Ah, the elusive photographic eye. Is it something you’re born with, or is it something you develop over the years? I’m inclined to believe the latter. I know that with enough practice and understanding of what makes a good photo “good,” you will soon start hearing that coveted compliment from your friends too. It’s not [...]

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We recently did a tutorial on the multiply blend mode and how you can use it to correct an image that is too bright. If you followed the tutorial, you no doubt realized that Photoshop Elements has quite a few options for blending layers. One of them is the direct opposite of the multiply blend [...]

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The middle of the day can be difficult for photographers. You’re often faced with a harsher light from the sun that can often make your images appear washed out. If you’re shooting landscapes, there’s often such a huge difference between the sky and the ground below that the photos you take are practically unusable. Many [...]

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Have you wanted to get a good picture of fluffy but don’t know where to start? Cats are a notoriously skittish subject. They can be a real challenge to pose. But with enough time, patience, and creativity, you can create some very interesting cat photos without purchasing any more equipment than what you already have [...]

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Do you see the possibilities before you leave the house? Having a clear vision of what you’re about to photograph is just as important as actually photographing your subject. So I suggest we all play a game. What’s the premise, you ask? Before we leave the house to take photos, we’re going to write down [...]

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There is a magical hour, a time when the light from the sun shines on the Earth from the side. During this hour, light is warm, soft, and perfect for taking pictures. If the light hits the clouds in the sky at just the right angle, they give off a purplish color that accents a [...]

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So you’ve got a nice big guitar sitting in your closet collecting dust. You gave it up a long time ago, and you know that unless you do something soon, it’s just going to sit there for a few more years. If you want to sell that guitar on Ebay, you’ll need to brush up [...]

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Your mother told you never to look at the sun, or you’ll go blind. Whenever some cameras take a picture of a very bright object (like the sun), the light can get so intense that it doesn’t just affect one part of the image. The light streaks out from the light source and creates a [...]

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This week, one of our readers, Mary Banker, would like to know if there’s a good way to take pictures of an outdoor concert at night. Now I’ve gotta admit that’s a real stumper. I don’t like to say it, but in a situation like that, a lot of different factors are working against you. [...]

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Light. It’s everywhere. It’s what we use to create images on the camera. If there were no such thing as light, photography simply wouldn’t be possible. But there are times when there is so much available light that it can destroy the color in your photos. If you don’t take steps to limit the amount [...]

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We all have stuff lying around. It’s the little things we keep in our houses, the knicknacks, the paddywhacks, and the digital appliances we don’t use anymore. Why not sell them on Ebay, make a little money, and clear up some space? You can get a better return on small indoor items when you take [...]

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Everybody wants to bring back impressive photos when they go on vacation, and famous places will always have a special place in our hearts. It takes a little more time and preparation to get a good picture of a famous place, but when you do, it makes the trip worthwhile. Here are a few tips [...]

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Have you ever taken a photo of your friend in front of gorgeous sunset, only to experience true disappointment when you saw it on your computer? The light sources you use, the direction of the lighting, and the time of day have an enormous effect on your photography. Just like a news story, the same [...]

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Have you ever taken a photo that has a blue or orange tinge to it? It wasn’t there when you took the photo, but it’s definitely there on your image. That’s what happens when your camera’s auto white balance setting doesn’t get things right. Why does it matter so much? Can I fix it later? [...]

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Sharpness, clarity, even a certain kind of grittiness, seem to be the distinguishing mark of professional photography. Detail isn’t just the result of owning a good camera (although it does help), it comes from a fundamental understanding of the way your camera works. When you learn how to bring out the most important details in [...]

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