The answer to this question has been debated so much that, for a moment, I hesitated to post this note. Then I thought, "What the heck—this topic never gets old. After all, there's probably someone out there picking up a camera for the first time, eager to start shooting and wondering what to do to get nice pictures". So, here’s an article that will help you find an answer.
One of the things that fascinates me most when photographing sports is the look on athletes’ faces just before they perform—or immediately after. There’s a quiet intensity in those moments, a story unfolding in their expressions. Unfortunately, no camera can capture what’s going on inside their minds. All we have is the image—and the lingering question of what they might have been thinking in that split second.
That’s part of what makes sports photography so compelling. It’s not just about action shots or peak performance—it’s about emotion, anticipation, and reflection. A single frame can hint at triumph, doubt, exhaustion, or resolve. As a photographer, you become a silent observer of these raw, human moments, trying to preserve something that goes beyond the physical act of competition. And sometimes, it’s those quiet, in-between frames that say the most.
Here are few pictures that illustrate the above.
In the end, that’s the beauty of photography—it invites us to pause and wonder. We may never know exactly what was going through the athlete’s mind, but the image invites us into that moment, asking us to feel something, to connect. And maybe that’s enough. Sometimes, the power of a photograph lies not in the answers it gives, but in the questions it leaves behind.
Last weekend was a busy one. I took more than 800 pictures, and on Sunday, I edited them down to 463 high-quality images, which can be downloaded here. Facebook kills any picture published there. If you want any of my original pictures download it using this link.
This last weekend I photographed a Karate event whose theme was the Terracotta Warriors from China. All the pictures from this event were taken using a Canon R6 Mark I and the EF 70-200mm f/2.8 Lens Mark II. This lens was first released by Canon in 2010, but looking at these pictures, you would never guess they were taken with a 15-year-old lens. If a lens is good, it doesn’t matter how old it is.
Why am I still using an older lens? Price. You can buy this lens for less than half of what you would pay for the latest RF version.
But a good lens alone isn’t enough to create great pictures. I spent more than 12 hours editing all the photos. First, I reviewed them all and selected the ones I wanted to edit. After that, I ran the selected pictures through DXO PureRaw to remove noise. Then I imported the cleaned images into Adobe Lightroom Classic, where the real editing process began.
Adjustments to contrast, white balance, blacks, and whites were made to achieve the final results, which you can enjoy on my Facebook page and Flickr. Pictures straight out of the camera are an unfinished product that require work to reach their full potential.
The main difference between someone simply taking pictures and a photographer is the time the latter spends on post-processing. Keep that in mind.
Here are few more pictures from this event.
According to News published at PetaPixel, "Thailand has introduced strict new regulations targeting underwater photography". On "... a ministerial order published in the Royal Gazette, divers must now hold an Advanced Open Water certification or prove a minimum of 40 logged deep dives to carry cameras underwater. These documents must be presented upon request by authorities. The rules apply to all recreational dives, including training and examination dives."
To be honest, I really do not think that there is in any country around a world enough underwater photographers capable of causing any damage to the fragile coral reef ecosystems. This is one of those cases of unfounded extremism.
Coral reefs are being damaged by a combination of natural and human-driven factors. The main causes include:
I doubt that prohibiting photography will do much to control careless diving or snorkeling. Usually, those who seek out photos are very mindful of leaving nature just as they found it.
Leo, our youngest grandson, is following in his brothers’ footsteps and received his second belt yesterday —Yellow. He was eager to showcase his new moves for us. Here’s a short video shot at Kaufmann's Karate.
It seems that photographers will be affected highly by tariffs and this could happen faster than what we initially thought. Even when most of the professional cameras are coming from Japan there are many parts made in China which tariff is 145%. More about this in this video.
Will this affect clients? Of course, if a photographer pays more for the gear that cost needs to be passed down to the clients.
This is one of those stupidly simple products that makes a huge difference. I have to say, I had my doubts about the effectiveness of these windjammers. But I thought, well — it can't be worse than the horrible noise I’ve been getting from my Canon R6 when shooting video in the wild. The difference is like night and day — no more noise!
Very simple to install! Highly recommended.
The product description says that it's for Sony RX cameras but it will virtually work in any camera with a single hole for the Microphone like seem in the above photo. I used in my Canon R6 two microphones and I tested shooting a video of ceiling fan blowing air directly into the camera and what a difference! No more noise!
The Sony HDR-CX405 was released in 2015 and is still being sold today — something that’s hard to believe in a time when smartphones are, without a doubt, the preferred tool for recording home video. So why is this camera still so popular?
First of all, camcorders are making a comeback. It’s hard to say whether this resurgence is driven by nostalgia or by people realizing that smartphones have limitations, many of which camcorders easily overcome.
While this camera doesn’t offer 4K, it delivers decent quality 1080p video at 60fps, along with a very good 30x optical zoom.
You can find more information about this tiny camcorder here.
You can buy this camera at Amazon for around $350 but if you look around you can buy it used for as low as $180!
Compared to an iPhone 16 Pro, If you want long zoom, traditional camcorder handling, and straightforward 1080p video, the Sony HDR-CX405 still holds its own for simple use cases like family events, wildlife, and hobby filming.
If you want top-tier image quality, 4K/8K recording, powerful stabilization, smart editing, and easy social media sharing, the iPhone 16 Pro is the clear winner.
The choice comes down to: dedicated zoom & simplicity (Sony) vs. all-in-one power & convenience (iPhone).
Here is a short video that I made testing this camera, outdoor and indoor.
This is a very simple camera, the equivalent to a point and shoot, and I’m still learning how to set the exposure properly, but I’m pleased with the sharpness and overall video quality. It’s not a professional camera, but it gets the job done. I’m planning to test it more thoroughly over the weekend.
I haven’t had great experiences with "mini" flashes, but I have to admit I’ve never tested one as tiny and comfortable to carry and use as the Zeniko Mini Flash.
Despite its typical size-related limitations, it’s still a good option for travelers who need a little extra light to capture a good photo in dark environments and you won't find a better price.
As usual, I’m starting the week by sharing some of the photos I took over the weekend.
This small squirrel decided to show me the beauty of spring by enjoying the scent of the plants. A strong reminder of the importance of enjoying the small things life brings us every day.
Today began with the sad news of Pope Francis's passing. Rest in peace, Francis.
DXO PureRAW 5 has been released. I tested it a bit, and the new denoising engine seemed a little too soft for my taste — faster, but soft. Still, it’s a must-have for any photographer out there. Combining DXO PureRAW with Topaz Photo AI for sharpening can result in almost perfect images.
Here is a video explaining the main differences in this new version.
I’m sure everyone has bought a piece of gear that, at least in their mind, improved their photos. For me, it’s the Canon EF 100-400mm L Mark II, which I bought used but in very good condition. What’s that piece of gear for you?
If you want to know which one it is for Duade Paton — a wildlife photographer and influencer with around 100K followers — you can check out the following video.
A street photographer changed this woman's life when he took her picture and posted a video of the entire process online.
You can read the details of this storybook-like tale here.
Only during Easter can you go for a hike looking for wildlife to photograph and end up with a picture of a giant rabbit.
Well, in reality, it’s not a rabbit, but a clever photographer using an assistant dressed as one to get a nice picture for a client.
This time of year, you start seeing photographers in our parks taking senior photos.
Yeap, it's this time of the year. Of course, a nice time to take some candid pictures.
Here’s a review of the Nikon P1100. I’d like to point you to the 2:30 mark in the video, because right there you can see something I’ve been saying for a long time: more reach in wildlife photography isn’t always better. Nothing will give you better results than being close to your subject. The more distance you put between you and your subject, the more haze you introduce — and that can ruin your photos.
According to TechRadar, Canon has cancelled their plan to drop the price in two of cameras, the R7 and the R10.
"price drops that were scheduled for May on both the EOS R7 and EOS R10 have been canceled in the United States". Annoyingly for anyone who's been planning to buy an affordable mirrorless camera, it was also told that "the price drops were going to be significant."It's impossible not to link this change to the recently imposed tariff increase on Japan.
I've heard of many things, but this one ranks among the most bizarre! According to PetaPixel, a group of photographers reported that their RF 200-800mm lens broke in two while being transported in a backpack.
This is a $2,000 lens, and I would at least expect a certain level of quality from Canon.
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| Picture courtesy of PetaPixel. |
Over the years, I’ve read many articles and watched numerous videos on this topic—just like with the RAW vs. JPEG comparisons. But recently, I came across a video that I really liked because it explains the differences so clearly.
I know this may not seem related to photography, but in a way, it is. Many animals that are extinct today are on that list because of us humans. I can’t help but wonder—if hunters traded their guns for cameras, could that help stop the list from growing?
On the other hand, watching the video of these lovely Dire Wolves, I can’t help but think how much I’d love to photograph them!
The stars of last weekend were couple of Sandhill Crane babies.
Their yellow color looks amazing surrounded by tall grass.
Another big surprise was an alligator that showed up for few minutes, long enough for me to take few pictures and few seconds of video.
Here is the video.
I think that I'll keep shooting short videos about nature during the weekends.
Yep, the whole "mine is better" attitude. To me, it’s just a way for people to cope with their choice of buying a certain camera or device so they don’t feel guilty about not choosing something else. The truth is, every camera on the market today is capable of taking amazing photos. Even cameras that are over 10 years old—like my Canon 5D Mark III—still take stunning shots by today’s standards. That’s exactly what the next video is about.
The best camera and the best editing tool are the ones you use and actually know how to use—and that last part is probably the most important.
I knew it. It was expected. Unless Japan lowers or removes part of their tariff, the outcome is certain. We are witnessing an unprecedented war.
It's no secret that Apple sells the entry-level MacBook Air at a lower price, knowing that the hardware specifications on these machines are not optimal for advanced users or those looking to run more resource-intensive applications, such as video and photo editors.
For example, the entry-level MacBook Air comes with just 256 GB of storage, of which around 120 GB is used by macOS and preinstalled applications, leaving you with only 140 GB of free space. If you are a video editor, an hour of 4K video typically requires around 20-30 GB of storage, and editing that video can require twice that amount to handle the task—quickly consuming half of the available space on your internal SSD.
If you are a wedding photographer, you can come back home with 1,000 photos from a single event. To store 1,000 photos, each 40 MB in size, you'll need approximately 40 GB of storage space. Editing these images can easily require at least 25 GB of free space. If you shoot two events in one week, you’ll quickly run out of storage. And if you're capturing both photos and videos at a single event, you'll run out of space even faster.
Basic Math.
Buying the MacBook Air M4 with 512 GB of storage will cost you $200 more. If you choose the 1-terabyte option, which I believe is the optimal SSD size, it will cost you $400 more! But what if I told you that you could get 1 terabyte for a little over $100 without sacrificing performance?
The solution is to use external SSD storage—specifically, a Thunderbolt 4 external SSD. This will maintain read and write performance nearly identical to working from the internal SSD. One caveat with this solution is that a 1-terabyte Thunderbolt external SSD will cost you around $130 to $150, which is a savings of around 70% compared to upgrading the internal SSD.
An alternative to this solution is to buy an enclosure like this one and a Crucial P310 1TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD. You don’t even need a tool to put these two together, and you'll pay less than the average external SSD. The advantage is that if you need more space in the future, you can simply buy a higher-capacity SSD card.
Here is a video showing how to install the SSD card and how this solution works.
Tony Northrup recently reviewed the Nikon P1100, and here’s what he had to say about this technological marvel.
"It's not for anyone who wants action."
"Good for anything faraway"
"Up close, this doesn't excel at anything."
While this extensive zoom capability is impressive, the camera does have several notable drawbacks:
1. Bulky and Heavy Design: Weighing approximately 1,410 grams and measuring 146 x 119 x 181 mm, the P1100 is considerably large and heavy for a bridge camera. This substantial size can make prolonged handheld use challenging and may deter those seeking portability.
2. Limited Upgrades from Predecessor: The P1100 introduces minimal enhancements over its predecessor, the P1000. Key updates include the addition of a USB-C port to comply with EU regulations and minor firmware improvements. However, core features such as the autofocus system and sensor remain largely unchanged, leading to criticism regarding the lack of significant innovation.
3. Narrow Aperture at Maximum Zoom: At the telephoto end (3000mm), the lens has a maximum aperture of f/8. This narrow aperture limits light intake, necessitating higher ISO settings or slower shutter speeds, which can degrade image quality, especially in low-light conditions.
4. Small Sensor Size: The P1100 employs a 1/2.3-inch sensor, which is relatively small compared to those found in many other cameras. This smaller sensor can result in reduced image quality, particularly in low-light situations, and may not meet the expectations of users accustomed to larger sensor performance.
5. High Price Point: With a retail price exceeding $1,000, the P1100 is considered expensive for a bridge camera. Potential buyers may question the value proposition, especially given the limited advancements over the previous model.
6. Lack of Touchscreen Functionality: The 3.2-inch vari-angle LCD monitor lacks touch sensitivity, which can hinder intuitive navigation and quick adjustments, a feature commonly expected in modern cameras.
7. Limited Battery Life: The camera offers a battery life of approximately 250 shots per charge, which is relatively low. This necessitates carrying spare batteries for extended shooting sessions, adding to the overall bulk.
8. Absence of Environmental Sealing: The P1100 lacks weather-sealing features, making it vulnerable to dust and moisture. This limitation can be a concern for photographers intending to use the camera in various outdoor conditions.
In summary, while the Nikon COOLPIX P1100 offers unparalleled zoom capabilities, its considerable size, limited feature enhancements, and high cost may deter some users. Prospective buyers should weigh these factors against their specific photography needs before making a decision.
This is a picture from last weekend’s photoshoot. Of course, while I was looking through the viewfinder, I didn’t notice the bug in the beak—it was only during post-editing that I spotted it.
I’ve been following a couple of Sandhill Cranes to see where they were nesting, and last weekend, I finally found the spot. I have to say, these guys are late, because by now, most of them already have babies.
They chose a spot on a small island close to the shore of the lake—hidden and safe from predators living around the area.
Nature is my sanctuary. When I'm outside in nature, I feel like I'm visiting a church. The calm I receive is similar, and I feel it’s healing. This is why I completely agree with Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales when she said:
Quote: "Over the past year, nature has been our sanctuary.
This Mother's Day, let us celebrate Mother Nature and recognize how our bond with the natural world can help not only nurture our inner selves, but remind us too of the role we play within the rich tapestry of life,"
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| Picture taken using a Canon R6 Mark I. |
