Feeds: Our Picks

The post 3 Handy Lighting Setups for Headshot Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Dennis Drenner.If you’re looking to get into the business of headshot photography – or you want to refine and expand your portfolio to make it more attractive to potential clients – then you must be capable of reproducing several basic lighting setups.You don’t have to be a lighting wizard, and you don’t have to know dozens of sophisticated studio patterns. But a few basic setups can... READ MORE

If you're a portrait photographer, knowing how to make your models smile naturally is helpful. And when you are the person in front of the lens, you'll see how difficult it is to make your smile look unforced. Whether you show your teeth or try to get that Mona Lisa smile, it's hard not to look awkward unless you're a professional model.In this video, Mathieu Stern shares seven tips to help models smile naturally, and we'll expand on them a bit. So, no matter if... READ MORE

Photographing the Northern Lights is one of the most incredible experiences for outdoor photographers. Few things are more spectacular to witness than the night sky lighting up in an explosion of colors. Capturing a great image to eternalize the moment is just as rewarding.Tourism to places such as Northern Norway and Iceland has exploded, and more people travel to Arctic locations during winter to witness the fascinating phenomenon. Many of them, perhaps you too, are going with the goal of capturing great images.Unfortunately, there’s a lot... READ MORE

Whether it is something special made on a rainy afternoon or a birthday cake, food photography is something that we do without even realizing. The following tips can be used by anyone looking to improve their food photography skills:Good Backgrounds“Good pictures starts from the back.” — Marcin LewandowskiThere can’t be a more apt epithet to emphasize the importance of good backgrounds in your photos. A good background accentuates a good subject. Your backdrop is as important as having good lighting or framing in the most tasteful way.Now, a... READ MORE

Dappled lighting often creates an interesting contrast between highlights and shadows, and when properly incorporated into a photograph, can serve as a creative enhancement. However, many beginning photographers are taught to avoid dappled light because of the complications it can sometimes create. Fortunately, this does not have to be the case. Though the scattering of light can sometimes create problems, they’re easy to overcome with a basic knowledge of camera functions and composition:Thanks to Daniel Norton from Adorama, here are a few quick tricks that can guide... READ MORE

The notion of photographing food can be an intimidating one. Often times, the task is associated with hours of finessing in the studio and in Photoshop to create something that looks relatively appetizing. However, capturing your favorite meal or snack in camera doesn’t have to be laborious and stressful. Commercial photographer Andrew Scrivani shares simple several tips on just what it takes to remove the headache from food photography:1. Go natural.Implementing a single directional light source often creates the ideal lighting situation for food. And what better directional... READ MORE

The post Bulb Mode: The Ultimate Guide (+ Creative Ideas) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Ringsmuth.These days, many cameras offer a bulb mode, which is a handy setting that can unlock all sorts of creative photographic possibilities. In this article, I share everything you need to know to get started, including:What bulb mode actually isStep-by-step instructions for using bulb modeSeveral key scenarios where bulb mode is worth tryingA few tips and tricks for great resultsSo if you’re ready to... READ MORE

Light is one of the most important elements of any photograph. But learning to see indoor natural light in photography can be a challenge.If you have noticed that a lot of your indoor photos are unexposed and blurry, the odds are you aren’t using light correctly.Table to Contents What is Natural Light Photography? How to see natural light in your home 3 Best tips for indoor natural light photographyWhat settings do I use for indoor natural light photography? Different types of indoor natural light... READ MORE

Sunsets are among the favorite subjects of people who love photography, whether amateurs or veterans. Wherever they go, people just love to watch sunsets while relaxing at the end of the day, and when there’s an opportunity, they don’t hesitate to capture the sun going down with their cameras.Photo by Jon Bunting; ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/5000-second exposure.According to the experts, sunsets are not that difficult to photograph. With some simple techniques, any camera owner can achieve beautiful shots regardless of their location.PreparationPlanning your shot is... READ MORE

The post Abstract Nature Photography: A Guide (+ Tips and Ideas) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Hannele Luhtasela-el Showk.Abstract nature photography is strikingly beautiful; it often ends up on the walls of art collectors and galleries. But what actually is it? And how can you create gorgeous abstract nature shots of your own?In this article, I share everything you need to know to get started, including:A handful of abstract nature photo ideasSimple techniques to make your nature shots look more... READ MORE

Whether you’re an actor, a yoga teacher, or a CEO, a decent headshot is an essential marketing tool in your professional arsenal, one that could make the difference between landing a gig or not. While it may seem like the simplest of photography tasks (it’s only the head after all), I’ve learned through my many years as a professional photographer in Hong Kong that taking the perfect headshot isn’t as easy as it looks.Headshot TipsHere are some tips I’ve gleaned for both the photographer and... READ MORE

It may be hard to believe, but you can take very nice landscape photography even with the most basic equipment. You don’t need the latest and greatest ultra-wide lenses (although that does help create a unique perspective) or the fastest lens with an f/1.2 aperture.“SR 190” captured by nat urazmetovaThese five tips will not feature the discussed-to-death rule of thirds. But for those looking for something on the rule of thirds, just remember this rule: Don’t place your subject right in the middle of the... READ MORE

Along with composition, the quality of light is perhaps the most important factor affecting the success of a landscape photograph. Whilst composition can be completely controlled, good quality light on the other hand cannot. We can however control the direction of the light and therefore use the optimum angle of light to enhance the appearance of our main subject and ultimately the success of our landscape photograph. There are four main types of lighting: top, side, front, and back lighting. Consider how your envisaged scene... READ MORE

Back in the days of black and white photography, I worked in a darkroom as a lab assistant, and sometimes students would make the mistake of asking me what I thought. If they wanted to learn this was not a mistake, but if they just wanted me say how great their work was, that was when it became a mistake. Sometimes I would advise them to crop tighter or change their center of balance, but by far the most common problem they had was with... READ MORE

The world looks different to a photographer than it does to everyone else. Why can a photographer capture flat images and turn them into art? The eye of a photographer sees light, details, shadows, highlights, shapes and how they interact with each other.Photo captured by Jamie Street; ISO 800, f/5.4, 1/80s.The world looks different if you see it with both eyes rather than with only one eye. Close an eye and look at an object. Do you see what I mean? Well, by closing an... READ MORE

This is a study of an inanimate object, such as a vase of flowers or bowl of fruit.You’ll need:A source of light (a window is good)A subject. I suggest a nicely arranged bowl of fruit.Photo by Janice Cullivan; ISO 200, f/2.8, 1/1000-second exposure.Camera SetupMode: Aperture Priority (often shown as Av on the mode wheel)ISO: 100 or so (there will be lots of light)White Balance: CustomAperture: Experiment!LightingMake sure your light has some directionality, coming from the side. Otherwise it will be flat and boring.White BalanceTake a... READ MORE

How on earth do you find a fresh angle to shoot from when they’ve all been taken? That’s not what I mean. I do not mean discovering a new angle but using new angles you don’t usually shoot from. By changing your angles you’ll add a whole new dimension to your photography.Photo by Sathish J; ISO 400, f/14.0, 1/100-second exposure.The question I get asked as a photography teacher is how do the pros do it? Why are their images so different from mine? Simple, one... READ MORE

A DSLR camera gives you the power to capture some amazing effects, once you know how to use it. You can develop all the skills of a professional once you understand your manual settings.Photo captured by zhang kaiyvIf you’ve grown up with a ‘point and shoot’ camera and have just taken the plunge with a new digital SLR, don’t just leave it on auto. That is a waste of good technology; it means you’re still using your equipment as a point and shoot camera. The... READ MORE

The post Symmetry in Photography: A Comprehensive Guide (+ Examples) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Frank Myrland.Symmetry is a powerful compositional device, but how does it work? When should you use it? And, most importantly, how can you use symmetry in photography for amazing results?In this article, I share everything you need to know to get started with symmetrical photography. I also offer some practical tips – so you can start taking your compositions to the next level, fast.Ready to... READ MORE

I would like to introduce one of the most interesting techniques in photography — “Panning”. Many might wonder and ask:” What is panning?” “Using frying pan?” Answer is no.Panning is very simple, just set shutter speed, aperture, hold your camera and pan along with moving subject (tracking motion with your camera). Guess what you will get? Bingo! A sharp subject with blurred background. Of course, you might think this is easy, but it can be a little tricky.(Photo by Sippakorn Yamkasikorn/Unsplash)Let me share some tips... READ MORE

Learn how to navigate images using Birds Eye View, one of Photoshop's best hidden features and the fastest way to zoom in and out to inspect different parts of your image!The post Navigate Images Fast with Birds Eye View in Photoshop appeared first on Photoshop Essentials.... READ MORE

Hard light used to be the bane of my existence. I hated it. Avoided it like the plague. I preferred the beautiful light of the golden hour, or the safe shelter of open shade. They were my warm blanket. My perfect cup of tea. The softness of the light and the colors made me happy every. single. time.But, let’s be honest here. You can’t avoid shooting in harsh light, it’s impossible. There are times when you just have to pick up your camera and shoot... READ MORE

The way light acts upon a subject depends on the physical properties each light source presents. Before taking on the challenge of creative photographic lighting it’s worth your while to understand some of these properties.Photo by Greg Rosenke; ISO 100, f/3.5, 1/8-second exposure.Light CharacteristicsLight characteristics define the way surfaces are affected by specific light sources.HardCreates harsh shadowsAccentuates texturesEasy to control and shapeSoftCreates soft shadowsDifficult to controlPresents form through a range of tonesColor QualityColor quality defines the color cast from a particular light source.Known as color... READ MORE

Relevant note: try promo code “picturecorrect” today for the Trick Photo Guide at 37% OffAt some point in your life, you’ve probably seen an amazing photograph featuring smoke. The smoke might be flawlessly lit against a solid background or feature breathtaking colors, leaving you wondering just how on earth you could possibly duplicate it. While photographing smoke can be difficult due to its unpredictable nature, thankfully, it doesn’t take a lot of special equipment. In fact, once you study a little more about how to light... READ MORE

Landscape photography is a most rewarding pastime, but it can be far more challenging than some people imagine. It sounds so easy; visit a beautiful location, shoot a few snapshots, and come home with a work of art in your camera. After dealing with the public for over 20 years, I swear most people think it really is that simple.4 Tips for Capturing the Character of a LandscapeBut really good landscape photography is much more challenging. Anyone can recognize the potential of a good subject,... READ MORE