Now That the Nikon Z7’s Autofocus Has Improved, You Can Get it Cheaper

The Nikon Z7 has improved with firmware updates and now it’s a pretty great camera that you can get at a discount. 

Since Nikon released the N7 they have been steadily working on improvements to the system. The autofocus has progressed well after some of the latest firmware updates. Currently, there is a Nikon Z7 trade-in event at Adorama that lets photographers save up to $600 on a purchase. And, if you decide to trade-in another product, you can get an additional $200 as a bonus too. Nikon users will appreciate the combination of small size, lightweight, solid build quality, and the autofocus abilities that the N7 offers. Couple this with an adapter for F mount glass, or use Nikon’s Z mount lenses, and you’ve got a winning system with a lot of potential. Be sure to check out our Nikon Z7 review.

Continue reading…

Daniel Anez Discusses His Colorful Street Photography

All street photography images by Daniel Anez. Used with permission. 

“There is value in pushing yourself creatively not just skillfully,” says Daniel Anez. He’s a street photographer who wants to think outside the box. He wants to go beyond the fundamentals and create street photography that encourages his audience to build their own narrative. Through the use of color, varied angles, and story-telling, Daniel has created an aesthetic that belongs to him. It’s his vision of the world, a world that he invites us to explore with him. Although his work suggests otherwise, Daniel is relatively new to the world of street photography. He spoke to us to share what his journey has been like so far.

Continue reading…

Elizaveta Porodina Makes a Mesmerizing Play of Colors in “Colourbook”

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

Experimenting with colors is one of the best ways to make portraits interesting. A particular color scheme — or the absence of it — can set the mood and aesthetic of a photo. We see this at work with photography trends like retro, neon, and pastels. Today, we have yet another perfect example of portrait photography made more eye-catching in the latest series of Munich-based fashion and fine art photographer Elizaveta Porodina.

Continue reading…

Should Sony Release an A99 III or Are DSLRs Dead to Them and Others?

A recent gaffe about a potential Sony A99 III sparked a frenzy in a website’s comment section, and it makes us wonder about the situation DSLRs find themselves in.

The debate about whether or not DSLRs are on their way out seems to be getting louder and louder with every passing day. It’s almost impossible to visit message boards without seeing someone proclaim that Mirrorless is the new king and that DSLRs are dead. However, a recent error on a post about a potentially new Sony A9 II (which was soon fixed by the website) whipped up a frenzy in the comment section there. The title read The Upcoming A99 III, instead of A9 II, and the reaction in the comment section got us thinking about the current situation regarding DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras. Let’s talk about the issue after the break. Continue reading…

8 Lights Perfect for Off-Camera Flash Use by Beginners and Pros

Whether you’re new to lighting and off-camera flash, or you’re an old hat looking for new gear, this roundup is for you.

If you’re ready to take the next steps in your photography journey by adding off-camera flash to your workflow, congratulations! We applaud you for wanting to take this on. A lot of people think mastering flash is hard, but we’re here to tell you that’s a bunch of hogwash. Off-camera flash is an easy way to add drama and extra dimension to your images. The best part is you don’t have to spend a fortune to get started with it. We have rounded up some of our favorite lights that we have reviewed over the years and have put them in one place for you. These lights are great for beginners and even for pros looking for some new gear. Continue reading…

Photography Cheat Sheet: Memorize These Night Photography Settings

There’s more to night photography than shooting star trails or Milky Way photos. This photography cheat sheet will serve as a quick guide for shooting various situations at night.

Thinking of exploring your town tonight for some interesting street stuff to photograph? Night photography comes with its own set of challenges, especially since you’re often forced to work in low light. You’ll also need to adjust your camera settings for every subject or shooting situation. That can be laborious if you’re still getting acquainted with your camera, not yet used to shooting at night. Fortunately, we have a photography cheat sheet ready to help you figure your settings out.

Continue reading…

Cheap Photo: Save on Lenses from Sigma, Tamron, Pentax, and Canon

If you want to save a chunk of change and build up your lens collection, you need to check out the lens deals we’ve found.

There’s some terrific, end of summer and beginning of fall sales going on right now from the likes of Sigma, Tamron, Pentax, and Canon. If you’re looking for lens deals, you’re in the right place. You can pick up the Tamron 70-200 f2.8 G2 lens for just $1,199 on both Canon EF and Nikon F  platforms right now. You can also score the Sigma 35mm f1.4 for only $699 for Canon EF and Nikon F mounts. If you’re a Pentax shooter you can get limited lenses on the cheap with the 77mm on sale at $696.95, the 31mm limited at just $896.95, and the 15mm Limited for only $446.95. There are great deals on Canon RF Mount lenses too. The RF 24-240mm with a huge accessory kit is only $989.98, the RF 24-105mm f4 is just $899, and the RF 35mm f1.8 with a free accessory kit is only $499. Come in and check out all the lens deals after the break. Continue reading…

New X-Rite i1Display Screen Calibrators Make Getting Better Colors Easy

If you plan on printing your images and want to make sure your colors are accurate, you might want to check out the new X-Rite i1Display calibration tools.

X-Rite has been helping photographers, and videographers get their colors right for many years. X-Rite ColorChecker Passports have been an essential tool for many, and now X-Rite is looking to take things further by introducing the X-Rite i1Display screen calibration tools. Join us after the break to find out more about the New Xrite i1Display tools. Continue reading…

Jenna Shouldice’s Powerful Black and White Documentary Photography (NSFW)

All documentary photography by Jenna Shouldice. Used with permission. 

“During labor, I feel like a magnet to the experience,” explains Jenna Shouldice. She’s a documentary photographer based on Vancouver Island. Her curiosity in the human experience has led her to document one of the most emotional moments a person can go through – giving birth. The process of giving birth is often misunderstood. People cringe at the thought of blood, pain, sweat, and tears. But in her series, The Labor Process, Jenna has managed to show the beautiful, gentle, binding journey people go on when moving into parenthood. This project is extremely moving. To see such a moment of vulnerability communicated in a series of powerful images is special. We spoke to Jenna to learn about how she first had the idea, and to understand how the process of putting it all together was for her.

Continue reading…

Photography Cheat Sheet: How to Shoot Sharper Photos

Frustrated with blurry, unfocused, or hazy-looking snaps? This photography cheat sheet has some useful tips to make sure you get sharper photos from now on. 

Among the biggest frustrations of photographers is a well-composed shot ruined by blur or lack of focus. Sometimes, you can get away with it if the blur is only minimal and hardly noticeable. Otherwise, when the shot calls for sharpness, even the slightest blur can throw off the mood or message of the photo. As with many things about photography, there are some big and small changes that you can make to ensure optimum sharpness in your photos. Today’s photography cheat sheet offers some suggestions for this purpose.

Continue reading…

8 Premium 50mm Prime Lenses for Photographers Who Demand More

If you’re on the hunt for 50mm prime lenses that will wow you, look no further than the ones we have listed here.

When it comes to prime lenses, none are celebrated or talked about more than the trusty nifty fifty. 50mm prime lenses are loved by photographers thanks to their exceptional ability to be able to comfortably shoot just about any genre you can think of. We have picked eight premium 50mm prime lenses that impressed us during our time with them. These lenses will help you see why this focal length is adored by photographers around the globe. Whether you’re new to photography, or you’ve been around the focus ring a few times, you should have a 50mm prime in your collection. These versatile lenses are great for street photography, landscapes, portrait photography, event photography, wedding photography, and documentary work. The field of view in 50mm prime lenses is to close to what most (but not all) people see with their own eyes. This is just one of the reasons that make images shot with these lenses so pleasing.

Continue reading…

This Milky Way Photo Was Shot on Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 400

Here’s something to inspire you to shoot something new — like Milky Way photos — with your film cameras. 

Can you still shoot Milky Way photos or star trails with film? Why yes, of course, and there are still photographers who get pretty good results out of it. We recently spotted an r/analog thread that shows what you can expect should you be brave enough to finally try it out. This Milky Way snap was shot by Nick Cheng (u/EpicNarwhals on Reddit) using a Canon EOS Rebel K2 loaded with a Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 400. In his thread, he also mentioned equipping this film camera with the Rokinon 14mm f2.8 lens that he was using with his Canon EOS RP (and thought “what the hell”) to see if anything would come out.

Continue reading…

Al Mefer Reimagines Alien Worlds Through Familiar Landscapes

All photos by Al Mefer. Used with Creative Commons permission.

Since the dawn of space exploration, mankind has been dreaming of the worlds that could possibly be out there, just waiting to be discovered. Would they look anything like ours? Could they be our home away from home as humans evolve into a spacefaring race in the distant future? We’ve often turned to art, guided by our limitless imagination, to answer these questions of science. It’s always fascinating to see what photographers come up with. Spanish photographer and visual artist Al Mefer, for example, takes us to worlds both alien and familiar in his whimsical two-part series aptly titled Sleepwalking in Outer Space.

Continue reading…

LaCie’s New Rugged SSDs Are Tough Enough to be Used in Any Location

If you’re tough on your gear or work in demanding environments, you might want to check out these new LaCie Rugged SSDs.

In the past, taking hard drives out into the field was always a little scary: they generally do not like to be bumped around. But SSDs have solved this problem. Today, LaCie has announced a new line of SSDs that are ready for drops, water, dust, and just about any abuse you can throw at them. The new LaCie Rugged SSDs come in three flavors; the Rugged SSD Pro, The Rugged SSD, and the Rugged BOSS SSD. Join us after the break for all the details. Continue reading…

First Impressions: Fujifilm X-A7 (A Curiously Beautiful Camera)

The Fujifilm X-A7 is a gorgeous camera–but it seems more of a fashion statement than anything.

I can imagine the Fujifilm X-A7 slung around a discerning, fashionable photographer. It’s mated to some sort of beautiful vintage optic or one of Fujifilm’s lust-inducing prime lenses. The stunning leather strap that comes with it is only the icing on top. Everything about the Fujifilm X-A7 tells me it’s designed for a specific crowd. This crowd includes the travel photographer and those accustomed to large phone screens. In the same line of thought, this photographer will like the feeling of the dials, the leatherette cover, and the lack of emphasis on control via the touchscreen. I fully expect these photographers to also use the Auto or Program modes. Best of all, they’ll adore the tilting screen.

Continue reading…

Photography Cheat Sheet: Using Exposure Compensation

This quick photography cheat sheet shows how to use exposure compensation to override your camera’s meter to get better results.

Ever ended up with a poorly exposed photo even when your camera was set in one of the semi-automatic or program modes? This is not uncommon, so it’s important that you know how to make some adjustments and not rely on your camera’s meter all the time. You don’t even have to shoot in manual mode to do this. You only have to use your camera’s exposure compensation function, as today’s photography cheat sheet and tutorial with show you how.

Continue reading…

The Fujifilm X-A7 Is Small in Size, Big on Features

Fujifilm X-A7

The new Fujifilm X-A7 is perfect for those who need lots of power but want to travel light.

Fans of compact cameras will be pleased to hear that Fujifilm has announced a new camera in their X-A series; the Fujifilm X-A7. This small, lightweight, feature-packed camera promises to be great for both photographers and videographers who like to travel light, but who still want the power of an APS-C sensor. We had a feeling that Fujifilm would be announcing a new camera in their X-A series a short while ago. Low and behold, here we are with the new Fujifilm X-A7. This new camera is quite similar to the X-A5 that came before it, but there are a few upgrades that should make potential buyers quite happy.

Continue reading…

The September 11 Photo Project: A Reminder of Photography’s Importance

The September 11th attacks will live in the hearts and minds of people for a lifetime. Photography ensures that, when everyone alive that day is gone, the world will never forget.

It was around three in the afternoon in the UK, and I’d just got home from school. As I always did, I put on the television to watch my favorite shows before heading to soccer practice, only this time none of them were on. Instead, news reporters stood in front of a blazing New York skyline as the city went into a state of emergency. “Mum, New York is on fire,” I shouted as she frantically made my pre-soccer snack. I knew the magnitude of what had happened but was too young for it to sink in. When the clock struck half-past four, I switched off the TV, picked up my ball, and headed to practice.

Continue reading…

Nat Geo Photographer Ira Block on Processing His Home City After 9/11

National Geographic Photographer Ira Block has worked to ensure that we truly never forget 9/11.

“They weren’t panicking,” related photographer Ira Block as we sat in his NYC loft and examined images from 9/11. “They were instead trying to figure out what was going on.” The image Ira is referring to is one very typical of New York. We were all in plenty of shock on 9/11. Everyone was in a state of confusion throughout the day. Said photo, which is the lead image of this story, was shot by Ira while walking down 7th Ave. The photos Ira took were for himself. Though a National Geographic photographer, Ira isn’t a news photojournalist–but he started out as one. To that end, he wasn’t on an assignment that day and the images he shot were just for him.

Continue reading…

Exploring Why Photographers Did or Didn’t Pick Up a Camera on 9/11

What made some of our community members pick up a camera, while others chose to leave the gear at home and take in the traumatic experience of 9/11?

We all face the dilemma of photographing the moment vs. being ‘in’ the moment. Inarguably, our view behind the lens can be completely different than the view absent of one. We encounter it regularly when it’s a beautiful sunset, moments with friends, cute episodes with my cats, etc. These moments are superfluous and trivial in comparison to the gravity that is the traumatic experience of experiencing 9/11 firsthand. With that said, the question remains – do I want to document what I’m seeing, or experience what I’m seeing? To explore this concept, while also giving appropriate reverence to the anniversary we’re coming upon, we interviewed two wonderful photographers who lived in the city and were present the day of the attacks. Ron Jautz chose to leave his camera at home, while Thomas Donley grabbed his gear and ran out the door. While one chose to make photographs and the other chose to experience the moment, their answers reflect many similar sentiments. Continue reading…

Steve Simon’s Empty Sky Explores the Immediate Post-9/11 NYC

All images by Steve Simon. Used with permission.

“And I wasn’t there, and I selfishly kind of wanted to be there,” states photojournalist Steve Simon when recalling what transpired on 9/11. “Not just as a photographer, but just as a New Yorker to kind of sort of see if there was anything I could do.” It seems almost inconceivable that the attack on the Twin Towers occurred 18 years ago. Many of us still remember everything that happened on that fateful Tuesday morning as vividly as if it had just transpired. When we look back on the World Trade Center attack we tend to see a lot of images of Ground Zero along with the Twin Towers. If you were to look for images of the periphery and of the people drawn towards the area, there’s a good chance the photos were captured by Simon. As fate would have it, Steve was scheduled to fly back to New York on September 11th and wound up not being able to return until a week later. His project, titled Empty Sky: The Pilgrimage to Ground Zero, is part of the 9/11 Memorial Museum’s permanent collection. It focuses on the people looking toward and drawn to where the Twin Towers once stood, and the sweeping emotions surrounding lower Manhattan.

Continue reading…