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by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
If there’s one question fledgling photographers often ask, it’s “How did you get such a nice background?” Backgrounds are an essential element of a photograph that are often neglected. In fact, it’s safe to say that a background is as important to a composition as the subject itself. After all, a distracting one will detract from an image.
In this guide, we’re going to cover the many methods used to capture clean, smooth backgrounds in our images. This will encompass the settings and gear involved as well as the in-the-field techniques you can
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Through the cacophony of forest sounds, your ears home in on a buzzy, almost garbled ascending song. Perhaps you recognize it immediately, or maybe you need to confer with one of the trusty internet databases or apps. You train your eyes on the canopy, scanning for movement of any kind, when you see it: the cerulean warbler, a small rowdy songbird with wings slightly splayed from the body. Quickly, you lower your binoculars and train your camera on the little blue passerine before snapping a few frames.
The resulting photos clearly show the
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Birds, they’re all around us. If you haven’t paid much attention to them, you’re not alone. But, once you do, you’ll have a hard time stopping. If you haven’t yet dabbled in bird watching, known colloquially as birding, we have just one question. Why not? Birding is the perfect way of partially disconnecting from the digital world we find ourselves in and connecting with nature through observation, and one of the most relaxing pastimes imaginable.
If you’re fascinated by our feathery friends but don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
There’s an old adage that claims in order to be a wildlife photographer, you need a lot of time and a lot of money. This is only partly true. Many great wildlife photo opportunities can occur in urban parks and even in your own backyard, as long as we know what we’re doing. In this article, we’re going to cover a number of essential tips that will help you become a better wildlife photographer.
If you’ve read our introduction
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Do you plan your images? Really think about that question. Do you have an idea of an image before you head out for a shoot, or do you let the moment inspire you as the pieces fall into place? There's no wrong answer here. Planning or "pre-visualization" is a key piece of the photography puzzle that some put a lot of thought and effort into while others effortlessly come up with ideas on the fly.
No matter how you go about taking a picture, there is some level of planning that goes into a shot. With that said, there's a big difference between
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Weddings are one of the most significant days in a couple’s life, and they often have high expectations of the way it’s recorded. Some couples desire to have their day photographed in a manner in which they barely know it’s even happening. Others might prefer the superstar treatment and choose to have their special day shot in a more manicured, glamourous way. The approach—or “style”—we take to photographing a wedding is highly personal, while also being dependent on client’s needs. Wedding photography styles sit on a spectrum. There’s
by M. Brett Smith · Posted
Thanks to the continued development of drone technology, aerial imaging has become a much more viable and potentially lucrative option for wedding photographers and videographers. Modern drones can capture images like never before, whether it’s a breathtaking still from a new and previously unattainable perspective or a cinematic tracking shot of the entire ceremony. With the right drone, the
by Cory Rice · Posted
Using fast prime lenses to create razor-sharp portraits where the focus melts away like butter can be an addictive (and costly) pastime. The jump from an 85mm f/1.8 to an 85mm f/1.4 may seem minor on paper, but anyone who has used both lenses knows that the difference extends well beyond a few decimal points. This article is an homage to the top-tier primes designed for the most demanding portrait photographers. Hide your wallet before proceeding.
Photographs ©
by Allan Weitz · Posted
When it comes to travel, landscape, and seascape photography, I always try to keep at least one long focal length lens in my bag for photographing subjects to which I either cannot get closer or—in the case of a Siberian tiger guarding her cubs—to which I have no business getting closer.
Photographs Ó Allan Weitz 2020
The definition of a long telephoto lens depends on whom you ask, not to mention what format camera they are using. For some, a 105mm lens is long. For others, it’s anything beyond 200mm or 300mm. For me, 300mm has always been the
by Zack Young · Posted
Any photographer worth their salt should be familiar with portrait photography, but they’re likely less familiar with high-volume photography, an offshoot of traditional portraiture that focuses on providing large quantities of professional-level headshots. The most common clients for this type of work include schools, sports teams, large corporations, government-run entities, and basically any other organization that needs a sizeable amount of quality headshots in a short amount of time. Because of the economies of scale, high-volume
Posted
Rodney Smith was a photographic visionary, with an allegiance to the image above all else. Long acclaimed for his iconic black-and-white pictures—not to forget his later jewel-like color scenes—Smith captured enchanted worlds full of subtle magic and lighthearted humor. Using only analog film and the aesthetics of natural light, his dream-like photographs are matched in quality by the craft and physical beauty of his prints.
Above photograph © The Estate of Rodney Smith
Smith died in 2016, yet the enduring precision, elegance, and whimsy of
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
Great products deserve (and often receive) great product photography. Whether you are photographing items for online sales, Internet auctions, or simply taking still life photos of a prized possession, there are some simple (and relatively inexpensive) gear and tips that can help your photos stand out from the others.
Online Auctions & Internet Marketplaces
We’ve all seen sub-par product images online. Let’s face it, they do not want to make you reach for your credit card or increase your bid. Smartphone snapshots are perfectly fine if you
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
The closest you will ever get to an out-of-this-world experience while standing on terra firma is during a total solar eclipse.
I have experienced two partial eclipses in my life before August 21, 2017, and both were memorable, but they were nothing like what happened on the 21st. Here is what I experienced, as well as some photographic lessons learned.
The Setup
My girlfriend, Jaime, and I end up in Nashville, TN, standing off to the side of the EN Peeler Park’s model airplane runway. We arrive an hour before the start of the eclipse to set
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
When the moon passes directly between Earth and the sun, those on Earth are treated to one of nature’s greatest spectacles—a total solar eclipse. It is a phenomenon that almost every observer would like to capture in a photograph.
Due to the rarity of the event, the short duration in which to capture it, and the dynamic nature of the subject, it is one of those photographic opportunities that requires the proper gear, setup, planning, and practice.
Eclipse and solar
by Theanos Nikitas · Posted
Now that you know the basics of Fashion Week from Part 1 of this article, it’s time to learn about the types of conditions you may face, and the needed gear (and settings) for getting great images.
Shooting Conditions and Gear Requirements
Each venue and runway show is unique. Some shows are well lit, while others may have no professional lighting or minimal illumination (I once shot a show in an historic building where the only