Photography Life

If you know my work, you have probably noticed that I shoot most of my photographs with a single prime lens, a 500mm f/4. And while this limitation is partly a deliberate artistic choice, a significant reason for my minimalist approach to lenses is the simple fact that the dimensions of my camera backpack—and especially airline baggage limits—are not unlimited.

Imagine you see a beautiful scene that you know you’d like to photograph. So you take a few different shots, and maybe adjust your tripod and shoot again. Eventually, you get something you think you like. Sound familiar? Actually, I think this process is great for refining your composition. But sometimes, it might be worth it to take just one shot instead. I’ll tell you why.

On Monday, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, giving photographers in some parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada a chance to photograph this remarkable phenomenon. Don't wait until the last minute to prepare! Our updated guide covers everything you need to know about photographing the eclipse.

Yesterday, while selecting photos for an upcoming article, I came across one that caught my eye with its simple symmetry and, let’s say, an unconventional angle. Judge for yourselves: Instead of the usual front view or side view of a bird, what popped out at me on the monitor was a perfectly sharp (please forgive me) cloaca. And although Nikon doesn’t mention it anywhere in thei...

It has been less than three years since we tested the first version of Viltrox’s 35mm f/1.8 lens here at Photography Life. To be honest, we weren’t particularly impressed by its optical performance at the time. It was not a serious match for Nikon’s equivalent, and was even beaten by some good zoom lenses. Back then, Viltrox was largely regarded as a brand whose main ambition wa...