James Abbott

James Abbott is a professional portrait and landscape photographer, and a freelance photography journalist producing words and pictures for the best photography magazines in the UK. James is also a qualified college lecturer and has taught photography and Photoshop to a wide range of age groups and situations including one-to-one, group and distance learning.

Articles by: James Abbott

An aerial view of mountain peaks and someone standing on a viewing platform

Sky art: the best drone photos of 2022 so far

By James Abbott published 4 June 22

Find inspiration in some of the most impressive aerial photos uploaded to the SkyPixel Awards.

A side on shot of the DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro drone and the Autel EVO Nano+ drone on a concrete surface

DJI Mini 3 Pro vs Autel Evo Nano+: which is the best compact drone?

By James Abbott published 2 June 22

The DJI Mini 3 Pro and Autel Evo Nano+ are the two best compact drones you can buy. Which one should you buy?

The DJI Mini 2 drone in flight on a blue background

Should you buy DJI Care Refresh for your drone?

By James Abbott published 29 May 22

DJI’s after sales service plan can offer a cheap and easy form of drone insurance, but it’s not for everyone.

The DJI Mini 3 Pro drone in flight in a forest

I've spent hours flying the DJI Mini 3 Pro – here's why it'll replace my Mavic 2 Pro

By James Abbott last updated 24 May 22

I've always felt the DJI Mini series was too big a step down from its more premium drones, but the Mini 3 Pro changes that.

The DJI Mini 3 Pro drone in flight in front of a brick wall

DJI Mini 3 Pro review

By James Abbott last updated 17 June 22

Recommended

The DJI Mini 3 Pro is an aerial powerhouse that belies its compact size, but it comes with the price tag of bigger drones.

How to improve your drone photography

By James Abbott last updated 24 April 22

Elevate your drone photography to a professional heights with these eight essential tips.

A camera on a tripod pointed towards a misty landscape

Best cameras for landscape photography 2022: top picks for the great outdoors

By James Abbott published 3 April 22

Looking for the best cameras for landscape photography? Our guide ranks all the best options and reveals how to pick the right one for you.

The Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II lens on a wooden table

Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II review

By James Abbott published 27 February 22

Recommended

Sony’s flagship medium zoom lens offers an enticing upgrade on its predecessor, though it comes with a pro-level price tag.

Adobe's Super Resolution mode in Lightroom

Which cameras work best with Adobe's Super Resolution mode?

By James Abbott published 12 February 22

Super Resolution in Adobe Camera Raw and Lightroom lets you double the resolution of your raw files, TIFFs and JPEGs. Here's how it works.

The DJI Mavic 3 drone sitting on a green surface

DJI Mavic 3 review

By James Abbott published 11 February 22

The DJI Mavic 3 is the most powerful folding drone we've seen, but it's also expensive and missing a few features at launch.

The Leica M11 camera resting on a wooden bench

Leica M11 review

By James Abbott published 31 January 22

Leica’s latest M-series camera takes a technological leap while maintaining its traditional fundamentals. But it's now an even more niche camera than ever.

The Leica M11 in a leather case resting on a table

Are Leica cameras worth their price tags?

By James Abbott published 15 January 22

Analysis The new Leica M11 has stirred an age-old debate. Are Leica cameras overpriced luxury indulgences, or priceless workhorses?

A hard drive and laptop screen showing the Lightroom and Google Photos logos

How to build the ultimate photo backup for Adobe Lightroom or Google Photos

By James Abbott last updated 2 June 22

Tech resolutions Looking to create photo backup for Adobe Lightroom or Google Photos? Our in-depth guide is for you.

Got a new DJI drone? Here's how to set it up to take great photos and video

By James Abbott published 27 December 21

Woken up to find a DJI drone has kindly flown into your Christmas stocking? Here's how to set it up and get shooting.

Festive photography: 7 great Christmas photo ideas to try with your new camera

By Phil Hall, James Abbott, Mark Wilson published 26 December 21

Stuck for photo inspiration this festive period? It's time to spice things up with these great Christmas-themed photo ideas.

Why I might not buy the DJI Mavic 3 (despite selling my DJI Mavic 2 Pro)

By James Abbott published 30 October 21

Opinion The DJI Mavic 3 is strongly rumored to launch soon, but here's why I'm undecided about upgrading – despite recently selling my DJI Mavic 2 Pro.

The image size box in Photoshop showing an image of some hills

How to resize images in Photoshop

By James Abbott published 9 October 21

Increase and decrease the dimensions of your photos while maintaining optimal quality

A hand using a cloth to clean a camera lens

How to clean your camera lens

By James Abbott published 3 October 21

Noticed a some unusual spots in your photos? You probably need to clean your camera lens – these are the best ways to do it safely.

How to fly your DJI drone: 7 steps to becoming a confident drone pilot

By James Abbott published 2 October 21

Follow these steps to get your DJI drone safely into the air and ready to shoot dynamic aerial stills and video.

Land grabs: 26 essential landscape photography tips you need to know

By James Abbott published 19 August 21

Updated Struggling for landscape snapping inspiration? These 26 ideas and techniques will give your landscape photography a leg-up to the next level.

A phone screen with a Lighthouse in the Lightroom app

How to master the Lightroom app for next-level smartphone snaps

By James Abbott published 16 August 21

Photography Week 2021 Looking to take your phone snaps from lukewarm to chef's kiss? Our in-depth guide to the Adobe Lightroom app has the perfect recipe.

Close-up of DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone camera and gimbal

Should I buy a DJI drone in 2021?

By James Abbott last updated 25 August 21

It's been a tumultuous year for DJI, so is the world's biggest drone maker still the best in its flying camera field?

DJI Mavic 2 Pro review

By James Abbott published 15 June 21

Recommended

Updated Our former number one drone, the DJI Mavic 2 Pro remains a great option if you need features like variable aperture.

DJI Air 2S vs DJI Mavic 2 Pro: which is the best drone for you?

By James Abbott last updated 25 August 21

Versus Trying to decide whether to buy the new DJI Air 2S or its older Mavic 2 Pro cousin? We're here to explain which one you should get.

A week with the Fujifilm GFX100S: why I'll be buying it over the Sony A1

By James Abbott published 22 May 21

Opinion A camera that can do everything is incredible, but specialist cameras like the Fujifilm GFX100S are still usually the better option.