KENSHO Is a Beautiful, Abstract Series by Photographer Nicole Struppert

All images by Nicole Struppert. Used with permission. Be sure to see more about this series on her website.

“It’s two years now when I got diagnosed that I have a little brain tumor,” says photographer Nicole Struppert, who specified that it’s small but energy draining. “To get back in balance, I stayed a few weeks at the lake Chiemsee. Waking up every morning with beautiful sunrises and seeing nature in different seasons like sun, rain, the fog started to inspire me a lot.” That’s how she got started with the KENSHO project. The area revitalized her creativity in a way. She did abstract work and made the images look more and more like a painting.

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Big Light, Small Price: The Flashpoint eVOLV 200 Is Just $257, and More

Flashpoint eVOLV 200

You’ll really be able to improve your work with quality photography lighting gear.

Now’s the time to pick up new photography lighting gear. We have found some of the hottest deals on flashes, strobes, and even lighting tutorials. The Flashpoint eVOLV 200 (aka Godox AD200) with a barn door kit is only $257! You can pick up the Flashpoint Zoom (GODOX v1) for under $230 for Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, and Sony cameras. Then there are huge savings on the battery-powered Flashpoint XPLOR 300 Pro ($469), XPLOR 400 Pro ($549), and the XPLOR 600 Pro ($609). Come and see all the deals on photography lighting gear and tutorials after the break.

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You’ll Absolutely Love the Holiday Deals on These Cameras

There are cameras on sale from Fujifilm, Olympus, and Nikon.

We’re excited to bring you a roundup of some of the hottest cameras on sale. That’s right, you don’t have to wait to get Black Friday and holiday sale prices. You can pick up the Fujifilm X-T30 for only $799. The X-T3 with a lens is just $1,399, and the X-T4 with a battery grip is only $1,828. The Nikon D850 with a massive accessory bundle can be yours for just $2,599, and the Mirrorless Nikon Z50 with a lens is just $846.95! Olympus is in holiday mode too! The Olympus Pen F is only $899. The Olympus E-M1 II is also $899, the E-M1 III is only $1,399, and the E-M10 IV has a crazy low price of $549! There are also deals on presets, software, and tutorials. Also, find out how to get $399 worth of products from Photowhoa for free!

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These Cameras and Lenses Produce Documentary Photos Like No Other

We’ve never been let down by this kit when shooting documentary photos, street, and other candids.

Earlier this year, we carefully observed the kits used by award-winning press photographers. What we learned is that there truly is no such thing as a bad camera anymore. They’re all good. It’s just how you use them. But some companies have been creating unique products. Getting documentary photos that no one else has, and a look that no one else has is important. And so we’ve put together a list of favorites. We’ve used and tested all these products, and we strongly recommend them!

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You’re Going to Love These Custom Film Settings for Fujifilm Cameras

If you love using film simulations on your Fujifilm cameras, you’ll love this community-sourced list of settings for many popular films.

I think it’s easy to say that one of Fujifilm’s most beloved features is the film simulations in their cameras. For a long time now, we’ve been able to select Acros, Classic Chrome, Velvia, and more very easily. These film sims are great, but have you ever wished for more? We’re betting your answer is yes. Well, now, you’re in luck. Photographer Triregno David, who shoots with an X-Pro 3, has put together a list of custom settings from many contributors for Fujifilm cameras. This list makes it so that classic films like Kodachrome, Ilford, Kodak Tri-X, and many others can be enjoyed by the masses on their Fujifilm cameras. Head on past the break for more details.

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The 5 Best First Cameras for the Seriously Passionate Photographer

The world of passionate photography can be confusing, but these first cameras will help.

Everyone remembers when they decided to get their first camera. It was a very confusing time for them. Some folks do a lot of research while others just wing it. Well, we’ve got good news. Through the years, we’ve tested lots of cameras. Some are clearly not meant for newbies. And best of all, you don’t need to spend many thousands of dollars to get a good one or professional image quality. So you can do a grab job and impress all your friends at a fraction of the price. We’ve rounded up some of the best first cameras that any and every passionate photographer should get their hands on. Best of all, we’ve only selected the cameras that we’ve tested. So the advice comes to you from personalized experience.

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How I Got Rid of One of My Favorite Cameras

Get rid of your GAS and ensure that your unused camera gear will have a good home.

Ask yourself: what camera gear do you really need? What camera gear that you own are you truly passionate about? Lots of us have GAS: otherwise known as Gear Acquisition Syndrome. We all get it. In some ways, a photography hobby is sometimes like spring cleaning. It’s good to check in every now and again to figure out what you really need. If I didn’t have this job, I’d sell all my Sony gear. Then I’d try to figure out whether I should stick with my Canon or Fuji system. I did this recently with some of my cameras. It was wonderful to see my Fujifilm XT2 every day on the shelf until I noticed the thin layer of dust around it. Now, I personally own fewer cameras, and I use all of them! Selling cameras that you don’t need is important, and we often feel better about ourselves when we do. Better yet, knowing that the gear will probably go to a good home gives you a heartwarming feeling. Enter MPB!

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Show Us the Faces of the Women Who Inspire You, Win a Leica Q2!

Enter to win a Leica Q2 and show us the faces of the women who inspire you in our new Portrait Photography contest!

We’d like you to join Leica and The Phoblographer in celebrating women everywhere. And just by participating, you can score a brand new Leica Q2. How do you enter? Well, take a picture or share an original picture of a woman who inspires you. Then tell us the story of this woman and why you look up to her. All the details are after the jump.

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Spencer Pablo Made the Most Hilarious Sky Replacement We’ve Seen

All images by Spencer Pablo. Used with permission.

“I found I earned my sleep if I got to exercise both hemispheres of my brain—the analytical side and the creative side,” explains photographer Spencer Pablo to us in an interview. The former Sony Artisan has taken to stretching his creative muscles recently. With Photoshop’s new Sky Replacement tool, Spencer decided to have some harmless fun. He got these images done this past weekend, and decided to get them out there on the web while they were still relevant. The photos involve switching the skies out using a scene with a Baby Trump balloon. Arguably, they’re a perfect fit.

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4 Great Point and Shoot Cameras with Wonderful Bokeh

With the right point and shoot camera, you can get that beautiful bokeh background blur.

Bokeh–it’s the thing that makes many of us fall in love with photography. Most of us think that you need the highest-end cameras with the best lenses and the biggest full-frame sensors to get it. But that’s plain wrong. Once you become skilled enough, you start to see the truth. You can get beautiful bokeh with point and shoots. The problem is that we don’t think about modern point and shoots for the great cameras that they are. So we’ve rounded up a bunch of cameras with wonderful bokeh. And we invite you to join us as we take a closer look at some of our favorites.

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The Classic Look You’ll Love. Rokinon 85mm F1.4 II MF Review

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I’ve had mixed feelings about the Rokinon 85mm f1.4 II MF. I’ve been told there are versions of this lens with autofocus contacts. And if you’re choosing this lens, then I recommend that version. I also have a few qualms with the way Samyang and Rokinon state their lenses are weather sealed. But if you can get beyond those things, you’ll have a beautiful lens. There’s something about it that feels both classic and modern. Portraits will have a 3D look to them. At the same time, it won’t be overly sharp the way some new lenses look. This is because it was designed for both cinema and still photo use. Unfortunately, that makes this review very complicated.

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Try Something New. Panasonic LUMIX S 20-60mm F3.5-5.6 Review

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I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks this; there’s something odd about the Panasonic LUMIX S 20-60mm F3.5-5.6 lens. Designed for their full-frame L mount cameras, this lens is a wide to normal zoom. And I get the intent of that. You’re making the lens smaller, wider, and keeping the same aperture range. But it’s still odd. A zoom lens that went from 28-70mm would be far more useful. Admittedly, it’s a good lens. You can explore with it and shoot vast, wide scenes. You can even shoot portraits that are good enough at 60mm. But you’re never going to experience true telephoto. And that’s one of the reasons why you buy real cameras. All of the high-end phones these days have “telephoto” lenses, which are normal focal lengths. And you might be asking why I’m sitting here even bothering with this lens. Well, that’s because it’s a kit lens option.

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5 Rangefinder Style Cameras For Every Budget From Big to Small

These Rangefinder style cameras have all the glitz and glamor of retro cameras and all of the modern tech you could ever need.

Rangefinder style cameras just have that certain something about them that makes photographers’ hearts beat a little harder. Throughout history, some of the most beloved photographers have used rangefinder cameras. It was Henri Cartier-Bresson’s favored type of camera. He is joined by David Douglas Duncan, Robert Capa, Garry Winogrand, and many more. While today’s Rangefinder style cameras don’t really function in the same way as their older counterparts, they still have gorgeous looks. They offer a unique shooting experience too. You can get Mirrorless Rangefinder style cameras with Micro Four Thirds, APS-C, Full-Frame, and even Medium Format sensors. These modern retro cameras range from affordable to rather pricey, but there is one out there for you.

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The Leica Q2 Monochrom is One of their Best Cameras Yet

The Leica Q2 Monochrome has to be the most liberating camera currently on the market.

When I first used the Leica Q2, I was disappointed by the autofocus performance and a few other quirks. But that all improved over time–for the most part at least. And with the new Leica Q2 Monochrome, Leica has created the most liberating camera on the market. It takes the high ISO wars and slaps them in the face. It doesn’t bother too much with quibbles about the dynamic range. And it sure as heck doesn’t care about color depth. Instead, you’re getting pure sharpness, beauty, and freedom to shoot. At the heart of this camera is a Monochrome sensor. As I realized too late when testing the Leica M10 Monochrom, you don’t need to worry about high ISO noise. In this case, you’re embracing it. It can put out images that look like film developed with Rodinal. But beyond that, autofocus has also come a long way. Is it perfect? No, but this has to be the most refreshing camera that Leica has produced in 2020. And more importantly, it has to be my favorite camera of the year.

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The SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD is a Travel Photographer’s Boon

Essentials is a series featuring products we’re currently lusting over in quick, bite-sized posts.

We understand that most photographers aren’t incredibly technical. However, we’re super practical. And the SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD makes practical sense for a photographer. The simplicity is a dream that every photographer yearns for. It’s not perfect, but it gets the job done when you’re out on the road. When you’re back home, it’s easy to back up on a RAID if needed.

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Why Didn’t Canon Make This? Samyang 85mm F1.4 RF Review

The Samyang 85mm f1.4 RF is an affordable option for Canon RF shooters and has everything you want.

This is the lens so many have been asking for. Canon currently has two main 85mm lens options. There’s the 85mm f1.2 RF, which we adore, and the Canon RF 85mm f2. The Samyang 85mm f1.4 RF sits right between both of these. For many, it’s perfectly positioned. There’s no image stabilization, but it has a bit of weather sealing, and it also focuses quickly. And best of all, this lens has its own character to it. It could very well be the option you’re looking for if you’re a portrait photographer.

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Kacper Zapałowski Documents the Real People of Poland’s Protests

All images by Kacper Zapałowski. Used with permission.

“For me, it symbolizes something powerful, firm, and sudden…” says Kacper Zapalowski about his work during the current Polish protests around heavily restricting abortion laws. “Currently, they are one of the biggest protests in Poland to date. Over 100,000 people went to the capital city of Warsaw just yesterday, with many more in the rest of Poland.” There is something about Kacper’s images that really resonate with me. Maybe it’s the intensity in the peoples’ eyes. Though it could also be the way he framed them in a large protest. Shooting portraits the way Kacper did is pretty difficult. But Kacper finds a way to make us pay attention to the chaos. Singling out individuals is incredibly important. And seeing the faces of the people that protests affect can really impact our minds.

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The First 50mm Lenses Every New Photographer Should Get

If you want to get better at photography, 50mm lenses are the way to go.

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not the biggest fan of 50mm lenses. Sometimes they’re too long. Sometimes they’re too short. But they’ll take great pictures. And if you’re new to photography, you’ll probably enjoy your new zoom kit lens. But to actually become better, you’ll need a 50mm. From there, you can figure out if you need something longer or shorter. We went into our reviews index and found many 50mm lenses photographers should start out with. Now, mind you, they’re not perfect. But for the money, they’re doing a great job.

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Opinion: We Need to Bring Back the Fisheye Look from the 90s

I really, really miss the fisheye lens look.

In the past decade, lens and camera manufacturers have been engineering the fun out of cameras and lenses. They’ve found ways to shoot themselves in the foot. People adore the look and character of specific lenses. They don’t need to put it in the post-production process. And while people have asked for that look, the engineers have done the complete opposite. Instead, they’re striving for their own type of perfection with sterility. Take Sony, for example. When was the last time that you really, truly heard someone complain about onion bokeh? Or when was the last time you wish you couldn’t have lens flare in a beautiful portrait? That’s why I love reaching for Zeiss and Leica lenses. The character in those lenses is jaw-dropping. More importantly, we’ve gotten rid of distortion. The fisheye look was fun. But now, every manufacturer is trying to create a perfectly rectilinear wide-angle lens instead of embracing the flaws. It’s making photos dull.

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How to Fall in Love with Film Again. Fujifilm Acros 100 II Review

Click the Listen to this Article button to follow along with the review. Give it a try!

Fujifilm truly showed how they’ve got guts and amazed me. How often does a company discontinue a film, listen to their fans, and then bring it back? I mean, would you ever expect Apple to say that they were wrong? Or Canon? Fujifilm basically did that, and they deserve lots of praise for it. Fujifilm Acros 100 II is the company’s new emulsion. It’s a beautiful one with inky blacks, sharp details, and a gorgeous look to it. If you shoot with Fujifilm X series cameras, I strongly suggest you give Acros 100 II a shot. But it’s also great if you’re looking or a sharp, low ISO film. And when it’s paired with the right lenses, it’s going to give you all those tones you rave about. Alongside Kodak T-Max 400, this is now my favorite black and white film.

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Spend $9 Per Month and Get $399 Worth of Presets and Freebies

That’s right, $399 of presets, tutorials, and more can be yours for free when you become a Plus member with Photowhoa.

Wow! Now, this is a deal you can’t afford to miss out on. We’ve found a deal that will save you money all year long on presets, tutorials, software, and more. Photowhoa has launched a service called Plus Membership. This membership will allow you to save an extra 20% on all their photography bundles. You’ll also get six free bundles per year worth $399 for just $99! We have also found five free deals that can be your with no strings attached. Just download and enjoy them! Find out more about this exciting new plan and the freebies after the break.

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