How to take good pictures in bright sunlight

Using a flash may seem counterintuitive on a bright day but it’s the perfect tool for overcoming harsh shadows subject’s faces. Stan Horaczek Bright sunlight is one of the most challenging weather conditions to shoot in. If you’re not careful, your photos can come out wildly overexposed, brutally underexposed, or way too contrasty and filled… Continue reading How to take good pictures in bright sunlight

How to be a respectful photographer when visiting national parks

Olympic National Park. Dan Bracaglia This summer, it’s nearly certain that people will be heading to the great outdoors. As we look for ways to escape the heat and pandemic woes in crowded cities, many of us will turn to national parks and other public lands for respite. And, plenty will bring their cameras (or,… Continue reading How to be a respectful photographer when visiting national parks

10 ways to improve your outdoor smartphone portrait shots

Getty Images With proms, college graduations, and even just plain old family barbecues coming up over the next few months, we thought we’d put together some of the best ways to improve the outdoor portraits you shoot with your smartphone. With bright midday sunlight, bustling crowds, and many other challenges, these can be tricky shots… Continue reading 10 ways to improve your outdoor smartphone portrait shots

The best camera equipment for travel photography

Tomas Havel’s go-to workhorse camera is the Sony a7R II. Oscar Nilsson regularly relies on the versatility of a 24-70mm f2.8 lens. Elia Locardi uses Really Right Stuff tripods, and Marco Grassi prefers NiSi filters. Peter Stewart uses Peak Design bags, and Chris Burkard uses a Peak Design strap. The contents of a travel photographer’s… Continue reading The best camera equipment for travel photography

Sigma brings wide-angle zoom to Sony E- and L-mount

This is a full-frame lens, but it’s shown here on an APS-C body (the a6500). Stan Horaczek Standard zooms like Sigma’s E- and L-mount 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN end up in many professional photographers’ bags because of their versatility. But sometimes you need to go wider. Now, Sigma offers a new 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN… Continue reading Sigma brings wide-angle zoom to Sony E- and L-mount

Tips from a pro: An introduction to wedding photography

Getty Images This post has been updated. It originally published on June 15, 2012 As the ones responsible for capturing a wedding day in images, we photographers are under a ton of pressure. To help you next time you’re asked (or even hired) to assume the role, we tapped ten top wedding pros for their… Continue reading Tips from a pro: An introduction to wedding photography

Best light meters for 2022

Stan Horaczek Best overall Sekonic Speedmaster L-858D-U Check Price Best budget Sekonic L-308X-U Flashmate Check Price Best for film Voigtlander VC Speed Meter II (Black) Check Price Even in a world full of AI-powered smartphone cameras and increasingly impressive mirrorless cameras from every major camera manufacturer, dedicated light meters still occupy a well-earned place in… Continue reading Best light meters for 2022

How to travel with film by land and sea

Getty Images Welcome to part three of our series on traveling with film and analog cameras. In previous installments, we covered general guidelines for traveling with film as well as air travel with film. In this article, we’ll talk about travel by car and train, both of which are particularly film-friendly; and traveling by water,… Continue reading How to travel with film by land and sea

The devil’s in the details: Show us your best macro shots

Show us your best macro shots. Abigail Ferguson Congratulations to the photographers who made it into last week’s Photo of the Day gallery. The breathtaking images paid a fitting tribute to Earth Day with majestic mountains, bellicose flames, tranquil waters, and more. For this week, the PopPhoto editors are challenging you to get small. As… Continue reading The devil’s in the details: Show us your best macro shots

Why you should experiment with gels in your next Licensing studio shoot

Last year, Pinterest named “vibey lights” as one of their top trends of the year, with searches for “neon room,” “blue lights bedroom,” and “LED light signs” all rising year-on-year. It was official: the neon aesthetic was back. Throughout the year, neon-lit rooms trended over on TikTok, while Kendall Jenner showed off her neon pink… Continue reading Why you should experiment with gels in your next Licensing studio shoot