News

Ok, we’re probably beginning to sound like a broken record but Shutterbug.com once again saw record traffic growth in 2017, smashing the previous year’s total web traffic by nearly 50%. For that, we thank all of you for visiting Shutterbug.com and reading our stories, watching our videos, and sharing your photos in our Galleries.

But what spurred this substantial web traffic growth in 2017? Well, the following should give you some idea. It’s our annual list of Shutterbug.com’s top 10 most popular stories and, as usual, they cover a diverse range of photography topics.

Included below in our top ten are everything from a news video about the very real and horrifying dangers of photographing portraits on railroad tracks, to several gear-related reviews, recommendations and features on a variety of photo products, to how-to videos with tips and tricks on becoming a better photographer. One of the most heartbreaking photography stories of 2017 also drew a lot of attention on the site: it’s about a photographer who was fatally shot by two assailants who stole his camera at a popular San Francisco landmark.

2017 was certainly a year filled with tragedy, turmoil and outrage. Here’s hoping for a more peaceful and prosperous year filled with positive photography stories in 2018!

To read a full story, just click on the headline link. (To see Shutterbug’s most popular stories of 2016, click here.)

1. Watch This Video and You’ll Never Shoot Photos on Railroad Tracks Again

Jeff Rossen is an investigative reporter for NBC and in this episode of his popular “Rossen Reports” he warns about the dangerous and potentially lethal practice of shooting photographs on railroad tracks. (More…)

2. Our Top 10 Vintage Lenses to Use on Digital Cameras

Why would anyone in their right mind want to use old lenses on their shiny new high-performance DSLR or mirrorless camera? The simple answer is that some older lenses can capture images that have that elusive quality known as character. (More…)

3. Fujifilm X-A3 Mirrorless Camera Review

The retro-styled Fujifilm X-A3 is the latest in the company’s X-A Series mirrorless cameras. The Fuji X-A3 is a more affordable option for those interested in a mirrorless interchangeable lens system camera that also includes some features found in the company’s premium product lines. (More…)

4. Can Carrying a Camera Bag Endanger Your Life? This Elderly Photographer Was Killed for His Gear

Early last Sunday the unspeakable happened in San Francisco when 71-year-old photographer and location scout Edward French was fatally shot as two assailants stole his camera at a popular San Francisco landmark. (More…)

5. Check Out This Cool Gif Showing How Lens Focal Length Changes People's Faces in Portraits

This photography gif is one of the cooler things we've seen on Reddit lately. It gives you a visual demonstration of how changing the focal length of your lens affects how a person's face appear in portraits. (More…)

6. Don’t Call Yourself a Photographer If You Still Make These 5 Beginner Mistakes (VIDEO)

We’re really not trying to be mean here, but seriously folks, if you’re still making the five beginner mistakes in the video below it’s time to clean up your act. Fortunately, travel photographer Joe Allam not only illustrates the photo errors that bug him most, but he demonstrates how to do things right. (More…)

7. Here Are 10 Clever Photo Tricks You Can Do at Home (VIDEO)

Videos about photo tricks and photo hacks are some of our most popular posts so here’s another good one from the folks at COOPH. In the below video, titled “10 Photography Tricks to Do at Home,” COOPH’s photographers are once again showing you cheap, fun, and easy photo ideas to give you images extra oomph without having to spend a lot of money or time. (More…)

8. Become a Better Visual Storyteller by Following These 10 Rules for Better Composition (VIDEO)

Most great photographers are also accomplished visual storytellers who understand how to draw viewers into their scene and direct their eyes to the key element in the image. In this video, you’ll learn 10 quick tips for doing exactly that, while making your photographs more impactful. (More…)

9. Forget About Using Your Camera’s Base ISO Setting: ISO 50 Is Your Best Bet When Shooting Raw (VIDEO)

One of the benefits of today’s advanced digital cameras is that they offer extremely high ISO settings that deliver remarkable results under low-light conditions. When shooting with good light, however, most photographers simply set their camera to its base sensitivity of ISO 100 or 200. (More…)

10. Travel Buddies: Our 10 Favorite Cameras & Lenses for Travel & Landscape Photography

I’ve developed a good sense of what type of gear I need to bring when I “hit the road” for a shoot. Here are my 10 current favorite new cameras and lenses for travel and landscape photography. (More…)