There are worse places to be than gliding silently at water level amongst the icebergs, seals, and penguins of Antarctica.
Reviews & Tips
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.
New Wide-Angle Lenses from Nikon
Nikon has announced three new wide-angle lenses: a 28mm f/1.4 and 8-15mm fisheye zoom for FX sensor cameras and a 10-20mm ultra-wide zoom for DX sensor cameras.
Places
The Lakes of Hanoi
Hanoi has a lot of lakes. And as you’d expect from a bustling, industrialized city of several million people in a country with a decidedly mixed record of dealing with environmental challenges, most of those lakes are severely polluted. But the lakes provide a respite from the crushing traffic and incessant bustle in other parts of the city.
Old Quebec City
Quebec City is a kind of Paris-in-miniature, set on a beautiful spot on the Saint Lawrence River and full of old-world charm. At Christmas it really shines.
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.
Vietnam Military History Museum
The Vietnam Military History Museum in central Hanoi celebrates the Vietnamese victories of the 20th century, first over the French and then the United States. And, of course, it presents a version sanctioned by the Vietnamese Communist Government.
The Town that Defied God and the Government
If God and the government had their way, Antigua wouldn’t exist. But it’s a good thing it does. With charming Spanish colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, and a vibrant cultural life, it’s a wonderful place to visit.
Oo Hmin Thone Sel Pagoda
Oo Hmin Thone Sel Pagoda is an explosion of color, with almost 50 statues of the Buddha looking out from a cave-like crescent from a hilltop in Sagaing.
Mexico’s Cultural Treasures
Mexico City’s impressive National Museum of Anthropology showcases the region’s endlessly rich and diverse pre-Columbian cultural heritage.
Sydney Harbour at Night
Sydney Harbour is a beautiful setting for Australia’s largest city, and at night it really sparkles.
GoPro HERO5 Black vs HERO4 Black
If you’re trying to decide whether to upgrade to the new GoPro HERO5 Black or trying to choose between the two, here’s a detailed breakdown of their similarities and differences.
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 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.
How to Correct Lens Vignetting in Lightroom
Vignetting is a common issue with many lenses, especially at wide apertures. Lightroom has two methods to correcting or reducing it.