Staying organized is a chore, I know. And reading about staying organized isn’t any fun either. But even though “workflow” isn’t the sexiest photography topic, searching through countless images to find one photo is way too tedious to do every day. And losing photos is even. . . read more
Despite the wide variety of photographic muses that people chase, nearly everyone who has a camera sooner or later will want to take photos at a party, a backyard barbeque, or (if you’re Elliott Erwitt) strangers at the zoo. We just ALL like people pictures! There’s also a long. . . read more
Have you ever focused on a long-term photography project? By that I mean, set yourself a photographic goal and worked on it (if not exclusively, at least intentionally) for a few weeks, months, or even years? If you haven’t, don’t let the idea be overwhelming or intimidating. To. . . read more
“There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept,” said Ansel Adams—making a salient and rather grumpy sounding point. I wonder what Adams (who wrestled massive view cameras and other gear out into the wilderness) would be like today if he were handed a digital camera,. . . read more
In some of my previous articles we’ve looked at aperture and shutter speed. Today, I’ll be going over another one of your camera’s built in controls—ISO. You’ve seen those ISO numbers—100, 200, 400—but what do they mean? More importantly, how does a. . . read more
In my last article I introduced the idea of exposure and some of the things every photographer should consider when trying to properly expose a photograph. In this article, I’m going to explain how to use the two technical tools that are built right into your digital camera for that. . . read more
Sooner than later, everyone who has a camera wants a better one. The reality, however, is that a better camera is only a small part of being a better photographer. When it’s time to expand your kit or upgrade your DSLR, keep the following money-saving tips in mind: 1. Determine your vision. . . read more
Today we'll be looking at how exposure works, and what makes a good exposure "good." To start with, exposure is the most basic ingredient of any photo. As the name might imply. . . read more
Here’s a very common scenario for new photographers. You get a camera. You take some pictures. You eventually import those photos into your image editing program. . . and you’re immediately dismayed. “But, it looked so much better in real life!” you exclaim. Something’s not. . . read more
In my previous article, I talked about the camera’s shutter, how it works, and what impact even a few fractions of a second’s difference can have on an image. I’ll talk about your camera’s ISO settings in another article, but today I want to explore the other main control that. . . read more
Every camera - yours, mine, and even all the way back to Louis JM Daguerre’s - is fundamentally just a lightproof box. We control how light enters the camera with two controls. . . read more
Let’s be honest - most of the time flash photography is unflattering. Every time you take a photo with flash, your subjects have a very good chance of looking like they’re in a coal mine with a flashlight pointed straight at their face.. . . read more
If you’ve just been using the automatic mode on your digital camera, you’re probably becoming curious as to what the other modes on your camera dial are for. In today’s article I’ll explain what those modes are, and when you'll want to use each one.. . . read more
If you've been taking pictures in JPEG format, perhaps you're wondering, “What is RAW? Should I be using RAW format for my photos?” The answer to that question is different for everyone, but here's a list of pros and cons for both:. . . read more