Photo Accessory News

There are two important facts about flash photography that everyone should understand: The first is that a simple external flash mounted atop a camera (or used remotely for even better results), can make a huge difference in photographs when shooting indoors or out. Number two is that the use of an accessory flash is much easier than most photographers think.

You need a tripod. If you shoot video, panoramas, fireworks, time exposures, selfies or macro work in addition to general picture taking, you may even need two tripods. Selecting a tripod that matches the way you work is important, and not at all difficult if you approach it in the right way.

Landscape shooters tend to be among the most stalwart of photographers, often carrying heavy tripods, and backpacks bulging with cameras, lenses, and other gear, on long treks into the backcountry. In the video below, a British pro reveals what he considers to be “the best accessories for landscape photography.”

Every so often we come across a quirky photo accessory that’s truly different, like the wearable umbrella known as Nubrella we wrote about that keeps photographers and gear dry while shooting in the rain. And now there’s the soon-to-be-released Velbon Chairpod, a hybrid tripod/collapsible stool contraption for supporting both a camera and your posterior.

It’s that time of year again, when our friends at TheCameraStoreTV knock back a few drinks and reveal what they consider the “Best & Worst Photo/Video Gear of the Year.” If you saw our post from 2016, you know that these annual “awards” are informative and hilarious.

While image stabilization in camera bodies and lenses has stretched the bounds of slow shutter speed usage, there’s nothing that can take the place of a good tripod in terms of image sharpness and the ability to take advantage of today’s camera technology. Working with HDR, with very long exposure times, and the ability to shoot at virtually any aperture and shutter speed without resorting to excessive ISOs are obvious benefits.