We’ve all done this: headed out to a fascinating outdoor location for sunset and shot some stunning photos in landscape orientation, using a sizeable ultra-wide lens. Then the thought pops up, “Hey, this would make a great photo in portrait mode too.” The problem is most amateur photographers don’t carry L-brackets. Your tripod ballhead isn’t always strong enough to hold the camera and a heavy lens in a vertical position inside the drop-notch. Try tightening every knob to the max, and you’ll still notice them giving way slowly during a long exposure. Taipei-based Silence Corner came out with a solution a couple of years ago. But their latest Kickstarter campaign for the ATOLL makes it easier and smoother to switch camera orientations easily. It’s sort of like a tripod collar ring for almost any lens.
Continue reading…If you’ve ever had to hike up a mountain, you probably really appreciated the challenge of climbing with a camera around you. Besides having the right shoes, having less weight also means a huge difference. But when you finally get to the top, you should have the right camera gear to document it. Most lenses for landscape photography tend to be a bit heavier. But we’ve tested the best lightweight lenses for landscape photography. Here’s a selection of lenses we really adore.
Continue reading…Landscape photography is fun for both the consumer and the creator. The consumer gets to enjoy remote parts of the world they may not have otherwise seen. And the creator gets to have the thrill of adventure and the sense of tranquility that often accompany this type of photographic practice. Of course, we’ve shared plenty of stunning images made by the best landscape photographers around, and in this article we’re going to celebrate our favorites.
Continue reading…“I am lucky; my wife supports me,” quips Bill Hao when queried on what his friends and family think of his massive wet plate camera obsession. He spent close to a year crafting the camera and its portable setup (if you can call it portable), and he loves touring his country and taking landscape photos.
Continue reading…Ever found yourself by a railing or a ledge, taking a photograph using a tripod, and wishing you had some way of sticking the camera a little farther out? Then the new Vanguard VEO 3+ 263CT may be the tripod you’re looking for. With its innovative multi-angle central column and an adapter that allows you to add accessories or an extra camera even, this tripod has more than one trick up its sleeve. Does it tick all the boxes you’re looking for in a $349.99 tripod?
Continue reading…Documentary photography plays an integral role in shaping the world’s ideals and fighting oppression. A good story can open our eyes to things we haven’t seen, even as those things may have already been in plain sight. As powerful as it may be, I believe photographers in this field get a little more leeway than they should, especially when it comes to the quality of the photography.
Continue reading…What’s my photography niche? How do I find my photography niche? I’m struggling to find my niche. There are some of the questions and comments that arise for photographers. Once the initial infatuation fades, many believe it’s time to knuckle down and find a genre that best amplifies their photographic voice. When people can’t find that niche, they become disillusioned and feel like something is wrong, but there isn’t.
Continue reading…Infrared photography has been a constant theme here at The Phoblographer. When photographers load up some Kodak Aerochrome, embark on an adventure, and create their infrared masterpieces, our excitement reaches boiling point. We have published many photographers shooting in this style. Below are some of the best to feature on the publication.
Continue reading…“The initial inspiration for Multiscapes came about while photographing in the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley,” the photographer Craig Colvin tells me. It was more than a decade ago, and he was taking a workshop with the fine art landscape photographer John Paul Caponigro. He spent hours roaming the dunes, and as he navigated the landscape, camera in hand, a thought emerged.
Continue reading…With photography comes great adventure, if you want it. At the very least, photography gives you the perfect excuse to get out of the house and explore. For those interested in outdoor and hiking photography but are a little unsure what to do, here’s a little guide to get you started.
Continue reading…The 2021 International Landscape Photographer of the Year winners have been announced. Over 4,500 photographers entered the competition. All of them were hoping to get their work recognized and get some of the $10,000 in prize money up for grabs. A total of 11 photographers received a prize, with one being named the overall photographer of the year. The standard of imagery was high. However, it put focus on a major problem.
Continue reading…“Wildfires are equally terrifying and fascinating,” the California photographer Liam Searson tells me. “Especially at night, when the daylight fades, seeing the landscape erupt in a glowing orange is a pretty unforgettable experience. Imagine if the northern lights, the Aurora Borealis, were extremely toxic and posed a major danger to those in the vicinity. Would we still find them as beautiful as we do now? In a kind of f**ked up way, that’s the same way I view wildfires.“
Continue reading…“For a long time, I have felt drawn to wild and magical places, from the deserts to the snow-capped mountains of the Chinese landscape,” the photographer Jonas Daley tells me. “I am curious about the natural world, particularly the kinds of landscapes that feel unknown or mysterious in some way.” For more than five years now, he’s photographed the rolling dunes of the Qaidam Basin, a desert landscape surrounded by mountains, using a converted infrared camera to capture a singular location in all its otherworldly splendor.
Continue reading…We had an awesome start to 2022. From the publication side, more and more of our readers signed up to The Phoblographer’s official app. And from the creative side, we were able to feature some stellar photographs from new and seasoned photographers. Always a publication that enjoys reflection, let’s take a look at some of the best photographs we featured in January.
Continue reading…France, a nation full of romance, is a beautiful spot to make images. From the cityscapes in Paris to the golden sands of Nice, France doesn’t lack picturesque destinations. Photographers visit from all over the world to create their perception of the Western European nation. Once they’ve made their images and edited them in post, they often send them to us to see if they are worth publication on The Phoblographer. Many of them are, and in this piece, we will show you the best photography in France.
Continue reading…“The universe is telling you you’re not here for a very long time,” answers Paul Zizka when I queried why he places himself in many of his night landscape shots. He enjoys doing this to communicate the connection of mankind to the landscape on which we live. Some of his nightscapes look like they were taken on a different planet altogether, a testimony to the diverse Earth we inhabit but have yet to explore in detail.
Continue reading…The Leica M 135mm f3.4 is one of the longest lenses in Leica’s beloved M mount system. As such, it brings more background separation and the ability to get in close without physically being close. The lens, formally known as the Leica APO Telyt M 135mm f3.4, brings several key features that I’ve come to expect from the system, starting with the solid build and continuing to the color and contrast. Of course, it has a price that I’ve come to expect from the system as well — $4,495.
Continue reading…“When you dedicate passion and consistency to what you do, the rewards will come by themselves,” reveals Paolo Pettignani of Italy about his commitment to his craft. Known as one of the leading photographers in the contemporary field of infrared photography, in person, he’s reserved and prefers to let his work speak for itself.
Continue reading…Ultra-wide angle lenses tend to be huge and expensive. But, Canon’s widest full-frame mirrorless prime is also one of the company’s most affordable lenses. Beat in price by only the $199 nifty fifty, the Canon RF 16mm f2.8 STM sits at just $299. At under six ounces, it barely adds weight to the front of the camera. And, it’s an ultra-wide-angle lens that doesn’t have an equivalent in the EF mount.
Continue reading…Since using their 200mm years ago, I’ve always wished for better lenses for nature and landscape photography with Fujifilm cameras. And luckily, the pandemic gave them to us. People were stuck inside or socially distancing. Birding, landscape photography, and nature photography became popular. Passionate photographers took up these wonderful lenses and shot photos. If you’re looking to go for a hike or heading out to the woods, the new Tamron 18-300mm f3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD could be the perfect lens for you.
Continue reading…“Ciri loved exploring Norway with me, running free, and having baths in the fjords,” Alicja Zmysłowska tells me. Ciri, a Border Collie, accompanied the photographer on an epic journey through the Nordic landscape–home of the northern lights and the midnight sun. On one occasion, they spent the day walking, and when all was said and done, they’d covered 28 kilometers to reach the famous Trolltunga rock formation. They spent their nights in a tent, side-by-side, beneath the starry sky.
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