Effective cropping and composition are essential skills for every photographer, impacting the final outcome of their images significantly. Understanding how to use these tools can transform a decent photo into an exceptional one, focusing the viewer's attention on the most important elements of the scene.
Masking in Lightroom is a crucial skill for photographers aiming to refine their post-processing techniques. The program's powerful tools enable photographers to make selective adjustments that can transform the quality and look of their photos, from subtle enhancements to dramatic changes.
Have you ever wondered what goes through the mind of a professional photographer when searching for unique compositions? In this article, I break down my entire thought process of how I find, compose, and build an image from start to finish.
Understanding how to manage challenging colors in Lightroom is a vital skill for photographers, particularly when dealing with vibrant scenes like sunsets. Knowing the right techniques to enhance and balance colors without losing the essence of the shot is crucial for creating a polished final image.
Composition is not just about aligning elements pleasingly; it’s about conveying the narrative and emotion of the scene. This subtle yet powerful aspect of photography is often overlooked, making it a vital area for photographers to explore and master.
Understanding how to effectively use speedlights is crucial for capturing high-quality images in various settings, from weddings to family events. Speedlights offer photographers a compact, versatile lighting solution that enhances the quality of their work, especially in fast-paced and low-light environments. The helpful video tutorial will get you started working with one.
The Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8 lens brings a remarkable combination of a wide range of focal lengths and large maximum apertures at a surprisingly budget-friendly price. This makes it a compelling choice for photographers specializing in weddings, events, sports, and portraits. But how does it hold up in real-world use? This detailed video review delves into the lens's performance and the quality of images it produces.
Lightroom is an intricate program with dozens of controls, and among all those options, a few hidden gems are waiting for you. This excellent video tutorial takes a look at one of the least-known but useful sliders.
Creating an engaging photography website is more than just a digital showcase; it's a pivotal element in a photographer's professional identity and in building a successful business. This helpful video tutorial features an experienced photographer sharing a range of tips sure to improve yours.
Astrophotography is a fascinating niche within photography that combines technical skill with an appreciation for the cosmos. It requires specialized equipment to capture distant celestial objects like star clusters and nebulae, making the choice of gear crucial for enthusiasts and professionals alike, and that choice can often be expensive. This fantastic video takes a look at what you can achieve for under $500.
Street photography captures the pulse of life, telling stories through candid moments and urban landscapes. It's a genre that demands a keen eye for detail and a readiness to seize fleeting moments, making it a fantastic genre for any photographer whose work requires them to be quick and accurate.
Effective use of Photoshop's Generative Fill can significantly enhance editing possibilities. This tool, while powerful, can often be unpredictable, making proficiency in its application essential for photographers who aim to achieve precise edits in their workflow.
Street photography, an ever-popular genre, offers photographers a canvas to capture the spontaneity and rhythm of urban life. Its significance lies in its ability to tell compelling stories through candid moments, making it an essential skill for photographers looking to explore the nuances of everyday life in urban settings or improve their work in genres that demand a similar eye, such as wedding photography. This helpful video discusses six tips sure to improve your street images.
In the world of photography, the allure of high-end gear is undeniable. From the latest cameras to lenses with almost impossible specs, the market is flooded with equipment promising to elevate the art of photography to new heights. This narrative often leads to a common misconception: that the key to achieving photographic mastery lies predominantly in owning the most sophisticated and expensive gear. However, this perspective overlooks the essence of what truly makes a great photographer.
Noise reduction is a critical component in the post-processing workflow for photographers, especially those frequently dealing with high-ISO images or challenging lighting conditions. Understanding where and when to apply noise reduction can significantly impact the quality of the final image. This helpful video will show you the optimal time to do to ensure you get the best possible shots.
If there are multiple objects that make up the subject in your photo, it can be wise to consider the rule of odds. An odd number of objects makes the image more interesting compared to an even number. As always, there are exceptions to this rule.
Understanding and utilizing camera settings to their fullest potential is crucial to ensuring you get the shots you want. Among these, auto ISO plays a pivotal role, especially in challenging and quickly changing lighting conditions. This helpful video tutorial will show you what you need to know.
With so many different products on the market, it's easy to get lost in trying to pick the perfect one for you. So many brands, so many modifiers, and so much to learn. What if there was an almost perfect kit for beginners? Well, this might just be it.
Developing strong habits can be as critical as mastering technical skills. For photographers, understanding and nurturing positive habits can significantly enhance your craft, leading to more compelling and impactful imagery.
Editing is an integral part of photography, but it's easy to fall into common traps that can detract from an image's quality. Understanding and avoiding these mistakes is essential for photographers looking to elevate their work.
Mastering post-processing tools like Lightroom is as crucial as capturing the perfect shot, and it often starts with the tone sliders. This helpful video tutorial will show you everything you need to know get started.
I'm envious of the fortunate people who live near Maine's beautiful landscapes. This proximity provides numerous opportunities to capture the perfect shot of some of my favorite lighthouses. But what happens when you make the trek and the skies simply don't want to cooperate?
I first heard of 52Frames on Reddit and joined a few months later in December, 2022. I liked the concept, but for some reason I didn’t think I could commit to a long-term project. As the New Year approached, I asked myself “Hey, what if...”.
2024 is here—can you believe it? I certainly cannot! It really felt like 2023 flew by, and the older I get, the faster life seems to go. In this article, I want to explore five photography ideas that you can try this year and see where the adventures take you.
The Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens offers photographers a very versatile focal length range for a wide range of uses, making it an appealing option for many creatives. This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from the lens is usage.
Working in a photo studio can be very scary at first, as you need to set up a lot of different equipment. Indeed, when you have flashes, modifiers, camera settings, and then some on top, you can get lost very easily. I was lost during my first shoot for these reasons. That experience would’ve been so much easier had I known these tips, though.
Wildlife photography often gravitates towards close-up, frame-filling portraits, capturing intricate details of the subject. However, this approach, while initially appealing, can limit the storytelling potential of a photograph. This helpful video will show you how including context can improve your work.
Much to the dismay of OM System camera owners, other camera brand users have been buying up all the OM System EE-1 Dot sights and the stocks have disappeared. Don’t tell anyone, but they are available again for now. Canon, Nikon, and Sony readers, please ignore this article about how useful they are.
The 24-70mm lens is highly coveted by photographers from all backgrounds due to the array of possibilities with this wide to mid range zoom. Photographer Julia Trotti shares key composition tips to help get the most out of the range of this zoom lens.
In the ever-evolving world of photography, black and white imagery holds a timeless appeal. For photographers, understanding when and why to choose black and white over color is not just a technical decision but an artistic one, deeply connected to the soul of their work.
The beauty of waves is that no two are the same, and you can create dramatic and dynamic photos with just a little know-how. This fantastic video tutorial will show you everything you need to know.
We catch up with photographer Simon Murphy who currently has a major exhibition of his work, having cast his lens on the Govanhill area of Glasgow over the last 20 years. Learn key insights into his methods, how he connected with members of this diverse community, and what advice he would pass on to photographers seeking to embark on long-form documentary projects.
The Seestar S50, a portable smart telescope, is revolutionizing astrophotography by making it accessible and straightforward for everyone. This great video review showcases the S50's capabilities, emphasizing how it simplifies the process of capturing celestial images without requiring prior photography experience.
It's that time of year when we learn the color of the year for 2024. Which color was chosen, and why does it matter to photographers?
As the holiday season approaches, the search for the perfect gifts intensifies. For the photography enthusiasts in your life, there's no shortage of thoughtful and inspiring presents to make their Christmas merry and bright. In this guide, let's explore nine photography-related gifts that promise to delight shutterbugs, from beginners to seasoned professionals. Whether it's innovative gadgets, educational resources, or creative accessories, these gifts are sure to bring joy to the world of photography. Best of all these gifts make the perfect gift from you to you. After all, who knows what you want and need the most?
Aspiring photographers often hit a wall when trying to transition from hobbyist to professional work. It's one thing to take nice photos for fun, but landing those first paid gigs requires a strategic approach and understanding of what a client needs, not just what you like to shoot. The fantastic video tutorial boils down a simple yet effective formula any beginner can follow to start photographing local small businesses and getting paid.
I've been using both standard and programmable shutter release cables for ages. With the built-in interval option in modern cameras, these remote cables have become almost obsolete. Just remember one setting when using the interval option: the length of the exposure.
While simply photographing whatever you would like whenever the inspiration strikes is a perfectly fine way to enjoy the craft, one of the best ways to improve is to undertake a structured project that progressively grows in difficulty. This six-week challenge is one such project, and it is the perfect way to close out the year.
Photography can be a bit daunting when you are new to the craft, with a wide range of technical and creative concepts and techniques sitting before you. If you are unsure of where to start, check out this great video tutorial that details some of the most important fundamentals and how they affect the creation of an image.
Cross polarization transforms images of a variety of clear subjects into rainbow, fluorescent works of art with equipment that you probably already have. Learn the easy process behind this clever optical technique to create some masterpieces of your own.
Creating an effective staging plan for property photography involves careful planning, attention to detail, and a focus on highlighting the property's best features. Here's a comprehensive staging plan that I use that includes the use of props and emphasizes cleanliness.
Manual and aperture priority are two of the most common modes photographers use, but when you are new to the craft, it might be difficult to know when to use which. This excellent video tutorial discusses manual and aperture priority modes, including how they work and when each is appropriate.
Tone curves can be a rather intimidating tool for many photographers, and as such, many users avoid using them, opting instead for the editing sliders in Lightroom. However, curves are a tremendously powerful, precise, and versatile tool for performing a ton of editing tasks, and it is well worth learning them. This helpful video tutorial will show you everything you need to know to take full advantage of curves in Lightroom.
I picked up a Fujifilm X-T5 last December shortly after it was released. Originally, I purchased it as a backup camera to be used primarily for concert and street photography. After a short time, however, I fell in love with the camera and began to use it as my go-to choice for most of my portrait work. But does it hold up for heavy professional work?
I've been using filters for my photography for more than ten years, and for the last five, I have used filters made by Kase. Just recently, I switched my filter system to what I think is the perfect filter kit for landscape and architecture photography. In this article, you'll find a detailed review of it.
Few people enjoy getting soaked in the rain, and as such, it can be tempting to avoid even heading out when the drops start flying. Nonetheless, if you are willing to brave the inclement weather, it can make for some interesting landscape images. This great video follows an experienced landscape photographer as he deals with heavy rain and tries to make worthwhile images.
As outdoor recreation areas become more crowded, the adverse effects on the landscape become more evident. Landscape photographers can help set the example by practicing Nature First Principles while we are out in nature photographing these beautiful scenes.
Lightroom has grown from a cataloging application with basic editing capabilities to an advancing post-processing program capable of tackling a huge range of creative needs. If you are new to using Lightroom and feeling like the full gamut of features is a bit daunting, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced pro showing you 59 Lightroom terms and tools you will need to know in order to get around the program.
Photoshop remains the gold standard for advanced landscape photo edits, and in recent iterations, we have seen some remarkable steps forward, with some features giving photographers the ability to make drastic edits with just the click of a button. If you are ready to update your toolkit, check out this fantastic video tutorial that explores some of the newest features and shows you how to leverage them in a landscape image edit.
