Everything about photography, cameras, and more... All comments published on this blog are simply my observations and opinions about the vast world of photography. They may be right or wrong—nothing more.
Watermarks can provide some protection for your photos, but their effectiveness depends on your goals. Here’s a breakdown of their pros and cons:
Advantages of Using Watermarks
✅ Discourages Casual Theft – A visible watermark makes it harder for someone to pass off your work as their own. ✅ Branding & Recognition – If done subtly, a watermark can help people recognize your work and find your portfolio. ✅ Proof of Ownership – If a dispute arises, a watermark can serve as initial evidence that you are the original creator.
Limitations of Watermarks
❌ Easy to Remove – Anyone with basic editing skills can erase a watermark, especially if it's small or placed in a corner. An example of that is that Google's latest Gemini includes an AI feature to just do that. ❌ Can Distract from the Image – A poorly placed or overly large watermark can detract from the visual appeal of your photo. ❌ Might Not Stop Serious Theft – High-quality images are still vulnerable to unauthorized use, even with a watermark.
Bottom Line
Watermarks provide a layer of deterrence but are not foolproof. If you mainly want credit and visibility, a subtle watermark may help. If preventing theft is your primary concern, combining multiple protection strategies is a better approach.
I asked this question to ChatGPT and carefully analyzed the response to ensure it aligns with my own thoughts and opinions. Here is ChatGPT response with some of my notes in Red:
Macs are widely considered excellent for photo editing, but whether they are "better" depends on your needs, preferences, and budget. Here are some key reasons why many photographers prefer Macs for editing:
Advantages of Macs for Photo Editing
✅ Color Accuracy & Display Quality – Mac displays (especially Retina displays) are known for their color accuracy, which is crucial for photo editing. macOS also has excellent color management. Important point for Photographers.
✅ Optimization & Stability – macOS is highly optimized for creative software like Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and Capture One, leading to smooth performance and fewer crashes.In this point I need to add that in my Dell 7200 i7 Windows PC Lightroom crashes very often. I have been using it in my M3 Macbook Air and it has not crashed even one time.
✅ Hardware & Software Integration – Apple designs both the hardware and software, ensuring seamless performance and long-term stability. And this is to me a key point. Because Apple hardware is a "closed or controlled" system everything is optimized to perfection something that in Windows PC is hard to achieve. Apple devices just work.
✅ M1/M2/M3/M4 Chips – Apple's custom silicon (M-series chips) delivers impressive speed and efficiency, handling high-resolution RAW files smoothly while maintaining good battery life on laptops.
✅ Build Quality & Longevity – Macs tend to last a long time, making them a solid investment for many photographers. Another key point. It's true that in the last few years since Microsoft Surface machines were released the market has seen an improvement in quality but still, Apple is dominating the market in important aspect.
Potential Downsides of Macs
❌ Expensive – Macs generally cost more than equivalent Windows PCs with similar or better hardware specs. Here I have to say that I doubt that I can buy any Laptop for $759 with similar performance than the M3 MacBook Air.
❌ Limited Upgradability – Most newer Macs have non-upgradable RAM and storage, so you need to choose wisely at purchase.
❌ Software Compatibility – While most mainstream photo editing programs work fine, some niche software or plugins may be Windows-only.
Windows vs. Mac for Photo Editing
If budget is a concern, a well-built Windows PC can often deliver better performance for the price.
If you prioritize color accuracy, stability, and seamless workflow, a Mac is a solid choice.
As a photographer, do you find yourself editing a lot of RAW files? If so, from my experience the M-series Macs handle those quite efficiently.
To end this article here is a video that I recently found that summarizes my experience with MacOS.
I'm not ready to dish my Windows PC yet, more than 30 years of using Windows have created a dependency that is hard to break specially if you are an IT person whose actual job is in some way supporting Windows Applications. But for sure I'm enjoying MacOS adventure.
Nikon Z8 is not $3396 at Amazon, that's 15% off the original price.
The Nikon Z8 stands out as a versatile and powerful tool for both photography and videography, offering high-resolution imaging, rapid performance, and advanced features in a more compact form factor compared to its flagship counterparts. Its combination of cutting-edge technology and user-friendly design makes it a compelling choice for professionals seeking a reliable and adaptable camera.
Canon R5 Mark II gets a 7% price reduction at Amazon.
The Canon EOS R5 Mark II is a versatile and powerful tool for both photographers and videographers, offering high-resolution imaging, advanced autofocus, and robust video capabilities. Potential users should be aware of the reported issues and consider how they might impact their specific shooting needs.
I have been using Windows since 1994 and never thought I would switch—until now. Recently, I read multiple articles and forum discussions about MacBooks, particularly how both the Air and Pro models have significantly improved performance with Apple’s new "M" series processors.
After extensive research, I decided to give it a try. I found a great deal on a refurbished MacBook Air from Apple, complete with a one-year warranty.
The Apple M3 MacBook Air, equipped with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, performs exceptionally well—far better than my Dell 7200 i7 with the same RAM and storage configuration.
To put this into perspective:
DXO PureRaw 3 processes 10 pictures in just 2 minutes on the MacBook, whereas my Intel-based PC takes about 6.6 minutes for the same task.
Lightroom Classic (LrC) Denoise takes 50 seconds to process a 24MB CR3 file on the M3 MacBook Air, compared to 5 minutes on the Intel PC.
For years, I hesitated to test Lightroom Classic’s Slideshow feature because, on my Intel PC, rendering a video with my photos took hours. However, on the M3 MacBook Air, I created a slideshow with over 300 pictures in just 15 minutes!
This switch has been a game-changer for my workflow, and I can confidently say I’m glad I made the move.
Note: It seems that this deal was really good because the model that I bought is now Out of Stock.
