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Zair Paczkowski
Minneapolis, MN

Bookmarked Articles

An Advanced Three-Light Portrait Setup With V-Flats and Gels

Once you have mastered the fundamentals of light and how it behaves, you can start exploring more advanced multi-light setups that allow you make more creative and personal images. If you are ready to level up your portrait lighting, check out this awesome video tutorial that will show you an advanced three-light setup using both v-flats and gels.

5 Tips to Get You Started in Astrophotography

Astrophotography is a genre that takes a lot of specialized knowledge, techniques, and equipment, but when you get things right, the results can be stunning. If you are new to the genre, this great video tutorial features five tips to help you get on the right track and produce better images.

How to Photograph Beer Using Basic Equipment

There is no better reminder that strong technique and knowledge of how to shape light are what create good images than seeing a professional make compelling photos use basic equipment. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how to create a professional-level product image of beer using entry-level equipment and also walk you through the retouching process in Photoshop.

How to Retouch Beauty Images in Capture One and Photoshop

Conceiving of, lighting, and shooting a beauty image is a ton of work, but it is only half of what it takes to finish things off. Strong post-processing skills are needed to create a fully polished beauty image, and this excellent video tutorial will show you what you need to know to process a natural light beauty shot.

A Beginners Guide to Editing with Capture One for Portraits

Looking to give Capture One a try but just find it confusing? It can be a bit difficult when you first open it up, especially if you are accustomed to another image-processing program. Change can be tricky at first, and here's a video to help you get started.

Should You Use a 35mm, 50mm, or 85mm Lens?

35mm, 50mm, and 85mm lenses are some of the most popular out there, offering relatively neutral focal lengths quite suitable for portraiture. However, each one renders your subject quite differently and is appropriate for different situations. This great video compares the three focal lengths and will show you the sort of images you can get from each to help you choose the right for your work.

Helpful Posing Tips for Men

Most portrait photography tutorials focus on photographing women, but of course, the vast majority of photographers will spend their careers photographing men in addition to women. This fantastic video tutorial will give you a lot of very practical and helpful tips for posing men and getting better portrait photos.

85mm, 100mm, or 135mm: Which Is Best for Your Portrait Photography?

When it comes to portrait photography, one of the most important choices you will make is the focal length you will use, both because it determines the overall look of the frame and because separate focal lengths can render your subject in drastically different ways. This great video takes a look at three of the most common focal lengths, 85mm, 100mm, and 135mm, to help you decide which is right for you.

How to Focus Stack Nighttime Landscapes

Focus stacking is a common technique used by landscape photographers for images in which ultra-deep depth of field and high levels of sharpness are desired. You can use it for nighttime landscapes that incorporate things like the Milky Way as well, though it takes some additional considerations. This excellent video tutorial will show you a workflow for the technique as well as offer some helpful tips to ensure you get the best quality images.

9 Stupid Reasons to Buy a New Camera

There are a million reasons to buy a new camera. Some are more valid than others. In this article, I take a look at some of the silliest rationales for buying new cameras.

What Is It Like Being a Commercial Food Photographer?

Until 10 years ago, I didn’t know that being a professional food photographer was even a thing. I don’t come from a creative background, so if you had asked me what I thought they did, I would have been very far from the truth. Hopefully, I can shed some light.

The Surreal Self-Portraiture of Marc Klaus

Marc Klaus is one artist who has a voice uniquely his own. He has used visuals and storytelling to create a meta-narrative; the video has no words but acts as a deeply insightful look into Klaus's process through clever camera work, in-camera collage, and performance art.

An Interview With Eric Magnussen: The Art of Drag and Photography

RuPaul’s Drag Race is the Emmy-winning global phenomenon taking reality TV by storm. The show is in its 13th season but boasts several spin-offs including All Stars, as well as localized seasons in Canada, UK, Thailand, Holland, Spain, and Australia. Drag race, as it is called by fans, is a reality competition that challenges contestants to find the drag performer who possesses the perfect blend of charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent.

How to Use Essential Studio Equipment

No doubt, it is fun to learn about cameras, lenses, and editing techniques, and learning how to properly use a C-stand or clamp might not be as immediately alluring, but it is just as important when it comes to working in a studio and accomplishing what you need to. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how to use a variety of common studio equipment effectively.

A Fundamental Off-Camera Flash Technique

A lot of photographers struggle when they first start working with off-camera flash. One of the most fundamental and crucial techniques you will need to master is balancing your strobes and ambient light. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to do just that.

How to Use Exposure Bracketing and Focus Stacking for Better Landscape Photos

Landscape photography often demands extreme levels of dynamic range and depth of field — frequently more than your camera or lens can deliver. When that happens, exposure bracketing and focus stacking are your best friend, and this helpful video tutorial will show you how they are done.

How Do You Learn To See a Good Photo Before You Take It?

One of the most difficult aspects of photography is knowing how to actually find a good picture so you can take it. How do you know when one is in front of you? This insightful video tutorial discusses how to see good photos before you take them.

5 Helpful Tips for Photographing People Who Aren't Models

Most of us who shoot portraits do not work with professional models on a regular basis, and as such, it pays to know how to work with regular people to make them as comfortable as possible in front of the lens. If that is something you struggle with, this excellent video tutorial will give you five tips for taking better shots of regular people.

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