Lightroom might be the most popular one-stop image management and image processing app, but it’s not the only option. Here are some apps to look at if you’re after an alternative to Lightroom.
Latest
RAVPower 10,000mAh Power Bank
The RAVPower RP-PB186 10,000mAh powerbank packs a lot of battery juice and fast charging in to a small size.
The Basics of Screw-in Filters for Camera Lenses
Here’s a quick rundown on using some of the most common types of screw-in filters and considerations when using them.
How to Make Custom YouTube Thumbnails with Canva
A guide to creating custom YouTube thumbnails for your videos using Canva’s free account.
YouTube Thumbnail Size Guide: 2020 Edition
A up-to-date guide to the best YouTube thumbnail size, how to enable and upload custom thumbnails, and best practices.
RAVPower 20,000 Battery Pack
The RAVPower PD Pioneer 20000mAh 18W 3-Port Power Bank offers high power output for rapid charging via USB-C and a more precise percentage-based status indicator.
Nikon D3500 Questions & Answers
The answers to some common questions I’ve gotten about the Nikon D3500 DSLR camera.
Review of the Ricoh GW-4 21mm Wide-Angle Conversion Lens for Ricoh GR III
Ricoh has made available a dedicated wide-angle conversion lens for the Ricoh GR III. It takes the standard 28mm lens to a wider 21mm. Here’s how it works and what it does in real-world terms.
Sony a7R IV Review
Sony has released a new version of their flagship full-frame mirrorless camera: the Sony a7R IV. After having been shooting with it quite a bit, here’s my take.
GoPro Tips
GoPro HERO8 Battery Recommendations
I’ve been trying several options in an effort to find viable replacement batteries for the HERO8 Black. Here’s what I’ve found.
How to Select & Delete Multiple Photos or Videos on the GoPro HERO8 Black’s Media Viewer Screen
When using the media viewer on the back screen of the HERO8 Black, here’s how to select and delete multiple files at once.
How to Switch Between NTSC and PAL on the GoPro HERO8 Black
If you need to switch between NTSC and PAL video shooting modes on the HERO8 Black, it’s not quite as obvious how to do that as it could be. Here’s how to do it.
GoPro HERO8 Black Replacement Side Door that Allows Access to USB-C Port
The new design for the side door of the GoPro HERO8 Black has its flaws, especially if you’re trying to use the USB-C port for external power an an external microphone. Here’s a replacement side door that allows unfettered access to the USB-C port.
Protune Options of the GoPro HERO8 Black
Here are master lists of the Protune options available when shooting video and photos with the HERO8 Black.
GoPro HERO8 Black SD Card Recommendations
Not all SD cards will work well in the HERO8 Black. Here are some recommendations for which microSD cards are fast enough to keep up with the high-bitrate video recording and burst photo modes.
GoPro HERO8 Black Photo Modes
A detailed rundown of the various features and modes available on the GoPro HERO8 Black for shooting still photos.
Which Accessories Will Work with the GoPro HERO8 Black?
Wondering which accessories will work on the new GoPro HERO8 Black? Here’s a running list of what to look for.
Reviews
Sony a7R IV Sample Images
Here’s a collection of images shot with the Sony a7R IV full-frame mirrorless camera under different lighting conditions and with different settings to give a sense of how it performs in real-world shooting.
Sony FE 12-24mm F/4 G Ultra-Wide-Angle Zoom Lens Review
The Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G zoom lens has an ultra-wide perspective that adds a lot of drama and packs a lot of scene into the frame, but it manages to do it without the distracting parts that you often get at such extreme focal lengths.
Sony FE 12-24mm F/4 G Ultra-Wide-Angle Zoom Lens Sample Images
Sony’s FE 12-24mm F/4 G lens is an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens designed for their full-frame cameras. For an unusually wide lens, it’s remarkably true and sharp and doesn’t suffer from the usual optical flaws you’d expect.
Sony FE 24mm ƒ/1.4 GM Lens Review
The Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM is a high-end fast prime designed for Sony’s full-frame mirrorless cameras. Here’s my hands-on review.
Photos Taken with a Sony FE 24mm ƒ/1.4 GM Wide-Angle Prime Lens
Here’s a collection of photos I’ve taken recently with the Sony FE 24mm ƒ/1.4 GM wide-angle prime lens on a Sony a7R IV body.
Sony a7R IV High ISO Image Samples
Here’s a collection of images shot at high ISOs on the Sony a7R IV, Sony’s flagship model with a new and improved 61MP sensor.
Photos Taken with the Sony RX100 VII Compact Camera
Here’s a sampling of photos I’ve taken with the Sony RX100 VII, the latest in Sony’s high-end compact camera line.
Sony RX100 VII High ISO Sample Images
Here’s a collection of images taken with the Sony RX100 VII at high ISOs to give a sense of how it performs in low-light conditions.
Lightroom Tips
How to Filter by Image Orientation of Landscape, Portrait, or Square
If you need to filter out just the portrait (vertical), landscape (horizontal), or square images, you can use the Aspect Ratio filter criteria.
How to Change the Background Color of Single Images in Lightroom Classic
You can change the color of the space behind single images in Lightroom. That can be simply a matter of preference or used as a visualization tool
Can Aurora HDR 2019 Salvage Otherwise Unusable Photos?
HDR is traditionally all about the drama. But it doesn’t have to be all about overly saturated and uber dramatic images. The tone-mapping tools built into apps like Photomatix and Aurora HDR 2019 can be useful for making otherwise blah photos more interesting and perhaps salvaging them as keepers.
How to Change the Thumbnail Image for a Video in Lightroom
Changing the thumbnail image used for videos in Lightroom can be a handy way to provide a more useful visual reference point when you’re trying to find the video you’re after. Here’s how to do it.
How to Trim Videos in Lightroom
Lightroom doesn’t have much in the way of editing tools when working with video files, but it does have the ability to trim the beginning or end of video clips.
How to Customize the Color Labels in Lightroom
Color labels are one of several useful workflow tools in Lightroom. And if you want to customize what text label is paired with which color, you can. Here’s how.
How to Switch between Landscape and Portrait Orientations When Cropping Images
Lightroom has a super quick way to switch between landscape and portrait orientations with the crop tool. Here’s how to do it.
How to Convert the GPS Coordinates in Lightroom’s Map Module to Decimal Format
Lightroom’s map module uses GPS coordinates in the degrees, minutes, and seconds format. If you need them in decimal degree format, here’s a quick way to convert them.
Which Color Space Should You Use When?
Color spaces and color profiles can get complicated and technical fast. But here are some simple, practical recommendations on which color space to use when shooting and sharing photos.
Sony RX100 VII ISO Range Examples
The high-end compact Sony RX100 VII camera has a relatively narrow ISO range from 64 through 12800. Here are some example shots showing what that means in real-world shooting.
Ricoh GR III ISO Range Examples
The Ricoh GR III has an ISO range from 100 to 102400. Here are some high-resolution practical examples of how that translates in real-world shooting.
Sony a7R IV ISO Range Sample Images
I’ve been out shooting with the brand-new Sony a7R IV, the full-frame flagship model in Sony’s mirrorless camera range. Here are some side-by-side examples taken through the ISO range from ISO 50 to ISO 102400.
Hands on with the RAVPower 6-Port USB Charger FileHub
In addition to handling the high-power fast-charging needs of today’s devices, the RAVPower 6-Port USB Charger FIleHub has a neat party trick up its sleeve.
Ultra Portable Backup Storage on the Go with the RAVPower External SSD
External SSDs have been getting smaller, with higher capacities, and cheaper. The new RAVPower Portable SSD is the smallest and most portable I’ve used yet.
Shooting Panoramas with the Sony RX100 VII
The Sony RX100 VII has a panorama mode. Here’s a rundown of what it does and how it works.
Sony RX100 VII Zoom Range
The Sony RX100 VII high-end compact camera has a 24-200mm optical zoom and two kinds of digital zoom that go beyond that. Here’s what each type does, along with practical examples.
The RAVPower FileHub is Like a Digital Swiss Army Knife for Traveling
The RAVPower FileHub is like a digital Swiss Army Knife, solving several connection and networking issues that you commonly run into when travelling.
Review of the HooToo 8-in-1 USB-C Hub
Modern laptops have been getting fewer and fewer ports. The HooToo 8-in-1 USB-C Hub adds several useful ports in a compact and portable package.
Lumix S1 Mirrorless Camera Review
Here’s my hands-on review of the Lumix S1, a new full-frame mirrorless camera from Panasonic.
Lumix S1 High ISO Range Side-by-Side Examples
Here are some side-by-side comparisons of the Lumix S1’s high ISO performance from ISO 3200 through ISO 204800.
Photos Taken with a Lumix S1 Mirrorless Camera
Here’s a collection of sample images I’ve taken with the new Lumix S1 mirrorless camera from Panasonic.
Lumix S 24-105mm ƒ/4 Macro Zoom Lens Review
Here’s my hands-on review of the Lumix S 24-105mm ƒ/4 macro, a versatile and high-quality zoom lens for Lumix, Sigma, and Leica cameras using the L-mount system.
Lumix S 24-105mm ƒ/4 Zoom Lens Sample Images
I’ve recently been out shooting with the new Lumix S 24-105mm ƒ/4 on the also-new Lumix S1 full-frame mirrorless camera. Here are some images taken with the combination with an emphasis on examples showing how the lens performs in real-world shooting.
Ricoh GR III Sample Images
I’ve recently been out shooting with the new Ricoh GR III high-end compact camera. For good reason, the GR cameras have long had a cult following among street photographers and travel photographers. Here’s a collection of high-resolution sample images I’ve taken with it.
Practical Examples of the Zoom Range of the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm ƒ/4 Zoom Lens
Here are some practical examples taken at each end of the zoom range of the new Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 macro zoom lens.
Hands-on Review of the Olympus OM-D E-M1X Micro Four Thirds Mirrorless Camera
Here’s my hands-on review of the new Olympus OM-D E-M1X mirrorless camera, a high-end Micro Four Thirds camera with speed features especially well-suited to sports and wildlife photographers.
Sony a6400 Hands-on Review
Here’s my hands-on review of the Sony Alpha a6400, Sony’s newest addition to its compact mirrorless interchangeable lens range.
Photos Taken with a Sony 18-135mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 E-Mount Lens
This is a selection of photos I’ve taken with the Sony 18-135mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 E-Mount lens, a highly versatile zoom lens that’s an especially good pairing with cameras in Sony’a Alpha range such as the a6000, a6400, and a6500.
Sony a6400 Photos
Here’s a collection of photos I’ve taken with the Sony a6400 to give a sense of how it performs in real-world shooting conditions.
Sony a6400 High ISO Sample Images
Here’s a collection of photos I’ve taken with the Sony Alpha a6400 mirrorless camera using high ISOs from ISO 6400 up through ISO 102400.
Photos Taken with an Olympus OM-D E-M1X Micro Four Thirds Mirrorless Camera
Here’s a selection of images I’ve taken in my hands-on testing of the Olympus OM-D E-M1X Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera.
Practical Examples of the ISO Range of the Olympus OM-D E-M1X
Here are some practical examples of the ISO range of the Olympus OM-D E-M1X Micro Four Thirds camera.
Example of the Zoom Range of the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm ƒ/2.8 Pro Zoom Lens
Here’s a quick practical example of the zoom range of the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm ƒ/2.8 Pro zoom lens.
Photos Taken with the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm ƒ/2.8 Pro lens
Here are some photos I’ve taken with the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm ƒ/2.8 Pro lens.
How to Switch Between Autofocus (AF) and Manual Focus (MF) on the Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mm ƒ/2.8 Zoom Lens
Here’s how to switch between Autofocus (AF) and Manual Focus (MF) modes on the Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mm ƒ/2.8 zoom lens.
Ricoh GR III High ISO Images
Here are some photos shot at high ISOs with the Ricoh GR III under real-world shooting conditions.
Sony a6400 ISO Range Sample Images
Here are some practical examples of photos shot throughout the Sony a6400’s ISO range from ISO 100 through ISO 102400.
Examples of the Zoom Range of the Sony 18-135mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 E-Mount Lens
The Sony E 18-135mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 is a popular choice for APS-C mirrorless cameras like the new Sony a6400 or the Sony a6000. And it makes for a versatile zoom lens for everyday travel photography. Here are some practical examples of its zoom range.
Sony a6400 SD Card Recommendations
Here are some practical recommendations on which memory cards to get for the Sony a6400 so that you can take advantage of all of the camera’s features.
Book Review: Wildlife Photography: From First Principles to Professional Results, by Richard Bernabe
This new book from wildlife photographer Richard Bernabe is crammed with useful and practical information on capturing anything from the most exotic safari animals to the hidden gems in the wildlife in your backyard or local zoo.
Facebook Video Covers – Size, Aspect Ratio, Duration, and Options
You can now use a video as your Facebook cover instead of a photo. Here’s a rundown of the requirements and options to make it work.
Hands On with the Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod
There are a few variants in Manfrotto’s Befree carbon fiber travel tripod line. The Befree Advanced adds twist locks and a heavier load rating.
How to Unlock an SD Card that’s Write Protected
If your camera is showing an error that the SD card is write protected, there’s usually a very simple fix.
Ricoh GR II High ISO Sample Images
Here’s a collection of photos I’ve taken with the Ricoh GR II in an effort to provide some practical examples of how the Ricoh GR II performs in low-lighting shooting conditions.
Photos Taken with a FujiFilm X-T3
Here’s a selection of images I’ve taken with a FujiFilm X-T3 to give a sense of how it performs under different real-world shooting conditions.
Sony HX99 Review
The Sony HX99 is a tiny camera with a massive zoom. It makes for a very good and versatile everyday travel camera that easily fits in your pocket. Here’s my hands-on review.
Photos Taken with a Sony HX99 Compact Camera
The Sony HX99 compact camera packs a massive zoom into a tiny camera as well as including some features you might not expect in a camera of this type. Here are some photos taken with the HX99 to provide some practical examples of how it performs under real-world shooting conditions.
Sony HX99 High ISO Sample Images
Here’s a collection of photos I’ve taken with the Sony HX99 focusing specifically on its highest ISO range of 1600 to 6400.
