Sitting on top of Mandalay Hill, Sutaungpyei Pagoda features a large patio that offers a wonderful views over Mandalay City and the Ayeyarwaddy.
Reviews & Tips
How to Change the Aspect Ratio of Photos with the Nikon D3400
The Nikon D3400 doesn’t offer the option to choose a different aspect ratio when taking photos, but here’s a partial workaround that works for small numbers of images.
Hands On with the Leica X-U Waterproof Camera
Leica has a waterproof camera in their line: the Leica X-U. I recently had the chance to shoot with it for a few weeks on a trip to the Arctic. Here’s my hands-on review.
Photos Taken with a Leica X-U | Sample Images
Here’s a collection of sample images I’ve taken with a Leica X-U under different conditions and at different settings to give a sense of how it performs in real-world shooting conditions.
Using Photoshop to Simulate How Colorblind Users See Your Photos
Nearly 1 in 10 people who look at your photos are likely to perceive colors differently because of some form of colorblindness. Here’s a way to use Photoshop to simulate how your photos will look to someone who is colorblind.
Focus Stacking with the Olympus TG-5 Tough Camera
Like the model it replaces, the new Olympus TG-5 has a built-in focus stacking feature in its macro close-up mode. Here’s how it works and some examples.
Photos Taken with a Nikon D5500 | Sample Images
A collection of photos I’ve taken with a Nikon D5500 to give an idea of how it performs in real-world shooting conditions.
Adding a Fisheye Lens to the Olympus Tough Waterproof Cameras
If the built-in lens on your Olympus Tough TG-5 or TG-4 isn’t as wide as you’d like, there’s a waterproof fisheye adapter lens that you can snap onto the front that will instantly add a super wide-angle perspective.
EasyCover Silicon Skin for Camera Bodies
EasyCover silicon skins work like a protective glove for a camera body. Here’s what they are and aren’t.
Places
The Chicken Buses of Central America
Central America is where American school buses go to retire. In the balmy tropical climes of places like Guatemala and Honduras, they’re given a new, colorful lease on life.
Istanbul’s Grand “New” Mosque
In Istanbul, new is relative. The New Mosque might be newer than the Blue Mosque or Hagia Sophia, but having been completed in 1665 it is historic in its own right. And it’s also stunningly beautiful.
A Beautiful Underground Oasis
Cenote Xkeken, near Valladolid, is one of the prettiest of the 3,000 or so underground cenotes scattered across Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula.
The Churchill War Rooms
This was British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s underground command bunker during some of the most dangerous days (and nights) of World War II.
The Lakes of Hanoi
Hanoi has a lot of lakes. And as you’d expect from a bustling, industrialized city of several million people in a country with a decidedly mixed record of dealing with environmental challenges, most of those lakes are severely polluted. But the lakes provide a respite from the crushing traffic and incessant bustle in other parts of the city.
Zihuatanejo’s Fish Market
There’s much to love about Zihuatanejo on Mexico’s Pacific coast, and the beach fish market is one of the town’s gems.
Granada’s Market
Granada’s market is especially good. It’s large and colorful, pungent and bustling. And it’s the only show in town, so everything is concentrated here.
Montreal’s Notre Dame Basilica
The interior of Old Montreal’s Notre Dame Basilica has to rank it as one of the most stunning churches or cathedrals in North America.
Using Dome Ports with GoPros for Over/Under Water Split Photos
If you’re looking to get split photos of above and below the water line, a dome port is what you want. Here’s a rundown of how they work with GoPros.
GoPro Tips
Adding a Water Repellent Film to Reduce Water Drops on a GoPro Lens
Ugly water drops on the GoPro lens can really ruin the shot. The XClear Hydrophobic Lens Protectors are designed to solve this problem. Here’s my take on how well they work.
How to Use Linear FOV with GoPro’s GPR Photo RAW File Format
Here’s a workaround that lets you apply linear FOV, or something very close to it, to GoPro’s RAW photo format.
Wasabi Power Extended Battery for the GoPro HERO5 Black – Review
Wasabi Power has come out with a new extended battery for the GoPro HERO5 Black that they claim gives you up to 4 hours of recording time. I’ve been putting it to the test.
Using Dome Ports with GoPros for Over/Under Water Split Photos
If you’re looking to get split photos of above and below the water line, a dome port is what you want. Here’s a rundown of how they work with GoPros.
NiteCore UGP5 Charger for GoPro HERO5 Black Batteries
NiteCore is releasing a new charger for GoPro HERO5 Black batteries. It adds a few little nice tweaks to make it stand out from the competition.
Is it Normal for GoPros to Get Hot?
You might have noticed your camera getting very hot to the touch. In general, that’s normal, but there can be some consequences.
How to Format SD Cards in a GoPro
It’s always a good idea to format the SD card in the camera. Here’s a rundown of how to do it with recent GoPro models.
How to Set the Date and Time on a GoPro
GoPros have a couple of different ways of setting the date and time, each with its advantages.
Lightroom Tips
How to Make Image Stack Icons Visible Again
If you can’t see the stack icons on the thumbnails in the grid view, here’s how to make sure that the option to display them is turned on.
How to Change a Stack’s Cover Thumbnail
Here’s how to change the image that’s used as the cover image for an image stack.
How to Filter Virtual Copies or Master Files
Lightroom has a quick way to separate out the virtual copies from the master versions. Here’s how to do it in the Library module.
How to Post to Instagram Directly from Lightroom
There are several different ways to post to Instagram from a desktop or laptop. Here’s an option for posting to Instagram from Lightroom directly.
Using JPEGmini Pro to Make Files Smaller when Exporting from Lightroom
JPEGmini Pro offers a way to make filesizes impressively smaller when you export JPGs from Lightroom or use with a publish service.
How to Export Photos While Maintaining Folder Structure
If you’re looking to export multiple images organized into folders while preserving the folder structure, there’s a plugin that can add that capability to Lightroom.
Revealing Clipped Highlights and Shadows
Lightroom has a very useful feature that shows you precisely the parts of an image where highlights or shadows are getting clipped as you adjust the settings.
How to Export Square Photos from Lightroom
Here’s a method for exporting square photos from Lightroom without having to create virtual copies or use the crop tool.