Creating Super-Files for Huge Prints

This shot of Downtown New York is actually made up of 25 pictures. With the camera tilted vertical, it is a 5-wide panorama and each shot consists of a 5-shot bracket.

Everyone wants to make big prints, and for the last few years that is something I have been doing a lot of. I have been making aluminum prints to display at art fairs that are, at a minimum, 36 inches long, going up to about 72 inches long (although I have gone to 96 inches… Continue reading Creating Super-Files for Huge Prints

The Importance of Location to Your Photography

It often gets said that “you can take a great photograph anywhere.“ I actually take issue with this statement, even though I acknowledge it is probably technically correct.  Is it possible to take a great photograph anywhere?  Sure, I suppose it is possible. It is just that it is extremely difficult and very unlikely in… Continue reading The Importance of Location to Your Photography

Super Simple Flash

If you want to take amazing portraits with complete control over your flash unit, this article is not for you.  That is way beyond what we are going to do here.  Rather, this article is for those that want to “run and gun” with a flash unit (think wedding photographer at the reception).  It is… Continue reading Super Simple Flash

Next Level Bracketing (Video)

Bracketing is one of the most useful tools in digital photography.  In this video we go beyond auto exposure bracketing (AEB) to see how you can take control of the process to make your pictures even better.    

Getting a Shallow Depth of Field (Video)

Very often, outdoor photography involves the pursuit of pictures that are sharp front to back.  Sometimes, however, you’ll want photos with blurred backgrounds.  This helps isolate your subject, and can look very cool in the right circumstances.  It is common practice (or at least it should be) when it comes to including people and wildlife… Continue reading Getting a Shallow Depth of Field (Video)

Why Aren’t My Pictures As Sharp as Professional Photos?

Do you find yourself thinking something like this: “I’m doing everything right in the field, but my pictures just aren’t as sharp as I want.  When I look around at others’ pictures, they are way sharper than mine.  What am I doing wrong?” If so, you are not alone.  I have thought that plenty of… Continue reading Why Aren’t My Pictures As Sharp as Professional Photos?

How Much Editing is Too Much?

Unfortunately, there is no answer to this question.  Different people have different ideas on this topic.  Some people want everything to appear natural, and the tipping point for them is when their photos does not.  Others couldn’t care less about that and in fact don’t want their pictures to appear natural.  Neither approach is correct. … Continue reading How Much Editing is Too Much?

Which Photo Editing Software Should I Get?

One question you might have as you start your photographic journey is which photo editing software you should get.  For a long time now, Adobe has been at the top of the chain, with Photoshop and Lightroom dominating the market.  So complete was Adobe’s dominance, that others companies were content to market their software as mere… Continue reading Which Photo Editing Software Should I Get?