Search results for: photography tips solutions composing better portrait
About 12 filtered results
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
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
Composition in photography refers to the way in which we arrange visual elements in an image. It's how we position the subject in the frame and how all elements combine to create a visually appealing photograph.
All photographs © Mathew Malwitz
Expensive cameras and long lenses can only get us so far. It's not the gear that makes the photo, but the photographer. A creative and observant eye is the key to making visually pleasing photographs. These skills can be learned, and with practice, you'll be well on your way to creating strong
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
If there’s one area of wildlife photography that challenges even some of the most consummate artists, it’s birds in flight. A dynamic flight shot shows action, and a bit of technical prowess. As you can imagine, capturing birds in flight is no easy feat.
To consistently capture these shots, one must be proficient with their gear and have a knowledge of animal behavior. We’d go as far as to say you need a bit of luck too, but what is luck if not preparedness meeting opportunity. In order to make the most of the opportunities that present
by Zack Young · Posted
So, your spouse has elected you official photographer of the family holiday party! Or maybe your boss volunteered you to shoot the office party? Or your kids put your name in the running as school party cameraperson. Regardless of the type of party you’ve been assigned (or volunteered) to photograph, here are some tips and tricks that will help you capture memories that will last a lifetime.
Right Gear for Your Holiday Party
As your party’s official
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
Welcome to Part 3 of our journey into the world of Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) photography. In this final chapter of the 3-part series of articles, we voyage back into the mental aspects of creating ICM art, as well as take in some tips for some of the more common ICM subjects and finish with inspirational words from some of the masters of the craft.
Above image © Morag Paterson
Approach
Because ICM eschews many of the lessons we have tried so hard to learn in photography over the years, the approach and process are very
by Cory Rice · Posted
Every portrait photographer who started with a kit zoom remembers the first time they swapped it out for a prime lens. The “Wow” factor of a bright, sharp prime is hard to match, even with the best zooms. Optical benefits aside, working from a fixed focal length encourages more natural photographer-sitter interactions and better spatial awareness. Read on to learn why so many portrait photographers love their prime lenses.
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
The iPhone camera is a simple point-and-shoot photographic tool, right? Yes, it is, but, even using the basic iPhone camera app, the photographer has many different options for capturing the best possible image. Here we will give you a quick-and-dirty guide to getting intimate with your iPhone’s camera.
1. There are many ways to activate the iPhone camera.
The most basic: Click on the Camera icon.
Extra fun. Press-and-hold on the Camera icon and you will get a shortcut menu to Take Selfie, Record Video, Record Slo-mo, or Take Photo.
by Allan Weitz · Posted
If you ask photographers what they consider important when choosing a camera, the aspect ratio of the sensor seldom enters the conversation. Megapixels? Yes. Sensor size? Yes. Burst rates? Yes. Aspect ratio? Seldom.
Aspect ratios are determined by the form factor of the camera’s imaging sensor, which among consumer cameras are typically 3:2 or 4:3 rectangles. And while photographers weigh the pluses and minuses of MFT, APS-C, and full-frame sensor formats, few photographers care about the actual shape of their camera sensors.
"Aspect ratios
by Allan Weitz · Posted
Sometimes, the phrases, acronyms and strings of numbers or number-letter combinations used to identify photographic hardware or techniques can be daunting to the uninitiated neophyte photographer.
We've prepared a list of the basic terms. Have we left any out that you think should be added? Please let us know!
0-9 | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I |
by Elizabeth Groeschen · Posted
Guaranteed to be the one camera that is always on you, your mobile phone’s camera may or may not be your camera of choice, but it’s better than none! Here are a few tips to help you use what you have, or whip your budding mobile photography hobby into better shape.
If you’re anything like me, throughout the day, your phone is constantly being juggled; it’s stuffed in a pocket on the way outside to walk the dog, held with a wallet upon entering the subway, slipped into a bag during your commute, and often misplaced at least once during your
by Jill Waterman · Posted
With the year winding down and arrangements for family gatherings in the works, some advance planning for recording these moments through photographs is a worthwhile consideration. It’s no longer the era of your grandfather’s Kodak, with family members captured stiff as a rail or suffering from red-eye. There are lots of exciting imaging options out there, all of which involve slightly different approaches. In an effort to help you to make sense of the current spectrum, we’ve outlined these seven tips to walk you through the process, and to