Resources
I thought it would be a good idea to list all the resources I have used throughout my photography journey. Everything here has been used by myself. They have helped me in different ways and I hope they will do the same for you. Some of these are affiliate links, which means I do get a small commission when you purchase the product through the link provided.
Software
The grand master of all image editing software. Powerful and versatile, with many compatible third party plugins to boost your creativity. Photoshop + Lightroom are the gold standard image processing software in the industry. Get a 7-day trial for FREE.
Lightroom has to be my favourite tool to edit, organise and tag images. There are plenty of free tutorials on the internet to teach how you to use Lightroom to its full potential (not just sorting your images into albums!). I highly recommend getting the photography package deal for more value.
I have used Photomatix for my HDR ever since I started. I love the de-ghosting tool which removes ghosting created by moving objects in a few clicks. It comes as a standalone or plugin for Lightroom. You can get a 15% discount with the code "fotographee".
I use Color Efex Pro and Silver Efex Pro in my workflow frequently. It gives your image that extra oomph to make the transformation from ordinary to stunning! You can now get a 30-day trial for free.
Books
Even if you think you know it all, you'll still find some golden nuggets in this book. Well organized and written, The Digital Negative gives you incredible insight into raw processing and advanced post-processing tips to help you maximize the potential of raw images. Some chapters are heavy to read so make sure you have a drink with you.
Entertaining and eye-opening at the same time. This is for you if you have been doing photography for a while and wanted to see things from a different perspective. Great for inspiration to get those creative juice flowing!
On a similar theme to "Photograph Like A Thief" but with a different approach. This little square coffee table book will constantly remind you why "stealing" ideas for your own inspiration is not a bad thing to do. Very light and easy to read, suitable for killing time during TV commercials.
Can't get your head round layer masks? This book is very concise and straight to the point, ideal for busy photographers who have been putting off mastering layer masking due to other commitments. Jargon-free with plenty of pictures to guide you through the learning curve.
Gear
Very sturdy, well padded and roomy bag to accommodate your gear. It has a smaller top compartment to store things like filters, snacks, picture of your dog, etc.The bottom compartment can fit 1 DSLR with 3-4 lenses or 2 DSLR with 1-2 lenses, depending on how you arrange the paddings. High quality shoulder straps, water resistant (with waterproof cover) and straps for tripod. Won't fit under your flight seat but the overhead luggage bin.
My favorite filter for long exposure. Use it in combination with the Formatt Hitech 100mm Filter Holder Kit (below) to give you a complete seal without worrying about light leak. Least color cast compared to other ND filters like Cokin or Lee.
Not a fan of HDR?
Fits any 100x100mm filter and seals it in a square compartment. Ideal for any high grade ND filters where light leak is the main issue. The kit also comes with a detachable circular polarizer.
This is by far the best circular polarizer I have ever used. More pricey than others but the image quality is superb. It produces subtle and even color particularly in the sky. Unlike other polarizer, it doesn't over-saturate part of the image. Highly recommended!
This tablet comes in very handy for dodging and burning, light painting or any work that requires drawing or dabbing with the mouse. The stylus tip is pressure sensitive to mimics using a pen in real life. It helps to create a more natural effect than using a mouse, which can be awkward to use for these jobs sometimes.
Miscellaneous
If you're starting out new and don't have many images to practice post-processing, get some here for free. Donate to the site if you like the service.
Another site that offers free stock images. Unsplash offers many high quality images to download. You can also create an account and contribute to the site. You might get noticed and who knows what opportunities await you!
Save time from navigating through the menus and spend more time on what matters. Learn the keyboard shortcuts to your favorite tools to improve workflow efficiency.
