Photo Accessory News

Despite the preponderance of accessories available for smartphone photographers, it’s rare we stumble upon something unique that stands out from the crowd. But that’s exactly what we discovered after receiving the Magnetic Phone Mount Kit from eXplorer Photo & Video.

Shortly after I moved into my former home, there was a knock at the door. Standing in front of me was an 8-year-old girl who lived down the street. “I’m selling note cards,” she told me, “I made the pictures.” A second look showed subjects a kid might shoot but others demonstrated that she was thinking about the photographs before making them. I bought several note cards and asked about her camera, which turned out to be borrowed. With her grandmother’s permission I gave her an old, unused digital point-and-shoot. The girl loved the camera and was inspired to keep making photographs and we talked from time to time about her aspirations. Today she’s a young woman with professional ambitions.

Addressing a very real but virtually ignored need felt by female photographers, Shimoda Designs is offering five of their most popular and requested pack sizes outfitted with a new women-specific harness and an exclusive teal colorway. The Shimoda Women's Collection consists of female-friendly designs based on the Shimoda Explorer V2 and Shimoda Action X V2 models.

This tutorial demonstrates the magic of a "Vaseline technique" that will impart a soft, dreamy look to just about any image you shoot. This method isn't exactly new, but it's rarely discussed among digital photographers who typically apply software filters to create special effects.

We can't always pick the time of day when we're shooting in the field, and that sometimes means making the most of harsh midday light. This can be a serious problem for all sorts of photography, and it's particularly challenging when making environmental portraits. Distracting shadows, squinting models, and abundant contrast all contribute to this challenging task.

Sparkling nighttime skies offer a great opportunity for capturing eye-popping images, but many photographers shy away from astrophotography because they think special gear and complicated techniques are required to do it right. If that sounds like you, the straightforward tutorial below will likely change your mind.