Modern digital cameras are capable of transforming almost any scene from ordinary to extraordinary. With the right tools and the right knowledge, you can actually create an image that is even more impressive than the scene you saw with your naked eye. Your camera’s settings are designed to help you achieve this, as are software [...]

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Underwater photography used to be out of reach for the hobbyist. Equipment was expensive and specialized and the process was impractical – film cameras could only shoot 36 photos at a time, which meant that a diver would have to constantly resurface to change rolls. Back in those days, looking at underwater photos in the [...]

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If you’ve studied and practised photography for long enough, you know that a great photo is one that gives the viewer a unique perspective on the world. That can be done in many different ways–by choosing a unique subject, by taking the photo from an unusual vantage point, by carefully selecting depth of field or [...]

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A little while ago I wrote about the Nikon Coolpix S800c, the Android-powered camera that is essentially a smart phone/point and shoot hybrid. The S800c is now part of a revolution – sort of. It might be more accurate to just call it a pioneer, like those first airplanes that weren’t particularly safe and really [...]

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If only you could control the weather. Whip up a little wind to make your model’s hair move. Conjure up a cloud or two to diffuse that awful direct sunlight. Make the rain that’s ruining your photo shoot go away until tomorrow. Well, there really isn’t much you can do to stop the rain or [...]

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There’s nothing like a snowy day to inspire your inner photographer. Snow-capped peaks, the sunlight reflecting off ice crystals, kids throwing snowballs at each other – almost everything about the snow begs for photographs. But wait! You can’t just grab your camera and start shooting. Snow creates tricky conditions for photography, and if your photos [...]

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Almost every modern camera comes with an on-board flash, even the higher-end DSLRs. You may wonder why, since almost every modern photo taken with an onboard flash is ugly: blown out highlights, red eye, harsh shadows and that characteristic look that screams “flash photo!” So why do manufacturers insist on including an onboard flash on [...]

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When you think about your favorite landscape photos, the images that come to mind are probably classic shots of forests, mountains and natural rock formations. And they are probably daytime images, too, with an occasional sunset and sunrise thrown in for good measure. We don’t really see a lot of landscape images shot at night, [...]

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If I had to guess, I would say that 99 out of 100 hobby photographers never bend their legs. It’s not so hard to see why – human beings view the world mostly from one or two perspectives: standing up and sitting down. Occasionally we will also lie down in a place other than our [...]

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Once upon a time, our cameras were big heavy things with interchangeable lenses that we lugged around in bags. OK, for some of us this is still true, but for much of the general population digital cameras are going the way of, well, film cameras. There’s always been something of a divide between point-and-shoot cameras [...]

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Let’s face it, us photographers like expensive stuff. DSLRs, lenses, tripods, camera cases – and none of it comes cheap. So how do you please that photographer on your holiday gift list without mortgaging your home to do it? Yes! It is possible, and here’s a handy little shopping list to get you started.

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Photoshop has replaced a lot of the gadgets we used to depend on as photographers. Colored and soft focus filters are now no longer needed because their effects can be duplicated easily in post-processing. Warming/cooling filters for different types of light are also no longer useful because most digital cameras have a white balance setting [...]

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We all have them. Those photos from the family camping trip or from a hike in the woods–you know, when you spotted a deer or a wild turkey and you snapped a photo with your point-and-shoot. And now when you show that photo to your friends and family, you have to tell them what they’re [...]

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I recently wrote an article on the future of photography, and although that future isn’t quite here yet, this year’s CES show had some promising gadgets to keep you excited for what’s to come. What I really love about our industry is that we care about all camera consumers, from the beginner all the way [...]

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Do you feel like you’ve gotten into a rut with your photography lately? It’s something we all go through. We like to take pictures a certain way, and we often fail to see all of the possibilities. The sad part is that there are so many different things you can do as a photographer. Try [...]

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