Search results for: photography basics lighting for still photography
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by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Despite what you might have seen on the internet, you don’t need all the money and time in the world to photograph wildlife. Sure, an African safari would be nice, but it is by no means the only way to capture stunning images of wild animals. In fact, regardless of where you live, odds are there’s a vast ecosystem that likely goes unnoticed. If you have trees in your neighborhood, you’re off to a great start.
What You Need to Photograph Wildlife
While gear plays a crucial role in our ability to photograph wildlife, it isn’t everything. In this
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
One of the most effective ways to improve your portraiture is by controlling the light, and one of the most effective ways to control your light is to move it. Seems like a simple enough concept, but it can be daunting at first, especially if you're using a speedlight or an on-camera flash. Despite its misleading name, an on-camera flash can, very easily, be used off the camera. The "on-camera" part simply refers to its form factor
by Rebecca Melville · Posted
If you ask most consumer-camera owners why they keep a filter on their lens, a majority will most likely reply, “For protection.” While filters do protect the surface of your lens against dust, moisture, and the occasional thumb print, the primary function of lens filters is really to improve the image quality of the pictures you take. There are many kinds of filters with obvious and lesser-known benefits, so if you’re looking for a lens
by Jill Waterman · Posted
Instead of an apron, food photographer Joanie Simon wears many hats—commercial and editorial imagemaker, recipe developer, photo educator, Blogger, YouTube Influencer, Livestreamer, and content creator extraordinaire. For more than a dozen years, Simon has built her brand into a powerhouse of creative content and learning, to whet the appetites of both foodies and photographers alike. Her straightforward approach to this specialized field is of value to shutterbugs at all levels of experience, from beginners on cell phones to experienced pros
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
Often, we need to add extra light to a scene to ensure we have enough light to create an image, freeze movement, or simply enhance the scene for the sake of the photograph. The primary way photographers do this is by using a flash.
The electronic flash has been around since 1931 and, today, there are several variations—all with different potential uses for the photographer. Here, we will take a quick look at the types, compare them, and discuss the benefits of each type.
Terminology Basics
Before we dive into flash types, let’s get familiar
by Shawn C. Steiner · Posted
Time lapses feel a lot like photography during capture stages and a lot like video during the editing process. Creating them is a common progression for photographers looking to dip their toes into video and motion because you can start making high-quality time lapses with your current still photo equipment. If you are starting to tackle time-lapse projects, applying some video tricks can help smooth out your final product.
The Absolute Basics
I’m hoping that by the time you make it to this article you already have a basic understanding of how
by Cory Rice · Posted
One of the first challenges awaiting portrait photographers new to studio lighting is how to produce soft light. Anyone who has used a flash or strobe knows that there is more to lighting portraits well than simply pointing a light at a subject and rattling off shots. At the same time, creating soft light does not necessarily require an investment in a ton of expensive lighting modifiers. This article covers the basics of soft light along with some light-shaping tricks for achieving soft light with and without modifiers
by Bjorn Petersen · Posted
As a beginner, one of the most daunting aspects of photography has to be figuring out how to achieve the exact image you have in mind. It’s tough enough to get the shot, but then editing opens up a whole additional world of possibilities, which can be pretty intimidating from the get-go. Luckily, Adobe Photoshop Elements 2021 is a friendly and intuitive tool that takes a lot of the guesswork out of editing and helps you develop skills
by Cory Rice · Posted
Collecting studio lights can become an addictive vice for the adventurous portrait photographer. Once you realize all that can be done with one light, you will soon want to add another, and another, and another. With each additional light come new techniques and creative possibilities. For portrait photographers, one of the most commonly used multi-light setups is three-point lighting. This tried-and-true approach to
Posted
One of the key elements to creating impactful images is knowing the principles of photography composition. Sony Artisan of Imagery Tony Gale returns for Part 3 of our Basics of Photography series to discuss how composition plays into the overall appeal of a photo. From portraits to still life to landscape, we will talk about some common techniques for placement within the frame, such as the rule of thirds and leading lines.
by Stan Moniz · Posted
Being a photographer and a filmmaker, I've gravitated heavily toward the art form of time-lapse photography. It's the perfect blend of photography and videography, the best of both worlds. Because I mix this art form up with my undying love for capturing the night sky, I’m incredibly passionate about this process and sharing it with others.
Time-lapse photography is capturing consecutive photographs over a long period of time and then playing them back quickly in a series so that slow action appears to happen faster. Examples include clouds
by Jill Waterman · Posted
As described in our companion article that makes up Part 1 of this story, both teachers and students scrambled to face unique challenges and solve unforeseen problems with the sudden shift from face-to-face classes to remote learning in March 2020. Since a new school year is now upon us, we asked a diverse group of educators for updated tips, as well as insights about the online teaching/learning process.
In Remote
by Bjorn Petersen · Posted
Despite photography taking mainly a digital form nowadays, there is still immense value in the tactile side of photography, especially in regard to teaching photography. With education being based more in the home at the moment, it can be the perfect time to introduce someone to photography using the simplest and most basic tools. Pinholes are of the most primitive examples of photography but are also some of the most perfect tools with which to teach the basics of exposure without needing to complicate it using abstract modes, shutter speeds
by Jennifer Hahn · Posted
ISO can be a sticky subject when it comes to video. It is used in photography when you have a great amount of control over your aperture, shutter, and exposure, and when you understand the lighting of your environment. But when used in video, if used too often, it can be more of an enemy than a friend to your footage. The most controversial setting is auto ISO, causing you to lose control over your ISO setting—and it can have mixed results. However, there are times when auto ISO can be your friend.
What ISO Is and What It Is Not
Technically,
by Jill Waterman · Posted
While much has been written about the significance of color management to optimal print output, the topic of adequate lighting conditions for the viewing and evaluation of photographic prints is an important detail that's usually given short shrift.
Tom P. Ashe is an undisputed expert in translating transitory images viewed on a screen to a stunning presence in print. In addition to literally writing the book on this subject with his 2014 title Color Management and Quality Output: Working with Color from Camera to Display to Print, Ashe is an