Why Great Photographers Steal
Growth in photography often feels like a series of overwhelming choices. We look at different genres and techniques, trying to find a starting point that feels right. But the most effective roadmap for development is found in a classic idea you've probably heard: great artists don't just copy, they steal.
Three Lightroom Classic Features That Will Change How You Edit Photos
Most Lightroom Classic users stick to the same handful of tools and never dig into what the software can actually do. The masking system alone, when used to its full potential, can give you precise, layered control over every part of an image that most basic edits can't touch.
Telling the Country’s History of Sanatoriums in Photo
While some of us were indoors spraying Windex on our groceries during the COVID-19 pandemic, others took the time to explore how to visually relate to that time through passion projects. Photographer and author John Lazzaro did just that, spending those years and then some exploring, photographically, the history of sanatoriums in the United States to produce his latest book, Sanatorium.
How to Straighten Leaning Buildings and Bent Trees in Lightroom Classic
Converging lines in photos of buildings and trees are one of those problems that seem minor until you can't unsee them. Lightroom Classic's Transform tool can fix most of them in minutes, and knowing how to use it correctly saves you from spending thousands on specialized glass.
Field Testing The Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S II
Today, I'd like to have a chat about Nikon's latest version of its workhorse 70-200mm zoom lens, the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S II.
The Nikon ZR Is a Surprisingly Good Walk-Around Camera
The Nikon ZR is built around the Nikon and RED collaboration, and on paper it looks like a specialist tool most people would pass on. But Matt Day's hands-on experience with it over several weeks raises real questions about whether it punches above its weight, even for everyday use.
Imagen Is Offering Full AI Editing Access for $10, Just in Time for Peak Season
Post-processing has long been the most time-consuming part of a photographer's workflow, and the numbers back that up. According to the 2026 Zenfolio State of the Photography Industry report, about 70% of photographers spend between 26% and 75% of their working time on editing. Only 5% of photographers surveyed feel they are managing the stress of running their business well.
Lightroom's QR Code Share Feature Makes Delivering Photos Effortless
Lightroom's share feature is one of those tools that sounds simple but has enough depth to change how you deliver photos to clients and subjects. If you photograph people and want them to walk away with easy access to their images, the built-in sharing and QR code system in Lightroom is worth understanding fully.
Peak Design’s Expanded Travel Line Is Here and We Took a Close Look
Everybody has different ways of traveling, and that's why bags, tripods, and even camera gear come in different shapes and sizes. Peak Design took note of that and has come out with more options.
A Fully AI-Generated Feature Is Premiering at Tribeca. The Industry Is Out of Excuses.
On June 10, during its 25th edition, the Tribeca Festival will premiere "Dreams of Violets," a docudrama feature in which every image and every person on screen was generated by artificial intelligence.
The Ultimate Everyday Carry Camera Bag: Atlas One
If you travel with camera gear even a few times a year, you already know the problem. Sometimes you're heading to a wedding with a full kit and your clothes are checked. Sometimes it's a weekend trip where you need a few lenses and room for a change of clothes. And sometimes you don't need any camera gear at all and you just want a normal bag. The issue is that most bags are built for one of those scenarios, not all of them. So you end up owning three or four bags and playing a guessing game before every trip.
The New Pelican CRATE Doesn’t Know It’s Built for Photographers
Modular. Configurable. Stackable. The Pelican CRATE system could be one of the most rugged photography gear cases on the planet, even if it doesn't realize it yet.
More Than a BoxA box is a box is a box. Right?
I'll admit that when Pelican shipped me their brand-new 90L CRATE case, my expectations were impossible to predict. That's not to say my expectations were low, but judging from the photos in Pelican's press packet, the CRATE system looked like, well, a big box.
How wrong I was.
Bad Weather Is the Best Photography Teacher You’ll Ever Have
You know how it goes. You peel the curtain back just a fraction to get a glimpse of what kind of conditions are in store for you. It's that moment of truth. Beginner photographers might check the forecast for cloudless skies and gentle breezes—the kind of "safe" weather that makes for a pleasant walk. A more experienced photographer is checking for fog, heavy snow, or those unique, brooding storm conditions that most people run away from. Let's talk about the weather.
Hasselblad XCD Lenses Tested: Here's What Separates the Best from the Rest
Shopping for Hasselblad glass is not a casual decision. These lenses sit at the top of medium format photography, and knowing exactly what each one delivers in real-world shooting can save you from a very expensive mistake.
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art: One Month of Real-World Use
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is one of the most talked-about lenses in the Sony E-mount ecosystem right now, and for good reason. At around $1,000, it sits in a crowded tier alongside the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM and the Viltrox 35mm f/1.2 AF.
The Hater Economy in Photography
You're right. Rule 21 says to use standard header order, which means the top-level section headers should be H2, not H3. I should have promoted them rather than demoting the stray H4 down to match the H3s. Corrected below.
I recently got off the phone with a friend who was just appointed creative director for a legendary celebrity. It's a massive win, a career-defining promotion, and yet—he was hiding it. He was shy about announcing it because he didn't want to deal with the inevitable "chatter" from the sidelines.
The Lomography Petzval 55mm f/1.7's New Design Solves Its Biggest Problem
The Lomography Petzval 55mm f/1.7 is one of the most distinctive lenses you can put on a camera, and its new focus-coupled version changes the case for buying it in ways that aren't obvious at first glance. If you've ever been curious about swirly bokeh lenses but hesitated because of how awkward they are to use, this update is worth your attention.
How Expensive Has It Become to Be a Photographer These Days?
At a thrift shop the other day, I found a couple of relics. No, these weren't the usual camera finds, but rather 16-year-old photography magazines, specifically the now-shuttered Shutterbug and the still-active Professional Photographer. It got me thinking: How expensive has it become to be a photographer these days?
Used Camera Shutter Counts: What the Numbers Actually Mean Before You Buy
Buying a used camera with a high shutter count can feel like a gamble, but knowing what that number actually means changes how you evaluate the risk. Shutter actuations are one of the most commonly misunderstood specs in used camera buying, and getting it wrong can cost you.
Understanding ICM, Part One: Effect vs Technique
The persistent contradiction surrounding ICM is not a matter of taste, but a failure of terminology. By grouping random expressive effects and disciplined photographic technique under a single term, the field masks a fundamental split. This part deconstructs the "collapse of cost" in the digital era and examines why a painterly appearance is too often mistaken for artistic depth.