The golden hour is probably the time when most of us would choose to take photos. But, there will be times when you’ll be forced to shoot in a harsh midday sun, for one reason or the other. You can bring reflectors, strobes, or try to find or make a shade. But in this video, Manny Ortiz will give you some quick tips on how to embrace the direct sunlight and turn it into your advantage without any gear but your camera and lens.
These seven photography accessories will make your life much easier
Each of us has our favorite set of photography accessories we can’t imagine our life without. In this video, Manny Ortiz shares with you seven of his absolutely favorite items. Not all of these are essential for photography, but they will make your life and work a lot easier.
Everyone takes bad photos: here’s some inspiration if you feel bad about your work
If you’ve been into photography for a while, you know that there are days when your photos turn out bad no matter how hard you try. It’s frustrating, especially when you compare yourself to all those wonderful, inspiring photos other people take. Well, here’s a bit of inspiration and reality check from Manny Ortiz. He admits that he also takes bad photos, and shares a photo shoot to demonstrate it and show you that there’s nothing to feel bad about.
Why a 24-70mm lens is perfect for wedding photography
Just as Taylor Jackson is explaining how the 24-70mm lens sucks for weddings, up comes Manny Ortiz. He believes the opposite. He says the 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is vital for weddings and that every photographer should own one. They’re two polar opposite views. In this video, Manny explains why he thinks a 24-70mm should be in everybody’s bag.
Two photographers going head to head, natural light vs. strobes
Natural light or artificial light? Sure, it’s a matter of preference, but photographers Manny Ortiz and Jessica Kobeissi made an interesting challenge out of these two approaches. They had three rounds of photographing the same model in the same studio. Jessica used only natural light, and Manny added off-camera flash. Let’s check out the results and see which you prefer.
Should you underexpose your photos on purpose?
Sometimes our photos end up being underexposed by accident, or because of poor lighting conditions. But what about doing it on purpose? Photographer Manny Ortiz admits he tends to underexpose his photos for one or two stops. In this video, he talks about why he does it and about the benefits of this approach.
This is what the A7III looks like from a photographer perspective
Ever since the Sony A7III was announced, it drew quite a bit of attention. Some of the features like eye-tracking seem almost too good to be true. Photographer Manny Ortiz takes us for a ride in the driver’s sit photographers viewfinder on a shoot with the camera. I gotta say, it’s an impressive piece of kit.
The first thing Manny highlights is the eye-tracking autofocus. Look at the Gif below to judge if this is something you would enjoy working with.
Reasons to choose Sony A7III over the A7RIII and vice versa
The new Sony A7III has finally been announced, and the first impressions are mainly positive. Photographer Manny Ortiz compares the Sony A7III with the A7RIII, which was announced a couple of months earlier. If you are wondering why you should choose the A7III over the A7RIII or the other way around, Manny gives you a couple of reasons for both options. Hopefully, these will help you make the final decision.
These are five DONT’S in portrait photography
Portrait photography isn’t just about skill. There’s also communication with the models, choosing the right location, gear, and light… So many things to think about. Manny Ortiz shares five things to avoid when photographing people which he has experienced throughout his career. Are you guilty of any of these?
Here’s how to nail focus every time even at f/1.4
Getting precise and sharp focus at f/1.4 isn’t always an easy task, even with autofocus. In this video, Manny Ortiz shares some techniques that help him nail focus every time. He mainly shoots portraits, and he shares with you three tips that will help you get sharp and consistent focus.
