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Which of these images was made using CGI and which is a photograph? Can you tell the difference?

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One of the above images was created using a camera and modern commercial lighting with familiar retouching techniques using software such as Photoshop. The other image was rendered using CGI using software such as Blender. They are both top-notch product images, but can you tell which is which?

I won’t tell you the answer just yet (sorry, I know you’re just dying to find out!), however, the use of CGI in product photography is becoming ever more prevalent as technology improves, making the 3D rendering more photo-realistic, faster and subsequently cheaper than traditional commercial photography.

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How I created a razor sharp Blade of Light

In the past months, I was obsessed with some photos of Karl Taylor showing a blade of light on a model’s face, and I wanted to give it a go on my own.

I had one problem, though. Typically, you make these shots using expensive strobe attachments, which allow studio strobe to control light in an exact manner. My problem was that I didn’t have any of those modifiers (or strobes), so I decided to replicate this type of photo with a projector made for speedlights – a device called Light Blaster from Spiffy Gear.

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$33,000 Hasselblad vs iPhone comparison shows the importance of lighting over camera

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We often see the “expensive camera vs smartphone” comparisons, but they’re not typically performed with this level of attention to detail. Especially when it comes to the lighting. But if you’re photographer Karl Taylor, the lighting is very important, especially when it comes to comparing images from one camera to another.

Karl recently photographed a custom Harley Davidson motorcycle in his studio using his 100-megapixel Hasselblad H6D-100c medium format camera. But with the lights already set up, he decided to give it a try with the iPhone, too, to see just how similar the images could look.

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Are you making these seven common food photography mistakes?

I always say that making mistakes is a part of learning. But, it doesn’t always have to be your mistakes, you can also learn from those that other people make. Karl Taylor noticed that there are seven mistakes that food photographers make regularly. So, if you’re into food photography, read on, watch the video and take notes so you don’t have to make them too.

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Just how good are cheap extension tubes and do they really compare to an expensive dedicated macro lens?

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Macro photography is some of the most fun you can have with a camera. But good macro lenses can be very expensive. There are other things we can do, however, to get macro-like images with our regular lenses, though, without actually having to buy a macro lens. There are close-up filters, reversing rings and extension tubes, for example.

But the latter of those three options, extension tubes, is generally thought to give the best results. But how do they really compare to a true macro lens? In this video, Karl Taylor takes a look at true macro lenses vs extension tubes on both Sony full-frame and Hasselblad medium format systems to see how the two techniques stack up against each other.

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Parabolic softboxes “make a mockery of the laws of physics” and are “completely unnecessary”

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When somebody begins a video with the phrase “what a load of marketing bulls**t”, they’re about to either make themselves look like an idiot or they’re going to back their claim up and show you some solid evidence. In this video from Karl Taylor, I’m leaning towards the latter. Karl takes a look at parabolic softboxes and demonstrates why they really don’t offer all that much benefit over regular octagonal softboxes (or octaboxes).

 

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Nine big studio flash lighting mistakes to avoid

When you first start shooting in a studio, it’s very exciting – but it can also be overwhelming. There’s so much to learn about studio lighting and so many mistakes that you’ll make. In this video, Karl Taylor mentions nine of the biggest mistakes photographers make when they first start shooting with studio lighting. Of course, we all learn from or mistakes, but let’s try and flatten that learning curve, shall we?

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These eight portrait mistakes are so common, but so simple to fix

When taking photos, it’s good to know what you should so, but it’s equally important to know what to avoid. In this video, Karl Taylor discusses eight things that we should avoid in portrait photography, yet we do them so often. Luckily, they’re easy to fix, so check out the video and make sure to have them in mind at your next shoot.

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How to shoot black products on a black backdrop using two lights

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Photographing black products on a black background can give you elegant and dramatic shots. However, it can be tricky to separate your product from the background. In this video, Karl Taylor walks you through his process and shows you how he photographs dark products on a dark background.

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How to dodge and burn in-camera to preserve highlights and save time in post

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Graduated ND filters will help you get perfect exposure in-camera when shooting landscapes and cityscapes. However, the area they cover sometimes just won’t cut it for the scene you’re trying to capture. Of course, you can sometimes fix it in post, but why not try getting it right in-camera?

In this video, Karl Taylor demonstrates a simple but effective technique of dodging and burning in-camera, relying on the old darkroom method. It will help you nail the exposure, preserve details in highlights, and it could save you some post-processing time.

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