I wasn’t sure what to expect with the IRIX 150mm f2.8 Dragonfly Macro Lens, but it’s solid all around. When IRIX announced that their Dragonfly series of lenses would be a bit in between their Blackstone and their Firefly lenses, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Then I got to see it for a bit at Photo Plus East last year, and my expectations were more positive. But what really made me happy about the IRIX 150mm f2.8 Dragonfly Macro Lens is how it performs on the Canon EOS R. This lens is weather sealed, sharp, has 11 aperture blades to render gorgeous bokeh, accurate focus due to a long focus throw and Canon’s absolutely fantastic rangefinder system, and overall is a very versatile lens. Though IRIX’s options are more for enthusiasts due to the low price and the manual focus, this lens is worthy of being in the bag of any working portrait photographer. It allows for close focusing distance and provides solid image quality.
We have a fair bit of impressive travel photography featured in the last couple of years, all done with different focus, style, and approach. If you’re into this photography genre and would like to get some inspiration for narrative styles, we think you’ll like the recent addition to our roster of favorites: the Georgia travel diary of French lifestyle and travel photographer Aurélien Buttin.
A quick browse at #Polaroid on Instagram will show a mix of mostly random, but among the most eye-catching are the portraits, with either a fashion slant or a more experimental look. Dig into the hashtags and accounts and you’ll start to narrow down the posts to actual Polaroid photos, with even more interesting portraits popping up. Dig long and hard enough and you’ll eventually notice that Polaroid has become a popular medium not only for fashion photography and documenting youth culture, but also for photographers exploring artful nude photography.
More and more people are using their smartphones as their primary cameras these days, and while they are pretty capable shooters, one thing that really holds them back is the inability to change lenses. SIRUI has come to market with two new mobile lenses that they hope will go a little way to solve this problem. Today, SIRUI has announced a new 400mm long focus lens and a new Anamorphic lens for videographers who want to be able to create cinematic, widescreen videos. Join us after the break for more details on both.
Paris-based Louis Dazy, a long time favorite of the film photography community for his dreamy and nostalgic imagery, has finally put together his first self-published photo book. If you’ve long been waiting to get a good collection of his work on print, now is your chance to show your support and grab a copy though Kickstarter.
New to shooting in the studio and wondering how to do the lighting? It’s definitely an important part of studio work, but all the equipment and lighting techniques could be intimidating to every beginner. However, with this simple cheat sheet we spotted from r/coolguides, you’ll be on your way to getting started with learning how to light.
Whether you’re upgrading your photography gear or looking into adding some new equipment to your tools, here’s something that could be useful for you. Photo Idō is a new photo service that allows photographers to save on photo equipment, while also supporting independently owned and operated stores and service providers.
We love bringing you great deals, and this one is a doozy! We have an exclusive deal for readers of The Phoblographer that will help you build your library of Lightroom presets on the cheap. Until July 10th, you’ll be able to get over 3,900 Lightroom presets for the ridiculously low price of just $14.50 when you use the coupon code PHOBLOGRAPHER50 during checkout. Join us after the break for more details on this limited time deal.
If aerial photography is your passion and you’re looking for more impressive work to inspire you, we’re sure the work of German fine art, architecture, and landscape photographer Kevin Krautgarner fits the bill. In his two-part series titled Australian Salt, he gives us a bird’s eye view of the colorful salt evaporation ponds in Australia. Aerial photography has long been known to bring to our attention some of nature’s most mesmerizing shapes and patterns. In this case, however, we’re all eyes on the surprisingly artful colors we don’t usually associate with the process of salt making.
Tired of your current desktop or laptop sounding like a jet engine while photo editing in Lightroom, Capture One 12, or any other photo editing software? If so, it may be time for a new computer, but don’t be fooled into thinking that you need to drop a few grand to get a machine that can get the job done. If you’re in the market for a pre-built desktop PC, or a laptop that will get through tough photo editing sessions like a boss, check out this roundup of computers that cost less than a grand each.