe Photoshop and you’re all set!

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