Cinema may be a source of inspiration for photographers. And if we have titles of movies coming to mind or names of directors, we usually pay less attention to directors of photography, also called cinematographers. Big mistake! Those are the guys who master cameras and lighting techniques in order to materialize ideas into images.
Photographers can learn a lot from the realm of the visual arts, and few artists were more groundbreaking than Pablo Picasso. What can Picasso's works, approach, and philosophies teach us about modern photography? This excellent video tutorial discusses the topic and offers a wider range of useful advice for growing as a creative.
Along with shutter speed and aperture, ISO is one of the three fundamental exposure parameters, and as such, mastering it is crucial to taking full control of your images. If you are new to photography, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you the ins and outs of how ISO works and how to use it.
Photographing star trails is more than just taking pictures. It takes time to shoot on location, and it takes even more time to edit the images afterward. I have ten tips that can help you get amazing star trails.
If you look through the galleries here at Fstoppers, trending images on social media, or those on the pages of magazines, they usually depict beauty. Beauty is easy to like and is, understandably, popular. But there is something far harder to capture that is sublime.
In the world of photography, capturing moments with precision and perfection has long been the pursuit. However, there's always a different approach. The compelling alternative photographers can explore is being intentionally imperfect. Today, social media bombards viewers what some believe to be a perfect lifestyle, even what a perfect cup of coffee can look like.
Although rare, we all have the thought of quitting photography at one point or another. Despite being young, I have been told to quit several times already, all before even starting. In this article, I want to highlight some valuable reasons why and when you should consider quitting photography.
The digital age and the ability to crop our photos however we want instantly has reduced the attention placed on aspect ratios. Nonetheless, aspect ratio has an important impact on many factors of your image, ranging from composition to printing.
You prepared your bag for the day, you charged your batteries, formatted your cards, and dusted your lenses. But have you forgotten anything? Here is what is also important to think about for a blissful day of shooting.
Perhaps no trend has a tighter grip on the photo industry (and arguably, tech as a whole) right now than AI. While it has caused a lot of uncertainty and worry over how it will affect the careers of creatives going forward, it has also brought with it a lot of highly valuable tools that can make your job easier and more efficient.
There is no good time to start a photography business, but there are certainly some more challenging times.
I don’t know if there is ever a perfect time to start a photography business; you never know what the future holds. But, I do know that there are more challenging times to start one than others.
Working with flash is an important skill for many photographers, as it will allow you to explore a far greater breadth of creative ideas and to get around otherwise challenging technical issues. Nonetheless, there are some common misconceptions about the craft that can derail those are new to it.
Drone photography is becoming increasingly popular for landscape photographers and for good reason. Drones offer a unique perspective of the world we live in that can be used to capture stunning landscape imagery.
When it comes to landscape photography, few techniques are more popular and invite more creativity than long exposures. If you are new to the technique and would like you to get started, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you everything you need to be on your way.
Brendan Fraser is enjoying a well-deserved career revival right now, but his skills extend beyond acting as well. Fraser is a talented photographer, and this neat video will show you some of his story and images.
When it comes to landscape photography, perhaps no accessory is more ever-present than the tripod. The tripod allows both for techniques like long exposure photography and for ensuring the highest levels of image quality. And sure, those are some major benefits, but there are some pros to working without a tripod as well.
Spring is here, and that means that flowers are blooming everywhere you look, and they make for marvelous photo subjects. Of course, you can photograph them in a natural way that shows off the surrounding light and environment, but a black background can add a sense of drama and show off the vibrant, eye-catching colors of the blooms. It does not take that much equipment to do so either!
It sounds like a crazy idea when you first hear it: learning how to light a portrait using only a computer. However, set.a.light 3D promises to give you access to an almost unlimited library of virtual lights, modifiers, studio spaces, and subjects, all with strict adherence to the laws of physics, making it easy to quickly build and explore complex lighting setups.
James Quantz Jr is one of the best out there when it comes to sports portraiture, with his innovative lighting and eye-catching compositions making for dramatic images.
There are few skills more fundamental to Photoshop than knowing how to make a proper selection. Done right, it allows you to take greater control of your edits and dial in precise adjustments. And in recent years, Adobe has greatly expanded the application's selection tools.
Like any other art, there are clichés in photography, and it is worth being aware of them before you head out with your camera. This great video tutorial takes a look at seven of the most common ones, how they became clichés, and whether we should embrace them or do something else.
Photo presets often have a bad reputation, but used in the proper manner, they can be useful tools that can save you time and make your life easier. If you are new to photography and feeling tempted by presets, check out this quick and helpful video tutorial that will show you the proper way to make use of them.
Of course, knowing how to light and pose a portrait is essential to creating a successful image, but the process does not end there. Having an effective, structured, and efficient post-processing workflow will help ensure that you can create polished shots every time. This helpful video tutorial features an experienced portrait photographer sharing his workflow.
Joe Cornish is one of the UK's most renowned landscape photographers and a master of his craft. The way he approaches composition makes his photos stand out. In this YouTube video, Alex Nail looks over Joe's shoulder as he shares his technical and creative process.
A client came back with a last-minute change, and GPT-4 saved the day.
Last month, I wrote about how GPT-4 can finally work with Adobe After Effect’s powerful scripting system. I’ve only used it for experiments until last night. GPT-4 helped me create a custom script to meet a tight deadline.
Do you edit your photos, post them, and leave them to sit on your hard drive, never to be touched again? If so, you might be missing out. This great video features an experienced photographer discussing why you should consider digging into your portfolio to pull out those older photos to edit again.
Blending modes are some of the most useful functions in Photoshop, and yet, they are often overlooked, which is a shame, because they offer a ton of power and versatility for dialing in the exact edits you want, whether subtle and understated or an entire overhaul of an image.
When you think of dodging and burning, you probably think of it as a technique that used for shaping and retouching portraits, but really, it is a technique that can be applied to any genre, including landscape photography.
There are many different ways to grow as a photographer, but one of the most effective ways is to work the same scene or subject multiple times, evaluate what went well and what did not, and try again. This excellent video follows an experienced photographer as he does that and shows how he aims for the best shot at the end of the day.
Creativity is a challenge for all of us. This second article looks at five more attributes that the most successful creatives have. It includes the one most important trait of all.
Photoshop is a tremendously powerful and intricate program, and as such, it can be tricky to master (or even be aware of) every single feature it contains. If you would like to expand your Photoshop capabilities, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features some of the best Photoshop experts in the world sharing their best tips for using the program.
Every professional wants to book more clients, of course, but how to actually go about doing so is not always obvious. If that is something you would like to accomplish, but you are unsure of how to approach it, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced photographer that shares three useful tips that will put you on the right track.
You might think that creating enveloping wraparound light requires multiple sources, but it can actually be done with just a single source. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how to create such a portrait using only a single light and a small home studio.
When you are new to working with artificial light, it is important to start out with a single source at first to build your confidence and knowledge. And just because you are only shooting with one light, it does not mean you can't produce professional-level images. This fantastic video tutorial will show you everything you need to know to get started with one-light portraits.
Being a professional photographer is quite a challenge, as you need to wear many hats and wear them all well. Of course, you need strong technical skills behind the camera and at your computer, but those are not enough. In fact, creativity is arguably more important.
You have bought your camera and lens, the memory card is installed, and the battery is charged. Now what? There are some fundamentals every new photographer should learn before they head out shooting, as having these down will help you take greater control of your images and gain more confidence with your camera.
Have you ever fantasized about transforming a corner of your home into a professional photography haven? Are you eager to cut costs, minimize stress, and craft remarkable images for your clients, all from the comfort of your own space? If so, this article is for you.
About a decade ago, 150-600mm lenses exploded in popularity, as offerings from companies like Tamron and Sigma gave photographers the opportunity to access decent image quality at focal lengths that were traditionally prohibitively expensive for most users.
Doing photography professionally does not only require you to be good at taking pictures. There are additional competencies that one must have to be able to provide what your clients need and one of the most important ones is communication.
Aperture, together with shutter speed and ISO, is one of the three foundational parameters for achieving well-balanced exposures and significant creative control over your photographs. If you're new to photography and want to improve your images, don't miss this fantastic video tutorial that demonstrates the intricacies of aperture and how to use it to take better photos.
One of the trickiest aspects of landscape photography is that, unlike many other genres, you have no control over the elements in the frame, and as such, it can be tricky to find your individual voice and sense of creativity. It is not impossible, though.
I've been a full-time photographer for almost 15 years now, and I remember the pain of swapping my part-time hobby to be my full-time career. Katelyn James looks at how, when, and why you'd want to do this and lists the three key steps to consider if you decide to go full-time.
Portrait photography is one of the most popular genres, but it can be a particularly tricky one, as you have to have not only solid camera technique, but the ability to work with people well. If you are new to portrait photography and looking to improve your images, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features a seasoned shooter sharing five useful tips.
Creating a successful landscape image takes a combination of several factors, including good technique, knowledgeable planning, lots of patience, and more. And as such, it can be a lot to try to master when you are first starting out.
There are several different ways to make money as a photographer, and the more you can diversify your income streams, the more you can ensure financial security. If you are working on improving your photography business, check out this helpful video tutorial that shows you several different ways you can use your photography business to make money.
Wildlife photography can be a tremendously enjoyable genre, but it can also often need a heavy dose of rather expensive specialized equipment. Nonetheless, you can still create fantastic images with affordable cameras and lenses.
If you are new to editing your images, you might feel a bit overwhelmed by the dozens of sliders and adjustments available to you in Lightroom. They are not too difficult once you get the hang of them, though. This great video tutorial features an experienced photographer sharing his Lightroom editing work to get you on your way.
You have some money saved up and you are ready to start building your gear collection. Should you spend your money on a good camera or a nice lens? It is an important decision that can have a significant impact on the quality of your images, and this excellent video will show you why.
Like any other craft, there are some common bad habits that new photographers often fall into, and these can both cause you to miss creative opportunities and to spend a lot of money you did not need to. This fantastic video tutorial features an experienced photographer sharing five common bad habits and how to avoid them to put yourself on the right track.