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Portrait and wedding photographer Julia Trotti loves prime lenses. In fact, she known for stocking her camera bag exclusively with primes whenever she heads out on shoot.

What do you get when you compare three classic prime lenses: the Canon 85mm F/1.2, 85mm F/1.4, and F/1.8? Photographer David Flores found out when he recently put the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM, Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM, and Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM lenses through their paces in a portrait shootout on New York City’s Coney Island.

I’ve always been a strictly DIY print guy and have done my fair share of printing over the years, but I’ve recently seen some intriguing print presentations by friends and associates—on aluminum, bonded under acrylic glass, on textile or canvas—that I could never produce in my studio. As I researched the idea I decided it was time to check out a custom lab that could broaden my print options.

To explore the old adage that great photography isn’t just about the gear, the folks at Mango Street put together this interesting and amusing challenge between a pro using an entry-level Canon Rebel T3i with a kit lens and an amateur armed with Canon’s high-end 5D Mark IV and pro-quality 35mm f/1.4L II USM lens.

We’ve written about damage caused by careless photographers before, but something is going on in Lisbon that is really unfathomable. There have been two incidents there recently in which idiots with cameras have accidently damaged priceless statues beyond repair—simply because they weren’t paying attention.

Today’s digital cameras have become so adept at almost any shooting situation that, paradoxically, they can inhibit creativity by always delivering a technically perfect result. With little effort, a photographer can produce a sharp, clear, well-exposed image, color balanced and, well, a bit too perfect.

Among the most aesthetically satisfying features of a good lens is the lovely color of the front glass. Check out the ads trying to lure you to new optics, and you’ll see come-hither hues of blue, purple, or yellow—as tempting as a new car’s snazzy finish.