In October 1978, the cover of National Geographic showed a self portrait of a gorilla using a camera. I’m serious—you can look it up if you would like. The cover shot was a self portrait, taken by a gorilla, and by the standards of the day it was actually pretty good! Each year 100 million […]
When viewing images, do you notice that close-up shots evoke a feeling of intimacy more than those taken at a distance? It’s the fact that they were taken at close range to the photographer that creates this effect. This is what macro photography is all about. It’s taking photos up close and personal. A close-up […]
Color can be a dominant element in photography, but not always for the better. If you use color sloppily, just because it’s there, you have missed its real power. Back in the days of black and white, every image had to stand on its own merits. A red rose, for example, was not automatically thought […]
Why can’t ice cubes from our refrigerators look like this? Well, glacial ice isn’t just frozen water; it’s dense, compacted snow that gets that surreal, glowing blue hue from its crystalline structure — it scatters blue light, so that’s what we see. Whether it’s a cool, icy aquamarine or a brilliant turquoise, that glacial shade of […]
With any art form, the quality of light is an essential component in the work. This is true when it comes to photography, as well–especially when it comes to architectural and interior photography. Whether it be lighting for hotel photography, residential interiors, or larger architectural corporate interiors, light defines the textures, planes, and atmosphere of […]
It could be a scene from a disaster movie, as a family on a motorcycle flees from the oncoming deluge. It’s a phenomenon known as a tidal bore, where a wave travels up a river or other narrow waterway and explodes over the banks. This occurs every autumn at the Qiantang River in Hanzhou, China: […]
Depth of field is a photography term that refers to the selective focus of the camera lens along a certain plane. This creates a sharp focus for any objects at a specific distance from the lens, while objects further away from that specific distance become increasingly blurry. The more shallow your depth of field is, […]
Here’s a photo tip you aren’t likely to find anywhere else… how to use a monopod to get better photographs. A monopod (like the tripod) is an essential piece of camera gear. We all know that using a tripod will give us cleaner, sharper photos. That’s a given. But lugging around a tripod can often […]
Lightning photography is self-explanatory: photographing lightning. Because lightning is a very unpredictable force of nature, the actual process of photographing lightning presents unique challenges to photographers. It is, however, possible to be an outstanding lightning photographer if you are equipped with the necessary skills. Below are 8 useful tips that will help you capture stunning […]
Today, I have some good news and some bad news regarding your photography and mastering your camera. First, the bad news. Like any other skill, mastering your camera may seem hard at first, but with practice, study, and experience, it is easy. Shooting with your camera on manual will become second nature to you. And […]
