A photo that moves. A video that stays still. Are cinemagraph’s making a comeback? This isn’t a new concept; they peaked on Instagram around 2014–2018, when the platform still prioritized photos. With the explosion of TikTok around 2020-2021, followed by Instagram trying to compete with Reels, video took over social media, and the creative format […]

Have you ever wondered how to photograph the Northern Lights with your phone? The sensors in modern smartphones are totally capable of capturing nature’s most spectacular light show with no expensive camera gear required. Of course, the argument can be made that phones these days are expensive cameras. I have a broader article on how […]

Photographers love control. Clean frames. Isolated subjects. Perfect moments. But what if the chaos in your scene, with people and traffic, could be your most creative asset? Lately, I’ve been leaning into using slow shutter effect when I capture both photo and video because it makes a scene more dynamic. If you’ve ever confused slow […]

Fireworks are beautiful in person but notoriously difficult to capture on a smartphone. If you’ve ever tried and ended up with a blurry photo, you’re not alone. The good news is your phone has features that can capture them, if you know how to use them. I’ve also written about how to shoot fireworks with […]

Ever wonder how people create those smooth, dynamic videos that feel like you’re flying through a city or across a landscape? That effect is called a hyperlapse, and it’s one of the most visually striking motion techniques in photography and video! A hyperlapse is a type of timelapse, but instead of keeping your camera still, […]

If you’re still shooting in auto mode, it’s time we changed that. Understanding how to control your camera manually starts with one essential concept: the exposure triangle. In this exposure triangle photography guide, I’ll break down the three settings that work together to create a perfectly exposed photo, whether you’re using a fancy camera or […]

If you’re a Sony shooter who loves to travel light like me, but still wants flexibility, the Sony 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS deserves your attention. It might be one of Sony’s older lenses, but it still delivers amazing performance, making it one of the best affordable Sony zoom lenses for travel photography and video. Why This […]

As someone who has spent years extensively documenting Manhattanhenge in New York City, photographing Kaohsiunghenge was always on my list. Having traveled extensively throughout Taiwan over the years, and being half-Taiwanese myself, I’ve always felt a particular pull toward documenting the lesser-known phenomena in my second home. What makes Kaohsiunghenge particularly fascinating is that it […]

Are you tired of postponing shoots because of poor weather or struggling with inconsistent lighting that makes your content look amateur? Don’t let bad lighting ruin your videos or photos anymore. For photographers and content creators working from home, finding the perfect lighting solution on a budget that works for both still photography and video […]

The rolling dunes of White Sands National Park offer photographers an otherworldly landscape. From pristine ripples in the sand to dramatic shadows cast by the sun, this unique destination presents endless opportunities for stunning imagery. Coincidentally, White Sands National Park is now my most visited U.S. National Park. It’s funny, I first traveled to New […]