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3 Simple Ways to Create Stunning Eyes in Your Portrait Photography

21 Nov

The post 3 Simple Ways to Create Stunning Eyes in Your Portrait Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Gina Milicia.

portrait photography with beautiful eyes — Image model credits, clockwise from top left: Chris Milligan/Fremantle Media, Rachael Lever, Danny Spannerz/East Brunswick Tattoos, Tiffany Diaz

“Here’s looking at you, kid.”

Reclusive Hollywood legend Marlon Brando would always close his eyes when paparazzi tried to take his photo. He knew that without his eyes open the image wasn’t worth publishing.

The eyes are the single most important feature of any portrait. Beautiful eyes can make even the dullest portrait mesmerizing. Poorly lit, out of focus eyes, or eyes that lack connection, will weaken the impact of a portrait.

Here are my three favorite techniques to make eyes really stand out in your portrait photography.

1. Light

“Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.” – George Eastman

Eyes look best when they are lit well, with beautiful catch lights. Catch lights are the reflection of a light source in the eyes. The size, shape, and brightness of your catch lights depend on the light source you use.

An eye lit by windows — Two large, frosted windows from my studio create beautiful catch lights. Model: Bryana Karanikos

Naked Flash on camera — Diffused on-camera flash creates a slightly softer, rectangular catch light.

Eyes lit by a medium softbox off camera — A medium softbox, off-camera and positioned at 2 o’clock, gives a soft, natural catch light.

Badly lit eyes — Poorly-lit eyes without catch lights look cold and a bit creepy.

2. Expression

“You are what you think. All that you are arises from your thoughts. With your thoughts, you make your world.” – Anon.

Comparison of portrait photography with bad and good eyes — Model: Tiffany Dias

In the image on the left (above), Tiffany’s eyes are cold, and she looks nervous. After I gave Tiffany a visualization exercise, her eyes became warm, confident, and connected (see the right image above).

How you communicate, connect with, and direct your model is key to capturing a great expression in the eyes. If your model’s smile isn’t genuine, his or her eyes will appear cold and dull-looking. If your model is nervous or distracted, this too will be reflected in his or her eyes.

One technique I use to create a great expression is visualization. I ask my model:

If you could be anywhere right now, doing anything, where would that be? Tell me about that moment. Who is there? What does it feel like?

Once your model is in the moment of their visualization, their body language and expression changes.

3. Post-production

“Be willing to give that extra effort that separates the winner from the one in second place.” — H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Post-production can lift your portrait photography from good to great – when it’s done well. The key to great post-production is to avoid overdoing it. It’s easy to get excited with all the tricks and enhancements that post-production software offers. It’s addictive, and much like opening a jar of Nutella, it’s very difficult to control yourself once you’ve begun.

I try and use the overnight rule when it comes to retouching. Once I’ve worked on an image, I won’t look at it again for at least a day. I find that my eyes constantly adjust to the modifications I’m making, so it’s more difficult to see when I’ve gone too far (which is also what happened when I dressed in the ’80s).

Here’s a step-by-step technique to enhance eyes using Adobe Lightroom:

Before and after images of eyes — Before and after: I’ve used Lightroom to make the eyes sharper and brighter and to enhance their color.

Step 1: Import your image into Lightroom and use the Basic panel in the Develop module to edit your shot. In this case, I’ve used one of my own beauty presets.

eye adjustments in Lightroom — Here are the basic adjustments I’ve used for this image.

Step 2: Zoom in on the eyes (“B” in the image below) and select the Adjustment Brush tool (“A” in the image below). You can also select the Adjustment Brush using the keyboard shortcut “K.”

Adjusting the eyes in portrait photography

Step 3: Next, you should adjust the eye color with the Adjustment Brush:

Increase the Temperature slider (A) to make the eyes appear warmer in tone.
Increase the Exposure slider (B) to brighten the iris.
Increase the Shadow slider (C) to bring more detail into the shadow area.
Increase the Sharpness slider (D) to make the eyes appear more detailed.

Adjust only the colored part (the iris) of your subject’s eye (highlighted in red in the image above) and set the brush to have a slight feather and a low flow so you can build up your adjustments slowly.

Step 4: Next, select a new Adjustment Brush (A, below), increase the Sharpness slider (B, below) by +22, and paint over the colored part of the eyes, eyelashes, and eyebrows. This will really make the eyes stand out.

Step 5: Finally, select a new Adjustment Brush. Set the Exposure slider to -29, and increase the Clarity to +10. Paint around the edge of the iris. This will darken the area slightly and give the eye more definition.

Here, the final portrait was imported into Adobe Photoshop, where I did a basic skin retouching to remove a few small blemishes.

And that’s it!

I’d love to hear about your techniques for enhancing eyes in portrait photography, and it’d be great to see some examples. So share them in the comments!

Gina is the author of several dPS eBooks, including Portraits: Making the Shot.

The post 3 Simple Ways to Create Stunning Eyes in Your Portrait Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Gina Milicia.

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Nikon Z6 II sample gallery

21 Nov

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Nikon unveiled the Z6 II last month, adding some more processing power and a few other modest upgrades to its ‘multimedia’ full-frame mirrorless offering. We got our hands on one and have some preliminary samples to share – take a look.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Buying guide: The best gifts for film photographers in 2020

21 Nov

Introduction

Do you love film photography, or are you shopping for someone who does? Lucky you / them! Film photography is exploding in popularity and the folks in on the fun tend to be some the coolest cats in town: sorry, digital peeps.

Cool cats deserve cool gifts. And so we’ve combed the analog universe, searching high and low for the hottest gear to include in this guide. It’s filled with fun stuff that should please even the pickiest analog avenger, and most budgets. From funky film stocks, to home developing and digitizing solutions, these are the best film photography gifts in 2020.

Note: Gifts are listed in order from least to most expensive.

Fujifilm Neopan 100 Acros II – $ 12 a roll – A classic film stock, resurrected from the dead

Fujifilm’s beloved B&W film stock is back, baby! Discontinued in 2018, the Japanese film producer announced a new and improved Acros II in November of 2019, much to the delight of monochrome fanatics everywhere. Available in 35mm and 120 formats, Acros II offers silky smooth grain, excellent sharpness and lovely tonality; the perfect film for a nice sunny day.

It’s nostalgic, yet practical, and a film certainly worthy of a spin through any analog lovers’ camera, whether they shot the OG version or not.

See our Fujifilm Acros II sample gallery

The Solarcan – $ 20 – A cool recyclable pinhole camera

The Solarcan is a long exposure camera, which, you guessed it, is built from a can. The intended use is for documenting the path of the sun across a horizon over a long period of time – we’re talking weeks or months. Originally launched on Kickstarter back in 2017, this single-use pinhole camera is a fun project for any analog nerd also interested in astronomy. Plus, it’s recyclable!

Each Solarcan is preloaded with a piece of B&W photographic paper (Solarcan Color is coming soon) and includes instructions for use, mounting materials and a storage tube to keep it light tight until exposure time. The Solarcan is also available in a five-pack ($ 80), which we recommend for added experimentation. Note: this item ships from the United Kingdom.

Lomography Analogue Aqua camera – $ 40 – An inexpensive waterproof 35mm camera

I’m giddy with excitement just thinking about how fun Lomography’s reloadable waterproof cameras are. For folks in the Northern Hemisphere facing a dreary winter, summer swims may seem like a far-off memory. But sunny skies and COVID-free days will someday soon (hopefully) be back upon us. And when the time does come again to take the watery plunge, the film-lover in your life will have the perfect camera to document it.

The Analogue Aqua is basically one of Lomography’s $ 20 disposable cameras sandwiched into a watertight plastic case. There are two version of the camera, one with Lomo Color Negative 400 film and one with Lomochrome Purple film. But it’s worth noting, unlike a traditional ‘disposable’ camera, these ones are not sealed shut and Lomography intends for you to reload them them again and again.

Lomography Fantôme Kino B&W ISO 8 film – $ 45.50 (5-pack) – A cool and new 35mm film stock

Speaking of Lomography, another great idea for the celluloid celebrator is the gift of a new film stock to try. Lomo’s Fantôme Kino B&W ISO 8 – announced earlier this year – is not technically new, since it’s cut from German cine film stock, but it’s newly-available for stills shooters!

This incredibly-low ISO monochrome film is super contrasty and perfect for creating a film noir–style look. And for more B&W fun, we also recommend Lomography’s Babylon Kino B&W ISO 13 film. Unlike Fantôme, it offers subtle tonal changes and plenty of dynamic range. Both are only available in 35mm as of writing.

View our sample gallery: Lomo Fantôme Kino ISO 8 & Babylon Kino ISO 13

The Pixlatr – $ 55 – A better way to digitize negatives

One of the most annoying struggles faced by analog lovers is how to get high-resolution, high-quality digital versions of their negatives. One of the best non-scanning solutions is to photograph negatives using a digital camera and a macro lens. But how the heck do you hold them in place and ensure even lighting?

Thankfully our good pal and DPR’s Film Photography Talk forum moderator, Hamish Gill, invented a solution. The Pixlatr, originally launched on Kickstarter, is a modular film holder that works with most film formats (up to 4×5) and features a semi-translucent back to diffuse light. It’s a simple, versatile and effective solution for anyone who owns a macro lens, a digital camera and a tripod.

Another solution is the Nikon ES-2. It’s a little more straightforward to use than the Pixlatr – it attaches to the end of a lens – but is also nearly three times the cost ($ 145) and only works with 35mm format film.

Analogue Wonderland film subscription box – $ 65 every other month – A reoccurring 35mm film subscription box

Who doesn’t love getting a parcel filled with fun surprises in the mail on a reoccurring basis? UK-based Analog Wonderland is bringing the concept of the ‘curated subscription box’ to 35mm film lovers everywhere. Once signed up, subscribers will receive a box every other month (depending on the length of subscription). Each box contains six different rolls of 35mm film, curated from a selection of 100.

This is not only a fun way for film lovers to try new emulsions, but also a way to connect with other 35mm shooters. Each month all subscribers receive the same film stocks, and Analog Wonderland provides an online space for folks to both discuss their results and compete in friendly competitions.

Lomography HydroChrome Panoramic Camera – $ 80 – A wacky camera with a ‘water lens’

Bear with us on this one, because Lomography’s HydroChrome Panoramic camera is truly wild. Based off a mid-1800’s camera design, this inexpensive panorama camera is built around a 32mm equivalent water-filled lens. Yes, you read that correctly.

While the concept may sound gimmicky, the results are actually pretty compelling and cool. And the camera plays nice will all sorts of liquids, not just water (though we’d avoid anything sticky). For instance, simply adding food coloring, or watered-down coffee can change the results dramatically.

UN Twin Film Pocket & Rama Works Film Canister – $ 20 & $ 110 – A watertight film holder

Is the film shooter in your life also an adventure-seeker? If so, a water/light tight film holder may be the perfect gift, providing peace of mind. And we’ve got two models to choose from: one on the sensible side and one a little more swanky.

First, the sensible: The UN Twin Film Pocket is a straightforward product that will safely store two rolls of 35mm film. It’s built of plastic and features screw-down caps with rubber gaskets as well as a metal clip to attach to a camera or bag strap. These units can be a little tricky to hunt down stateside, but the product is carried by both European and Japanese distributors. That said, we’ve successfully had them sent to the USA, just plan for a little extra time in transit.

On the other end of the spectrum is the Rama Works Film Canister. Sure, it costs 5x as much as the UN Twin Film Pocket, but it is a beauty to behold: machined from a solid block of aluminum and anodized. Note: Only the 120 format version is currently available as the time of writing.

Rama Works Film Canister shown above.

Fujifilm SQ1 Instax Square camera – $ 120 – A larger format Instax Camera

Most folks are probably familiar with Fujifim’s Instax Mini format, but did you know there’s also an Instax Square format, which provides a larger image size? And the hottest new Instax Square model is the Fujifilm SQ1, which dropped earlier this year.

It’s a handsome-looking model that’s easy-to-use, comfortable and capable of excellent results. Available in three chic colors, it’s the perfect camera for documenting social outings, once we’re allowed to gather together again!

For even more Instax photography fun, we also recommend the Fujifilm Wide Instax 300 ($ 90). It’s a good bit chunkier than the SQ1, but makes use of the largest Instax format: Instax Wide. It also offers a bit more creative control than the SQ1.

Lab-Box Daylight Developing Tank – $ 160 – An easier way to develop film at home

Analog shooting and DIY often go hand-in-hand. And nothing beats the thrill of successfully developing your own images at home. But for those a little nervous to dip their toes in the unknown world of loading exposed film to reels in the dark, the Lab-Box Daylight Developing Tank is for you.

Because let’s face it, most home developing mistakes are a result of improperly loading film and/or accidentally exposing it in the process. Lab-Box removes this pain point, though there is a slight learning curve to using the device. But ultimately, once mastered, it should help speed up the workflow of any home developer while also cutting down on the number of botched rolls.

And there you have it, the best film photography gifts in 2020, sure to bring a smile to the faces of emulsive eccentrics everywhere! Happy holidays and happy shooting, from the analog nerds here at DPReview.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Weekly Photography Challenge – Down

21 Nov

The post Weekly Photography Challenge – Down appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.

We did ‘Up’ a few weeks back… It made me think about how SO many of us walk from place to place looking down at devices (I’m not going to start in on the whole devices thing, don’t worry!) but it did make me think about what we miss by not looking at what we’re walking over, details or cracks in the pavement, etc. It can take some extra work to make ‘Down’ look good, and so with that gauntlet thrown down, let’s see what you’ve got… (Side note, if you fly a drone, this week is a good time to share your aerial photographs!)

Make sure you tag your photograph #dPSDown wherever you post it!

SO ‘down‘ from your camera or your drone or wherever you like, just has to be ‘down’ – and yes, bonus points for alternate interpretations of ‘down’ – Just make sure you tag your photo #dPSDown wherever you post it! Oh, and don’t forget, you can try all of our previous challenges over here —> CLICKETY CLICK!

Great! Where do I upload my photos?

Simply upload your shot into the comments field (look for the little camera icon in the Disqus comments section) and they’ll get embedded for us all to see. Or, if you’d prefer, upload them to your favourite photo-sharing site and leave the link to them.

Weekly Photography Challenge – Looking Up

You can also share your images in the dPS Facebook group as the challenge is posted there each week as well.

If you tag your photos on Flickr, Instagram, Twitter, or other sites – tag them as #dPSDown to help others find them. Linking back to this page might also help others know what you’re doing so that they can share in the fun.

Follow us on Instagram?

The post Weekly Photography Challenge – Down appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.

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Nikon teases upcoming super telephoto lenses, 50mm prime with an updated lens road map

21 Nov

Click to enlarge. The new ‘Micro 50mm’ prime is center-left in the bottom row and the two super-telephoto lenses are top-right in the back row.

Nikon has released an updated version of its visual lens roadmap for Z-mount camera systems, revealing silhouettes of three upcoming lenses, including two super-telephoto lenses and one macro prime lens.

While there are eleven total silhouettes, only three of them are new: the ‘Micro 50mm,’ the 400mm S-Line and the 600mm S-line. As you would expect, the silhouettes for the two super-telephoto lenses tower above the rest. Meanwhile, the ‘Micro 50mm’ lens falls halfway between the already-released 24–50mm F4–6.3 and 35mm F1.8 S-Line prime.

Below is another roadmap from Nikon that shows the focal length coverage of current and future lenses:

Click to enlarge.

There’s still no concrete information on expected release dates for thee lenses, so the waiting game continues. But at least we now have visual representations of all the lenses currently on Nikon’s Z-mount lens roadmap and Nikon does say all of the lenses on display ‘will be available by the end of 2022.’

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Angelina Jolie to direct Don McCullin biopic starring Tom Hardy

21 Nov

Portrait of Sir Don McCullin from his website. To learn more about his career and work, click here.

Legendary photographer Don McCullin will be portrayed on the big screen by Tom Hardy in an upcoming film based on McCullin’s autobiography, ‘Unreasonable Behaviour’. It has been announced that the movie will be directed by Angelina Jolie. Gregory Burke is handling the adaptation. Burke has previously written the screenplay for the movie, ’71’, based on The Troubles in Northern Ireland. The movie is being produced by Working Title and Hardy Son & Baker. The film’s title and release date have not been confirmed.

In a statement, Jolie says, ‘I am humbled to have a chance to bring Don McCullin’s life to film. I was drawn to his unique combination of fearlessness and humanity – his absolute commitment to witnessing the truth of war, and his empathy and respect for those who suffer its consequences. We hope to make a film that is as uncompromising as Don’s photography, about the extraordinary people and events he witnessed, and the rise and fall of a unique era in journalism.’

The upcoming film will be adapted from McCullin’s autobiography by Gregory Burke.

This will not be Jolie’s first time directing a movie about real-world conflict. She has previously directed ‘First They Killed My Father’ in 2017. The film documented the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia and its devastating, violent impact on the people there.

Of the movie, McCullin, 85, said, ‘I was very impressed at how she made such a powerful and accurate representation of the place at that time. I feel as if I am in safe, capable and professional hands with her.’ Jolie’s directorial debut in 2011, ‘In the Land of Blood and Honey,’ took place during the Bosnian War.McCullin’s autobiography follows his life and career as a respected photojournalist and war photographer. His photography career began in earnest after working as a photographer’s assistant in the Royal Air Force. After his service, McCullin began taking photos in London and earned himself various photo assignments.

Angelina Jolie has previously directed ‘First They Killed My Father’ in 2017. This film, along with her directorial debut, ‘In the Land of Blood and Honey’ (2012), focused on people caught up in violent conflict.

In 1961, McCullin won the British Press Award for his essay documenting the construction of the Berlin Wall. Three years later, he won a World Press Photo Award for his work covering violent tensions in Cyprus. In the following decades, McCullin and his camera photographed conflict across the globe, including wars in Congo, Uganda, Vietnam, Cambodia, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, and many more places.

His career has been a dangerous one. He’s been shot (Vietnam), imprisoned (Uganda), expelled (Vietnam), and even been the subject of a bounty (Lebanon). His photography has focused exclusively on war, however, McCullin has also shined a light on those who have fallen through the cracks in society, including the homeless in his native United Kingdom.

Conflict has never completely disappeared from McCullin’s work, however. In 2015, McCullin traveled to northern Iraq to photograph the Kurdish struggle with ISIS, Syria and Turkey. For his prodigious work, McCullin was the first photojournalist to be an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1993.

McCullin’s life is certainly rich with incredible events for Burke and Jolie to highlight in their film. For further reading, be sure to check out the movie’s source material. McCullin’s autobiography ‘Unreasonable Behaviour’ is readily available in multiple formats. McCullin has also recently released a limited edition three-volume box set of his work, ‘Irreconcilable Truths.’ Limited to 1,000 copies, each set is hand-signed by McCullin. You can order it here. Further, there is a documentary, ‘McCullin’, which was released in 2012 to critical acclaim. The film was directed by David Morris and Jacqui Morris.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Tokina announces 17–35mm F4 lens for Canon EF, Nikon F camera systems

20 Nov

In addition to releasing its 23mm and 33mm F1.4 atx-m lenses for Fujifilm camera systems, Tokina has also revealed its latest lens for Canon EF and Nikon F mount DSLR cameras, the atx-i 17–35mm F4.

If the specs of this lens look familiar, it’s because it appears to be a successor to the Tokina 17–35mm F4 AT-X Pro FX lens (also available for Canon EF and Nikon F mounts). The new lens is constrcuted of 13 elements in 12 groups, features an aperture range of F4 through F22 and has a minimum focusing distance of 28cm (.9ft).

The lens features Tokina’s exclusive One-Touch Focus Clutch Mechanism, which makes it easy to switch between autofocus and manual focus by pushing and pulling the lens barrel. On the topic of autofocus, the lens uses Tokina’s GMR sensor and Silent Drive-Module (SD-M) motor.

Other features include a 1:4.82 macro ratio, an 82mm front filter thread and ‘moisture protection,’ although Tokina doesn’t elaborate on the extensiveness of its weathersealing specifications.

The Tokina 17–35mm F4 atx-i lens will be available for Canon EF and Nikon F mounts and available to pre-order for $ 600 (Adorama). The first units are expected to ship on December 11.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Product Photography 101: The Complete Guide To Perfect Product Photos

20 Nov

Online shopping is the wave of the future. Already, e-retail sales account for 14.1% of all retail sales around the globe. That’s expected to grow to 22%. Every online retailer from small businesses to global giants face the same challenge — how to get customers to buy a product they can’t see. That’s where compelling, true-to-life product photography comes in. Continue Reading

The post Product Photography 101: The Complete Guide To Perfect Product Photos appeared first on Photodoto.

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Canon Has at Least 7 New RF-Mount Cameras in the Works

20 Nov

The post Canon Has at Least 7 New RF-Mount Cameras in the Works appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Canon is rumored to have seven new RF-mount cameras in the works, including an APS-C model, a high-megapixel model, a niche professional model, and an inexpensive model that will cost less than $ 1000 USD.

This latest round of Canon information comes from Canon Rumors, who explains that they “have attempted to piece together what is coming for the RF-mount camera lineup,” and that the information stems from “multiple known and anonymous sources.”

These new bodies will presumably debut over 2021 and 2022, and Canon Rumors specifically asserts that we will not see any new cameras drop in the last few months of this year. Instead, the EOS R camera lineup will begin to heat up in the first half of 2021; that’s when we can start looking forward to a new batch of powerful Canon models.

So what, specifically, can we expect?

First, there are a few cameras that have been rumored for months, if not longer:

A high-resolution, full-frame mirrorless model, one likely designed for serious landscape and commercial photographers and poised to compete against the Sony a7R IV. Canon Rumors explains that this may be an “R5 body with ‘twice the resolution;’” as the EOS R5 is a respectable 45 MP, that would make any high-megapixel EOS R5 at least 60 MP, but probably more in the 75 to 90 range.
A pro-level camera designed for sports and action photographers in the style of the Canon 1D X Mark III. This camera should offer blazing-fast shooting speeds, class-leading autofocus, and a rugged build.
An APS-C RF-mount model, one that will potentially cater to photographers looking for Canon 7D-like shooting capabilities in a mirrorless body.

There are also two RF-mount cinema cameras on the docket: the Cinema EOS C90 and the Cinema EOS C50. Both of these bodies are designed for videographers but use RF-mount lenses.

Canon Rumors also reports several additional upcoming models, including an “entry-level camera to replace the EOS RP,” which “will be cheaper than the current EOS RP camera body.” Since the EOS RP is currently $ 999 USD, you can expect a sub-$ 1000 USD price tag (and potentially one that’s several hundred dollars lower!). Note that this will still be a full-frame model, so if you’re looking to break into the full-frame mirrorless world but have balked at the prices thus far, this EOS RP replacement could be exactly what you’re after.

Finally, Canon Rumors predicts a model above the future sub-$ 1000 camera but below the EOS R6 in price (so somewhere in the $ 800 USD to $ 2500 USD range). Note that the Canon EOS R currently slots between the EOS RP and EOS R6, but Canon Rumors claims that the new camera is not a direct EOS R replacement.

Regardless, we’ve got quite a lot to look forward to over the next couple of years (not to mention Canon’s RF lens lineup, which should grow substantially). So keep an eye out for further news on these Canon RF-mount cameras.

Now over to you:

Which of these RF-mount camera models are you most looking forward to? Are there any that you’d love to own? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The post Canon Has at Least 7 New RF-Mount Cameras in the Works appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

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Canon releases mostly minor firmware updates for five cameras and its RF 50mm F1.2 lens

20 Nov

Canon has released a barrage of firmware updates for a number of its mirrorless cameras and a single RF lens, bringing new and improved features, as well as the usual bug fixes. None of the updates offer major improvements in autofocus or other areas, but they all take care of a few ‘phenomena’ and offer support for newer Canon lenses.

Canon RF 50mm F1.2 L USM

We’ll go ahead and get the most minor firmware update out of the way first. The Canon RF 50mm F1.2 L USM lens has received a version 1.0.5 firmware update that ‘Reduces image noise when performing high sensitivity shooting with the RF50mm F1.2 L USM lens attached to the EOS C70 camera.’ How exactly a firmware update for a lens addresses noise issues is a bit intriguing, but it never hurts to have the latest update anyway. You can download firmware version 1.0.5 for the Canon RF 50mm F1.2 L USM lens on Canon’s website.

Canon EOS R and RP

We’ve grouped these two updates together, because they offer the exact same changes, according to Canon’s changelog. Firmware version 1.6.0 for the EOS RP and firmware version 1.8.0 for the EOS R improves color balance when shooting with the Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM lens and adds support for Canon’s newer RF 70–200mm F2.8 L IS USM and RF 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 L IS USM lenses. You can download firmware version 1.6.0 for the EOS RP and firmware version 1.8.0 for the EOS R on Canon’s respective product pages.

Canon EOS R5 and R6

As with the EOS RP and R firmware updates, the latest updates for Canon’s EOS R5 and R6 cameras are identical to one another based on the changelogs. Firmware version 1.2.0 for both cameras addresses the following changes and improvements:

When using high-speed or low-speed continuous shooting modes, in Drive Mode with [High Speed Display: OFF], the visibility of the subject within the frame has been improved when shooting moving objects.*
*During continuous shooting black frames will be inserted between frames in the viewfinder and live view. This will improve the visibility of moving subjects in live view and in the viewfinder.
Adds the [Auto] setting to the [Viewfinder brightness] menu that will brighten and dim based on ambient light conditions.
Enables 2nd curtain shooting sync during radio transmission wireless flash shooting when the Speedlite EL-1 flash is attached to the camera.
Enables manual flash output (excluding high-speed sync and optical transmission wireless flash shooting) to be selected and set up to 1/8192 from the camera menu screen when the Speedlite EL-1 flash is attached to the camera.
Improves compatibility of HEIF images recorded in the camera with MIAF (Multi-Image Application Format) standards.
Adds support for AF and release during zoom operations for some RF and EF lenses.

You can download firmware version 1.2.0 for the EOS R5 and EOS R6 cameras on Canon’s respective product pages.

Canon 1D X Mark III

Lastly, Canon has updated its flagship DSLR, the EOS 1D X Mark III. Firmware version 1.3.0 addresses the following changes and improvements:

Enables 2nd curtain shooting sync during radio transmission wireless flash shooting when the Speedlite EL-1 flash is attached to the camera.
Enables manual flash output (excluding high-speed sync and optical transmission wireless flash shooting) to be selected and set up to 1/8192 from the camera menu screen when the Speedlite EL-1 flash is attached to the camera.
Improves compatibility of HEIF images recorded in the camera with MIAF (Multi-Image Application Format) standards.
Fixes the phenomenon that may result in the occurrence of time-out under certain conditions during FTP transfer.

You can download firmware version 1.3.0 for the EOS 1D X Mark III on Canon’s product page.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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3 Simple Ways to Create Stunning Eyes in Your Portrait Photography

1. Light

2. Expression

3. Post-production

Nikon Z6 II sample gallery

Buying guide: The best gifts for film photographers in 2020

Introduction

Fujifilm Neopan 100 Acros II – $ 12 a roll – A classic film stock, resurrected from the dead

The Solarcan – $ 20 – A cool recyclable pinhole camera

Lomography Analogue Aqua camera – $ 40 – An inexpensive waterproof 35mm camera

Lomography Fantôme Kino B&W ISO 8 film – $ 45.50 (5-pack) – A cool and new 35mm film stock

The Pixlatr – $ 55 – A better way to digitize negatives

Analogue Wonderland film subscription box – $ 65 every other month – A reoccurring 35mm film subscription box

Lomography HydroChrome Panoramic Camera – $ 80 – A wacky camera with a ‘water lens’

UN Twin Film Pocket & Rama Works Film Canister – $ 20 & $ 110 – A watertight film holder

Fujifilm SQ1 Instax Square camera – $ 120 – A larger format Instax Camera

Lab-Box Daylight Developing Tank – $ 160 – An easier way to develop film at home

Weekly Photography Challenge – Down

Great! Where do I upload my photos?

Nikon teases upcoming super telephoto lenses, 50mm prime with an updated lens road map

Angelina Jolie to direct Don McCullin biopic starring Tom Hardy

Tokina announces 17–35mm F4 lens for Canon EF, Nikon F camera systems

Product Photography 101: The Complete Guide To Perfect Product Photos

Canon Has at Least 7 New RF-Mount Cameras in the Works