Photography News

Spring is a time of new growth, flowers and colour; we lose the beige of late winter and get the fresh spring greens.

Before you go out looking for spring landscapes, take a moment to consider what constitutes spring. Think bluebells, fresh spring growth and new bracken unfurling to open up and cover the dead bracken of last year.
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Flowers & Trees 

If you're working in a landscape with a carpet of flowers, or wild garlic, try a low viewpoint to emphasise the perspective and to bring the blooms to the fore, while still giving an overall view of the scene. A small aperture, such as f/16 or f/22 will ensure front-to-back sharpness and if you can, check the depth-of-field by using your depth-of-field preview button. As a guide, to ensure maximum depth of field, manually focus the lens about a third of the way into the picture from the closest point to where your lens 'sees' infinity.

If doing spring landscapes in woodland areas, dappled light shining through the leaves helps to emphasise texture, depth and the fresh, spring feeling. For an added abstract style, try a drag landscape, by panning the camera upwards during a longish exposure, to give an impressionist feel.

Get out on a good day, and make the most of the fresh, spring feeling.

To go in tight on details of carpets of flowers, try using a long lens of 200-300mm at a wide aperture. The wide aperture will give a band of narrow focus through the picture for the eye to lock-on, whereas the telephoto compression offered by the long lens will pull the layers of flowers together to portray a denser mass of colour. A polarising filter may help by taking reflections off the petals and intensifying the colours.

Landscapes with trees showing that wonderful fresh green that they only have in springtime really give a sense of season. Wait until the landscape behind them is in the shadow of a cloud, to really make the light greens stand out. Be careful metering scenes like these, as the dark background may fool the meter into overexposure, resulting in lost highlight detail in the leaves of the subject tree! So keep a close eye on your histogram.

Weather & Blue Skies

When you're trying to get across the feeling of a spring day, it pays to pick a good one! Certainly include skies if they are bringing out the feeling of spring warmth, but try to find skies with interesting cloud detail rather than overall featureless blue. If the angle is right, a polarising filter can bring out the blue to great effect. Be very careful when using a polariser in conjunction with a wide-angle lens, as the filter only successfully polarises light at 90 degrees to the sun, a very wide angle of view can often result in one side of the sky showing strong polarisation, whilst the other half shows none. Sometimes a graduated ND filter can have a more even effect on skies taken with wide-angle lenses.
 

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    1. Lenses For Flower Photography When it comes to kit, a macro lens or telephoto zoom lens with an extension tube won't be out of place and as you'll most likely be working close to the ground try to preview your shots with the help of LiveView if you find that getting your eye close to the viewfinder is difficult. A tripod is always useful when shooting macro work and a waterproof sheet, mat or gardener's kneeling pad will make the experience of working on the damp ground slightly more comfortable.  [HOOK]position_1[/HOOK]  2. Get Down Low 

Ideally, you need to be working at the same height as the snowdrops so be prepared for sitting or kneeling on the damp ground. To get you even closer to the flower heads you'll need to splay the legs on your tripod and, if you can, move the centre column from vertical to horizontal as this will get you closer to the ground. As well as making use of LiveView, switch on the camera's self-timer or use your cable /remote release to help keep your shots shake-free.
 

3. Shot Type One: Plenty Of Depth-Of-Field

Once you're set-up, you'll find you need a small f/stop to get good depth-of-field, which means you need a long exposure and when you look through the viewfinder or use your LiveView, you'll notice how the smallest of breezes will blow the flower which when mixed with slower shutter speeds, will create blur. Try using a simple piece of wire to keep the flower still or you could just wait patiently for the wind to settle down.
 

4. Shot Type Two: Bokeh Backgrounds 

If you find a particularly good specimen that doesn't have anything distracting in the background or foreground, throw the background out of focus, keeping the flower sharp. Take this one step further and completely cut out the steam, leaving the viewer's focus completely on the head of the flower. If the background looks a little too empty try positioning yourself so another Snowdrop sits in the background which you can blur out of focus. For group shots, try to pick out two or three for the centre of your image then create an out of focus frame with the surrounding snowdrops.

 

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In recent years, NAS devices have quietly regained relevance, particularly among photographers and small creative teams. This resurgence is driven not only by concerns over cloud storage costs and data ownership but also by improved affordability and the accessibility of modern NAS technology. The TerraMaster F2-425 Plus enters this space as an affordable flagship hybrid NAS, combining high-speed networking, NVMe expansion, and a more approachable setup experience—features that were once reserved for far more expensive systems. 

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The ProArt P16 pairs a stunning 4K OLED display with desktop-rivaling performance in a surprisingly portable package. Here's what two months of real-world use revealed. 

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The Tamron 35-100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD steps into a space that barely existed before. You get a constant f/2.8 aperture, useful reach to 100mm, and a body that doesn’t weigh down your bag. 

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The Fujifilm X100VI has been one of the most talked-about compact cameras in years, partly because it took so long to get into people’s hands. If you’ve been holding out for one, the real question isn’t about hype, it’s about whether the changes actually affect how you shoot. 

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Shooting a first wedding carries real weight. You get one day, no redo, and a long list of moments that will not wait while you figure things out. 

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You don’t need a detailed plan to come home with strong images. Rick Bebbington proves that during a three-hour walk through Punta Arenas, Chile, where he ignores the obvious shots and trusts instinct instead. 

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It doesn't matter if you're planning an indoor or outdoor shoot, will be working with a professional model or your children, we have to tutorials that cover all aspects of portrait photography so you'll be ready to click the shutter button as soon as your subject arrives. 

 

1. Urban Portrait Shoot Photography Tips

 

City streets are an abundance of jewelled lights from traffic, shops, and festive bulbs. Their colour and a good bit of sky detail make city locations perfect for urban winter shoots. Dramatic clouds or the subtle gradation of twilight hues make good backgrounds for winter lights but as the light fades and your background turns black, you can turn your attention to the Bokeh effect to really make your urban work shine.

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2. Tips On Using Fill-In Flash For Portraits

 

Fill-in flash can give images that extra bit of 'pop' they need when working both inside and out. Adding a little flash can flatter your model's skin, remove deep shadows that can appear in places on the face such as under the nose and it will give your model catchlights in their eyes which is a big bonus. It's also useful on overcast days as it can breathe life into dull portraits. You can also use a 'pop' of flash to highlight foreground interest in landscape shots.

 

3. Natural Light Portrait Tips For Beginners

 

Get back to basics and make the most of natural light by capturing portraits without flash or studio lights. Cloudy days are perfect for portraits as the light's diffused, use a reflector, clean your windows and make sure the eyes are sharp. 

 

4. Winter Portrait Photography Tips

 

Living in the UK, most of the best clothing in our wardrobes is probably winter stuff so why not encourage people to get out and about with their favourite coats, hats and scarves and have fun shooting some outdoor winter portraits.

 

5. Photographing Low Light Portraits

 

Working with just one light, or indeed natural light at dusk, is a great way to create moody portraits that can be full of character. It's a perfect technique for shooting subjects who are a little older as low light can really exaggerate lines and wrinkles but don't let this put you off photographing low light portraits of younger members of your family. 

 

6. Creative Children Portraits On A Budget

 

Just because you don't have an expensive lighting set-up or a studio doesn't mean you can't shoot interesting portraits of your children. To help you out, we've put together a list of quick tips made up of low-cost techniques.

 

7. Fun Portrait Photography Tips

 

Have a little fun on your next photoshoot and capture some expressions that'll put a smile on your face. Taking fun portrait photos doesn't have to be difficult - with a few simple tips, you can create something that breaks the mould.

 

8. Shoot Better Environmental Portraits With These Tips

 

Environmental portrait photography has nothing to do with global warming or looking after the planet. It is all about photographing your subject in their natural environment. This can be anywhere from where they work, where they live, or anywhere where they like to spend their time. It is all about portraying something of the character of your subject through where they are in the photo.

 

9. How To Create Catchlights In Your Portrait Shots

 

A catchlight is simply a light's highlight reflected off the surface of your subject's eyes. They subtly breathe light into portraits by adding a little more depth to the eyes and are something that painters were using in portraits long before photography was a popular pastime.

 

10. Improve Your Close-Up Portraits With Our 6 Tips

 

Our faces may be made up of the same components but the expressions, shapes, lines, tones and marks that decorate them all tell a unique story that's waiting to be photographed.

 

11. Portrait Photography Tips For Shoots Outside

 

Outdoor portraits add levels of interest to a shot you can't always get from an indoor shoot and it's also the perfect excuse to wrap up in layers (on cold days) and strike a pose. To kick-start your outdoor photoshoot, we've put a few easy to understand but rather essential outdoor portrait tips together for you to peruse.

 

12. Indoor Portraits With Window Light

 

Daylight is free and it is wonderful for portrait work as not only is it flattering and photogenic but it's really easy to work with so it's a good place for beginners to start. You don't need a fancy studio, either, as you can pick a location outdoors or simply set-up next to a window in your own home.  

 

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There is a particular kind of frustration that comes in the early months of learning photography. You see images online that move you, you understand on some intuitive level what makes them work, and then you pick up your camera and the results look nothing like what you had in your head. The gap between your taste and your ability feels enormous, and the sheer volume of technical information available online makes it worse rather than better. 

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I just tested a 50mm lens that cost $7000. I got to compare it directly to five other 50mm lenses starting at just $225. How do you think it stacked up?  

To get the full story, please watch the video above, but I'll give you a quick summary of how each lens performed. 

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Instead of focusing on a building as a whole, you can pick out detail such as clock faces, windows, gargoyles and other interesting aspects. However, doing so can be a bit tricky as unless you have an incredibly tall set of ladders, a lot can be out of reach but there are quite a few ways you can get around this. 

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1. What's In Your Kit Bag?

To get close to detail that's high-up on buildings, you're going to need a zoom lens that has a slightly longer reach. If you're a compact user you'll still be able to capture frame-filling shots if your camera features a longer zoom (20x or above would be good). Having a camera with a vari-angle LCD screen can make it easier to frame your shot when working with a tripod at its maximum height or when you're working hand-held with your arms up above you but it's not an essential feature. 
 

2. Look For Detail 

Most pictures you see of churches, cathedrals and other tall structures show the whole, impressive structure but by cropping in tightly you can highlight the fantastic repetitive detail, make an interesting pattern and shoot detail you don't always notice in the wider shots.

Once you begin to search you'll be surprised at the amount of detail you'll be able to fill your frame with. Of course, there's gargoyles, clocks, windows, spires, sundials and weather vanes, but a little closer to the ground you'll find stone carvings present and sometimes intricate detailed wood carvings on the exterior walls around doorways and above windows.

Filling the frame with repeating patterns such as brickwork or tiles on a roof can create interesting abstract shots. Just fill your frame, watch your shutter speeds if you're working hand-held and make sure you're focusing accurately as blur really doesn't work in this type of shot.

 

3. Roof Access? 

If you can get on the roof or balcony, as well as gaining you a great viewpoint of the city you can often find interesting statues/gargoyles projecting out from the walls. As they don't move they're an easy target and most are so beautifully sculptured that several varied photographs can be taken. However, as not all buildings give you access to their roof, you'll probably end up shooting from the ground where you'll need to use the long reach of your telephoto or zoom lens to bring the detail to you.

 

 

 

4. Magnification 

The problem you have with using lenses with a longer reach is that they magnify objects, which is of course what you want, but this does mean that even the tiniest of movements can create a large amount of blur in your photograph so make sure you have a tripod and stick to quicker shutter speeds when possible. Using a lens which features Vibration Reduction (VR) will further minimise shake. If you're shooting detail such as weather vanes where the sky will be your background fit a polarizer to darken a blue sky and give more contrast to the shot.

 

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

What is photography even about? What’s the goal? Billions of photos are made every day, shared instantly, and forgotten just as fast. When I first picked up a camera, I struggled to understand where my photos fit into all of that and whether making them mattered at all. 

When I started photography, I felt like it needed a clear objective—some kind of outcome I could point to. I wanted to know what I was working toward, because without that, it felt like I was just producing images without any real direction.

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The 24-70mm lens sits in an awkward place. It is not dramatic like a 16mm and it is not selective like a 200mm, yet many strong outdoor images live right in that middle ground. 

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James Popsys has set a six-month deadline to create a new body of work in North Wales without shooting a single golden hour image. That constraint forces a hard look at how and why you shoot, especially when the landscape is close to home. 

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Good video falls apart fast when the audio is weak. Clean, controlled sound changes how your work feels, even if the visuals stay the same. 

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Lightroom Classic has more than one way to bulk denoise images, and the method you choose affects quality. When ISO varies across a shoot, a faster shortcut can quietly cost detail. 

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Local parks are one of the best places to find a wide variety of photographic subjects. Plus, you'll be enjoying the outdoors and getting some exercise at the same time so what's not to like?
 

1. Gear Choices 

If you're just going for a quick walk around the park pocketing a compact will be fine but for those who will be taking their camera and interchangeable lenses along, pack your telephoto lens for shots of dog walkers, animals and long shots of the park with your town in the background. For close up work with flowers and leaves pocket your macro lens.

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2. Grey Days Are Good Days

An overcast day, when the light is gently diffused, is the perfect time to capture flowers and foliage. They look even better after a light rain shower as the vibrant greens will jump right out of your frame. If you spot a squirrel while looking through the trees and bushes keep your distance and use a telephoto lens to fill the frame with the cute animal. For those of you who have streams, ponds or even lakes in the park you're visiting why not have a go at duck/swan photography. In most locations, the ducks are used to people so getting close to them shouldn't be a problem. 

If it's a fine day there should be plenty of people for you to snap a few candids of as they pass by. Try shooting from the hip or if someone such as a park warden tidying up really catches your eye, remember to ask them if they mind you taking their photo before you snap away.
 

3. Guide The Eye

Paths and lines of flowerbeds can be used to guide the eye through the image while repetitive patterns such as lines of trees, street lighting and fencing can add symmetrical interest to your shots.
 

4. Go Down To The Woods

If your park has wooded areas you could have a go at capturing beams of light bursting through the trees but this usually means you'll need an early start and shooting on a misty morning is a must.  
 

5. Statues, Water Features & Architecture 

Don't forget that statues, monuments and water features make great photographic subjects and most parks will have one if not all of these on display somewhere. Try looking for glimpses of buildings in your town through the leaves on the trees or gaps in the hedges. The contrast of green or even the golden colours of Autumn later on in the year against the glass and concrete of the town can work extremely well. Then, when you leave the park, find a hill to climb and photograph the patchwork of greens that break up the grey lines of the town.
 

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

 

The German image editing provider Neurapix has expanded its AI technology with a fundamental enhancement: effective immediately, the AI edits even more like a human by taking the context of the entire Lightroom collection being processed into account. The result: even more consistently edited photos.

The goal of many photographers is a cohesive look that runs throughout an entire shoot. Until now, however, editing AIs have analyzed each image individually and applied the desired style to each one separately. Neurapix's new approach also considers the other images within the project, ensuring, for example, even more consistent white balance and more uniform exposure across the entire set.

For users, almost nothing changes in terms of operation: in the Neurapix editing dialog, they can simply check the box labeled "Optimize Consistency" to activate the new AI. The feature is included in the "Neurapix Unlimited" plan. In the “Pay-per-Picture” model, as with all optional features, a maximum surcharge of 1 cent per image applies.

 

"The Best Editing Results Currently Possible"

 

"We asked ourselves: Why doesn't AI work like a human? After all, a human would look at the entire shoot and compare the images with one another," says Nils Sauder, co-founder and CEO of Neurapix. "Accordingly, we developed a completely new AI approach in order to deliver the best editing results currently possible to our customers."

The new feature becomes available automatically after updating the Neurapix plugin. The update is offered via a pop-up the next time Lightroom Classic is launched, or it can be installed manually via the Plug-in Manager.

 

About: Neurapix is a German AI start-up based in Goettingen that was founded in 2021. The company has developed an artificial intelligence that is able to learn a photographer's image editing style and apply it within Adobe Lightroom Classic. This allows photographers to have large numbers of photos edited in their own style, resulting in significant time savings of around 90%. For more information, please visit the Neurapix website.

Laowa's new probe zoom lenses are finally here, and they might be some of the strangest lenses ever made. For the last two months, I've been shooting with the most unusual of the bunch—the 15-35mm T12 Periscope Lens—and the shots it produces are unlike anything I've ever captured before. Let's dive in and see what makes this lens so unique. 

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