Category: Techniques
Creating Super-Files for Huge Prints
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
Do You Still Need to Learn Photoshop?
Most people are using Lightroom to edit their photos at this point. We’ve also seen the rise of non-Adobe products like Luminar, Capture One, and other alternatives. These will all do much of what we all used to use Photoshop for, and in many cases they are all the photographer really needs to dramatically improve… Continue reading Do You Still Need to Learn Photoshop?
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.
Your Next Step: Simplifying Your Message
Recently, I have judged a few photo competitions. In doing so, I found myself making the same comments over and over again. It was helpful to me because I now think I have a clearer understanding of what you are struggling with in your photography (whether you know it or not) and how you can… Continue reading Your Next Step: Simplifying Your Message
Preserving Highlights and Shadow Detail (Video)
Dynamic range is a topic that I have discussed here a lot. The reason for that is that it is really important to the outdoor photographer. You face the problem of a really bright sky and a dark foreground almost all the time. We’ve talked about dynamic range in the context of the camera, including… Continue reading Preserving Highlights and Shadow Detail (Video)
Planning Your Milky Way Shot
There is perhaps nothing better than getting a great shot of the Milky Way. With the Milky Way in your shot, you are almost guaranteed a great photo. The cluster of stars gives you a ready-made center of interest for any picture. Plus it is just cool. And they are fun to take. But if… Continue reading Planning Your Milky Way Shot
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)
A Field Checklist for Your Photography
When I look back to my first photography trip to Ireland, I get pretty unhappy with myself. Looking at my pictures, I can see that there were a lot of opportunities present in the scenes I was photographing, but I just didn’t follow up on them. There were panoramas I should have taken, but I… Continue reading A Field Checklist for Your Photography
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?
What is the Zoom on my Flash?
The zoom setting on your flash sets how disperse or narrow the light coming out of the flash head is. The head actually moves up and down within the flash unit as you change the amount of zoom. When you use wide angles, the head is near the top of the flash so that the… Continue reading What is the Zoom on my Flash?
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?
How Can I Get Great Background Blur?
I know you want me to tell you a secret or a gadget that will get you great background blur easily. Don’t worry – I will do so – but first please indulge me while I stress the fundamentals. Aperture Settings As you likely already know, getting a blurred out background or shallow depth of field… Continue reading How Can I Get Great Background Blur?
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?