Buyer's Guides

How many times have you come across the perfect evening scene – camera in hand – only to be left watching instead of shooting because there was not enough light? Should have had a tripod!

Here are some tips I discovered when researching this month’s column. One was from my wife who uses this technique all the time—smile! And you know what, people smile back, making you appear friendly and non-threatening. The other was from Michael Archambault, who suggests you “acknowledge that street photography is not perfect.” Or as my grandfather once told me, “If you spend your whole life looking for happiness, it’ll make you miserable.”

Now that winter has melted away and the sun is shining, it's time to capture the beauty of the outdoors. You can't go wrong with the vibrant colors and stunning natural landscapes of spring and summer. From vivid sunsets to fields of blooming wildflowers, the possibilities are endless.

This season presents a perfect chance to upgrade your photography equipment, and Tamron is offering enticing promotions on their high-quality lenses.

We are amazed by the wide variety and overall affordability of the camera cases and bags that have earned their place among the Best Sellers on the Amazon website. All have been rated at 5 (or 4.5) stars by purchasers, and they cover a broad array of purposes—from Drone to DSLR. So we’ve selected a cross-section—all priced under $30—to represent the collection.

Relax; no one is trying to convince you to switch your photo software. We found five fun and powerful digital image editors that range in price from FREE to $99. One of them might help you produce something entirely new. So even if you already have a favorite, you’ll be glad you took a look at these creative options.

Selfie Sticks predate the smartphone by several years. But it wasn’t until all mobile telephones adopted the (more or less) same thin, flat, rectangular shape that universal selfie holders could flourish. Here we look at five great ways to hold your phone in the best position for self-portraits, steady video clips, vlogging or Zoom.