Tag: tea

7 sure signs spring is here: Our favorite reader-submitted photos of the day

“Confinement From My Window”. Carla Francisco For this week’s Photos of the Day gallery, I’ve got spring on the brain. You know what they say: April showers bring May flowers, and this Californian Southern transplant is learning that this is very true in Alabama. But for all the torrential downpours and booming thunderstorms, the payoff… Continue reading 7 sure signs spring is here: Our favorite reader-submitted photos of the day

See the winners of Smithsonian Magazine’s 19th annual photo contest

“Najin Resting With Her Caretaker”. Matjaz Krivic Smithsonian Magazine just announced the winners of its 19th annual photo contest, and the results are simply spectacular. In six categories, the winners capture pandemic life, American identity, far-flung locales, and the intricacies of nature.  About the contest Over the 19 years that Smithsonian Magazine has run the… Continue reading See the winners of Smithsonian Magazine’s 19th annual photo contest

Pet photography: Fail-proof strategies to capture our furry friends

In the United States, approximately 23 million households brought an animal into their lives as they navigated the pandemic. It’s no wonder they did—across various studies, having a pet has been linked to decreased loneliness and boosted feelings of well-being. Plus, amid the isolation of 2020-21, many of our pets encouraged us to get outside… Continue reading Pet photography: Fail-proof strategies to capture our furry friends

The Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S is a smaller, lighter, more affordable super-tele

Nikon With only a few gaps over the years—most notably from 2005 to 2013—Nikon has nearly always included a powerful 800mm telephoto lens in its lineup, going all the way back to the mid-1960s. Yet for its fledgling mirrorless Z-mount, the lens selection has until now been curtailed at the 400mm mark, at least without… Continue reading The Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S is a smaller, lighter, more affordable super-tele

Of course Donald Trump undercut his former White House photographer

President Donald J. Trump prepares to sign a plaque placed along the border wall Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, at the Texas-Mexico border near Alamo, Texas. Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead It’s customary for the outgoing chief White House photographer to publish a book of images at the end of a presidential term. Unfortunately,… Continue reading Of course Donald Trump undercut his former White House photographer

The photographer’s guide to thrifting

Earlier this year, The New York Times reported on the comeback of 35mm SLR film cameras. Even as smartphone cameras improve, millennials and Gen Zers continue to rediscover the joys of buying second-hand gear on Etsy and eBay. According to eBay, vintage camera sales have been on the rise since 2015, and the pandemic era… Continue reading The photographer’s guide to thrifting

Best telephoto lenses of 2022

Zoom in with precision. Harrison Haines, Pexels A quality telephoto lens is typically one of the first speciality lenses that a photographer adds to their gear bag. A 70-200mm lens is considered a medium-tele length and proves useful for many photographers for its versatility. It can shoot everything from portraits to wildlife and sports.  Technically speaking,… Continue reading Best telephoto lenses of 2022

New gear: Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE II focuses faster, handles better

Samyang Back in 2016, South Korean optics manufacturer Samyang (also known by Rokinon) made headlines with its first-ever autofocus-equipped lenses, a pair of primes for Sony E-mount. It has since expanded its AF-capable lens lineup considerably. And late last year, Samyang began overhauling those earliest designs, first with an update to the 50mm f/1.4 prime.… Continue reading New gear: Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE II focuses faster, handles better