Venus Optics makes some of the most unusual lenses on the market today, including the one I'm reviewing today: a 25mm f/2.8 macro lens that goes from 2.5 to 5× magnification. Unusual is a good thing in this case, because very few other lenses (particularly for Nikon) can go beyond...
How to Set Up and Empty Scratch Disks In Adobe Photoshop
If you are an Adobe Photoshop user and you regularly work on large files, you are running Photoshop on an older or slower computer, or you just want to make sure that you are running Photoshop with maximum performance, then understanding scratch disks is important. Maybe you've even received a...
A Beginner’s Guide to Buying a Camera
What is the best camera to buy? This is one of the first few questions any aspiring photographer would have, especially with so many cameras out there today. My goal in this article is not to say one brand is better than any other, but just to introduce the most...
Sensor Gel Stick Sale – While Supplies Last!
After many years of selling the Sensor Gel Stick, I decided it is time to move it off Photography Life. With Amazon constantly undercutting our sales (and often selling fake copies), it has been tough to keep the product available, and I just don't want to deal with the inventory,...
500 Rule vs NPF Rule: Shutter Speed for Astrophotography
When you’re photographing the night sky, it can be a serious challenge to pick the right camera settings. Shutter speed in particular is a difficult one, forcing you to fight between capturing enough light or capturing sharp stars. Two popular rules aim to help – the 500 rule and NPF rule.
Best Books About Composition for Photographers
Whether you are a new photographer learning the basics of composition for the first time, or a more experienced photographer looking to improve your photographic composition there is a book on this list for you. The one thing the books on this list all have in common is that they...
Photography Life 2021-2022 Workshop Announcements
I am very excited to announce Photography Life's 2021 and 2022 Workshops! Without a doubt, this past year has been pretty rough for many of us. With all the lockdowns and closures in place, it was quite hard to do anything travel-related for our team, let alone run a photography...
Macro Photography Ideas to Try at Home
Most of us have gotten rather used to our homes over the past year. And most photographers, including me, have had a harder time finding interesting subjects and inspiration as a result. But one of the best things about macro photography is that you can do it anywhere, including indoors,...
Nikon Z9 Development Announcement
With the big shift of camera manufacturers from DSLRs to mirrorless technology, it was a matter of time until we see truly robust, action-oriented mirrorless cameras. First was Canon with its EOS R5 and R6, then Sony released its impressive A1, and now it is Nikon's turn to bring its...
How to Photograph a Rocket Launch at Night
With companies like SpaceX launching more and more rockets into space, it’s easier than ever to get some interesting rocket launch photos. I saw and photographed my first launches earlier this year, and this article has my takeaways.