Today’s mirrorless cameras typically come with two displays: a viewfinder and a rear monitor. Both displays can be useful for still photography, but the rear monitor is almost always preferred for video recording. And really, if you’re serious about making video, you would typically invest in a dedicated recording monitor, either on-camera or otherwise. However, high-quality monitors with good displays …
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The Broader View of Photography
The main motivation for my photography has been to describe and share my experiences. I believe this sentiment is common among photographers. Yet sometimes, it leads to obsession over capturing the one “great image” of a scene – when the best way to tell a story can be through a series of images instead. Certainly, capturing a complete story in …
Read More »Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4 Review
Introduction This hands-on review covers everything you need to know about the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4, a budget prime lens for Nikon’s Z mirrorless system. It’s a combination of a well-loved focal length and a very bright maximum aperture, and I’m sure it’s caught the eye of travel, event, and documentary photographers already. But how does it perform? Before I …
Read More »New Nikon Binoculars, Z Telephoto Sale
If you watched the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards on Tuesday, you may have recognized the name of the winner in the Natural Artistry category. Talented wildlife photographer Jiří Hřebíček took home the prize with his image The Artful Crow. A common and overlooked bird captured in a city park brought him extraordinary success. Jiří has shared his winning …
Read More »What Is Good Light in Wildlife Photography?
“I wish you good light” – or simply, “good light!” – is a traditional greeting among photographers. But what does it really mean? Every time that I hear this familiar phrase, it makes me think about what exactly my fellow photographer is trying to say. Are they wishing for lots of light? Or maybe a certain angle or color? Do …
Read More »A Beginner’s Guide to Intimate Landscape Photography
Landscape photographers are known for chasing some of nature’s grandest scenes. Towering mountains, panoramic seascapes, grand views of the Milky Way – all photos with a massive scale. But there’s another side of landscape photography, just as full of potential but often overlooked. It’s called the intimate landscape. I decided to write about intimate landscape photography following the fall colors …
Read More »The Best B&H and Amazon Prime Day Sales for Photographers
Today and tomorrow (October 8-9) are great days to buy camera equipment cheaply during Amazon’s Prime Day event. B&H is also joining the fun with a bunch of sales to compete with Amazon. I’ve collected some of the best discounts below. Because Photography Life is part of Amazon and B&H’s affiliate programs, buying anything through the links below will help …
Read More »Viltrox 135mm f/1.8 Rumor, Nikon & Panasonic Trade-in Sales
Before diving into the latest news from the world of photography, I’d like to share a painful experience – thankfully not my own. During one of my night canoeing trips deep in Ecuador’s Yasuní National Park, I came across this poor caiman that had survived a very painful encounter. What animal do you think hit it with a serrated spear? …
Read More »Where and How to Sell Used Camera Equipment
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your camera or switch systems altogether, getting the most value out of your used equipment can be tricky. I recently completed a pretty significant sale of gear, and actually ended up selling via each major method – used equipment retailers, online forums, eBay, and in-person sales. They all had some pros and cons. In this …
Read More »Neutral Density Filters in Photography, Explained
As, photographers we often struggle with a lack of light, necessitating uncomfortably high ISOs or dangerously long shutter speeds. But there are occasions with the opposite problem: too much light. In these moments, neutral density filters are invaluable. NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S @ 16mm, ISO 64, 20/1, f/16.0; K&F Concept Magnetic MRC ND64 (6 Stop) …
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