Hagia Sophia is old. Very old. The building that currently stands on the first of Istanbul’s famous seven hills dates back almost 1,500 years and has had a remarkable and colorful history. It’s also a beautiful place to visit.
Reviews & Tips
Hands-on with the Really Right Stuff TFC-14 Series 1 Carbon Fiber Tripod
The Really Right Stuff TFC-14 Series 1 Carbon Fiber Tripod doesn’t have bells and whistles, but it just might be my new favorite travel tripod.
Photos Taken with a Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-f/5.6G VR ED Zoom Telephoto Lens
A collection of photos taken with the Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G under various conditions to give a sense of how it performs in real-world shooting.
A Modular System for Charging Camera Batteries
The headline feature of the Watson Duo Charger is that it has swappable charging plates that make it compatible with a very wide range of camera batteries.
Joby Ballhead X Review
While it’s designed to be paired with the Joby GorillaPod Focus flexible tripod, the Joby Ballhead X is very good on its own terms as a small, strong, and affordable ballhead for a travel tripod.
Photos Taken with a Nikon 105mm f/1.4E ED Lens
A collection of sample photos taken using the new Nikon 105mm f/1.4 lens with an emphasis on travel photography.
Review of the Oben BC-166 Dual Action Ballhead
The Oben BC-166 heavy-duty ballhead doesn’t try to do fancy. It aims for no-fuss, rock-solid support and easy adjustment. And it succeeds well.
Using Sigma’s USB Dock for Lens Updates and Tweaking
Sigma has a USB dock for its newer lenses that allows you to update the lens’s firmware and customize some of the lens’s core functions like autofocus and optical stabilization. Here’s how the USB dock works and what you can do with it.
My Current Favorite Powerbanks
A rundown of the external USB powerbanks that have earned a regular place in my travel kit for one reason or another.
Places
Galata Bridge
The Galata Bridge has multiple personalities. It spans the Golden Horn from Eminonu to Karakoy and provides both a real and symbolic link connecting two key parts of Istanbul.
Vientiane, City on the Mekong
Vientiane’s waterfront seems purpose-built for beautiful sunsets. With a wide promenade and park, it’s well used. And right across the river is Thailand.
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.
Chichen Itza’s Maya Ruins
Chichen Itza is one of the most famous, most impressive, and most visited of the Mayan ruins sites on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
Ek Balam, Maya City of the Jaguar
It might not be for the vertigo-challenged, but getting to the top of the Acropolis at Ek Balam is definitely worth the effort. It is, quite literally, a view fit for a king.
Myanmar’s Scenic U Bein Bridge
U Bein Bridge has become one of Myanmar’s iconic landmarks. Spanning 3/4 of a mile, the foot bridge is reputed to be the longest teak bridge in the world.
Kayaking in Antarctica
There are worse places to be than gliding silently at water level amongst the icebergs, seals, and penguins of Antarctica.
Phonsavan’s Morning Market
At Phonsavan’s morning market you can sit for a tasty bowl of freshly made steaming pho for breakfast or buy some local fruit. You can find much that looks familiar, and quite a lot that doesn’t.
Pros and Cons of Using a GoPro as an Everyday Camera
Can you use a GoPro as a travel camera? Absolutely. But before you rely exclusively on your GoPro for that once-in-a-lifetime trip, here’s a rundown of what I see as the main pros and cons.
GoPro Tips
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.
Hands-on Review of the Wasabi Power Clutch for GoPro Cameras
The Wasabi Power Hand Grip is an external USB battery and hand grip in one. It’s a convenient way to add extra battery power to extend your GoPro filming.
Does GoPro Wifi Work Underwater?
Wondering if you can control your GoPro remotely by wifi underwater? An explanation of what’s possible and what isn’t to remotely control GoPros underwater.
Do GoPro Touchscreens Work Underwater?
Wondering if the touchscreen on the back of GoPro HERO5 Black or HERO4 Silver works underwater?
What the GoPro Spot Meter Does
Wondering what the GoPro spot meter does? Here’s an explanation.
New Waterproof Sennheiser Microphone for the GoPro HERO4 Black and Silver
Sennheiser has released a new microphone for the GoPro HERO4 Black and Silver, the MKE 2 Elements. It attaches directly to the camera and is waterproof.
Lightroom Tips
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.
How to Make a Contact Sheet in Lightroom
Contact sheets are a throwback to film days, but they still have their uses. Here’s a guide on how to make a contact sheet in Lightroom.