These Helpful Tips Will Maximize Your Camera’s Eye AF Performance

Eye AF is an extraordinarily useful technology that can help ensure your subject’s eyes are perfectly in focus when shooting portraits.

Eye Autofocus (Eye AF) is undoubtedly on the list of groundbreaking autofocus developments in the past decade. Designed initially for portrait photography, it tracks and nails focus on the subject’s eyes consistently. Eye Autofocus has seen significant improvements and adoption across much of the photo industry, and photographing humans (and certain animals) has become much easier with it. Almost all recent mirrorless cameras contain some form of Eye Autofocus. Despite its advancements, this technology still isn’t 100% accurate, so here’s how to make the most of Eye AF in your camera.

Continue reading…

These Settings Are the Key to Better Black and White Photos In-Camera

Love black and white photos but hate post-processing? Give these settings a try next time and create them directly in-camera.

When you look at some of the most iconic photos throughout modern history, many of them will likely be in black and white. That’s not to say that color images are any less impactful. Quite the contrary, in fact. However, there’s a timeless quality to many black and white images. They can also distill a scene down to its very core. While you can certainly convert your images to black and white during post-processing, they are actually quite easy to create directly within your camera. Just about every modern digital camera can shoot in black and white. Why spend the extra time to covert your images in post when you can achieve the results you want in-camera? If you’re a fan of black and white photos, be sure to give these settings a try on your own camera.

Continue reading…

Freeze Fast Moving Subjects Like a Pro Using These Photography Tips

Gain control of time and learn how to freeze fast moving subjects by mastering these high-speed photography tips.

Sports and wildlife photography entails capturing fast moving subjects. Freezing birds, race cars, etc. in your frame is paramount. This is tough for even seasoned professional sports and wildlife photographers. For those new to the craft, freezing high-speed subjects can feel like a downright Sisyphean task. But, don’t give up hope just yet. The following infographic from Digital Camera World provides some vital insight into everything you’ll need to know to freeze fast moving subjects.

Continue reading…

Understanding the Science That Makes Photography Possible

As photographers, we often focus on the art of photography. But how well do you know about the science that makes photography possible?

As the old adage goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” To say that photography has been one of the most influential forms of communication in the history of humanity is an understatement. Today, photography is one of the most prevalent art forms found around the world. Throughout modern history, it’s played an important role in our ability to communicate and connect with one another. Photography is arguably one of the most effective means of conveying ideas. It has the ability to distill lots of information into a single frame. A single image can also transport us to far-flung corners of the globe. More images are created today than ever before. Despite the transition from analog to digital, however, the principles that make photography possible remain fundamentally unchanged. If you’re not familiar with the science of photography, this infographic by the Huffington Post has you covered.

Continue reading…

Which Look Is Right for You? Fujifilm Film Simulations Compared

The ever-growing list of film simulations available in Fujifilm cameras is one of their most loved features.

Fujifilm has long been celebrated as the manufacturer of some of the world’s most-used film emulsions. Fujifilm wisely brought this analog legacy with them when they made the transition to digital. Many of these are available in digital form as film simulations across Fujifilm’s X-series and GFX-series cameras. Some say these film simulations are the special sauce that makes Fujifilm cameras so endearing. They each have unique characteristics and were created to emulate the look of the Fujifilm emulsions with which they share their name. Fujifilm X-series and GFX-series cameras give the ability to apply these film simulations to your images in-camera. You can also “re-process” your images in-camera using different film simulations. Better yet, you can even see the effects of each one in real-time through the EVF or the rear LCD while photographing. Our latest original infographic explores the various Fujifilm Film Simulations and how they compare to one another.

Continue reading…

Do You Really Need a Fast Aperture Lens, or Do You Just Want One?

Fast aperture lenses certainly have plenty of benefits, but they often come with pretty hefty price tags. Do you actually need one?

When it comes to choosing lenses, fast aperture lenses are often lusted over by many photographers. Most fast aperture lenses tend to be the most premium lenses available. They let in a ton of light, render shallow depth of field, and generally produce some of the best image quality around. Although there is certainly a lot to love about fast aperture lenses, their premium statuses often come with equally premium price tags. Do you actually need a fast aperture lens for your photography, or is your GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) acting up? If you’re faced with this dilemma, let our latest original infographic help you decide if a fast aperture lens is right for you.

Continue reading…

Photography Cheat Sheet: How to Make a Nose Look Flattering in Portraits

This photography cheat sheet will teach you about the nose – a pretty sensitive subject for portraits.

A friend of mine used to joke with me that her mother called her nose, “The map of Israel.” Joking or not, it’s a real concern of many portrait subjects. So finding a way to make noses look better means posing, lighting, and working with subjects correctly. If you’ve ever been in front of the lens, you know that nothing is more disheartening than the photos coming out not looking great. Of course, to each their own, but if you don’t feel great about your own portrait, then it can really hurt you. In today’s photography cheat sheet, we’re revisiting something that lots of you probably forgot about, some of you never learned, and that everyone will benefit from.

Continue reading…

How to Lose Weight and Stay in Shape While Photowalking

Photowalking is a fantastic way to lose weight, so here’s how I did it and how I’ve been keeping the weight off.

One of the best things about being a photographer is photowalking. Folks combine it with street photography and make it into something that’s much more active. But the more passive approach to photo walking and randomly discovering photogenic things is holistically healthy for you. Better yet, it’s a great way to lose weight. I used to be slightly obese at 197lbs. Now I am down to 165 lbs, and part of how I’ve kept it off is photowalking. During the summer days, there’s little better than the short period of time where I can go outside. It’s chilly outside in the early morning, and I can Photowalk with relatively little disturbances. Best of all, you can make this work around your schedule. But like anything else in life, you have to really want it.

Continue reading…

Why It’s Important to Learn How to Read Your Camera’s Light Meter

Understanding what your light meter is trying to tell you plays a critical role in your ability to create properly exposed images.

Light meters are designed to measure the amount of light available in a scene. In photography, they are used to determine the appropriate aperture and shutter speed required to properly expose an image. Back in the film days, not many cameras came with a light meter built-in. Photographers had to rely on external light meters to accurately determine the proper exposure. As time went on, camera manufacturers began incorporating light meters into their camera bodies. This made it much easier for photographers to expose their images properly. Fast forward to today, just about every commercially available digital camera has a light meter built-in. They play an essential role in your camera’s ability to create properly exposed images. There will be times when you may want to ignore what your light meter is telling you for creative or other reasons. To do that, however, requires that you understand what the camera’s light meter is telling you. Let’s dive into it.

Continue reading…

Be Sure to Read This Before Buying a Vintage Point and Shoot Camera

If you’re in the market for a vintage point and shoot, our latest original infographic covers everything you need to know before taking the plunge.

Vintage point and shoot cameras are some of the most fun to shoot with. They are great entry points for photographers interested in shooting film who find more traditional vintage cameras to be intimidating. As their name suggests, simply point your camera at your subject and shoot away. You won’t have to worry about messing around with camera settings. If you’re looking to purchase a vintage point and shoot camera of your very own, here are all the things that you should be mindful of.

Continue reading…

These Softbox Tips Will Take Your Photography Lighting to the Next Level

Master how best to utilize softboxes to take your photography to the next level.

Softboxes are one of the most popular light modifiers used by photographers. They are very versatile and can be found in a variety of different shapes and sizes. A softbox gives you a great deal of control over lighting, regardless if you’re photographing in a studio or outdoors. Since our previous infographic on how to use a softbox for portrait photography proved to be quite popular, we’re bringing you more softbox tips today.

Continue reading…

Is Your Camera Overheating? Chill Out! Try Some of These!

To prevent your camera from overheating in the summer, try these tips.

It’s a fairly common problem with all sorts of cameras. You’re out shooting, and you suddenly feel the camera get pretty hot. We’ve had it happen with a lot of ones we test, and we always try different approaches. Some of these are tried and true methods for years now. While you can’t overcome all overheating issues with your camera, there are some you totally can. So we’ve rounded up a list of things every photographer should try. The next time your camera really starts heating up on you, give one of these a shot.

Continue reading…

You’ll Want to Read This If You’re Planning on Buying a Vintage Camera

If you’re in the market for a vintage camera, our latest infographic covers everything to look for before taking the plunge.

While we cover the latest and greatest cameras on The Phoblographer, some of our favorites actually happen to be vintage cameras. Although vintage cameras lack most of the advancements we enjoy in today’s cameras, they offer a different shooting experience. They are products from a bygone era, more akin to mechanical tools rather than the full-fledged computers that cameras are today. The shooting experience with a vintage camera is often much more tactile and evokes a sense of nostalgia. If you’re planning on purchasing a vintage camera of your own, here are the things you should be on the look out for.

Continue reading…

Why Prime Lenses Are Better Than Zooms: All the World in a Single Frame

When it comes to choosing between prime and zoom lenses, prime lenses are superior in many ways, as our latest infographic shows.

When it comes to choosing the right lenses for our cameras, some photographers gravitate towards zooms while others prefer primes. Those who prefer zooms love them for their convenience factor. Despite this, many photographers opt to shoot with prime lenses instead. What exactly makes prime lenses superior to zoom lenses? Let us show you with our latest original infographic.

Continue reading…

Why Learning How to Read a Histogram Can Improve Your Photography

Histograms are like cheat sheets for photography. Understanding what a histogram is saying can help you create better looking images.

If you’ve spent any time playing around with the display on your digital camera’s rear screen, you’ve most likely seen what resembles a (sometimes multicolored) line graph. You’ll likely have seen something similar when editing your images in Capture One or Lightroom as well. This graph is called a histogram. Although it may look like something you had to learn in statistics class, histograms are actually very useful for photographers. While most human eyes can detect a dynamic range of roughly 20 stops, the most advanced cameras commercially available today top out at around 15. This is where the histogram comes in handy. It provides a readout of where your highlights, mid-tones, shadows, and the various color channels fall in relation to your camera’s exposure settings. If you’ve ever wondered why an image looks fine on the back of your camera but looks over- or underexposed when you import them into your raw editor, this infographic is for you. Understanding how to read a histogram will ensure that that your images are properly exposed, and that you’re recording the maximum amount of available light information into your raw files.

Continue reading…

These Multiple Exposure Tips Will Help You Expand Your Creativity

Multiple exposure techniques have been around since the analog days. Be sure to give them a try if you’re in search of a creative break from the norm!

As photographers, it’s important to always explore new and different techniques in order to keep our creative muscles active. A popular way to exercise our creativity is by utilizing alternative photography techniques. Shooting multiple exposures is one such example. With origins dating back to the film photography days, multiple exposure techniques are still highly popular to this day. The images created through multiple exposure photography tend to take on a surreal, ethereal, or conceptual nature. One thing that they definitely won’t be is boring. If you’re looking for creative photography projects to help sharpen your imagination, consider giving multiple exposures a try!

Continue reading…

How to Shoot Street Photography at Night and Be Creative

Just because the sun goes down and the sky turns dark, it doesn’t mean you can’t go out and shoot street photography.

Shooting street photography at night is great fun. Sadly, many shooters (especially newbies) are put off by the fact that they won’t have natural light to illuminate their scenes. Although shooting conditions are different at night, you can still create quality street photographs. Actually, shooting in the dark of the night encourages you to be more creative. As a result, you can get more compelling images. Of course, there are some techniques and approaches to be familiar with to execute street photography at night well. In this piece, we’re going to go over them, getting you ready to shoot when the sun goes down.

Continue reading…

Master Shooting at Night with Superzoom Lenses with These Helpful Tips

Superzoom lenses are some of the most versatile options around, but they can also present unique challenges when shooting at night.

Superzoom lenses are prized for their extra-long focal range coverage. Instead of having to swap lenses constantly, shooting with superzooms allows you to cover a lot of ground. Convenient as they may be, they come with some unique challenges, particularly when used at night or in other low light scenarios. Our latest original infographic covers some useful tips to keep in mind when shooting with superzooms at night.

Continue reading…

Make Sure You Read This Before Taking Your Camera Into the Rain

Not all weather resistant camera gear is created equal. Be sure to brush up on these useful tips before shooting in the rain.

Years ago, weather resistant cameras and lenses were few and far between, and photographing in the rain pretty much meant certain death for your equipment. With camera manufacturers creating more and more weather resistant cameras these days, it’s never been easier to shoot during inclement weather. What’s important to remember though is weather resistance does not equal weatherproof. Our latest original infographic highlights some important things to keep in mind the next time you’re planning on shooting in inclement weather.

Continue reading…

How and Where to Look for Photography Inspiration Beyond Instagram

© 2020 Pauleth Ip / PI Creative

With Instagram increasingly becoming an echo chamber, consider these alternative sources of inspiration the next time you’re in a creative rut.

“To gain new perspectives, you have to be willing to change your surroundings.” Back when I was working in higher education, that’s what I used to tell my students whenever they were confronted with seemingly insurmountable problems. It’s helped them reframe the problems and to arrive at solutions on their own. This principle continues to hold true as I transitioned into a career in photography. Whenever I was faced with a creative rut, looking toward new sources of inspiration was often the spark I needed. Time and time again, it’s helped me see the world through a different lens (pun intended) and to approach my photography with fresh creative impulses. The next time you find yourself in a creative rut, consider these alternative sources of inspiration.

Continue reading…

Flow Chart: Do You Need an F2.8 or an F4 Zoom Lens?

Do you need an f2.8 or an f4 zoom lens? We’re answering this in today’s Cheat Sheet.

We’re sure many of you are trying to figure out whether you should go with f2.8 or f4 zoom lenses. Folks type this into our search engine reasonably often, and it’s clear that people aren’t sure what they need. Of course, there are pros and cons to each. Do you need the extra stop of light? Do you prefer a lightweight body? What subject matter are you photographing? There are a host of essential questions one should answer when they are considering the purchase. And today’s flow chat, otherwise known as our photography cheat sheet, is designed to help you figure that out.

Editor’s Note: We’ve written about this before, but people want more!

Continue reading…