Top 20 Photography Websites 2011

No matter how good this photography website is, there’s always someone else out there doing something slightly differently and it’s always worth a look around.
With an internet full of awesomeness, it hasn’t exactly been easy to compile a list of just 20 of my favourites but I think I’ve just about done it. The sites are ordered by how much I use them, how easy they are to navigate and the quality of the content.
If you think we’ve missed a site you love, let us know in a comment at the bottom.
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1 – Pop Photo

This is by far one of the easiest photography websites to navigate.
Pop photo is packed full of information on tests and reviews of various cameras as well as one of the most comprehensive buying guides I’ve come across. Originally created as part of a magazine, it promises to provide the best information written by photography professionals.

2 – Pixiq – WEBSITE CLOSED DOWN SINCE THIS POST WAS WRITTEN

If you want expert advice take it from the professionals; these are certainly not hard to come by on this site.
Pixiq’s contributor list includes top names, from which some of the best advice on the net is provided. Keep up to date with the latest releases at the ‘news’ section and find out what you should buy from the ‘gear’ section; this website can be an excellent resource.

3 – Outdoor Photographer

An excellent, comprehensive website for the aspiring outdoor photographer, Outdoor Photographer is packed full of information on how to improve your photography alongside all the latest gear and technology tips.
Columns by professional photographers keep the information insightful and the openness to visitors creates a welcoming social forum to share ideas and photos.

4 – National Geographic

If you’re starting to lack inspiration when taking photos and seem to end up shooting the same old thing time and time again, this is one of the best resources to get you back on your feet with new and innovative ideas.
Only the best make it into the National Geographic and, with photos, games and videos, you are given an insight into the way in which professional photographers take their photos.

5 – Digital Photography School

This is one of the most popular photography learning recourses on the internet; stacked full of information from beginner ‘how-to’ material, all the way through to cameras, equipment and post-production techniques.
Having been around for 5 years now, it’s got a dedicated community of visitors who use it as their ‘go-to’ website for photography information.

6 – Fro Knows Photo

If you’re looking to learn more about shooting in RAW, this is the guy to go to. On his site you’ll find all the usual information but with extra extensive knowledge about post-production in RAW and an excellent video series on YouTube to learn from.

7 – Picture Correct

A useful resource for learning more about exposure, light and composition; Picture Correct moves past the basic ‘how-to’, into further detail with professional technique. It’s an excellent place to learn about more than just portraits and landscapes.
There’s also a store with gear guides for well-informed decisions on what to buy.

8 – Flickr

Even if you’re not into photography, you’re likely to have been on Flickr before.
Although it comes across as any old image hosting site, it’s host to one of the world’s largest image sharing communities. Users can create free profiles to upload, tag, and organize their photos to share with the world and even join groups to share their photos with likeminded people shooting similar images.

9 – British Journal of Photography

This British site is another great one for gaining inspiration. It focuses more on news than ‘how-to’ information; a different approach to many of these other websites.
It’s a great place to learn about upcoming releases and events as well as anything photography related. As well as all this, you’ll find interviews, videos, lens tests and much more.

10 – Strobist

If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about using your flash, this is the place for you. You can learn how to use off-camera flashes to illuminate subjects, with posts written in an incredible amount of detail, ensuring that you don’t miss a trick. I recommend reading through Lighting 101 and Lighting 102 to get yourself started.

11 – Photo Tuts+

A very user friendly and intuitive website for learning everything you need to know about photography. Photo Tuts+ covers composition, equipment settings, post-processing, film photography, retouching and much more. That’s why over 4 million people visit their network of tutorial sites every month. 

12 – Cambridge in Colour

If you’ve ever googled how to do something with your camera, chances are you’ve visited this sight.
Although it may be lacking in design, this is one of the most detailed websites for learning how to improve your technique as a photographer and will prove to be of great help to a beginner.

13 – Luminous Landscape

Similar to Cambridge in Color, Luminous Landscape writes essays rather than blog post tutorials. Hugely in depth, they can be daunting at first but don’t let this put you off.
As well as valuable written information, this site hosts video tutorials to help you get to grips with post production.

14 – DiY Photography

This site is great for creative people on a budget who want to take their photography further.
If you’ve ever been stuck on what to do with your camera, you’ll find something in minutes on this website as it gives detailed ideas on how to take a striking photo and create professional-quality shots using a little DiY to cut costs.

15 – ePhotozine

This website has been around for 10 years now and, although some of it’s design and navigation features could do with an upgrade, it has some excellent information on it. Learn tips and techniques while keeping up to date with the latest news and joining in with the photography forum.

16 – Fstoppers

If you have trouble reading from a screen or have a short attention span when it comes to the internet, this website could really help you out. It specializes in video posts rather then the traditional blogs and covers a wide range of topics ranging from photographic technique to post-production.

17 – Photo District News

Think of this as a news channel for photography.
Probably one of the best news sources of it’s kind, this site features photography lessons and contests on top of the basic ‘how-to’s. You can get a real insight into what it’s like behind the camera with true stories of legal issues and photo sales.

18 – Akel Studio

People often see a shot and wonder how it’s done – this man is your answer for that. He posts photos that he’s taken and (very kindly) shares all his information on lighting setups and how he took the shot. He also shares gear reviews, tutorials, tips and behind the scenes videos from his photo sessions.

19 – Ken Rockwell

A pretty simple website but this man definitely deserves a mention. He specializes in tutorials and reviews and, if you’re not sure about something, you’re likely to find the information you’re looking for right here. If the website was a bit easier to use and had a nicer design, he’d be higher up on this list.

20 – Lomography

Lomography has really found its feet in photography in the past few years and this is its flagship website. With listings of gear, photos and news, you’re in a good place to find some of the finest photos around that have been created without the use of photoshop.

Bonus Website:

The Big Picture

This is less of a photography website and more of a news website that heavily relies on photos. See the week’s news stories from around the world and the photos that photojournalists have taken to go with them. You’ll find some really excellent photography here.