Photography News

Summer light is some of the most challenging light to work with for portraits. It's bright, contrasty, and full of harsh shadows that flatten your subject instead of flatter them. 

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Street photography is genuinely hard, and most people don't tell you that upfront. Mike Chudley spent a year producing work that looked fine on Instagram but left him personally unsatisfied, and that tension between taste and ability is something most people never stop to examine. 

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Canon's oldest EF mount lenses are worth a second look now that they adapt so cleanly onto modern mirrorless bodies. The Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro is one of the more interesting cases: a lens from 1987 that regularly sells for under $100 on eBay and still communicates fully with current Canon R-series cameras, including in-body stabilization and in-camera corrections. 

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1. What Gear Should I Use? 

To feel connected to the person in the image, you need to get in close without invading personal space the easiest way to do this is with a telephoto zoom. Working hand-held is fine but if you prefer you can use a tripod. 
 

2. Be Polite

If you're not working on a portrait shoot, it's always polite to ask when photographing someone, especially when your focus is their face. After all, you don't want them to suddenly turn around and scowl at you because they didn't know you were taking their picture.
 

3. Eyes Need To Be Sharp

To really pick out the details that make a portrait captivating blur your background and always, always make sure the eyes are in focus. To stop the portrait looking lifeless make sure there's a catch light in the eyes. A small burst of flash or having a light source behind the camera, facing the subject will help you do this.
 

4. Make Conversation 

Most people when they're asked if they can have their photo taken become quite self-conscious and will grin like the Cheshire cat until you've finished. To combat this, you need to talk to them, and this is not only about what you're trying to achieve but also ask them, about their life, what they do etc. Keep this conversation going, giving them pointers, and if it helps, compliments while you snap away. This will help them relax and soon they'll have forgotten about the lens they have pointing their way.

 

5. Give Guidance 

If you can, position your subject at a 45-degree angle and get them to turn their head to the camera as this can produce flattering results. However, directing them to look away, down or up will convey a completely different tone in the image. A sombre expression on a face that's looking away from the camera can appear reflective while someone looking up or into the distance will have a sense of determination and strength.

 

6. Think About Backgrounds 

Your subject always has to be the centre of attention so if you do want to use surrounding scenery make sure it compliments the portrait and isn't distracting. Back-lighting the subject can help with this as you'll get a halo-like effect on your subject's hair and body which will help them stand out from your background. If you're using the sun as your backlight you'll need to bounce light into the image to stop your subject appearing as a silhouette. To rectify this, bounce light onto your subject's face with a reflector or you could use fill-in flash but you'll need to make sure it's stopped down so your portrait still looks natural.

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There's a lot of competition out there for photographers' attention with recent updates of editing software. The big target for competitors is Adobe's ecosystem of programs, and many of my pro photographer friends are pretty locked in on Adobe Lightroom.

 

Today, Skylum released an update to Luminar Neo that will certainly gain some attention. With version 1.27.1, Luminar Neo gains the ability to import pretty much everything from your Lightroom collections. Here's how Skylum describes it:

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A lot of photographers nowadays prefer camera bags that are built to protect gear but barely look like it. This variation of Wandrd's Prvke backpack takes that to a whole new level. 

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A new camera presents you with hundreds of settings, and the manuals that explain them are written as if you already understand the vocabulary. You do not need to learn all of it. You need to understand about ten settings well, because those ten control almost everything about how your photographs turn out. Here is what each one does, in plain language, without the jargon that makes photography sound harder than it is. 

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Experience makes photographers faster by teaching them to recognize patterns. The same mechanism can also prevent them from seeing photographs that do not fit those patterns.

 

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Excire has launched version 2027 of its photo-management software, adding several new features to help photographers organize and cull through large image libraries. The update is available now for Windows and macOS. It's a one-time purchase with no monthly subscription, and the software runs locally on your computer so your photos stay private.

 

New Features on Excire Foto 2027

The update introduces a handful of major workflow upgrades to help you navigate large collections:

• Text recognition in images: The new AI text search can actually read words inside your images. You can type in a word to instantly pull up photos containing specific street signs, store names, or sports jerseys.
• World Map View: You can now browse your library geographically using an interactive map. This makes it easy to look through your travel history and find photos based on exactly where you took them.
• Survey Mode and Better Culling: Built to mimic old-school analog light tables, the new Survey Mode lets you compare images side by side without distractions. It also adds focus peaking to instantly check image sharpness and a Rule of Thirds overlay to evaluate composition.
• Smart filters and timeline tools: A new AI-powered filter bar and a visible Timeline Graph let you sift through thousands of images by date or content with far fewer clicks.
• Cloud Sharing and Interface Upgrades: The software now supports direct cloud sharing through Microsoft OneDrive and Nextcloud. It also features a cleaner layout with adjustable side panels and video export options.

The software still includes its older search and organization tools: prompt search, facial recognition, similarity search, automatic keywording, and duplicate detection.

 

 

Pricing and Availability

Excire Foto 2027 is available now for a one-time license fee of $249 / €229 / £229 / CHF 229, but a limited-time launch promotion drops that cost down to $219 / €199 / £199 / CHF 199.

If you are already using an older version of the software, you can skip the full price. Upgrades cost $99 / €99 / £99 / CHF 99 for Excire Foto 2024 users and $79 / €79 / £79 / CHF 79 for Excire Foto 2025 users. A 14-day free trial is also available if you want to test out the features first.

For more information, please visit the Excire website.

The Sony a7R VI raises the resolution bar for full frame cameras to 66.8 megapixels on a fully stacked sensor, and that combination produces results that will make you rethink how much camera you actually need. The stacked design isn't just about pixels — it's what allows the a7R VI to shoot 30 frames per second with full autofocus and a blackout-free viewfinder at that resolution. 

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Choosing between a 40mm and 50mm lens looks simple on paper, but in real shooting situations, the gap between them matters more than the numbers suggest. The field of view difference alone can determine whether you get three people in a wedding cocktail hour frame or two. 

 

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Choosing between a 35mm and a 55mm lens for location portraits isn't just a focal length debate. Shot in harsh midday Texas sun, this head-to-head between two of Viltrox's most talked-about Evo lenses puts the decision in a real-world context that gear charts can't replicate. 

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Not having the horizon in the right place or focusing so much on other aspects that you forget to check that the horizon is actually straight is an easy mistake that many will hold their hand up to making.

This doesn't mean you can't experiment with horizon angles but if you do, you need to make it obvious as a small tilt will just look like you didn't check the viewfinder before hitting the shutter button. The same goes for the positioning of the horizon as if it's positioned badly, it can distract the viewer as well as spoil the composition of your shot.

 

1. How To Keep Horizons Straight

 

To stop your landscapes looking like they're going to slide out of the side of the frame, consider investing in a small spirit level (if your tripod doesn't already have one) that can be attached to your camera or, if your camera has one, use the grid intended for helping with the rule of thirds as a guide as even though this isn't really what they were designed for, they're made up of straight lines so can be helpful when struggling to tell what level is.

  2. Where To Put The Horizon?

 

It's important that your horizon doesn't cut through the centre of your image If the sky's more interesting move it down and if the land's what the viewer should be looking at move it up. That way, they'll know where their focus is meant to be.

If you're at the coast, shooting the sea and the sky has particularly interesting cloud formations or it's an amazing sunset, lower the horizon so the sky fills most of the frame. But if you want to include some foreground interest or create the sense of distance in your image, move the horizon up. Just remember to use a small aperture so you get front-to-back sharpness.

Of course, there are times when breaking the rules do work, such as when your photo includes an eye-catching reflection in a lake, so don't dismiss putting your horizons in the centre of your images completely.

There may be a time when you're shooting a landscape where the shapes and patterns of the land are enough to hold the viewer's attention so removing the horizon completely from the shot would work, too. 

 

3. How To Adjust The Horizon's Position

 

You can either tilt the camera, move its position higher or lower or take your shot as normal and crop the image later when you're in front of your computer.

If you have lots of vertical shapes such as trees and tall buildings in your shot, tilting the camera can cause perspective problems. However, if you're at the coast without a building in sight you should be fine.

To give your camera more/less height adjust your tripod's legs. Just make sure the locks are secure before you start taking your shot as you don't want your camera to start sliding down while you're trying to frame-up. If you need more height you can adjust the centre column but do adjust the legs first before doing this as the legs offer a more stable base to work with.

 

4. How To Fix Horizons In Old Photos

 

If you do take your shot and get home before you realise it's slanting to one side or you look back at landscapes you've taken previously and notice the horizon's not quite right don't worry; a simple crop in Photoshop will have your image back upright. You can also crop your shot to shift the position of the horizon, too.
 

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Shooting real estate with the right gear is only half the battle. Even with a solid camera and lens kit, a handful of repeated technical mistakes will quietly drag your images below the level clients expect and competitors deliver. 

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- Partner Content - 

 

 

Tamron’s reputation as a manufacturer of top-quality lenses for enthusiast and professional photographers is second to none. Its current line-up includes primes and zooms such as the ultra-wide 16-30mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2, the super versatile 25-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 and the powerful 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD. Whatever your photographic interest, Tamron has a lens for you. 

First featured on the 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 and 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD launched in 2021 and now making a regular feature on its products is a USB-C port, which lets users customise the lenses.

Using the Tamron Lens Utility desktop app – available for Windows and Mac - with the lens connected to the computer, firmware updates are possible directly without the need of a separate dock and different tasks and focus ring behaviour can be adjusted to suit the user’s preferences. It’s a very powerful feature and available on 19 of Tamron’s current lens family.

 

The Tamron-Link TL-01 is tiny and weighs just 2g so there’s no handling impact on the lens it’s plugged into.

 

Tamron recently introduced the Tamron-Link TL-01, which exploits the feature even more. Plug this tiny unit into the USB-C port of a compatible lens, pair it with the free Tamron Lens Utility mobile app - available for Android and iOS - on your smart device using Bluetooth and you have wireless communication and control. 

There’s an impressive range of lens features you can adjust wirelessly.

 

 

 

Tamron-Link TL-01: Quick verdict

It’s a powerful, affordable device that suits stills and video shooting with plenty of creative potential. The Tamron-Link TL-01 will clearly appeal to existing Tamron owners but it’s also a serious attraction for aspiring Tamron lens owners too, offering features not available on competitor lenses.

 

+ Pros

• Great price
• Tiny, so doesn’t impair lens handling
• Stable Bluetooth
• Digital Follow Focus features
• Mobile app is good to use and has plenty of support
• Can be used with multiple lenses

- Cons

• Lens firmware updating still needs a computer

 

 

The process of pairing the Tamron Lens Utility app on your smart device to the Tamron-Link is straightforward. The key thing is to check the ID number printed on the Tamron-Link itself.

 

Tamron-Link TL-01: Setting-up

Pairing the Tamron-Link TL-01 is easy enough and takes a few minutes. The first time you use the TL-01 with a lens necessitates setting up a password and then inputting the Tamron-Link TL-01’s ID details, which are printed on the device itself. Just follow the instruction screens on the app, and you’ll be set up and ready to go in no time. There’s also no need to worry about charging the device because it draws power from the camera’s battery.

Once the lens is connected, the Tamron-Link enables a wide range of features to be called upon wirelessly, which is obviously much more convenient than having to hook it up to a computer.

 

Tamron-Link TL-01: In use

Key handling changes include the ability to change the rotating direction of the focus barrel. The default is anticlockwise direction towards infinity (as seen from behind the camera) which matches Sony lenses, but to suit Nikon users, the direction can be changed to clockwise. The focusing barrel can also be set to cover the entire focusing distance with different amounts of rotation, with the options of 90°, 180°, 270° and 360°.  Another option is the choice of linear focus, which mimics the focusing action of traditional lenses, or non-linear, which is focusing by wire, so focusing speed depends on how quickly the focus barrel is adjusted.

Several Tamron lenses have a three position Custom Switch, and each position can be assigned to a range of features that are brought into play by pushing the Focus Set button. In the Tamron Lens Utility app, there’s a scrolling menu of options, including Select AF/MF, which toggles between autofocus and manual focus operation and Assign Function from Camera, which enables a camera function to be brought into play with the Focus Set button.

 

The Custom Switch (shown here on the 35-100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD) has a positive and firm click and the Focus Set button is on the left.

 

There are several creative features too, including Focus Time Lapse, which works together with the camera’s interval timer, Astro FC-L, which sets infinity focus at a push of the Focus Set button and Ring Function (Focus/Aperture), and this allows aperture or focus ring adjustment wirelessly, so handy when you can’t get at the lens’s controls.

On the app, there is a page called DFF, which stands for Digital Follow Focus and it’s here you can set up the focus features that suit stills and video shooting. For instance, Focus Time Lapse means you can shoot video time lapse and adjust focus at the same time, while in stills, it can be used for focus bracketing. 

For video DFF lets you pull focus with three focus points, and the speed and transition can be adjusted to suit the shot.

Using the TL-01 takes a little practice, but it’s not complicated and the app’s help menu is very good.

A range of features can be assigned to the Tamron Custom Switch and brought into play by pushing or holding (depending on what you have set) the Focus Set button.

 

Tamron-Link TL-01: Specifications

• Price: £59.99
• Length: 25.3mm
• Height: 6.6mm
• Weight: 2g
• Bluetooth class: Class 2
• Bluetooth version: 5.4
• Range Max: 5m
• Operating temperature: 0-40°C
• Operating humidity: 85% or less
• Contact: www.tamron.eu
• Click here for Tamron-Link page
• Click here to check lens compatibility with Tamron-Link 
• Click here to download iOS Tamron Lens Utility
• Click here to download Android Tamron Lens Utility 

 

Tamron-Link TL-01: Verdict

An outlay of £59 is modest when you consider what it offers with compatible Tamron lenses. Indeed, the Tamron-Link TL-01 is a bargain, so whether you already own a suitable Tamron lens or are thinking about buying one, it’s well worth having in the camera bag.

 

Tamron-Link TL-01 Pros

• Great price
• Tiny, so doesn’t impair lens handling
• Stable Bluetooth
• Digital Follow Focus features
• Mobile app is good to use and has plenty of support
• Can be used with multiple lenses

 

Tamron-Link TL-01 Cons

• Lens firmware updating still needs a computer

 

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Sharpness is one of photography's most debated specs, and it's also one of the most overrated. The Olympus 40-150mm f/4-5.6 R is widely considered one of the least sharp lenses in the Micro Four Thirds lineup, and Chris Baitson decided to take it out for a full shooting session anyway. 

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1. What Gear Do I Need?

 

• Tripod – If you're working your way around the outside of the structure you'll need a light tripod, one with a spirit level will help.
• Wide-angle lens – Get all of the castle in one shot. Take a look at our 'top wide-angle lenses' for recommendations. 
• Longer lenses – Focus in on detail or if the castles further away, use the long reach to zoom in on the castle so it fills the frame.
• Camera bag – You need a bag that will fit all of your kit but not get you stuck when you're trying to navigate small stairwells.
• ND graduated filter – Help balance exposures when you're shooting wide, scenic views.

 

2. Do Your Research

Pre-planning can mean the difference between a successful day of shooting and only returning home with a handful of shots because you spent most of the day walking around trying to find good spots to shoot from. Have a look at how other photographers have shot the castle you're visiting. You should find plenty of advice online but if you're still stuck for ideas, have a quick look in the castle's gift shop for postcards as these should give you plenty of ideas on what angles work and won't don't.

 

3. Watch Those Verticals

If you're shooting uphill or are closer to the castle walls and are shooting up it can end up looking like the walls are sloping in on your final shot. You can buy lenses specifically designed to stop this, but they're expensive so unless you're going to shoot architecture professionally, or on a more regular basis, you're better off just correcting the shot in Photoshop after. You can also find a higher spot to shoot from and there should be plenty of windows or tops of towers you can take your photos from.

4. Include The Surroundings Or Shoot Up Close?

If the castle has particularly majestic surroundings include it but if your castle now sits surrounded by more modern buildings, crop in. For sites where there are only a few walls left standing try some close-up photography. Look for walls that are full of cracks and moss as you'll get a few shots for your texture collection.

 

 

5. Make A Frame

You won't be short of windows, doorways and arches that can be turned into frames for your photos. Just remember to include your 'frame' at the edge of the photo and, where possible, shoot straight on so your frame doesn't sit wonkily.
 

6. Lead The Eye In

Bridges over moats and corridors which seem to stretch on forever can be used to lead the viewer's eye from one point of the shot to another. If they're several archways or columns that line the corridor walls even better as they often form symmetrical patterns that will add further interest to your shot.
 

7. Inside The Castle 

If you can take your tripod inside the castle do as the darker conditions will mean you need longer shutter speeds and you can get shake in your images with you take them hand-held. 

Stairs curving up and around with the old walls make great subjects but as there's very little light, you may want to try shooting several shots at different exposures and merging them together once you're home. For more tips on HDR take a look at our previous article: HDR Tips.

If it's a particularly busy day longer shutter speeds can help 'remove' some of the tourists from your shot. Or, you could try using a shutter speed that turns the visitor's movement into ghost-like streaks for a more abstract approach.
 

8. Photograph People

At larger castles such as Warwick, you'll find people in costumes and there are often days when special events such as jousting take place. For tips on photographing re-enactments take a look at our previous articles on jousting and living museums.
 

You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition

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The latest winner of our popular daily photography theme which takes place in our forums have been chosen and congratulations go to mmart (Day 28 - 'Hot-Air Balloon').

 

Daily Theme Runners-Up

If you didn't win this time, keep uploading your images to the daily competition forum for another chance to win! If you're new to the Daily Theme, you can find out more about it in the Daily Theme Q&A. 

Well done to our latest runners-up, too, whose images you can take a look at below.

  Day 24

Holiday Memories

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Day 25

Garden Macro Shots

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Day 26

Summer Landscapes

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Day 27

Historic Buildings

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  Day 29

Pond Life

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Day 30

Travel Shots

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Day 31

Sunrise

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You’ll find the Daily Themes, along with other great photo competitions, over in our Forum. Take a look to see the latest daily photo contests. Open to all levels of photographer, you’re sure to find a photography competition to enter. Why not share details of competitions with our community? Join the camaraderie and upload an image to our Gallery.

If a docking station can support or charge everything you use on your desk, this might be it. This 15-in-1 docking station powers all your devices safely and efficiently while keeping your desk neat. 

 

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Behind every lens decision is a balancing act between autofocus, portability, and excellent optical quality. It usually feels like you can only pick two. But with the introduction of Viltrox's second L-mount lens, the AF 28mm f/4.5 L, we might have just found a recipe that genuinely delivers on all three fronts by making the compromise elsewhere: a fixed, slower aperture. In this article, I will be putting this tiny lens to the test to see if it actually holds up its end of the bargain—translating a spec sheet into real-world performance. 

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