James Abbott

James Abbott

James Abbott is a professional photographer and freelance photography journalist. He contributes articles about photography, cameras and drones to a wide range of magazines and websites where he applies a wealth of experience to testing the latest photographic tech. James is also the author of ‘The Digital Darkroom: The Definitive Guide to Photo Editing’.

Articles by: James Abbott

Macro photography: five ways to focus your close-up shots

By James Abbott published

Get pin-sharp macro shots every time by choosing the most appropriate focusing method for the subject.

How to create motion blur in-camera

By James Abbott published

Learn how to shoot amazing in-camera movement images in just five minutes with this quick shoot guide.

5 things to shoot with your new camera

By James Abbott published

If you've just got a new camera, here are five great photo ideas you can try at home.

How to shoot a photo project

By James Abbott published

Challenge yourself to create a coherent body of work exploring a theme that interests you.

Essential Sony Alpha camera settings

By James Abbott published

Get more from your Sony Alpha mirrorless camera with these essential tips.

How to shoot in-camera double exposures

By James Abbott published

Inject your photography with a burst of fun by experimenting with a classic in-camera technique.

Time-lapse photography: how to capture your first time-lapse video

By James Abbott published

Learn how to shoot time-lapse photography the easy way with this no-nonsense and easy to follow guide.

Choosing the best lenses for landscape photography

By James Abbott published

Discover the only two lenses you’ll ever need to be able to shoot every type of landscape.

Has social media ruined photography?

By James Abbott published

Opinion As photographers increasingly turn to social media to share images, is this phenomenon a force for good or ill?

Flash photography made easy: from simple shots to advanced techniques

By James Abbott published

It can seem complex, but our expect guide will help you master flash photography in no time.

Headshot photography: how to take a professional portrait

By James Abbott published

Discover just how easy it can be to take professional looking headshots.

Smartphones vs cameras: do you still need a DSLR?

By James Abbott published

Analysis Smartphone cameras are getting better all the time, so could they one day replace your DSLR or mirrorless camera?

Kit lens opener

Get the most from the kit lens on your new camera

By James Abbott published

Updated Armed with our expert tips and tricks you can get stunning results with the humble kit lens that comes with your DSLR.

The 5 best gloves for photographers

By James Abbott published

Our pick of the best gloves that will let you keep you shooting whatever the weather.

A closer look at Lightroom Classic CC's new features

By James Abbott published

Lightroom Classic CC is a familiar face with some serious improvements under the hood.

Why every photographer needs three tripods

By James Abbott published

Having a selection of tripods allows you to carry the most suitable, and portable, option at all times.

The A to Z of Photography: Histogram

By James Abbott published

The A to Z of Photography Understanding the histogram and how it relates to exposure will help you become a better photographer.

The A to Z of Photography: Gimbal

By James Abbott published

The A to Z of Photography Coming in two flavors, a gimbal is designed to keep your camera steady while it's being moved around.

The A to Z of Photography: Focal length

By James Abbott published

The A to Z of Photography When photographers talk about the focal length of a lens, what they're really concerned with is the angle of view.

10 Lightroom editing skills every photographer should know

By James Abbott published

Lightroom lets you edit, organize and share your images. Read our expert guide to help you get started.

The A to Z of Photography: Chromatic aberration

By James Abbott published

The A to Z of Photography Chromatic aberration, or color fringing, is a common artefact in digital images – here's what you need to know.

The A to Z of Photography: Bokeh

By James Abbott published

The A to Z of Photography Bokeh is a term you'll often hear mentioned in relation to aperture and depth of field. Here's what you need to know.

Manfrotto's motorized head takes the work out of shooting timelapses

By James Abbott published

The new PIXIPano360 makes it easy to shoot timelapses and panoramas with a phone, camera or action cam.

Phase One Capture One Pro 10 review

By James Abbott published

With tethered shooting, a library for all your photos and pro-grade raw processing, Capture One Pro 10 has a lot to offer.

CyberLink PhotoDirector 8 review

By James Abbott published

PhotoDirector 8 is like a third-party homage to Lightroom, but with some twists of its own.

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