In May of this year (2018), Dell launched the XPS 15 2:1 9575 hybrid laptop powerhouse, a device I have personally been looking forward to for some time. Back in November of last year, Dell invited me and a handful of people to a private event in Austin where among other things, I was able to briefly check out a prototype of what would eventually become the 9575. As a photographer and creator, this laptop seemed to check a lot of important boxes when it came to building my dream laptop, but that was on paper. How well does it …
GEAR REVIEW: A PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKE ON THE BENQ SW271 4k Photo Editing Monitor
When it comes to choosing the right monitor to buy as a photographer, things can get pretty complicated pretty quickly. There are simply so many choices for you to pick from in a variety of different shapes, sizes & qualities, which leaves many photographers with more questions than answers. However, regardless of the complexity of those choices, there is no doubt that the industry as a whole seems to be moving toward 4k resolutions at breakneck speeds. As more and more photographers continue to operate mostly in the digital space, dabble in time-lapse and expand their skillsets into video production, this …
Dell XPS 13 Instagram Giveaway Details
What better way to celebrate the day after my birthday than to announce my next big giveaway on Instagram! Back in January of 2018, you saw me giveaway a Sony a7R III, and now I am happy to announce that I have a brand new Rose Gold Dell XPS 13 9370 (Full Review) to give to one lucky winner (Worth $2200 USD)! For complete Instagram Giveaway Details, see the bottom of this blog post… Dates: March 30th, 2018 – April 20th, 2018 How to Enter: Follow @ColbyBrownPhotography on Instagram Like my latest IG Post Write a short description of what …
Gear Review: A Photographers Take Dell XPS 13 (9370) Quad-Core Laptop
When it comes to finding the perfect laptop as a photographer, we are often torn between the choice of getting something fast and powerful or lightweight and portable. While thin and light machines were typically underpowered but provided good battery life, the more powerful laptops were thicker and heavier, often weighing between two or threes times as much. But what happens if you want something that is both powerful and lightweight? Something that can handle those large MP images but that doesn’t weigh over 4lbs in the process? With the launch of the new 2018 XPS 13 (9370), Dell feels …
What is Vero, Why Is It Important & Why You Should Be Paying Attention!
Unless you have been living under a rock for the last week, you have probably heard about the “new” Social Network VERO – True Social which has risen overnight in popularity with photographers all over the globe. Spend a few minutes browsing your streams on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and you would be hard pressed not see at least one person telling you to sign up. But what is Vero? Do we all really need yet another social platform? And why has it all of a sudden becoming popular? In this article, I will take a look at all these …
Top 15 Products & Services For Travel Photographers
One of the most overly romanticized genres in the photo industry has to be Travel Photography. There are a lot of people out there that think travel photographers simply get paid to travel to beautiful places all over the world and that our lives are simply a cake walk. However in reality, most of us have to hustle just like any other entrepreneur…and do so while dealing with jet lag, food poisoning and increasingly hostile airlines when it comes to bag fees and weight restrictions 😉 That being said, I wouldn’t trade my career for any other, especially after doing …
Sony a7R III Instagram Giveaway!!!
***UPDATE*** Instagram user @seeseedsee, otherwise known as Maria Mae Crispino from California was selected at random using www.random.org as the winner of this giveaway on January 15th, 2018. For those that didn’t win, you can expect more great images from around the world on my IG page, tips and tricks to help you all become better photographers, advice for business and social media so you can grow you own following and of course, more chances to win some cool stuff in the future. ***END OF UPDATE*** I am super excited to announce that I am giving away a Sony a7R …
32 Tips & Tricks for Getting the Most Out Of Your Sony a7R III
When it comes to purchasing a new camera, most of us are incredibly excited to jump right in and start using our new creative tool…but that process can also be frustrating. Learning all of the new camera menus, features and functionality can be challenging, especially if you are coming from a completely different camera brand. With the release of Sony’s latest flag ship full frame mirrorless camera, the highly sought after a7R III, many of you might find yourself in a similar situation. Even Sony shooters might be a little surprised with all the new changes to the brand new …
Gear Review: Sony 16-35 f/2.8 GM Wide Angle Zoom Lens
While Sony has continuously been putting out impressive lenses over the last few years, one of the most requested pieces of glass has been a fast ultra wide, especially for landscape and astro photographers. So when the Sony 16-35 f/2.8 GM was announced back in May, it wasn’t suprising to see just how excited everyone was that this lens was finally coming out. Even though the Sony 16-35 f/4 FE has been incredibly popular, it was also the only show in town for a long time when it came to native Sony wide angle zoom lenses and it is also just …
Gear Review: Sony 12-24 f/4 G Ultra-Wide Angle Zoom Lens
While most of the attention Sony gets these days is directed towards their innovative cameras and sensors, they have consistently been pushing out great glass at a slow but steady pace over the last few years. On May 17th, 2017 Sony announced the 12-24 f/4 G ultra-wide angle lens, filling a highly requested hole in their lens lineup. As a Sony Artisan, I happened to be at the launch event in Santa Barbara, California and was given some time to play around with it for an afternoon. But to be honest, it left me with more questions than answers. As …
2016 – My Favorite Images of the Year
It is that time of year once again where all of us look back at the last 365 days and reflect on our experiences, adventures, challenges, and accomplishments. For me, 2016 was a year of both adventure and change. I was able to explore countless countries including Cuba, Iceland, Norway, Chile and Argentina while also taking much of the last half of the year off to be with my family as we moved from Boulder, Colorado to Eastern Pennsylvania.
Gear Review: A Photographers Take on the BenQ SW2700PT 27″ QHD Monitor
With the SW2700PT, BenQ has attempted to create a monitor built specifically with photographers in mind. With its QHD resolution, wide color gamut (100% of sRGB & 99% of Adobe1998), 14 Bit 3D LUT and built in hardware support for color calibration, it has a lot going for it. But does it live up to its hype? Lets find out!
Gear Review: Sony a6300 24mp Mirrorless Camera
When it comes to mirrorless cameras, there is little doubt that Sony is at the forefront of the pack, paving the way forward. In just a few short years they have become the industry leader, controlling over 70% of the mirrorless camera market worldwide and close to 70% of all camera sensors as well (Mirrorless, DSLR and Cell Phone). Helping Sony along the way was the original a6000. With it’s small lightweight body, impressive IQ and powerful AF system, it isn’t too surprising that it was the most sold mirrorless camera on the market. It didn’t hurt that you could find …
Facebook Live Photo Editing Session + Q&A
As technology continues to improve, the tools in which we communicate are continuing to evolve. Join Colby as he edits a photo from Iceland on Facebook’s new Live Video Streaming while thousands watch and ask questions.
Gear Review: A Photographers Take on the Dell XPS 15 Laptop
Take an in-depth look at the Dell XPS 15, a quad-core laptop that is built with power users in mind. Join Colby as takes the XPS 15 to Iceland and Norway to see if it can handle the needs of professional photographers and filmmakers alike and see how it compares to some of the current competition.
25 Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Sony a6300
Purchasing a new camera often involves a mixture of excitement, happiness and occasionally frustration, especially if you are coming from a different camera brand. In the last few years, no company has continued to push the boundaries of what we thought was possible as Sony has with their full frame mirrorless & APS-C cameras. With the release of the Sony a6300, I have compiled a list of 25 of my favorite tips to help you get the most out of this incredibly powerful and portable camera.
Meet the New Lightroom Mobile for Android
Adobe just announced the brand new LR Mobile app for Android. In it you will find a variety of new and powerful features that have come over from its Desktop cousin. Continuing reading to learn more about LR Mobile!
Gear Review: A Photographers Take On the Microsoft Surface Book
Take an in-depth look at Microsoft’s latest flagship device, the Surface Book. As a laptop first and tablet second, there is a lot of hype surrounding this unique and versatile 2:1. Join Colby Brown for this hands-on review of one of the most talked about devices of 2015.
How to Photograph the Northern Lights
If you have ever dreamed of seeing and capturing the Northern Lights but wasn’t sure where to start, this free mini-guide is for you. It not only covers where to see the aurora and how it is predicted, but gives you plenty of pointers on the kind of camera gear to use and what to look for when you are out in the field.
A Year In Photos with Colby Brown – 2015
A quick look back at an exciting year of travel and adventure through a variety of countries such as Iceland, Norway, Chile, Japan, Fiji and much more. From ice caves to ice bergs, seascapes to snow monkeys and waterfalls to kayaking on volcanic lakes…2015 was a great year photographically.
Gear Review: Sony a7rII 42mp Mirrorless Camera
Take a closer look at the new Sony a7R II…a 42.4mp full frame mirrorless camera that has been called a “game changer” by many. With an improved AF system, new 5-axis image stabilization and the ability to use 3rd party lenses, there is a lot to like, but no camera is perfect.
15 Tips for Getting The Most Out of Your Sony a7rii
With every new camera, there are new menu systems to learn, new custom button functions to remember and new features to wrap your head around. So no matter if you are brand new to Sony or a long time user who just picked up the latest flagship camera, I have compiled a list of 15 of my favorite tips to help you get the most of your brand new Sony a7rII.
Ask Me Anything (AMA) – Sony a7rII 42mp Full Frame Mirrorless Camera
For the last few days I have been incredibly fortunate to be one of the first photographers in the US to receive the newly announced Sony a7rII, a 42mp full frame mirrorless camera that has caught the attention of the entire photo industry. While I am currently hard at work on my own full in-depth review (which should be posted in the next week), I want to open things up to all of you in the meantime. This is an AMA, otherwise known as an Ask Me Anything session where you can ask me anything you want about the Sony …
Installing and Updating Apps on Your Sony Camera With Ease
One of the coolest features of being a Sony shooter these days is the fact that you can buy and download applications to run on your Sony Mirrorless Cameras, much like you can with your smart phone. Why is this great? Because for a few bucks, you can add a lot of features and functionality to your camera that it didn’t have before, such as the ability to easily capture and compile time-lapses out in the field with the Time Lapse App. While it is great that Sony added these feature to their cameras, the process to connect your camera …
Windows is Now a Viable Alternative For Creative Professionals
When it comes to working in the creative world, there is no doubt that many creative professionals (graphic designers, illustrators and even photographers) have historically preferred OSX and the Apple eco-system that it has built around its products. With a relatively sleek UI, strong customer service history and the slogan “it just works”, it is not surprising that many creatives sided with Macs for so many years. But things have been changing and for the first time in a long time, a lot of people are starting to once again get excited with what Microsoft is up to. While Windows …
Sony Officially Announces the a7rII Full Frame 42mp Mirrorless Camera
Today Sony officially announce the new Full Frame 42mp a7rII mirrorless camera. It is the successor to the wildly popular Sony a7r, that had a 36mp sensor. While the a7r was incredibly well received by photo community (especially landscape and travel photographers), it wasn’t a perfect camera. It didn’t have the best AF system in the world (mirrorless or DSLR), was prone to some shutter shake with longer telephoto lenses and had some auto bracketing limitations that were eventually fixed with later additions to the Sony a7 line of mirrorless cameras, such as the a7s and a7II. This time around …
A Photographers Guide to Visiting Christmas Island
As a professional travel photographer, there is no shortage of incredible locations around the world that I am fortunate to get the opportunity to explore and experience first hand. From climbing mountain peaks in the Himalayas to swimming with sharks in the Galapagos to watching active volcanoes in Iceland. However, for the longest time the remote and wild island paradise of Christmas Island had been on my bucket list. Why? Let’s just say that if Hawaii and the Galapagos Islands had a baby….the result would be Christmas Island. Sounds pretty incredible, right? While the name “Christmas Island” might not ring a bell …
Gear Review: A Photographer’s Take on The LG G4
When it comes to choosing the right smartphone, there is no shortage of options. Between IOS, Android and Windows Phone you literally have hundreds of phones to pick from at any given point in time. However when it comes to quality mobile phone photography and the cameras inside these devices, there really are only a few companies to look at if you want to capture quality images. While the iPhone has been the benchmark for mobile photography for years and Nokia came out with the 41 MP beast of a camera in the Nokia 1020 for Windows Phone a few years ago, it …
An In-Depth Review of the Sony a6000
With the digital mirrorless revolution is in full swing with the photo industry, many photographers (pros and aspiring photographers alike) are moving away from their bulky and heavy DSLR bodies and lenses. While many people were interested in the thought of going mirrorless when it first hit the scene a few years ago, the truth was that mirrorless technology couldn’t compete with the offerings of a DSLR at the time. Fast forward to today, and things are much different story. Now days many mirrorless cameras not only match DSLRs in terms of image quality and features, but are also more affordable. Take the …
Gear Review: Wacom Cintiq Companion 2
At the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas last week, Wacom announced the 13.3″ Cintiq Companion 2, which is essentially the 2nd generation in their line of powerful and portable tablets. Built with digital artists, photographers and graphic designers in mind, these devices not only come with a pen stylus and 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity, but they run full versions of Windows 8.1, allowing you to install and take full advantage of Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, InDesign and any other application you can run on a Windows laptop or desktop machine. While I will save my soap box talk …