Recent Education Articles

Why Sharp Photos Sometimes Don't Look Sharp

It can be a strange experience to take a photo you know is sharp, only for it to look soft despite getting everything right. If you know your technique is solid, but your photos still do not look sharp enough, check out this great video tutorial that discusses some of the reasons technically sharp photos can look soft and what you can do to improve them.

Simple Editing Tricks for Adding Emphasis to Your Landscape Photos

Almost no landscape image is finished when you press the shutter; pretty much every photo you take is going to require some level of editing to produce a finished product. Editing does not have to be complicated, though. This fantastic video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer sharing some useful and straightforward techniques for creating compelling edits of your landscape images.

Are You Cropping Your Landscape Photos Correctly?

One of the best benefits of digital images with high resolution is that you can crop them to essentially aspect ratio you please, but there is a drawback as well: we often do not put as much thought into the final crop of a photo before we press the shutter as we did in the days of film. This great video tutorial discusses the issue and offers some helpful advice for better crops of your landscape photos.

How to Price Your Photography

There are no hard and fast set of rules for how to price your photography, which can make it difficult to know how to set your prices in order to make a decent profit without driving away too many potential clients. If you are new to the business of photography, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you some fantastic advice on pricing your work.

The Power of Leading Lines in Landscape Photography

Leading lines are one of the most fundamental and powerful tools a photographer has for creating compelling compositions that invite the viewer into the frame. If you find yourself unsure of how to use leading lines, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced landscape photographer giving an in-depth explanation of the different kinds of leading lines and how to leverage them to create more powerful landscape photos.

10 Good Habits for Landscape Photographers

Good habits make good photographers, and landscape photography is no different than any other genre. Getting in the habit of doing certain things every time you head out can help give you the best chances of coming home with winning shots. This great video tutorial details 10 such habits and why they can have a positive impact on your work.

B&H’s Bild Expo: Who Will Be There and What You Will Learn

B&H is turning 50, and they are celebrating with their Bild Expo September 6 and 7th at the Javits Center, in Manhattan. It is a free event where you can take advantage of a lineup of industry giants spanning across genres. Whether you're in need of renewed inspiration, valuable business advice, or acquiring new skills, you can expect an abundance of the most experienced voices at the expo.

A Simple Guide to Focus Stacking

Focus stacking/bracketing consists of taking several shots of the same frame (in this case, a landscape) at different focus points within your frame to ensure sharpness throughout. Is it necessary? In most cases, no, as an aperture above f/9 will typically cover any slight variations in depth of field. However, if you are using an ultra-wide lens with subjects close to the lens and a large distance between the foreground and background elements, it is beneficial to ensure sharpness throughout.

A Beginner's Guide to Prime and Zoom Lenses

Few things are more fundamental to photography than the difference between zoom and prime lenses. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, and knowing which one is right for various applications will help you choose the right one for your creative tendencies and ensure you get the shot. This helpful video tutorial will teach you the differences and show you which is right for your work.

A Versatile and Effective One-Light Portrait Setup

When you are new to learning, it can be tempting to think that you need complex multi-light setups in order to create compelling professional portraits, but that cannot be further from the truth. While such setups certainly have their place, you will be surprised by just how much you can accomplish with only one light. This fantastic video tutorial features an experienced portrait photographer sharing four effective single-light setups and how to use them.

Why You Should Always Watch the Light When Shooting Wide Angle Portraits Outside

When you think of a portrait, you probably think of focal lengths mostly between 85mm and 135mm, but, of course, that does not mean you can't use wider focal lengths. A wide angle portrait outside can be a great way to add a sense of drama and adventure to the frame, but you need to ensure you are carefully balancing the light. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to read the light and ensure you get the best possible images.

A Quick Tutorial on Using Lightroom's Masks for a Powerful Portrait Edit

In the last few iterations, Lightroom has taken some remarkable steps forward in its masking capabilities, offering powerful and precise tools in tandem with some of its classic features that allow you to not only make precise edits, but take images in entirely different creative directions. This awesome video tutorial will show you a quick walkthrough on using the new tools for adding creative lighting to a portrait.

The History of Extreme High Speed Photography

What does an atomic detonation look like with a 1/1,000,000 s exposure? If you drop milk onto a red table, do you make art? This article holds an interesting discussion about high speed photography.

5 Common Beginner Landscape Photography Mistakes

Landscape photography is a challenging but rewarding genre that requires the confluence of several different facets of technique and knowledge in order to produce a winning shot. If you are new to the genre and ready to improve, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced pro sharing five common mistakes beginners make and how to fix them.

A Straightforward Tutorial on Using Flash Outside for Portraits

Flash does not have to be restricted to the studio; in fact, you can make some pretty creative and fun images by combining flash with natural light outside. If you would like to get started with working with flash for outdoor portraits, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will guide you through lighting and shooting such a set of photos.

Some of the Most Important Photography Advice You'll Ever Hear

As photographers, we are bombarded by information from all directions on a daily basis, and it can be tricky to know how to cut through it all to the advice that really matters. Whether you are a professional or a hobbyist, if you want some important lessons that will put you on the right track to finding success and satisfaction in the craft of photography, check out this fantastic video essay that discusses such ideas.

How to Capture Birds in Flight

Capturing birds mid-flight can be incredibly tricky and requires a lot of know-how. One of the biggest hurdles was the camera itself, but fortunately, we now have more tools at our disposal than ever before.
What Photographers Want Versus What They Need

With everything photographers are bombarded by these days, it can be easy to confuse what you want versus what you need. This excellent video essay features an experienced photographer discussing a range of things modern photographers often want versus the things that will actually make them better and happier creatives.

Understanding How Your Camera Meters Images

The way you see light and the way your camera sees light are quite different, and as such, it is important to understand the differences to ensure you get the correct exposure and to be able to anticipate when your camera might get it wrong. This great video tutorial discusses how cameras meter photos, what to be aware of, and when you should consider switching to manual metering.

5 Landscape Photography Tricks Only Pros Know

Landscape photography is an art that requires skill, creativity, and an understanding of the natural environment. While beginners can capture stunning images, seasoned professionals have honed their craft over the years and mastered some advanced techniques. In this article, we will explore five landscape photography tricks that only pros know.

How to Shoot Backlit Portraits

Backlighting in portraiture offers a huge range of creative possibilities, whether adding a bit of shimmer to your subject's hair, including a dramatic sunset in the frame, or one of many other options. However, the use of backlighting takes some special considerations to ensure you get the results you have in mind. This helpful video tutorial will show you what you need to know to maximize your image quality.

How to Create Compelling Waterfall Photos

Waterfalls are an extremely popular photography subject, particularly since they offer the chance to really flex our creative muscles and make dynamic, compelling shots. If you would like to take your waterfall images to the next level, check out this fantastic video tutorial by an experienced landscape photographer that walks you through his process and offers a range of helpful tips and advice along the way.

How to Use Editing to Add Depth to Landscape Photo

One of the classic challenges of photography is bringing a sense of depth to what is a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional scene. Understanding how to manipulate both color and contrast in post-processing can go a long way in helping you achieve this. This awesome video tutorial will show you how to use tools in Lightroom to give your landscape images a sense of depth.

5 Documentaries Every Photographer and Creative Should Watch

I love all types of documentaries, and I think it's very important that artists and photographers educate themselves on the past greats and present ones working today. I watch documentaries on photography, fashion, art, and anything else I find interesting. It’s an education coming from a very successful person in that field that everyone can learn from, and I find them to be very inspirational. When I don’t feel inspired or I'm frustrated with things not working out for me, I put on a photography or artist doc and learn about their past struggles and their process that they go through. It’s always a great way to remind myself that everything is going to workout and to create that crazy idea.

A Gamechanger for Planning Your Night Photography

PhotoPills might be the most popular app for planning photoshoots. However, there is another feature-rich app that can do even more. In this video, Alyn Wallace shows the app Planit Pro and some of its unique features.

A Beginner's Guide to Wide Field Astrophotography

Astrophotography can be one of the most stunning and magical genres of photography, as you watch wonders of the universe that are invisible to the naked eye appear on your camera screen. It is also one of the most technically challenging photography genres, but your practice and patience will be rewarded. If you are ready to get started, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you the basics of wide field astrophotography.

The Difference Between Image Quality and Quality Images

The difference between image quality and quality images is significant, and yet, they are two things that are often confused for one another. It is crucial that we maintain clarity about which is which and how to improve each individually. This excellent video essay features an experienced photographer discussing the topic and offering some insightful advice.

How to Edit Over- and Underexposed Photos in Lightroom

If you are new to photography, it can be a little overwhelming trying to learn how to edit images with all the tools at your disposal. Nonetheless, one of the most common post-processing tasks you will have to tackle is fixing an overexposed or underexposed photo. This helpful video tutorial features a seasoned Lightroom pro showing you how to do just that.

How Do You Know if Your Photos Are Good?

You can work tirelessly on developing strong technique and nurturing your creative voice, but if you do not know when you have taken a good photo, it can all be for naught. Evaluating your own work can be trickier than you might think, but it is a crucial skill to develop, whether you are an amateur or a professional. This helpful video tutorial offers a range of actionable advice on how to do just that.

Helpful Advice for Posing Couples

Knowing how to confidently and efficiently pose couples is an absolutely crucial skill for any engagement or wedding photographer, and yet, posing is one of the trickiest skills that often takes photographers the longest to master. If you find yourself struggling a bit with posing, check out this helpful video tutorial that offers some great tips sure to put you on the right track.

6 Lighting Setups Any Photographer Can Use

Having a few simple lighting setups available at your disposal is one of the most important tricks any photographer can have up their sleeve. In this post, I'm going to share with you six of my favorite lighting setups for wedding photographers, but really any photographer can use these simple tips.

A Good Approach to Camera Settings

Mastering shutter speed, aperture, and ISO is crucial as a new photographer. Doing so will not only give you technical control over your images, but will enable you to explore creative ideas that help you develop your unique photographic voice. This awesome video tutorial will give you a useful approach to camera settings to help you take precise control over your photos.

How Often Do You Revisit Old Photos?

As we progress as photographers, we accumulate more and more images in our catalogs, and it can be easy for old photos to become buried deep on hard drives, left to be forgotten about. But there can be a lot of value in revisiting old shots, and you find even find treasure hidden in those old folders. This great video tutorial shows you what you can accomplish when you apply modern techniques and improved skills to older shots.

Why You Should Not Always Shoot at the Widest Aperture

Modern lenses are quite remarkable devices, and they often allow you to shoot at extremely wide apertures with little consequence in image quality, making it easy to fall into the habit of just leaving your lens at that maximum aperture for all your images. That can be a mistake, though, and it can make your work overly one-dimensional. This excellent video essay discusses some of the many reasons you might want to consider stopping down the next time you head out.

A Beginner's Guide to Editing Landscape Photos

When it comes to landscape photography, rarely is the photo finished the moment you press the shutter; most landscape images require some degree of processing in order to produce a polished product. If you are new to the genre and ready to improve your images, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you the ins and outs of how to edit your first photos.

How to Make Flash Look Like Natural Light

Flash can sometimes be used to create dramatic, otherworldly portraits whose lighting jumps off the screen, but other times, you want to use flash to mimic the look of natural light. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how to use flash for a subtle effect that looks like it was natural light the whole time.

How to Shoot in Flat and Boring Light

Overcast days can produce rather flat light that lacks dimension and can feel rather boring, and as such, it can be a bit tricky to product images that are compelling. That does not mean you should just pack it up and head home, though. Flat light can actually lead to fantastic images, and this excellent video tutorial will show you how to find and shoot them.

4 Ideas to Get Starting With Street Photography

Street photography is one of the most compelling genres in the craft, but it can be tricky to get started with. In this video, you'll get some ideas and inspiration to get off the mark.
Helpful Advice for Taking Better Landscape Photos

Landscape photography is a challenging genre, but when you get a good shot, it makes all the time and effort worth it. If you would like to improve your landscape photos, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced photographer sharing a range of useful advice to help you get on the right track.

How to Avoid Dust Spots in Your Images

Landscape photography offers endless opportunities to capture breathtaking scenes and create stunning images. However, one common issue that can plague your landscape photographs is the presence of dust spots. These pesky little specks can appear on your images and distract the viewer's attention from the beauty of the scene. In this article, we will explore several effective techniques to help you avoid dust spots in your landscape images and maintain the integrity of your photographs.

Why You Should Try a 135mm Lens for Portrait Photography

When it comes to portrait photography, the classic focal length is 85mm, but of course, that is not the only option you can use for creating worthwhile images. 135mm lenses have long been a popular alternative to the classic 85mm option, and this great video essay discusses why you should consider using one in your work.

A Mistake Many Modern Photographers Make

Most modern photographers interact with social media at least to some degree, and it can have more of an effect on your work and your creative evolution than you might think. This insightful video essay discusses how social media can lead professional and amateurs alike to make a mistake that handcuffs their ability to grow and to enjoy the craft of photography.

How to Take Sharp Milky Way Selfies

When taking landscape photos, it can sometimes be helpful to put yourself into the scene to provide a sense of scale. The same is true for night photos. But the long exposure times make it hard to create sharp selfies. In this video, Alyn Wallace shows how to solve this problem.

The Pillar of Stability: The Importance of Choosing the Right Tripod for Photography

In the world of photography, capturing the perfect shot often requires meticulous attention to detail. From adjusting camera settings to framing the subject just right, photographers invest significant effort in creating stunning visuals. However, amidst all the technicalities, there is one often overlooked but indispensable tool that can make or break the outcome of a photograph: the tripod.

Your Guide to All of Canon's APS-C Mirrorless Cameras

Canon has filled out their APS-C mirrorless line quite nicely with an array of models that offer everything from highly affordable options to professional-level models capable of tackling just about anything you can throw at them. So, which model is right for your budget and needs? This helpful video gives an overview of every option to help you choose.

5 Reasons Your Photography Might Not Be Improving

We all want to be better photographers, but rarely is the path to accomplishing that plainly obvious, and it can be easy to make unconscious mistakes that stop us from reaching the next level. If you feel like you are a bit stuck in a rut, check out this insightful video essay that features an experienced photographer discussing five common reasons photographers fail to improve and how to break free and take the next step forward.