So how do you take pictures that capture all the stars in the sky? Is there are particular spot you have to go? Or is there some magic exposure value you have to use? Or perhaps some post processing trick you need to master? Actually, the answer to all those questions is “yes.” Or, at… Continue reading How to Photograph the Night Sky
Photography Articles
Ireland: Kylemore Abbey
In the remote western side of Ireland, in a wild region called Connemara, sits an abbey called Kylemore. There is a photogenic castle, and it is an easy place to get a great picture. This is one of those pictures that everyone seems to have. In this article, I will tell you all about it… Continue reading Ireland: Kylemore Abbey
Which Camera Are the Best Photos Taken With?
Let’s look at cameras in a little different way than usual. Normally, we all look at the specs and features of cameras and think about what pictures that camera is capable of creating. I’m not suggesting we should ordinarily do anything differently. But just for today, let’s look at things in reverse. Rather than… Continue reading Which Camera Are the Best Photos Taken With?
When It Comes to Subjects, Use What You’ve Got
If there is one type of photography I would most like to do, it is coastal photography. I could take nothing but seascapes the rest of my life and be happy. However, I live in a suburb of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. I am 300 miles from the nearest ocean, which is not particularly attractive… Continue reading When It Comes to Subjects, Use What You’ve Got
Composition: What Do You Do When There is No Subject?
Landscape photographers face a problem that other photographers usually don’t have: deciding on a subject. For example, when a portrait photographer prepares to take a picture, there is no question what’s the subject will be: the person. Similarly, a wildlife photographer always knows what the subject of their photo will be as well: the… Continue reading Composition: What Do You Do When There is No Subject?
Getting Started with Underwater Photography
I live over 300 miles from the nearest ocean. I do not scuba dive. I am only on or near ocean water on vacations. As such, I am unwilling to spend thousands of dollars getting set up to do underwater photography. That said, I am interested in it. I would like to have a camera capable of… Continue reading Getting Started with Underwater Photography
Composing Back to Front: The Best Approach to Composition
All pictures really boil down to 3 parts. Those parts are the subject, the background, and the foreground. All are important, and if any one are is not right, the picture will not turn out well. But these 3 parts are not of equal importance. Further, there is a particular order in which you should… Continue reading Composing Back to Front: The Best Approach to Composition
Spain: Ronde de Toledo
The Scenic Route Around the Ancient City of Toledo, Spain When visiting Madrid, it is very common to take a day trip to Toledo, which is the old capital of Spain. You should definitely do that, and in fact, I would encourage you to stay over a night or two. For the photographer, Toledo is an… Continue reading Spain: Ronde de Toledo
Simplify Your Camera
If you haven’t yet taken the plunge into mastering your camera, you might be surprised at how the process actually simplifies things for you. Doing so, actually makes certain controls irrelevant so you can completely disregard them. Others you will set once and forget about them. In addition, once you understand your camera a little… Continue reading Simplify Your Camera
New York: Brooklyn Bridge Park
Looking to get skyline shots of New York City? Looking for a clean foreground? Want the Brooklyn Bridge to be a part of that picture? Then look no further than Brooklyn Bridge Park. Brooklyn Bridge Park is a narrow park that hugs the East River on the Brooklyn side of the bridge. Until a few… Continue reading New York: Brooklyn Bridge Park
How Many Megapixels Do You Need?
If you are like me, you occasionally salivate over the new cameras coming out with high megapixel counts. I look at something like the new Canon 5DS and the Sony a7R2 with a combination of lust and envy. But then I think to myself, “What do I need all those megapixels for anyway?” I convince myself that… Continue reading How Many Megapixels Do You Need?
Tarrant County Courthouse, Part 1: The Planning and Capture Phase
Usually, I am just a guy wandering around with a camera. I don’t know if I am going to end up with a great picture or not. Therefore, while I have wanted to show an example of creating a photo from start to finish, I have never figured out how to do it (other than,… Continue reading Tarrant County Courthouse, Part 1: The Planning and Capture Phase
Adding Texture To Your Photos with Curves Adjustment Layers
I find that many times when people look at a photo and think that they want to take a sharp, detailed picture like the one they are looking at, what they are really seeing is a picture that has been enhanced by adding texture and clarity in post-processing. Often they do not know how to do… Continue reading Adding Texture To Your Photos with Curves Adjustment Layers
Drone Photography Basics
A Basic Intro to Using Drones for your Photography for Non-Geeks
Chicago: Hancock Observatory (or 360 Chicago)
On the north side of Chicago’s downtown is a nearly 100 story building in which you can go to the top and take pictures of Chicago’s skyline. The building is called the Hancock Building and the top floor was previously called the Hancock Observatory, but is now called 360 Chicago. True to its new name,… Continue reading Chicago: Hancock Observatory (or 360 Chicago)