If you’ve considered starting underwater photography for the first time, maybe you were put off by how expensive and gear-intensive it can be. And it’s true – transitioning from taking photos on dry land to capturing stunning underwater images isn’t easy! It requires careful planning and strategic gear investments. That’s where this article will help. Today, in this step-by-step guide, I will equip you with everything you need to know to start your underwater photography journey while being mindful of your budget.
I’ve had the privilege to test all of Nikon’s Z-series midrange zooms extensively over the last several years, both in the field and in the lab. Nikon hasn’t been shy about making them, either! There are six full-frame Nikon Z midrange zooms so far, ranging from the cheapest 24-50mm f/4-6.3 to the most expensive 24-70mm f/2.8 S. Which one is best? Of course, that depends on the photographer’s needs – otherwise, Nikon wouldn’t make so many of these lenses in the first place. But my hope with this article is to show the relative strengths and weaknesses of each lens so that you can make a well-informed purchase.
“It’s a whole new world out there and AI is going to destroy photography as we know it.” At least that what we’re hearing from the frantic naysayers. But is that really what’s on the horizon? Read on to see what one top pro thinks about the so-called looming disaster.
David Bergman is a very successful photographer based in New York, specializing in sports, celebrity portraits, and concert photography. He always keeps abreast of the latest trends, so we were eager to get his view of this recent and rather emotional debate and hear his predictions for the future.
This discussion is a response to a fan who posted a question about AI on Bergman’s Q&A website—aptly named “Ask David Bergman.” He says he’s lived through a bunch of big technical innovations throughout his 30-year career, and his view is that “AI not as scary as it seems.”
The difference today, according to Bergman, it this: “AI isn’t evolutionary, it’s revolutionary.” With so many aspects of our craft changing almost overnight, Bergman insists that, like it or not, professional photographers need to adapt if they want to survive.
Bergman defines AI like this: “The term artificial intelligence is a catchall for many automated learning technologies, that was first coined in the 1950’s.” While the technology has been evolving for decades, Bergman says the biggest changes have occurred just in the last year or two—at least as pertains to photography.
He asked ChatGPT, the AI-powered language model, to define artificial intelligence, and the response he received is both is detailed and extensive. So what does this have to do with photography? Bergman notes that “AI has been creeping into photography for a while, and “has really picked up steam recently.”
He points to Photoshop’s new Generative Fill features as one prime example of amazing technologies that will forever change how images are created. He also notes that the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III DSLR, introduced back in 2020, included a deep-learning database built into the autofocus system.
We’re not going to be a buzzkill by revealing how Bergman feels about AI today, and what he envisions for the future. You’ll have to watch the video for that. Let’s just say it’s an interesting and provocative presentation that you don’t want to miss.
You can see more queries and answers by visiting the Ask David Bergman website, and even pose a question of your own.
We’ve featured effective White Balance tutorials in the past, but the lesson below from the Camera Focus YouTube channel is about as simple as it gets. It works really well and deserves a prominent spot in your image-editing bag of tricks.
Cooper puts it like this: “By adjusting the White Balance in your photos you can achieve stunning results that will transform photos into works of art and take your photography to the next level.” The idea is to accurately portray colors as they appeared through the viewfinder, but you can also use Copper’s trick to create interesting special effects.
Cooper quickly explains how White Balance works and uses an environmental portrait to walk you through the easy steps in barely four minutes. As you’ll see, the same photo can convey a variety of moods and different looks depending upon the adjustments you make. He also explains why shooting in Raw will deliver the best possible results.
This particular image was shot using the camera’s Auto White Balance setting. Cooper opens Lightroom’s color panel and illustrates the various White Balance options available. These range from Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, and Tungsten, to Florescent, Flash, and Custom. By clicking on each of these settings you will immediately see the effects they provide.
Cooper then places Lightroom’s Color Picker over a middle-gray area in the image as a point of reference for moving forward. He also illustrates how a simple 18% gray card can be extremely helpful for achieving more accurate tones in the camera while shooting in the field. Then when you bring that image into Lightroom the adjustments are even easier.
Cooper explaining that there’s really is no such thing as “perfect White Balance” because photography is a creative and interpretive endeavor. He then demonstrates how to use Lightroom sliders to convey exactly the look you’re after. He also explains how to make “micro adjustments” to further refine your efforts.
Copper opens the Curves panel to illustrate a final trick for adjusting color range and adding a bit of contrast to the shot. Bottom line: It’s quick, easy and effective. There are more straightforward tips and tricks on Cooper’s instructional YouTube channel, so be sure to pay a visit and explore what he has to offer.
