Photofocus

Prime lenses are preferred by many photographers for the many advantages they bring. Mainly, they tend to produce sharper images than zoom lenses and can produce a more shallow depth of field. These qualities make a wide selection of lenses perfect for genres like portrait photography and low light photography. However, its fixed focal length is also a drawback since composing involves moving clo…

Be ready with your summer edits and snag big savings while you’re at it — with Skylum’s ongoing offers for Luminar Neo and Luminar Mobile! If you’re yet to get a subscription, Skylum’s summer sale has you covered. Now is a great time to get both the desktop and mobile subscription in one pack! Luminar is also now available on both iOS and Android, so you can create stunning images with AI-assiste…

Learn how to master studio lighting for portraits even without a model in this beginner-friendly tutorial. In Mastering Lighting: Studio Basics with Portraits, I’ll show you how to confidently practice lighting techniques using mannequins, wig heads, or even props at home. Whether you’re working with strobes, constant lights or a simple desk lamp, this video covers foundational setups, modifiers,…

It’s time to make your voice heard! Each week, we ask a question of our readers so we know what sort of content to produce more of. Your input helps us make Photofocus better. This week, we want to know: Do you collect any vintage, creative or specialty lenses? What do you like about them? Lastly, what kind of photography do you do with them? Let us know below, and tell us in the comments why tha…

This osprey photography opportunity was kind of a bonus. Well, maybe a big bonus. I went out the the Bubbling Ponds by the Fish Hatchery in Page Springs, AZ to kill a little time. I met a previously unknown to me fellow photographer and his wife and shared some stories. It’s good to share stories and ideas with fellow ‘togs. Learning from peers I tend to be outgoing and enjoy meeting with folks w…

In the era of visual culture where images dominate our daily lives, the art of photo retouching plays a significant role in shaping our perception of beauty and aesthetics. With the advancement of technology, retouching techniques have become more sophisticated. This allows photographers and editors to create stunning visuals that captivate and inspire. There are varying opinions on the subject, …

Do you really need the all the gear that photography influencers are egging on you to get? Photographer, filmmaker and YouTuber Hunter Scott says you most likely don’t, and he explains why in the video above. Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS) is real, and it can often get you wanting stuff that are either off your budget, or you eventually find too complicated. After the initial interest wanes off,…

Even if your gear is modest, if it’s been made in the past 10-15 years, it’s good enough to create photos for National Geographic. No, really. Why am I saying this? The camera we most likely own, even if it is 10-15 years old, is a sophisticated bundle of equipment. It has the capability to take sharp, beautiful, emotional, evocative photos. And it’s considerably more capable than most of the cam…

The Viltrox DC-A1 is a 7-inch on-camera monitor designed for filmmakers and photographers seeking a bright, feature-rich display for outdoor and studio shooting. I personally love using it—it’s been a game-changer in the studio and absolutely fantastic when I’m teaching. Why? Because it gives my students a clear, real-time view of exactly what I’m capturing, which makes demonstrations far more ef…

Portrait photography is a captivating art form that allows us to capture the essence of a person in a single frame. It has long been a favorite of mine, but this is not always the case. So, whether you’re a professional photographer or an enthusiast armed with a smartphone, there’s always room for improvement in capturing stunning portraits. Let’s have a look at a few essential techniques that mi…

Went out to Bubbling Ponds to check out the bird population and got out there too late. I wanted to bring some images back and moved to a smaller set of targets. Dragonflies are quite beautiful but can be challenging to capture. I’ve got some tips that can make it easier for you. Study behavior Knowing your subject makes a huge difference in capturing keeper images. Find a spot with active dragon…

“Nostalgia is powerful, and it can trigger memories and feelings,” said London-based photographer Jamie Windsor, in his video above. I’m sure we can all agree to that. After all, there are so many poignant photography projects out there that can attest to this. The continuing film photography resurgence also remains a piece of firm evidence. However, he also warns that it’s “selective with what i…

Adobe Camera Raw and Lightroom make skin smoothing and other retouching enhancements fast, thanks to AI. Masking people in Camera Raw and Lightroom This works in Bridge or Lightroom Classic. Select a set of headshots and follow the following steps. Step one: Open the RAW files selected in Bridge by pressing Command (WIN: Control) + R. (Note: All of the functions shown here work in Lightroom Class…

Iceland is home to some of the most breathtaking natural wonders that are just begging to be photographed. So, it’s not surprising to see many photographers finding inspiration everywhere and coming up with different ways to capture it. The unique landscape, for one, lends itself easily to beautiful abstract photography, as we have previously seen in the aerial photography of Jan Erik Waider. The…

Have you ever wondered why your photos feel flat, lifeless, or just not quite what you imagined? It can be a matter of focus, exposure, or one of many other things that can go wrong while shooting in auto mode. Auto mode is meant for convenience and not creativity. Sure, it can help to capture a moment in a pinch, but it can fall short when it comes to reflecting your vision. It decides for you a…