If you are in the market looking to purchase a new desktop PC or laptop to help you with your photo editing sessions, look no further because this post brings together some of the best laptops for photo editing and video editing. These computers offer photographers enough power to edit high-resolution photos, meaning that they …
Every photographer needs an excellent photo editor for post-production adjustments. Adobe has long reigned as king in the world of photo editing software, but that may be beginning to change. Recently, Luminar and Affinity have emerged as two of the best new photo editing programs around right now. Since Adobe brought in its new subscription …
Luminar vs Affinity Photo (Which Photo Editor Is Right For You?) Read More »
Luminar 4 Review – Our Skylum Luminar Review (vs. Lightroom) While Photoshop and Lightroom have always been the go-to image editing programs for photographers, times are changing. Adobe’s costly subscription model has pushed photographers to look for other options, and Skylum has been quick to respond and create an impressive alternative – their flagship program, …
There’s nothing that compares to shooting on film if you want high-quality images with a cool, retro feel. Shooting 35mm film is a different experience altogether from taking photos with a digital camera. If you’d like to give film photography a go, first you’ll need to know how to load a film camera. Our step-by-step …
The way we edit photos is changing, and Photolemur is at the forefront of these exciting new changes. Using the latest AI technology and super-smart algorithms, this photo editing software takes care of the editing process for you. No longer do you need to fiddle around, making manual adjustments. Just one click and your image …
Lightroom has long been the most popular photo editing software for photographers. It offers both powerful editing capabilities and a streamlined digital asset management system. However, Adobe Lightroom is now only available on a recurring subscription, making it a less affordable choice for many people. Amateurs and beginners in particular have been looking for replacements …
Did you know that you can access a wide range of free photography books online? There’s something for everyone from beginners to pros. When it comes to photography, you never stop and developing your skills. Some of the best resources to turn to are photography ebooks! Whether you want to learn how to get started …
Skylum has created some of the top image editing programs around right now, including Aurora HDR, Luminar 2019, Luminar 3, and the new Luminar 4. Luminar Flex is their new and streamlined plugin for use with Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, and Photos for macOS. We couldn’t wait to find out how Luminar Flex compares to the …
Kodak Gold 200 is a popular and affordable film that has been around since 1988. Although this consumer film is designed to be a budget option for shooting in natural light, both amateurs and pros like to shoot with this film. Use it in the right conditions, and you’ll get some spectacular photos. We’re a …
Every frequent traveler can benefit from investing in travel insurance, but ideally, you want to buy insurance from a reliable company that gets good reviews. RoamRight is a popular travel insurance company that offers great protection, with a variety of policies to choose from. Here’s our review of RoamRight, from the coverage of their plans …
Roamright Reviews (Cheap And Easy Travel Insurance) Read More »
Finding the right photo editing program for your specific requirements can be tricky. Some photo editing programs are incredibly complex, and are mainly suited for professional photographers due to the steep learning curve to understand and use all the tools. On the other hand, other programs and apps are very simplistic and don’t give you …
Commonly referred to as the most powerful HDR software around, Aurora HDR 2019 has been getting a lot of hype recently. The latest version of Aurora has an upgraded Quantum Pro Engine and boasts a whole host of new features which allow you to create amazing HDR photos. We wanted to test it out to …
Snowdonia is a beautiful region to visit for a holiday, offering everything from scenic walks in the mountains to exciting, adventure activities like white water rafting, mountain biking, and even surfing! Here you’ll find lush, green forests, and 14 peaks within the rugged, wild countryside of Snowdonia National Park. There’s a wide range of excellent …
Located in Graubunden, the easternmost and largest of Switzerland’s cantons, the town of Pontresina is a charm. This picturesque resort town with its excellent hotels is one of the most popular summer destinations in Switzerland. Nestled in the green lush valley of Engadine, Pontresina offers quintessential alpine views and hosts a laundry list of leisure …
Iceland is an incredible destination, unlike any other. Whether you’re making a once-in-a-lifetime trip or you visit every year, you’ll want to make the most of your time on holiday. But in this fascinating country of glaciers, mountains, volcanoes, thermal lagoons, and black sand beaches, narrowing down the best things to do in Iceland can …
Spending time in Switzerland means that you are exposed to many different languages on a daily basis. I am currently living in the Swiss-German-speaking part of Switzerland. But on a daily basis I am exposed to French, Italian and, well, English. I invest most of my “language” time improving my German. This is now an intermediate Swiss-Germenglish. So to break the mold I have been travelling to both France and the French part of Switzerland to sharpen up my Bonjour. Tack on a good old fashioned kiwi smile and I think you have yourself a pretty nice sentence.
When it comes to finding the best film scanner, your needs aren’t the same as someone else’s needs. It would be nice to find the be-all and end of film scanners, but the truth is that you’ll need to dig deep to figure out which scanner best suits your needs. Epson Perfection V370 Color Photo …
As part of our travel series, we’ve visited some amazing places on this planet. From the castles in France, Snowdonia National Park and even White Island New Zealand. We try to provide you with some inspiration for your next journey and teach you how to do the same. Lanzarote is a great destination, whether you’re …
Morocco is a beautiful, vibrant country – one of the most diverse on the planet. During your holiday in Morocco, you can lie sandy beaches, wander old medinas, enjoy stunning mountain vistas, and visit the breathtaking Sahara desert. Whether you’re more into surfing and soaking up the sun or exploring the winding alleyways of an …
The Ultimate Morocco Itinerary (2 weeks or 5 days!) Read More »
France is home to some of the most beautiful castles in the world. The beautiful castles, palaces, and château that you can find dotted all over France are a treasure trove of history, and a delight to explore. If you’re not sure which castles in France to visit on your next holiday, then this list …
For me, shooting film has always been an important release from the time-pressured world of digital photography. These days it seems we have to constantly be on, shooting, downloading, editing, sharing, liking and subscribing. Film photography takes most of that away and leaves you alone with your best film camera to focus on taking photos. …
The Best 35mm Film (I Shot and Reviewed 12+ Rolls) Read More »
Learn how to create custom Instagram filters in Lightroom. By using lightroom we have the ability to create amazing custom filters to suit the look you love!
Using your camera in “Auto” mode will only ever yield snapshots. These will not have that “wow ” that every photographer strives to achieve. To gain full creative control of your DSLR camera you are going to have to wind that dial past “Auto”.
Over the years I have developed an ironclad three point back up strategy for my work that makes it very unlikely that I will lose any of my images. The goal of this strategy is to provide a low friction redundant backup system.
Istanbul is a beautiful city. The grand scenic shots can be absolutely breathtaking . When you step in and focus in on the macro details, you reveal a world of textures. A combination of exceptional light, people and history make Istanbul a must visit for any photographer.
The F1 was the first (successful) professional SLR camera from Canon. Released in 1971, it marked the beginning of the F1 series, and fired the first shot in a decades-long rivalry with Nikon. Throughout the early 1970’s, the Japanese juggernaut, Nikon, dominated the professional SLR market. The Nikon F and Nikon F2 cameras were state-of-the-art. …
Canon F1 Review (Where the war with Nikon began!) Read More »
Long Exposures are an image that the human eye *cannot* see. These capture the passing of time in one location. Different than the slice of time that photographs typically capture. Some examples of great subjects for long exposures are: flowing water, moving clouds, traffic at night, light painting and fireworks! So get thinking.
You can learn so much from the masters of the art. I began to understand more by learning more from modern photographers and videographers such as Ben Long, Karl Taylor, Jeff Cable, Phillip Bloom and Vincent Laforet. As I started to dissect their images and films I began to realise, the camera doesn’t really matter. There are …
If you have never spent the holiday season in the Southern hemisphere then you are missing out! While a white Christmas and cold New Years are fantastic, but, there is something magical about swimming in the ocean and exploring offshore islands, especially on New Year’s Eve! On this day we made our way to White …
Technology is moving so fast that it is a difficult (and costly) exercise to keep up with all the latest gear. A lot of photographers fall folly to the belief that new gear will make them a better photographer. Often times some of the most expensive camera gear in the world sits in closets, rarely …
Paris was (up until recently) one of my least favourite cities in the world. I had had a layover there a number of years ago. My connecting flight was cancelled so I found myself with an evening to spare at an airport hotel. As I’m a travel photographer, I decided I’d try to see the …
Let’s face it photography is an expensive hobby. Learn how to sell photography and how to make money from photography with this article for beginners.
How do lens rentals work? I rented a lens and documented the process over a weekend in London, UK.
Let’s face it, travel photography is amazing! You’re constantly moving from place to place, having new experiences, trying new things. But it does mean that you’re away from your loved ones for long periods of time. While I’m travelling, I miss my family back home – but it’s still hard to find time to get …
I genuinely believe that I have purchased the best price to performance fuji system for street photography available on the market. Should I change my mind in a matter of months, it won’t cost me a cent. This article is a summary of the criteria and research I conducted before purchasing my latest street photography camera. The results from my first street photography shoots are also included with a full review to come.
In order to improve your photography, you need to become your own worst critic. The easiest way to become a great photographer is to only share your best work. But how do you identify your best work?
When you’re setting off on a trip, you need to decide which camera gear to take with you. I always recommend travelling light, so you’ll need a great travel lens. But how to find the best lens for travel photography? Here’s my guide to the best lenses for travel, which factors are the most important …
Have you ever thought of hitting the road and heading off on a solo road trip? Going on an adventure by yourself is a liberating and exciting experience. I’ve done it myself in Iceland, Morocco, New Zealand, America and many more. There’s nothing like having the freedom to travel wherever you like, whenever you like. …
The Best Travel Hacks Do you love the idea of travelling, but get discouraged by all the planning involved? Do you hate packing or always end up forgetting something? Maybe it’s the opposite, and you always pack too much. I was like that when I started travelling, but over the years I picked up some …
The dream of about 50% of Instagram users is to make money with photography, paid to wander the globe taking photos. By that logic, there’s around 400 million of you looking to take amazing travel images. But your smartphone camera, however mind-blowing it is, just isn’t going to cut it to compete with the best. …
The Best Mirrorless Camera for Travel (Updated 2019!) Read More »
When you’re travelling around Europe, you need a sturdy bag to carry your life with you. But as I soon discovered after living in both Switzerland and London, the picturesque cobbled streets do not go well with wheeled suitcases. Backpacks are a much better and more practical idea. If you’re looking for the best travel backpack for …
So you’re wondering how to go about visiting Chernobyl today? or what does Chernobyl look like now? Well, you’re in the right place. This guide was painstakingly put together by myself after our visit over Christmas. If you like the article and are considering visiting please consider sharing it by using the buttons below. We …
What does Chernobyl look like today? (and how we visited!) Read More »
What if I told you that for around $50 you could construct a fully remote timelapse rig using a raspberry pi, a camera module and (optionally) a battery pack. Learn how to make your own automated timelapse rig by following these steps!
Introduction In camera double exposure photography involves combining two or more images into a single frame. This allows you to work with your shots and add textures to create surreal scenes. Words don’t really do them justice so here are some of my examples: How do they work? There are two types …
In a world where your smartphone can crank out perfectly lit photos at 12 megapixels in cascades of HDR bursts, shooting film might make you feel like a caveman (or cave lady). I totally get it! I’m not one to throw out a good iPhone shot #Instaiphone #instaapple #iOs. Before we roll if you are …
Out-of-the-loop is fast becoming one of our favourite websites here at Cultured Kiwi. At Out-of-the-Loop they list a growing number of amazing walks that are easily accessible by train from the centre of London. You take the train to one location, then walk to another train station. The distance varies – greatly! Almost every weekend, we’re …
Learn how to clean your DSLR sensor easily using a camera cleaning kit in this tutorial.
Instagram is becoming more and more of an artist’s platform than a daily life sharing platform. When you search through Instagram, the quality of photos they are improving all the time. If you aren’t up with the game you will be left behind. This of course excludes celebrities who can pretty much do whatever they like and get rewarded for it.
Chances are that if you’ve landed here you are trying to decide if you want to buy a Fuji XF 90mm f2 lens. If you don’t want to read any further and just want to know what I think, just buy it. If you are trying to decide between the 56mm f1.2 and this lens, …
Developing film is easy. In this article, I will show you how you can develop film at home. Specifically, we will develop Kodak Tri-X 400 film using Ilford Ilfosol 3 developer. You should be able to get started with a basic kit for around £70. Enough preamble, here is the process. We have a lot …
To rekindle my love of photography I set out to explore Broadstairs, UK with a Nikon FM2. Inside you will find a travel video, Broadstairs guide and a review with shots from the Nikon FM2.
Street photography tutorial from London UK. Professional photography tips and a guided tour video from one of the most picturesque cities in the world. Get out there and take more photos guys!
This article is a list of my favourite movies about photography and the places you can watch them. Use these movies/documentaries as photographic inspiration to help you take better photos!
Grindelwald, Switzerland holds a very special place in my heart. In this article, we run through our experience over 48 hours in this magical village before recommending the best things to do in Grindelwald. We have comprehensive travel itineraries from all over the world at our travel page and some great photography tips here. If …
Things To Do In Grindelwald – Switzerland (48 Hours) Read More »
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is rated as one of the best days walks in New Zealand if not the world. It is a must do if you are in the North Island of New Zealand. The 19.4 Km hike passes over the volcanic terrain of an active volcano (Mount Tongariro). It was less than 24 …
Before we get started, we have other guides on Switzerland and Chernobyl that you might find helpful. If you’re thinking of heading to Europe then those are must-see destinations! We have amazing high quality content here. Now, on with the show with Things to do in Nazare, Portugal. Video from Nazare One of the most popular seaside …
Be creative with your photography. This article teaches you how you can unlock the creative part of your brain and begin to think differently. Post your pictures and I will review them!
Road trip time. Adrian, Janis and Myself organised a weekend away fishing in the North-West of Wales. What is best described as an Instagrammers paradise! We explored: fields, forests, rivers, lakes and abandoned buildings. A weekend to remember. Here are a few of the snaps from my big camera the video will follow closely behind.
We travelled to Brecon Beacons, a national park in Wales. Here we camped overnight and met a druid. We planned and put together a series of photos that I am pretty proud to call my own.
A photo essay from the time I was given a harness and access to a rooftop overlooking Buckingham Palace and all of London. Hang in until the end to download the Lightroom preset.
If you have a camera and are interested in getting the best seat on any train in London then this guide is for you! The front seat of the DLR in London.
The 2017 Pride in London Parade, which took place on Saturday 8 July. See a photographic essay of the experience within the crowd of 1 million people here.
Trying to improve your Architectural photography? So am I. Over the past few months I have been working really hard to develop a workflow that produces consistent results. Here it is.
What are the best travel photography locations? Here I publish my travel list for the 2017/2018 photography “season”. Let me know what your list looks like in the comments below.
One of my favorite bars and live music venues: The Shacklewell Arms put on an all day party. Running from 4 pm till 10 pm with Kagoule, MOHIT, Husky Loops, Venture Lows and more putting on stellar performances it was well worth the visit. Add to this it was full of some of the nicest people I’ve ever met!
Learn how I quickly organise, rate and edit photos in lightroom. If you follow this tutorial you should be able to complete 1000 photos in under an hour.
A list of the best photography blogs to draw inspiration from. These recommended photography websites help you get ideas to push your photography forward.
In this episode, I head to Chiemsee in Bavaria – Germany. I teach you how photography filters work, what are the essential photography filters and how to use them. As an added bonus it turned out to be the best sunrise of my life. Sometimes getting up early really is worth it!
Travel photography from Dover. We travel along the white cliffs of Dover from sunrise to sunset. Don’t be fooled by the warm light, the weather was bitter.
My experience at the Lewes bonfire night in the UK November 5th 2016. We travelled from London to experience the evening. If you like casual EDM music and fire then this video is for you 😉
One of the top unknown travel photography destinations: the Kaiser Mountains in Austria. This place is a must visit, especially if you have the opportunity in autumn!
In this episode I teamed up with Avis to take one of their DS5 line on a tour of the UK. We visited the Jurassic Coast, Weymouth, Portland and Stonehenge over a weekend of intense travel photography.
I travel to Tomaszow in Poland and headed to an abandoned factory for some Urban Exploration. Some fantastic URBEX photography tips came out of it.
I take you on a guided street photography trip during one of the largest post BREXIT protest in London UK. Over 50,000 people attended the protest. See the POV photography as I move through the crowd interacting with people. I hope you enjoy the video as much as I enjoyed making it.
Reviewing your work is a key contributor to your progression. I have always heard: _”to know where you are going you need to understand where you have come from”_. It is interesting to watch your skills evolve over time. Doing this got me thinking about the way I shoot.
Minerve France is an amazing town built high atop the cliffs. It only has one point of access from the rear and recently, a spectacular bridge. Rich with history it’s most famous tale comes in 1210 where 140 Cathars refused to give up their faith and were burned alive! Come and check it out!
The plan for the trip includes a visit to the Mediterranean sea, the cities of Narbonne and Toulouse and at least 2 castles. The first day below comprises of the trip from London to Canet (outside Narbonne). From here the adventures are on! Check it out.
So I resisted for long enough. It was time to spice up these travel photography vlogs with some other angles. I would like to welcome “buzZy” to the family. In this video we are taking buzZy for is first flight in the city. In all seriousness there are a lot of rules regarding what you can and can’t do when flying in the centre of London.
I managed to get a portfolio shot while in San Francisco. Seeing the Golden Gate bridge has always been a dream of mine since I was young. This day of photography centred around the bridge and I couldn’t be happier that I was able to walk away with a fantastic photo. Check out the video!
After a frozen start to the morning I headed for some landscape photography in and around the outskirts of Yosemite national park. Early mornings are sometimes difficult but you soon forget the lack of sleep and only remember the highlights. Check out the video here!
Today I was in the news! There was a rockslide in Yosemite national park. It greatly changed how I spent my day. This is my story! Watch the video and see the shots here….
I found that shooting with the handheld flash was becoming somewhat of a challenge. Some of the photos came back fantastic. While others would come back with parts of the image unexposed. Help me uncover what is causing this issue!
Shooting film will make you a better photographer. This article outlines Steve Bloom’s tips to becoming a better photographer and how each of them can be achieved by taking up film photography.
There are basically two ways in which to manually focus your your camera. It largely depends on what you are taking photos of as to what method you use. Learning how to manually focus a lens will make you a better photographer. It’s as simple as that. It forces you to think about your subject, frame it and then build your image around it. Also, when you are unable to use autofocus you will be able to default to your manual skills!
I would like to take a few minutes today to welcome a new addition to the family. Her name is Nikky. She is my first Nikon camera. It took a lot of research and time watching ebay auctions till I found the right one for me. But when she arrived yesterday (from Japan) we realised it was worth the wait.
To get technical she is a Nikon FM2n. A fully manual interchangeable lens 35mm SLR camera. Born somewhere between 1984 and 1989, we are about the same age. She has an inbuilt meter that is highly accurate. This is the only electronic component that I look for in a film camera.
The following is a photo essay and short film from my time at Fasnacht in Liestal, Switzerland. It is an amazing event that every street photographer should visit!
Come along and visit one of the largest private camera collections in the world with me. With over 4500 cameras in his collection Colin is spoiled for choice when heading out to take photos. So here are some of the shots I took of his collection and if you like cameras you will love this tour.
Capturing moments with the people of London is one of my passions. For the first 6 months I spent every Sunday at the Brick Lane market, photographing people. I mounted my small vlogging camera on top of my primary camera. Here is my Journey. Don’t forget to subscribe for more of my videos.
The video inside is a few of the photography tips I recorded while in Iceland. Hopefully you find them helpful! Check it out.
We have all seen our fair share of blurry smartphone photos that vaguely look like fireworks. Smartphone cameras are getting better, but they are *still* no match for an actual camera and a bit of knowledge. The aim of this article is to help you take technically better and more interesting photos of fireworks.
Exposure is the _most_ fundamental concept to wrap your head around in photography. Each photograph is an individual exposure (excluding double exposures) comprised of three components: aperture, iso and shutter speed.
Only 120 years ago the glacier we hiked to extended 2km further down the valley. I think I found the problem lying at the top of the mountain…
