UV filters are perhaps the most popular type of lens filter, with many photographers using them to protect the front element of an expensive lens. Unfortunately, there's a huge range in the quality of UV filters out there. I wanted to put together a methodology to test UV filters, and...
Venus Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Macro Announced
Venus Laowa has just released the 15mm f/4.5 1:2 macro lens available for Nikon Z, Canon EF, Sony E, Nikon F, Canon RF, and L-mounts. Venus is well-known for making a variety of unique macro lenses, and this 15mm f/4.5 macro is another one. It has a maximum magnification of...
Seven Weather-Related Photography Tips
Beginning this week, Photography Life is launching a series of weekly photography tips on our Member Page! These replace our daily tips, but not at the expense of volume – we’ll still do seven tips each week. Normally, these are only available to our paid Members, but I was happy with our inaugural post and wanted to publish it here too!
Photography News: Leica M11-P Safari, Memory Card Deals
Yesterday, as part of my cultural prep for an upcoming photography expedition, I finished a chapter from the excellent book Amazonia and the Rivers of Stories by Vladimír Plešinger. The protagonists of this chapter were French mathematicians and geographers La Condamine, Godin, and Bouguer. Their mid-18th-century adventure would make for...
Choosing a Subject in Wildlife Photography
Just recently, I have written two articles about finding good subjects where some photographers may not dare to look: photographing stunning brown birds that some people think are dull, and bringing your camera out in otherwise ugly locations. In wildlife photography, what I love is that each of the millions...
BlackRapid Backpack Strap Review
Most photographers, especially when starting, will use the official camera strap that shipped with their camera. However, these straps can be uncomfortable even under the best circumstances, and they are even more frustrating when using a backpack, since they can interfere with the shoulder straps….
Photographing “Little Brown Jobs” – The Beauty of Less-Loved Birds
Open any bird guide, from any country or region, and you'll quickly notice that most birds are, well... brown. Some might even call their appearance boring. But I disagree. Personally, I have a soft spot for what we in the Czech Republic call "the universal brown birds." In English-speaking countries,...
Photography News: “New” Canon Telephoto, Sigma 200mm f/2 Rumor
I recently picked up a very important addition to my photography equipment, and I can't wait to try it out tomorrow. I wore out my old one last year, and since then, it has been very difficult to photograph water birds. What essential piece of equipment am I talking about?...
Two Tips For Growing as a Photographer
Successful photography requires more than just talent: You also must have the courage to step out of your comfort zone, accept new challenges, and experiment with different and unknown subjects and techniques. In this article, I will share with you a pair of tips that I have collected on creative...
Photographing Beauty in Ugly Places
Wildlife photography is usually associated with breathtaking natural beauty, the soothing silence of forest groves, or the fresh scent of meadow flowers. But today's article is about something completely different. I want to show you that beautiful wildlife photos can be taken in a completely different environment - in the...