The Phoblographer

Street photography has grown in popularity in recent years. As cameras became more accessible and social media became integrated into our daily lives, more people fancied trying their hand at photography. Street photography, although difficult in practice, is extremely easy to access. Once you have a camera, you only need to step onto the street and begin making pictures. I wonder what impact this has had on the street photography community, and the quality of work we see.

My Words on Street Photography

I have been rather critical of the street photo community over the years. In 2020, I suggested that street photography had lost its soul, and I also called out those who were giving the scene a bad name. Back in 2019, I called out some of the older generations in the street photography community. Those that only ever complain and say street photography “is finished.” I told them it was time for them to leave and find something else they’re passionate about, rather than ruin the experience for others. I’ve called out lazy street photography and faux social media interactions just for the sake of seeking attention.

I’ve seldom held pulled punches when talking about street photography. It has landed me in spots of bother at times. I’m no stranger to a disgruntled email. A full street photography collective has even targeted me in the past.

Sometimes you’ll ruffle some feathers in this game. But that was never my intention. Every word I wrote about street photography, the good and the bad, has come from a place of passion and love. I’m not exaggerating when I say I love this craft. Have I been brash at times? Sure. Has the tone sometimes been slightly off on occasion? Yes. You don’t always hit home runs when you cover a topic as much I do. But again, the main motivation for me is to celebrate street photography and do my little bit to ensure the community remains healthy and happy, even when that means calling out some things I question or don’t like.

I have also had a lot of positive things to say about street photography. I’ve written extensively about how it helps improve mental health and depression. Each year, I’ve helped give a platform to the best street photographers in the game, something I’m extremely proud of.

However, I’m just one person. My views are mine. Of course, other people share them, but many of us see things differently. That got me thinking, what do other street photographers feel about the current state of the community? To answer the question, I got in touch with two street photographers I admire who are prominent names in the street photography scene.

Speaking to Others About Street Photography

Alison McCauley is a member of street photography collective UP Photographers. Her work has garnered attentionworldwide , and she’s been featured by the BBC, The Telegraph, and more. Melissa O’Shaughnessy is also a member of UP Photographers, and her book, Perfect Strangers, was a huge success in the scene, with the foreword being written by Joel Meyerowitz. Both McCauley and O’Shaughnessy are authorities in the community, and they were the perfect people to offer their thoughts.

I asked the pair two questions. My first question was How strong do you feel the street photography community and scene are in the present moment?

Alison McCauley:“I think that because street photography is such an accessible genre (requiring no more than a camera or phone and maybe a pair of shoes) it is an approach that attracts a huge number of people. It could be hard to feel a community within this (usually online) rabble, but those who work long and hard enough within the loose definition of the genre do seem to gravitate towards like-minded individuals, who they can communicate and collaborate with. I certainly have this with UP Photographers. So to answer your first question, for me personally, the community is a small number of people who’s work I admire and who I have gotten to know, on and offline, over the years. However, I r...

Russia is home to around 115 million people. The country is full of mountainous zones and exquisitely designed buildings, making it perfect for locals to learn the craft. Many Russian photographers have left their nest and gone elsewhere, but they’re still flying the flag for their home nation, showing the rest of the world that Russia means business in the world of photography.

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A Note on The Best Russian Photographers

All the photographers featured in this round-up have been published on The Phoblographer in the past. The article will also feature some of the gear used by the below photographers. We know how most of our readers like to know what’s in the hands of the photographers they admire. With that, we will also include links to some of the gear mentioned. If you purchase something via the link, The Phoblographer gets a little slice of the pie. So, we thank you for helping us to keep doing what we love: bringing you the best content in the photography space.

One of The Best Russian Photographers Using Film

Victoria Nazarova first came to our attention back in 2018. We were lured into her portfolio through her incredible black and white portraits. Nazarova shoots with either a Rolleiflex Xenotar 2.8 or Pentax 67, combining them with Kodak Tri-X 400 film roll. Her old-school vibes with modern subjects make her work a joy to see. You can see her full feature here.

One of The Best Russian Photographers Looking at Yoga

Yoga isn’t a new practice. However, its rise in popularity in western culture has certainly increased over the past decade. Russian photographer Katia Repina was curious about the practice and used her camera and lens to learn more. “Anytime I want to investigate a new topic I use photography to do so,” she told us in a 2019 interview. The images she created show a more carefree approach to yoga and may be the catalyst to get you started. Take a look here.

One of The Best Russian Photographer’s Using Cool Tools

Ernest Em, aka 19 Tones, is a photographer and creator that aims to do something a little different from the norm. Glass balls and prisms are his go-to accessories. On why he gravitates towards using prisms, he told us, “Prismagraphy transgresses “the boundaries between the imaginary and real”, toying with audience perception, it presents familiar places and subjects in an unfamiliar medium.” Combing them with his Sony a7R III, Em has created a series of portraits that you’re surely going to love.

Slava Semeniuta Brings You “Ghetto Streets on Acid.”

LSD may brighten up a person’s world, but it’s illegal after all. Russian artist and photographer Slava Semeniuta decided to create her own interpretation of the world if everyone was on acid. Aptly named Ghetto Streets on Acid, Semeniuta brightened up some tough, miserable areas and made them vibrant utopias almost anyone would want to live in. It’s a cool concept and one you can see more of here.

Ilya Nodia’s Take on Batman

Ilya Nodia took cosplay and skyscrapers, then layered his creation with a cinematic look. Batman was the main character in his shoot. He used Youngnuo YN360 LED lights to illuminate his subject and a Sony a7r III to capture them. It’s a fun series and something different from Nodia’s usual focus. You can check it out here.

From Russia? Get in Touch!

We love showing the best photographers from different parts of the world. Above is our opinion of the best Russian photographers, but we know there are more. If you think there’s someone worthy of our attention (maybe it’s you), then get in touch using the form below. Thanks for reading.

Lead photo by Victoria Nazarova. Used with permission.

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Food. It’s what humans need to survive. That’s the basic description, at least. The reality is food is much more than a necessity; it’s a cultural celebration of life. Thankfully, societies all around the world have rejected a one size fits all approach to cuisine, instead opting for a “this is our way of doing it” approach. Keeping that in mind, the diversity of what we eat is perfect for food photography! Maybe this piece should be titled NSFW, because you’re about to see some x-rated food porn.

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Michiel Tersteege Has Some Creative Food Photography

In the site’s early days, The Phoblographer began a concept called “Creating the Photography.” Almost 10 years later, we’re still running with it, and that’s due to its success. One of the earliest participants of the series was Michiel Tersteege. He took a household favorite, strawberries and cream, and turned it into a photographic work of art. True to the series, Tersteege took us behind the scenes, sharing his lighting setup, the gear he used, and what he did in post-production. Take a look here.

Nikki Gardner Talks Lifestyle Food Photography

Nikki Gardner is a portrait and lifestyle photographer from Western Massachusetts. She’s also the creator of the e-book Develop Your Photo Habit & Style, in which she helps photographers find their photographic voice. Back in 2015, she spoke to us about her popular lifestyle food photography. On her approach to photographing food, Gardener told us, ” I work mostly with neutral backgrounds and natural light whenever possible. Both allow me to draw attention to the formal qualities of the food itself: the color, mood, atmosphere, texture, patterns, shape, form, and light.” Read more here.

Bill Wisser’s Food Photography Looks at Breakfast

Breakfast. It’s widely seen as the most important meal of the day. It’s the anchor for what lies ahead. Bill Wisser came to the site in 2015, showing off his delicious-looking breakfast meals. He shot his series with a Canon 5D Mk. II and Tamron 24-70mm VC lens. But that’s not all he had at his disposal. Making this frame required extra lighting and several accessories. To learn what accessories he used (and how), check out his full feature here.

Tips For Better Food Photography

Making delicious-looking food may seem like the only difficult task in food photography, but it certainly isn’t. You could serve up Michelin-level cuisine, but it will look far from appetizing if you don’t know how to photograph it. For those unsure where to start, we put together a beginner five-step guide to help you get going. Expect to learn about window light, setting up the scene, and a lot more in this article. You can see it here.

Edward Boe Brings Figs to Life

Figs are far from the most eye-catching food substance available. They’re certainly tasty, but it’s difficult to make photographs of them that make people excited. Edward Boe broke that unfortunate trend and made photos of figs that made them look like they belong in only high-end restaurants. Lighting was his allay on this occasion, as he turned to it in order to give his photograph a feeling of class. He kindly talked to us about his full process, and you can read about it here.

Photograph Food For the Holidays

Thanksgiving has been and gone, but the food photography tips in an article we published back in 2015 are usable for every occasion. We turned to exceptional photographers with a proven record of professional food photography and asked them to share their tips. Five different photographers shared tips on composition, lighting, and camera settings to help those looking to improve their skills. Check it out here.

We’re Hungry for More!

We’re extremely hungry. Writing this article worked up quite the appetite. However, we’re unsure what to eat. Why not give us some ideas by sharing your food photography? If it’s good, we may feature it, or at the very le...

“The main difference between wildlife and sports photography is that in sports photography, the subject you’re trying to capture won’t try to eat you,” said a friend of a friend who will remain unnamed. Something said in jest, of course, but the fact is that extra precautions need to be taken when out in the wild photographing animals. Despite taking these, sometimes photographers can be on the receiving end of some unexpectedly scary moments.

All images in this article are used with permission from their owners.

At the onset, let me say that this article isn’t meant to portray wild animals negatively. If anything, it’s meant to be quite the opposite. A prominent wildlife photographer responded to my request for an interview on this topic by saying that it might portray animals in a bad light, as animals are only defending themselves when needed. Even as someone who hasn’t done any serious wildlife photography, I agree with him on the latter half of that statement. Armed with super-telephoto lenses, wildlife photographers often have to be well inside the familiar environment of a wild animal to get some good stills of them. And sometimes, when these animals feel threatened, even the more docile among them can turn hostile.

Animals can be Quicker than You Realize

Akhil Vinayak Menon is a technologist by profession and a nature and wildlife photographer by passion. He’s been pursuing wildlife photography for over 8 years. A trip to the Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, India, is where he encountered a scary moment. Here’s his story:

“For a couple of days, I and the guide/driver had been following a trio of elephants, possibly siblings. I managed to make some fantastic frames with the elephants, especially in the morning and evening light.

In this image, the beautiful backlight, the dense forests behind the elephants, and the elephants perfectly balanced in the frame makes this image special and unique. It is a beautiful habitat shot of the elephants in the park as well. The trio was very active, and this encouraged me to follow them through multiple days to get more shots around the park.

On the third day of safari, during the evening safari session, as a routine, we rushed back to the same area where we had been capturing images of the elephants. The path to the riverbed was narrow and had bushes on both sides of the road. As soon as we took a curve on the road, the trio all of a sudden appeared to the right of the safari vehicle, and the driver instinctively stopped the vehicle. These safari vehicles are specially made open jeeps with no roofing in order to aid undisturbed photography. So we were literally in the open and just a few meters away from the animals.

One of the elephants was taking a mud bath while the little one was grazing. The third elephant, however, seemed alarmed by our unexpected presence and our closeness to the gang. You can see him watching us. He observed us for a few minutes and appeared to settle down. We were quite close to the three elephants, and there were not much frames to be made at such close proximity. I quietly murmured to the driver to move further away, and then within a fraction of a second, the elephant that was watching us started to charge us.

All wild animals have their own way of conveying discomfort; now, elephants usually make sounds or at least mock charge. A mock charge is when an elephant charges towards you while making sounds and then stops at a distance from the intruder. I have had the experience of elephants making a mock charge at the safari vehicle in the past, so we anticipated that he would stop. However, in this case, the elephant did not stop, and for a moment, I felt that perhaps I was in for some big trouble.

Although a bit late, instinctively, my driver managed to put the vehicle in reverse as this was the only option and drive backwards; however, the elephant managed to get very close. It is indescribable the emotions that ran through my mind. My heart w...

It seems like tons of lens and camera manufacturers want to get rid of lens flare as much as possible. But some companies are trying to give it back to us in various different ways. Lens flare can add a cinematic look to your images. And best of all, you can do it cheaper and with less hassle than having to sit around in post-production for a long time or spending a ton of money on presets and brushes. So in this roundup, we chose items in our Reviews Index that will give you better lens flare. Ready to fall in love?

This piece is presented in partnership with LENSBABY. We’ve independently and ethically reviewed all the products in this post already without sponsorship. And we worked with them to recommend a few key gems to you.

The Phoblographer’s various product round-up features are done in-house. Our philosophy is simple: you wouldn’t get a Wagyu beef steak review from a lifelong vegetarian. And you wouldn’t get photography advice from someone who doesn’t touch the product. We only recommend gear that we’ve fully reviewed. If you’re wondering why your favorite product didn’t make the cut, there’s a chance it’s on another list. If we haven’t reviewed it, we won’t recommend it. This method keeps our lists packed with industry-leading knowledge. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Table of Contents

Pro Tips on How to Get Great Lens Flare

Lensbaby OMNI Kit

Lensbaby Velvet 85

Lensbaby Composer Pro with Edge 35

Pro Tips on How to Get Great Lens Flare

Here are some pro tips all about lens flare:

All of these products listed are part of a partnership we’re doing with Lensbaby. But we’ve independently tested all of them ourselves. You can dive into the reviews to see just that.

Lens flare can’t be had just by smudging your lens or removing the lens hood. It has to do with coatings and more.

Try backlighting your subject for some of the best lens flare. Otherwise, try a sharp angle from the side.

Trust us, once you get to experience lens flare, you’ll never want to supress it again.

Lensbaby OMNI Kit

In our review, we state:

“Modern cameras and lenses can sometimes be too sharp and clinical. They lack the imperfections that sometimes give images unique optical characteristics. As a photographer who occasionally likes to introduce distortions and other lighting effects into my photos for added visual impact, the Lensbaby OMNI Creative Filter System allows it with ease, and without having to juggle between different crystals and prisms in one hand while holding a camera in the other. The magnetic Effect Wands stay put securely onto the Filter Ring thanks to powerful, rare earth magnets and can easily be re-positioned and adjusted to generate a near infinite amount of interesting in-camera effects without having to resort to adding them in post-production via Photoshop (cheating). My only wish is that Lensbaby will offer custom Effect Wands in the future so I can affix my own collection of crystals and prisms to them that I’ve amassed over the years.”

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Lensbaby Velvet 85

In our review, we state:

“If anything though, it’s there in the form of flare. There isn’t much of any major problems that I was able to find with fringing although I will surely admit that there are traces of it.”

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Lensbaby Composer Pro with Edge 35

In our review, we state:

“However, when you use the Lensbaby 35mm f3.5 Edge you start to see that this lens has a lot of character. From the way it can deliver lens flares to the tiny sliver of semi-sharpness that it has in the center, the Lensbaby 35mm f3.5 Edge can provide any photographer with lots of fun if you fully embrace it and throw all the conformities out the window.”

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Hybrid is a word that is becoming more readily used in the photography community. Bags are quickly adapting to photographers’ needs in a fast-paced world. The Vanguard Alta Fly 58T rolling camera bag functions primarily as a trolley and doubles as a backpack. It’s durable, functional, and TSA compliant. The hybrid is almost perfect.

Table of Contents

Too Long Didn’t Read

The Vanguard Alta Fly 58T is a very functional hybrid trolley bag that doubles as a backpack. It comes equipped with padded shoulder straps and a waist strap that can be easily stowed away. The bag meets TSA carry-on standards and has extra grab handles for access. It’s quite versatile and functional.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

It fits TSA carry-on guidelines

Fits TSA carry-on guidelines

Tech Specs

Can accommodate a Broncolor Siros L 800ws

Removable interior cube

It can be worn as a backpack or used as a trolley

Can be worn as a backpack or used as a trolley

Easy organization

Cons

Sternum strap isn’t high enough for women

Trolley handle access fits too snug

Doesn’t have weather-resistant zippers

It doesn’t have weather-resistant zippers

Tech Specs

All tech specs are provided by the manufacturer.

Too Long Didn’t Read

Accessories: Raincover

Pros and Cons

Color: Black

Pros

Extended Warranty: Limited Lifetime

Inside Dimensions: 12 1/4″ x 6 7/8″ x 19 1/4″

Max Lens Capacity: 6

Notebook Capacity: 14”

Outside Dimensions: 13 5/8″ x 11″ x 23 1/4″

Series: Alta Fly

Shoulder Bag Type: Backpack

Tripod Storage: Y

Warranty: 1Y

Weight: 10.5 lbs.

Price: $299.99

Gear Used

We tested the Vanguard Alta Fly 58T with a Canon 5D Mark III and Canon 50mm f1.2 lens attached, Canon 85mm f1.2 lens, Broncolor Siros L 800ws, and 3 Legged Thing Billy 2.0 tripod.

Innovations

Vanguard isn’t reinventing the wheel. However, they made an incredibly versatile option for photographers. It’s well-thought-out to provide comfort when wearing it as a backpack. The Alta Fly 58T also spins effortlessly when used as a trolley. Again, it’s not innovative.

Vanguard isn’t reinventing the wheel. However, they made an incredibly versatile option for photographers. It’s well-thought-out to provide comfort when wearing it as a backpack. The Alta Fly 58T also spins effortlessly when utilizing it as a trolley. Again, it’s not innovative.

Ergonomics

On the top, you will find a sizeable padded grab handle. The trolley handle is also stored here. There are two D-rings located on either side. I found this handy to attach my keys.

On the top, you will find a sizeable padded grab handle. The trolley handle is also ccessed and stored here. There are two D-rings are located on either side. I found this handy to attach my keys.

The front panel of the Vanguard Alta Fly 58T has a large zippered pocket to store memory cards, cables, and other small items.

The front panel of the Vanguard Alta Fly 58T has a large, zippered pocket to store memory cards, cables, and other small items.

Completely unzip the front panel to access the main compartment. Here you will find a protective mesh layer and a customizable cube.

The cube is removable.

The inside of the front panel will accommodate a 16” MacBook Pro. This is larger than the specs indicate. There are two straps on the front panel that secure to the main compartment. This protects the laptop and prevents it from falling down when the bag is upright.

A smaller pocket located towards the top will fit your wallet, cell phone, and other personal items.

There are two straps to secure a tripod. A pouch can even be accessed underneath a velcro strap for extra security.

On one side, there is a sizeable, stretchy pocket. I used this to hold my water bottle. Each side is equipped with a padded grab handle for added convenience and comfort.

The padded shoulder straps and waist harness are on the back of the bag. There is a large pouch to secure the shoulder straps when not in use. It also houses the waterproof cover. The waist strap can then be fastened around the front of the bag to avoid d...

If you’re curious about animal detection autofocus in your camera, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve been curious about it too. What’s more, each camera system takes its own approach to how to do it. And it can be very confusing to some folks. At other times, it can be really frustrating. So we’re looking at animal detection on various camera systems.

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What is Animal Detection

Animal detection differs depending on the camera system. A lot of them incorporate animal and bird detection together. Sony is the major full-frame camera manufacturer that doesn’t do this. But basically, it tells the autofocus to look at the scene and prioritize autofocusing on an animal instead of a human, bike, car, etc. Lucky for you, we’ve reviewed tons of cameras that do this.

For the record, we’ve tested all of the cameras that we’re talking about in this post.

Canon

With Canon cameras, there are a few ways to autofocus. The system can look at a scene and recognize certain things. If you set it to animal vs. human, it will detect all sorts of animals. We’ve used the Canon EOS R5, Canon EOS R6, and the Canon EOS R3 in animal detection. Each time, it has found both birds and mammals with no issues in animal detection mode.

Practically speaking, this means that you’re less likely to miss shots. You can be walking around in the forest and have your camera set to animal mode with ease. You can be photographing chipmunks one moment and hawks another moment. Otherwise, you’d need to physically move the autofocus point over the subject to get focus. That’s often much harder when it comes to focusing on a bird through trees. But a system that recognized the warbler in the trees can get it faster.

Best Cameras for Animal Detection and Bird Detection:

Canon EOS R5

Canon EOS R6

Canon EOS R3

Nikon

The Nikon Z9 is the only camera at the moment of writing this article that has bird detection built in. With the Nikon Z6 II and Z7 II, we’ve been able to get the animal detection to work with pets. In animal detection mode, the system will recognize birds as a moving object or something like that instead. At the moment, we’re waiting on our review unit to come in, but we’ve used the Z9 a bit.

Best Cameras for Animal Detection and Bird Detection:

Nikon Z9

Sony

Sony has a complicated but effective system. If you take the Sony a1 or even an older camera like the Sony a7r III into the forest to photograph birds and animals, you’ll need to set the camera accordingly. The Sony a1, in bird-detection mode, won’t do so well getting your dog in focus when you turn your camera to it. As a result, you’ll have to go quickly into the menu system and then switch it to animal focus priority. It also works well with the Sony a7 IV.

We’ve done this, and it’s been pretty annoying at times.

Best Cameras for Animal Detection and Bird Detection:

Sony A1

Sony a7 IV

Fujifilm

Fujifilm doesn’t have animal autofocus. Come on, Fujifilm. Get with it!

Panasonic

With a camera like the Panasonic S5, you’ll be able to use animal-autofocus detection to photograph birds. There are also Micro Four Thirds cameras like the G9 and GH5 II that can do it. It does a pretty good job overall, but effectively tracking the subjects isn’t as good as it is with Sony and Canon. Even when you adjust the focusing profiles, it just doesn’t have the same hit rate.

Best Cameras for Animal Detection and Bird Detection:

Panasonic S5

Panasonic GH5 II

Olympus

The Olympus OMD EM1x has autofocus for animals and birds. But it’s really not that great. According to our review:

“For wildlife, I walked away very disappointed at the fact that it was almost all over the place when it came to tracking. I had issues with birds, monkeys and otters. Birds were where I was most disappointed. While the Olympus OMD EM1X was able to get them in focus pretty darned well when they were still, when the birds started to get re...

“I had several basic requirements for this model,” the photographer Andrew Vasiliev admits. “The most important thing, of course, was the courage to agree to take part in such a shoot. She needed to be daring and ready to experiment.” Once he found the perfect model, Julia, they got to work. With the help of his wife, the artist adorned her in resplendent layers of melted paraffin wax, with lit candles burning on her shoulders.

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Julia brought something of her own to the shoot as well. “Her tattoos fit well into the composition, giving the shoot an Egyptian, mythical atmosphere,” Vasiliev says. The tattoo on her back, for example, calls to mind memories of Bastet, the cat-headed goddess and daughter of Isis and Ra, the sun god. In ancient Egypt, Bastet became associated with protection, family, and even the sunrise, making her a fitting companion to Vasiliev’s flaming candles and burning wax.

We asked the photographer to tell us more about his magical sensibility and the creation of these otherworldly images.

The essential gear of Andrew Vasiliev

Canon EOS 6D

Sigma 24mm f1.4 Art

Vasiliev tells us,

“I have been shooting with the Canon EOS 6D and Sigma 24mm f1.4 Art lens for many years. I like the wide focal length. This series was shot against a wall with natural light streaming in from a window. No additional light was used. Well, except for the light from the candles we lit. With that being said, I might choose a specific camera or lens for convenience, but I don’t see any of my tools as irreplaceable. The photo is taken by the photographer, not the gear.”

Phoblographer: How did you first embark on your journey as a photographer?

Andrew Vasiliev: The answer might sound trivial, but I just bought my first camera, and I enjoyed shooting. For many years, I did not consider myself a photographer. This was and remains a hobby for me–a means of expressing myself and sharing my thoughts with others. There must have been some kind of subconscious craving that I did not even know about initially because something made me buy my first camera. I’m still not sure what it was.

Phoblographer: Where did the idea for this series originate?

Andrew Vasiliev: I happened to see a photo online featuring a girl with unlit candles on her shoulder, and I thought it was strange that the artist would stop there. I realized that I could develop this idea and make the photo much more interesting: the candles should burn, with hot wax dripping from them. In the photo I found, the model was clothed, but I realized clothes weren’t necessary for my vision: the whole dress should be made entirely of wax. All that remained was figuring out whether I could actually implement my plan.

Phoblographer: Your pictures remind me a bit of the ancient Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche– the part where Psyche spills candle wax on Cupid while he sleeps–and the model’s tattoos allude to Egyptian mythology. Were you inspired by any legends, myths, or stories while making these images?

Andrew Vasiliev: I wouldn’t say I was inspired by an existing myth so much as trying to create a new one. I also want each viewer, looking at the photos, to feel inspired to come up with their own myths and interpretations, based on their own experiences.

Phoblographer: How did you keep your model safe during this shoot? Why did you choose paraffin to mimic the appearance of candle wax?

Andrew Vasiliev: I studied different materials and ultimately chose cosmetic paraffin. It looks and melts just like wax, but it has a slightly lower melting point. It begins to melt at a temperature of 52°C, similar to a hot shower. It doesn’t cause burns or any damage to the skin, and its ingredients are harmless, as it is regularly used in cosmetic procedures.

But I want to warn everyone! When I say harmless, I do not mean pleasant. Before attempting to repeat my technique, try it on yourself, test out th...

If you love bokeh like we do, you know that you’re all about fast aperture lenses. But did you also know that bokeh isn’t created equal? No, we’re not talking about the number of aperture blades. There are lenses with different designs that render unique bokeh. Yes, there are ways that you can get a classic look without needing to do tons of post-production at all. So we dove into our reviews index to find lenses with really beautiful bokeh we think you’ll like!

This piece is presented in partnership with LENSBABY. We’ve independently and ethically reviewed all the products in this post already without sponsorship. And we worked with them to recommend a few key gems to you.

The Phoblographer’s various product round-up features are done in-house. Our philosophy is simple: you wouldn’t get a Wagyu beef steak review from a lifelong vegetarian. And you wouldn’t get photography advice from someone who doesn’t touch the product. We only recommend gear that we’ve fully reviewed. If you’re wondering why your favorite product didn’t make the cut, there’s a chance it’s on another list. If we haven’t reviewed it, we won’t recommend it. This method keeps our lists packed with industry-leading knowledge. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Table of Contents

Pro Tips on Harnessing Stunning Bokeh Unlike You’ve Used Before

Lensbaby Sol 45

Lensbaby Burnside 35

Lensbaby Trio

Pro Tips on Harnessing Stunning Bokeh Unlike You’ve Used Before

Here are some tips on getting the most of gorgeous bokeh:

This roundup of lenses with dazzling bokeh features Lensbaby. We’re partnering with them on this post, but everything is straight from our independently done reviews from years previous.

Seriously though, how often do you see swirly bokeh from other lens manufacturers?

With most of these lenses, you’ll be centering your subject. So combine that with a few other in-camera effects if you can.

There are various different types of bokeh that you can get. But perhaps the most common one is a swirly bokeh. This is more or less called a Petzval look.

Lensbaby Sol 45

In our review, we said this about the bokeh:

“One of the biggest reasons why you’d use the Lensbaby Sol 45 is for the bokeh effect. As you can see in the image above, moving the blades in front of the lens element gives more definition to the bokeh. It changes it very subtly.”

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Lensbaby Burnside 35

In our review, we said this about the bokeh:

“Part of a new series of manual lenses from Lensbaby, the Burnside 35mm F2.8 features a unique dual aperture design, with one of the apertures dedicated to what Lensbaby calls “Vignette Control,” allowing you to “dial in” the quality of bokeh and amount of vignette you can achieve in your final image straight within your camera. This is particularly useful for minimalist photographers who do little to no post production on their images.”

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Lensbaby Trio

In our review, we said this about the bokeh:

“You see, the bokeh for each optic is different. Twist will render more twist towards the outward edges, velvet will always be soft, and sweet is going to be super sharp. But generally speaking, as long as you’re close to your subjects you’re going to digg the bokeh.”

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If you shoot portraits often, you can fall into various camps. Some folks like a lot of contrast in the portraits. And indeed, high-contrast portrait photos can look pretty wonderful and natural. But other folks like as little contrast as possible. That way, with a flatter image, they can work on it a lot in post-production. Understanding what works in what situation, though, is pretty tough. Further, you may not really understand the naming of what you actually want. So in this post, we’re going to tackle it on a surface level.

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In-Camera Settings and Dynamic Range

The first thing to do is to turn off all high dynamic range options your camera has. These don’t affect just the JPEGs but also the RAW files. For example, Canon has an automatic lighting optimizer setting that does this. But with Canon, it turns it off in manual mode. Fujifilm has an option to get the dynamic range to 400%. The more dynamic range an image has, the lower the overall contrast is.

To clarify here, the contrast has to do with the difference between the brights and darks. High dynamic range images have all sorts of great details in them. So the dynamic range is vast. Give it a try for yourself. Take an image into Lightroom or Capture One and crank the contrast all the way up. The whites will become super white. The darks will become even darker.

With portrait photography, getting high-contrast portraits is sometimes tough. But the best way to consistently do it is to backlight a subject.

Does a Flash Help?

Technically speaking, a flash can help. But you’d have to do something a bit crazy. Essentially, if you shot in high-speed sync mode, you’d need to overpower the flash for highlights on your subject. Then you’d also need to shoot at a super-fast shutter speed to kill the ambient lighting. Even then, however, you’re still typically creating a high dynamic range photo.

Technically, you could say the image above is a high-contrast portrait. As you can see, the highlights are mostly gone, and the blacks in her pants are very deep. The photo above was done with a flash still in an off-camera modifier. But I wasn’t using high-speed sync. Instead, I was working with ambient lighting, a low ISO setting, and TTL. Because the flash is being dampened by the light modifier, I’m still able to make the overall scene look naturally lit.

Generally speaking, this is the best way to create a high-contrast portrait.

Subject + daytime with a bit of shadow coverage + flash in a light modifier = a high contrast portrait.