Hello, readers of my blog! I’m in touch with you, Timur Mustaev. So, have you decided to master photography? Maybe you want to read something from theory first, or maybe go straight to practice? Both options are good, but the main thing here is to start! I suggest you start learning photography from scratch in several stages. In principle, some of them can be swapped if desired, however, it is important to follow the plan. It is consistency and focus that will help you not only when studying photography, but in any other matter, if you do it seriously.
Are you hosting the Holi festival of colors? This is an Indian holiday where all people smear each other with food, dry paints, different color. In our city, it is already in its 4th year. And only this year, I managed to get to this interesting show. As you probably know, I studied in India for one year, received a master’s degree, you can read about this in the “About the Author” section, and so that’s where I became acquainted with this holiday, one might say, from head to toe.
Did you like the holiday? Would you like to take part in such an event? What do you think about this?
Let's continue our topic of the article.
Several large blocks can be distinguished:
- Technical block. Aperture, shutter speed and light sensitivity are the most important parameters that need to be mastered to understand the system for creating a photographic image. There is a lot of information about them on the Internet, on my blog, you can also find necessary information, and everything is written in accessible language. In addition, take the time to learn the inner workings of your camera.
- Aesthetics. When you look at your own or someone else's photographic creation, does something grab you? Yes, this happens. A feeling of peace may arise; photography may evoke awe, tenderness, or, conversely, excitement and anxiety. This is the subjective experience when perceiving a photograph. A photograph gives us certain emotions; we like to look at the moment captured in it, especially if it is original enough and looks harmonious. Or better yet, it tells a story. This is achieved through visual and expressive means, which are also worth reading about separately: this is perspective, and a combination of colors, and the proportions of objects, etc.
- Composition. Everything a photograph does can be summed up in one phrase: it conveys meaning. And everything listed above is aimed precisely at expressing your thoughts. It is the semantic orientation of the frame that makes it truly valuable. The main idea may be some kind of social message, admiration for an image or view, an unusual lighting solution, etc. It is important to learn to see the frame - interesting points, shooting point, light, etc.
How often do you purposefully look at and curiously study photographs taken by professional photographers? I can say that this is a great way to learn photography because you learn from a specific, well-known example. I advise you to pay more attention to the photographs of specialists and actively analyze your own photos. Don't be afraid of outside criticism! In most cases it is useful.
Two important tips.
- In very detail and not once or even twice, but 3 and 4 times, read the instructions for your SLR camera. Remember everything key points, which are written in it.
- After in-depth study instructions, I would recommend you the course " Digital SLR for a beginner 2.0" Very wonderful video course. Which explains all the basics of photography in a simple and clear language. The course will be very useful for beginners.
Selecting a camera
There are a lot of camera models now. There are also Canon, Nikon, Sony... At the initial stage, the company is not so important, each of them has advantages and disadvantages. In principle, you can learn the basics of photography on a point-and-shoot camera. But I advise you to immediately buy a mirror one, which is not too expensive. And choose a lens called “universal”, for example, usually with SLR cameras entry level, kit lenses for sale, 18-55 mm. or 55-105 mm., it is better to take the second one. If money allows, you can buy an even more universal one, 18-200 mm. It's suitable for many shooting situations, be it landscapes, portraits or subject matter photography, and will give you the opportunity to experiment as you learn photography. A budget DSLR and a universal lens are the optimal combination for those who are just starting to dive into the world of photography.
The above lenses are available from both Nikon and Canon.
Simple rules for good photos
At the end of the article, I have collected several points that will make it easier and easier to create interesting photos graphies Beginners should study them especially carefully. So:
- Exposure metering is very useful thing. You can see a scale in your viewfinder on your camera. So this is it. If you are already mastering the various modes of the device, but are not sure whether you are setting the shooting parameters correctly, contact him for help. The exposure metering should be approximately 0, then the picture will be well lit - neither dark nor overexposed.
- Use the built-in flash as a last resort - it gives a bright, but absolutely flat and ugly image, especially when photographing people, it unpleasantly shines light directly into the eyes. Consider purchasing an external flash - it will help you many times in the future.
- The photographed objects (people) can be different shapes and be in different positions. The main rule here is: if the subject is extended upward (a glass, a tower, a tree, a standing person), then choose a vertical frame; if it is extended to the side (a building, a car, a road), then choose a horizontal one.
- My favorite topic is the horizon, that is, the line between the land (water surface) and the sky. With rare exceptions, it should always be straight! Keep an eye on this, don't shoot thoughtlessly. If when viewing you get the feeling that you are falling, this is clearly a bad impression that will remain from your photographic work.
- If your hands are not yet accustomed to holding the camera firmly, take a tripod with you if possible. It will stabilize the camera, and the pictures will be clearer. It’s better to always use tripods, that’s what I do.
- Master graphic editors. For example, you can start with the simple and functional Lightroom utility. It is very powerful for photo processing. Personally, I have been using it for a long time. Even a little photo processing in it will significantly improve your photo. 95 percent of all frames need some retouching! There are many courses on lightroom, but not all of them are high quality. I would recommend watching the course " Lightroom wizard. Secrets of high-speed photo processing" It is very simple and understandable.
I hope something has already cleared up in your head? Read my articles, starting with the very first one. Consistent reading of them will form the correct thinking and concept of photography in your head, and you will begin to understand the basics of photography.
See you soon, my dear readers! On my blog, we have already dealt with many important concepts. Useful information is becoming more and more, and I again encourage you to read my blog, comment and subscribe to it. Don't forget to share with your friends on social networks. Don't miss a single one important information! See you soon!
All the best to you, Timur Mustaev.
Let's assume that you already have a camera, otherwise it will be useful for you to read the material “Anti-marketing. Choosing a good, but formally outdated camera" - there you will learn how to buy good camera and don't overpay. And here I will talk about what shutter speed, aperture, ISO are and how they differ different modes shooting.
1. What is exposure?
Roughly speaking, exposure is the amount of light that the camera's sensor receives. Or a film that you are unlikely to use at all. And exposure is the process of exposure itself. And the amount of light depends on the exposure time and the level of illumination, which is regulated by shutter speed, aperture and matrix sensitivity. To make it easier for you to understand the difference in exposure, remember the concept of “step”.
2. What is shutter speed?
Shutter speed in photography has nothing to do with calmness and tolerance. This is the period of time during which the shutter is open and light enters the matrix. In most cases, shutter speed is very short and is measured in seconds and fractions of a second. On the camera screen, the value 60 corresponds to 1/60th of a second. In general, there is a standard series of shutter speeds in one-step increments: 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, 1/2000, 1/4000 s. Each subsequent step reduces the amount of light entering the matrix by half. Four times is two steps. Eight times – three steps, and so on.
When going on vacation or a long trip, you always take a camera with you to capture the bright moments of life, but how to take photographs with an SLR camera correctly and what parameters to pay attention to so that the photo makes you happy?
In this article we will look at all the parameters that you will need for proper photography while traveling, we will try to present everything in a way that is clear even to a novice photographer. After reading our article, you will no longer wonder how to properly photograph landscapes, portraits, architecture and other areas of photography. But first, read our articles about this and that.
Passing more and more different countries world, we are witnessing the transition of all travelers to SLR Cameras, but most of them, having bought a camera for artistic photography, take photographs in automatic modes. Why pay that kind of money if a traveler doesn't even want to see what potential a DSLR camera holds? Or maybe he just doesn’t know how to take photographs correctly, perhaps that’s where we’ll start.
You can get photos like this if you follow the basic rules.
We'll start with matrices camera Most main parameter correct photography is carried by the matrix, the larger the physical size of the matrix, the larger it will be throughput light, which means the photo will be much richer and brighter in colors. On budget SLR cameras, the matrix size is 23x15 (crop matrix). In professional technology, the physical size of the matrix is 36×24 (full frame or Fullframe), with a full-frame matrix you can get amazing photos, but to properly photograph an object you will need some other parameters that are worth paying attention to.
Size of the cropped sensor relative to the full-frame sensor
A camera with more megapixels. For a modern SLR camera, a number of 18 megapixels or more is quite suitable, but many factories, under the leadership of marketers, manage to shove great amount megapixels into a small matrix of some soap dish, which is impossible given its small physical size. You shouldn't expect perfect photos from such cameras! Let's give some advice, pay attention to Nikon series SLR cameras from D7000 onwards, Sony alpha series, Canon EOS with two or better one digit before D"" (for example Canon EOS 60D).
All of the above series of cameras have a matrix that is not for the wide consumer market, which means that the quality of the matrix remains high level in contrast to the lower series of these cameras, which are well promoted by marketers and which people fall for so well because of their low price. You already know half the answers to the question of how to take photographs correctly and choose a good matrix, but which mode is better to choose?
Manual modes are highlighted in red
Another parameter for proper photography is depth of field. Now you need to forget all the standard modes (auto, portrait, landscape...) and start using the “ Av, Tv, M, P”, for Nikon these are modes “ A,P,S,M" and others. For the depth of field mode, we need the “ Av” from Canon or “ A” from Nikon. In this mode you can change the aperture number, which can vary from 1,2 before 22 .
Note the blurry the background
You've probably seen more than once how good photographers take a photo with a blurred background, this is the depth of field and it depends on the aperture. The smaller the aperture number, the more you can blur the background, but first you need to focus on the subject you want to highlight. For example, to properly photograph a portrait, you need to set your aperture to around 1.4 to 5.6. To photograph a landscape correctly, you need to set a number from 11 to 22, from such numbers the depth of field will be at its limit and the image will turn out sharp and realistic.
The second point to consider is that the focal length of the lens also affects the depth of field. The longer the focal length, the more the background behind the subject is blurred. The wider the lens angle, the less blur there will be.
Another factor that influences the question of how to photograph correctly is the distance from the lens to the subject and from the subject to the background. Let us explain, portraits need to be taken at a closer approach, having first set the depth of field to the minimum value (for example, set it to 1.4).
Here you see blurred background in the distance and the subject is two meters from the lens
For proper photographing of portraits, there are prime lenses or portrait lenses with a focal length of 35-85mm (for such lenses the minimum aperture value is from 1.2). With such lenses, you are guaranteed a blurred background if the subject is far from the background and you set minimum number depth of field.
Let’s go further to understand the question of “how to take photographs correctly,” for this you need to study the shutter speed parameters. Nikon's shutter mode is designated "S", Canon's is designated "Tv". This mode is used extremely rarely and is needed mainly for artistic photography. For example, in order to correctly photograph a river that freezes in your picture, we need to take a shutter speed of about 5 seconds, after such a shutter speed we will get this...
The camera is in the shade and the shutter speed is set to 5 seconds
If you decide to experiment with shutter speed, be sure to have a tripod, otherwise the entire image will turn out blurry. The shutter speed should only be used in the evening or at night; in the daytime, the photo will turn out just white due to large quantity incident light during a long exposure time. It is also worth considering that in this mode the matrix is especially susceptible to breakdowns and can simply burn out from the sun, for this they use neutral density filters or install the camera in the shade, the filters are put on the lenses and protect the matrix from overheating.
We won't open a big secret, if you don’t have such a filter at hand, then use regular sunglasses, which will give an artistic effect that will change your photo for the better. But sometimes, even with the longest shutter speed that can be set on the camera (up to 30 minutes), the image is still dark; ISO will come to our aid, being another answer to the question of how to take photographs correctly.
Photo taken on Lake Baikal using sunglasses instead of a filter
Light sensitivity (ISO) is set when you decide to take pictures in the dark. At night, when your photo turns out to be dark, but with a flash the photo turns out to be light and flat, the ISO parameter comes to the rescue, which should not be abused. Its value can be set from 100 to 12000 or more, depending on the SLR camera.
The photo was taken in the Tunkinskaya Valley with the ISO setting set incorrectly
To take photographs correctly with this setting, we recommend not increasing the ISO value to more than 6400; then “noise” begins to form in the shadows and your photo loses quality. In order to properly photograph an object at night, of course, many will start using a standard flash; we’ll talk about this parameter separately!
If you decide to find answers to the question of how to take photographs correctly, then forget about the standard flash. A photograph with such a flash turns out to be overly light and flat in volume, if you have extra money, then be sure to buy external flash, you will take a huge step towards proper photography.
The photo was taken at 3 am in a watery Russian city with an external flash.
At worst, you can use the regular built-in flash, but with a little secret. So, we take a regular white A4 sheet and close the flash, in this case the sheet will serve as a light diffuser and will give the image light, light, three-dimensional tones, and will also remove the “red-eye effect”. This method is good to use in dark room or at dusk.
On the path to success in the question of how to take photographs correctly, let’s go further and consider the sharpness of the lens. No landscape is complete without sharpness; to get the sharpest image, let's take a look at the lens parameters. The sharpest lenses are prime lenses; zoom lenses lose in this regard; they have blur at wide and far angles.
In order to take a high-quality, sharp and correct photograph of an object, to highlight it from the main plan, you definitely need a prime lens! But there is one big secret - all lenses have their own maximum number sharpness, this number can be calculated by taking several test shots at each depth of field and viewing the results on a large screen. Typically, lens sharpness starts from 2.8 to 11.
The haystack is located at two points where the lines intersect - Perfect composition!
Another most famous and main answer to the question of how to take photographs correctly is the rule of the golden ratio. Divide your image into two horizontal lines and two vertical lines, so the main subject should be at the two points where the lines intersect. Don't forget to photograph the landscape correctly. If, for example, you are shooting the sea and the sky, then either the sea or the sky should occupy more than half the frame (2/3 of the frame). This rule is called correct frame composition and is one of the important parameters Happy photography.
According to the 2/3 rule, the sky is only 1/3, because the entire subject of the photograph is located in a haystack located on the ground
How to photograph a portrait correctly and not cut off anything unnecessary? To do this you will need the cheat sheet below...
Proper portrait framing
We have considered all the technical parameters on the question of how to take photographs correctly, now we will consider ordinary life parameters, which should not be forgotten during everyday photography and which will make it possible to ideally and correctly photograph the subjects.
The first thing you need to do is check the battery charge and take a spare battery with you, you will need it at the most opportune moment in your life. Don’t forget to check the capacity of your memory card when leaving home; sometimes it is full and there is only one copy of the photos on it. Don't forget, the more discharged the battery, the more autofocus will miss the subject.
For proper photography, you should also pay attention to the dust on the camera mirrors and lens glass; you can easily check this by photographing a light, plain background. To remove dust, use only a special pencil or other cleaning products for optics and the device.
Cleaning pencil for camera lenses and mirrors
Let's continue to get answers to the question of how to take photographs correctly and do not forget the attributes for the camera, if you are shooting in the dark - do not forget to take an external flash and a tripod, if you take artistic photography at long exposures - do not forget photo filters, a tripod and other accessories.
For the right approach When taking photos, don’t forget to dress appropriately for the weather. Before you start shooting, check all the camera settings so as not to miss an important moment, select the optimal mode and values for shooting. If suddenly the battery runs out during shooting, and you have not yet photographed the object you need, turn off the screen, switch to manual lens focusing mode and lens stabilizer.
If water or sand gets into the camera, the first thing to do is remove the battery and do not insert it until the camera is completely dry; if you have a hairdryer at hand, then this is just great. Sand is a different story; sand can cause mechanical damage. internal mechanisms cameras and then expensive repairs are guaranteed.
By following all these rules and site recommendations described above, you can definitely succeed in photography. But in order to increase your authority in your own eyes, we recommend communicating with photographers on specialized websites and forums, exhibiting your photographs at various thematic exhibitions on the Internet, sometimes even making money from it.
Mount Elbrus was photographed at 5 a.m. to capture all the colors of artistic photography.
Well, all the answers to the question of how to take photographs correctly were written and shown. In order to learn how to photograph correctly, you should always experiment and forget about standard photographing modes. At first, pictures in manual modes will turn out dark, blurry and of poor quality, but after you click several hundred frames with different settings, you will see all the capabilities of a DSLR camera in examples of your work!
I decided to make a topic with useful tips that will be of interest to beginning (and perhaps “continuing”) photographers.
1) Selecting a DSLR camera
2) Preparing for shooting
3) Sorting footage
So, you have decided to become a “photographer” and buy a SLR camera. The question will arise (which has already been discussed on the Internet a million times) - " what camera should I buy?"
1) Selecting a DSLR camera
Somehow it so happened that there are two leaders in the SLR camera market, between whom there is constant competition - these are companies Nikon And Canon. In my opinion, cameras from other manufacturers lag behind these two leaders and will not be considered here.
DSLR cameras can be divided into 4 groups:
- Group 1- cameras for "beginners"
- Group 2- cameras for “continuers”
- Group 3- cameras for “advanced”
- Group 4- semi- and professional cameras
Last camera group - full-length(whose sensor size is 36x24mm), first three groups - the so-called " cropped" cameras (the sensor size of which is approximately one and a half times less). Full-format cameras are expensive (from $2,000 and up) and you shouldn’t buy them as your first DSLR. I would also not recommend buying cameras from the first group (for “beginners”), since its capabilities will no longer be enough after a year of use.
I think at least you need to focus on cameras second groups, and if budget allows, then as the first DSLR you can take a camera from thirds groups - the capabilities of such a camera will last you for a long time!
2) Preparing for shooting
The second action after purchasing a camera will be shooting. The last thing you can do when you buy a DSLR camera is use Automatic shooting mode. Therefore, it will be very good if you learn to use the so-called " creative"Shooting modes - " Aperture priority" (A at Nikon’a or Av at Canon’a), " Shutter priority" (S at Nikon’a or TV at Canon’a) and " Manual mode" (M).
Wouldn't hurt to read it at all User guide to the purchased camera and it is advisable to read several books on the theory of photography and composition. A large selection of books is located here - ... try to read at least first 2-3 books and, if possible and if you have free time, all the others presented on that page.
1) Try to take shots that will be interesting to someone else besides you and your relatives (for example "I'm near the palm tree" would be a good addition to a family album, but nothing more).
2) Before pressing the shutter, try to pay attention to the foreground, middle and background - there should be nothing superfluous in the frame (random objects, passers-by, garbage, trees and pillars “growing” from the head of the person you are photographing).
3) Pay attention to the horizontal or vertical position of the camera, this will reduce the number of frames with a “cluttered horizon” (when horizontal or vertical lines have a “blockage”)
4) If you take several shots, you will have a better chance of choosing the most successful one.
5) If you need to have time to capture movement, then take pictures in shutter priority, in most other cases you can shoot in aperture priority.
I would like to briefly expand on the last point and briefly explain how these modes work.
Shutter priority- the shutter speed is set manually, and the aperture value is automatically “calculated” by the camera. Aperture priority- on the contrary, the aperture value is set manually, and the shutter speed is “calculated” by the camera. IN manual In shooting mode, all parameters are set manually.
The shorter the shutter speed ( 1/500 sec - 1/4000 sec), the faster the shutter speed, the more you will be able to “freeze” the movement.
The smaller the aperture value ( f/1.4 - f/1.8), the more it is open, the blurrier the background will be. And vice versa, if you want the foreground and background to be clear, then you need to close the aperture by choosing a large aperture number ( f/16 - f/22 For example).
To understand how the connection works shutter speed-aperture-ISO, you can use these links:
The SLR Camera Simulator and Beginner Photographer Trainer
Shevelenka(image blur when shooting handheld due to long shutter speed):
In general, if the plot is banal and does not require special conditions, when shooting handheld, you should try to ensure that the shutter speed is not longer than 1/f(lens focal length). For example, for a lens 50 mm you should try to use shorter shutter speeds 1/50 s.
1) If you are going to shoot in low light conditions, then it is very advisable to stock up on a compact one in order to avoid “blurring” the image at “long” shutter speeds.
2) this will allow you to select a low value ISO(100) to prevent digital noise.
3) at night it’s easiest to shoot in Manual mode ( Manual): try this - aperture ~f/8, shutter speed 5-15 sec
4) If the photo turns out dark, then increase the exposure time or open the aperture slightly, and vice versa - if the photo turns out light, then reduce the shutter speed or close the aperture.
5) It is advisable to transfer the focus to manual mode, focus in LiveView at maximum magnification on the screen (usually the buttons that are used to magnify images when viewing them).
6) It’s better to shoot either using a remote control or with a 2-second delay
7) The movement of the mirror can create small mechanical vibrations, which can “ruin” the frame when shooting at night. Therefore, it is advisable to shoot from LiveView mode - in this case, the mirror is already raised, which eliminates these micro-vibrations.
8) If, with an accurately set focus, a raised mirror and using a 2-second delay (or an IR remote control), you still get blurry, then increase the ISO by a couple of steps (from 100 to 400-800), which will allow Reduce the shutter speed by 2 stops. Higher ISO 800 On “medium” level cameras you should not rise, this will increase the noise.
8) When shooting scenes in which there are brightly lit areas (advertising signs, for example), it is advisable to shoot with exposure bracketing in steps of +-2 EV. Then, from the three captured frames in Photoshop, it will be possible to get one “high-quality” frame, in which all the details will be visible both in the shadows and in the “highlights”.
9) And it’s better to take pictures during “regime time” (+- 30 minutes before and after sunset, when the sky is not completely black, but is also illuminated by the setting sun).
10) Always shoot in RAW, this will allow you to adjust during post-processing White Balance. If during the day the camera quite often correctly determines the White Balance, then at night, when shooting in JPEG, there will be a chance to get a brown sky.
11) If you shoot from a tripod at long exposures in windy weather, you can hold the tripod by the legs to avoid image blur.
3) Sorting footage
Once in Pasha Kosenko’s magazine ( pavel_kosenko ) came across the phrase:
“It takes 10 minutes to learn how to take photographs. In order to learn to make selection, you need to become an individual.”
(c) G. Pinkhasov
There is another good phrase:
A good photographer is not one who takes a lot of pictures, but one who deletes a lot.
You can't say it more precisely! Probably the most difficult thing is to learn to select the best, most interesting shots from the footage, and throw everything else in the trash (or in a long box “for later”)
I'll try to give some tips on selecting photos...
1)
Sharpness. If it is not there, or it is not where it should be, the frame is in the trash. This is rule number 1. There are exceptions when the lack of sharpness is the author’s intention and such a frame looks interesting: 
But in most cases, a “blurred” image is a defect. 
ruber_kor , sorry for using your photos as an example
2) Plot. The frame should be interesting. Try to look at your photographs through the eyes of another person and try to assess how interesting your photo will be to other people. There must be some kind of zest... there must be emotion... there must be a plot or story. (see examples from point 1)
3) Angle. When shooting chest-length portraits, it is advisable to place the camera at the eye level of the model (be it an adult, a child, or a dog with a cat). When shooting portraits in full height It is advisable to place the camera at the model’s chest level. Architecture, landscapes, etc. can be photographed from a very low or very high point - an unusual angle will add a “zest”. If you took a picture of your child from the height of your height, being too lazy to sit down, then such a frame will be worthy only of your personal family album. Of course, there may be exceptions, and sometimes shooting portraits from unusual angles also gives interesting results:
4) Composition. If there is an interesting plot, but in the frame the main character (or hero) has “cut off” arms/legs/head, then perhaps such a frame will not look good. Very often in the photographs of novice photographers you can find two common mistakes: a littered horizon and various objects (trees, poles, etc.) “growing” from the head of the person in the picture. If a littered horizon can (and should) be “corrected” at the stage of photo processing, then “removing” a tree sticking out of the head will be more problematic, so this moment needs to be controlled during shooting. There may also be exceptions... but in order to shoot with “clumsy” compositions, you must first learn to shoot with the correct compositions:
5) Lighting. If the frame contains overexposed areas (completely white) or “gaps” (completely black), then it is advisable to run such frames through RAW converter and try to get rid of such areas. If you don’t know how to use converters, then you can leave the frame for “later” and start studying the hardware.
How Not It is desirable to have light/shadow:
There may also be exceptions, but there is no need to make it a “rule” to constantly have highlights and failures.
How preferably have light/shadow:
()
()
As can be seen from reservations - there are exceptions. But, in order to learn how to take beautiful and interesting photos in violation of these “requirements for photography,” you must first learn how to take photos in compliance with the “requirements.” In order to break the rules, you must first learn to follow them!
4) Post-processing of sorted material
Professional photographers pay a large role to post-processing of the selected material.
I often see statements like " Photoshop is evil!" or " I am for naturalness!"... I am sure that in 99% of cases such statements are a substitute for recognition" I don't know how to use Photoshop ".
If you want to learn how to get “candy” from your selected frames, then studying photo post-processing programs will help you with this. Probably the most common programs are Adobe Photoshop CS and LightRoom. The book will help you get acquainted with the basics of photo processing and give an idea of the main tools of these two programs.
For "inspiration" visit the portal http://35photo.ru/, and spend a couple of hours there, where, in my opinion, some first-class work is presented.
I hope my tips are useful to someone!
If anyone disagrees with the above or has any additions, please write!
Sunday, October 10, 2010 22:53 + to quote book
- Only English-language resources!
Basic theory and technical information
Top 10 Rules Composition Photography
"There are many composition principles that can be applied to almost any situation to enhance the impact of a scene. Below are ten of the most popular and most widely accepted composition rules."
Correcting and preventing chromatic aberration
"When examining their photography closely, almost every photographer will encounter a situation in which a colored halo (usually purple, green or red) is visible around certain elements in the scene. This optical anomaly, better known as color fringing, is known as chromatic aberration. In In this article we will understand its causes and learn how to easily avoid it both during filming and in post-production."
How to: Take better landscapes
"What looks perfect? Instead of solving the problem head-on, I came up with a few basic guidelines that can make profound improvements to your landscape photos. Really, it's as simple as A, B, C: Angle, balance, and harvest"
Intuitive B&W conversion
"Try this simple step-by-step process to create beautiful monochrome images."
Isolated Sharpness
"Tips and techniques for using shallow depth of field to add impact to your macro photography.
Travel with more + Video
"Tips for Improving the Technical and Creative Results of Shooting Video with a DSLR"
The crux of the matter
"How to Capture the Essence of Your Subjects"
Soft Touch For wedding photography; Soft-Focus and Blur Effects in the Digital Darkroom
"Despite the adverts of lens takers to the contrary, photographers do not always want or need tack-sharp photographs, especially for weddings, bridal portraits. Using creative or selective blur when used in a digital darkroom so that otherwise conventional photography can set the mood and a look that suits the impression of the original image more than its reality."
How-To: Long Exposure Primer
"Unlike using fast speeds shutter to freeze action using long shutter speeds is a very creative means of capturing movement in photography. A blurred image can be a very impressionistic execution of the movement, giving the viewer a sense of sensation. "
Coloring Black and white photos
"Use Photoshop to Create a Classic Hand-Painted Effect."
How to: Photograph in the Bright Midday Sun
"Incorporate lighting faux pas into an element that adds punch to the photo."
How to make money as a photographer
"To be successful, you must be able to effectively market yourself. It doesn't matter if you want to do wedding photographs, sports photography, product photography or just work for the local newspaper - you have to market and sell yourself and your talents" .
Shooting the Moon
"When the sun goes down and the rest of the photographers pack for the night, you can get some of the most beautiful and unique images."
How to: Photography Crushing Image
"Startup sound and Flash snap moment of impact."
Beyond HDR
"How to expand the tonal range of a photograph when HDR methods are not ideal"
Vintage emulation; Recreating that "Old Photo" Look in Digital Ag
"We've all had the experience of looking at old photographs that take us back to of different ages, whether it's 20 years ago, or 120. It can be very tempting to try to recreate a vintage look, whether for a special emotional effect or simply because we can. But what are the actual differences, and how can we reconstruct them? "
Understanding depth of field
"This section is designed to give the best intuitive and technical knowledge for shooting, and provides a depth of field calculator to show how it changes with camera settings."
How to Get "Tack Sharp" Photo Images - Part I
"Shutter speed, focal length, image stabilizers and tripods"
Give any photo to Little Bokeh
"You can, thanks to Alien Skin software"
"Fog-Shot" Better Fog Photography
"Some people associate fog with inclement weather and avoid outdoors. Not for me. I grab my camera to create some very interesting images. Foggy conditions evoke moody and ethereal feelings. The light is diffused and even, but very flat. Knowing how to take advantage of this allows you to create great fog photos. "
How to Photograph Moving Vehicles
"Step-by-step guide to capturing that perfect shot movement."
"Summer is a great opportunity to photograph children at play"
Photographic Time Shifting
"Changing the time of day and date of a photo"
Zoom from feet
"Basic Gear Photography Recipe for Beginners and Pros"
Shooting water
"Whether it's your focal theme or a supporting element, these quick tips will help get your feet wet"
Tuts Video
Photography Lighting Tutorial - Strip Lighting Light Tec Tip
"How to Use Strip Lighting in a Studio hosted by Light Tec in Dallas, Texas. Light Tec offers lighting equipment photos and training."
Photography lighting tutorial with Strobist Adam Bonilla
"Behind the scenes look at the photo shoot with professional photographer Denver founded by Adam Bonilla."
Photography Tutorial - Perfect Directions, Histogram Pt 1
"This how-to video with John Mearls Photographer's Toolkit is part of a series about using histograms to create properly exposed camera pictures. This first installment explains in simple language What is a histogram and how to read it. "
Macro Photography Tutorial
"This video shows you in simple steps how to do macro using Micro-Nikkor and third-party macro lenses and how to do it 1:1. Remember that this is a tutorial for a controlled situation (which means we won't show you how to make mistakes, portraits, animals or at 1:1 magnifications). Enjoy! "
Smoke Photography
"Terry Watson shows off his technique for doing Smoke Photography"
ProPhotoInsights Tutorial - digital photography tutorial, color mixing
"In this digital photography tutorial we'll look at a quick and easy and highly flexible way to manage color in an image. Step behind the scenes in Pro Photo
"Escapes with our unique digital photography tutorials."
Photography Assigning Macros Tutorial
A detailed introduction to macro photography.
Photography Tutorial - How to photograph a fast car in motion
"Photography Tutorial - This image was shot for a Pentax ad in the UKs DSLR User Magazine. We also used it in our downloadable photography course on Digital Photography Exposed."
Long Exposure Photography Tutorial (Easy Trails)
"This is a tutorial on how to take an incandescent light bulb at night. In this video, I describe how I capture star trails, how to set up the camera, and how to light objects into an image."
Photography tutorial 5 (light quality)
"This month's lesson teaches the difference between hard and soft light. Light is the main ingredient in any photography, and this video gives a better understanding. Enjoy."
Studio Lighting Portrait Photography Tutorial
"Gavin Hoey's use of the smick.co.uk 120cm Octagonal Softbox is shown as just using this softbox and a 400Ws studio flash head for his studio lighting setup to produce some quality portraits. The live action show shows Gavin using several different lighting setups and shows you how to get quality results in an easy to understand way."
Strobist: Lighting 101
Video explaining the basic gear and techniques that should be familiar with professional lighting.
Photography Lighting Tutorial
"Photography lighting can be natural light, ambient light or Studio light, which should include a main light, a fill light, and a back light. Create subtle shadows and perfect lighting with helpful tips from a freelance photographer in this free video in digital photography."
Light Leaks in Photography
"A trend that is becoming more and more popular lately is vintage/movie/retro photography. You can see examples in Urban Outfitters, Nylon Mag, Anthropology, etc. One of essential elements in this light leak style."
"Besides the theme, you need a background, light and some props. Props aren't really necessary, but I'll talk about them later. If most photographers get hung up on it, it's the light."
Using hyperfocal distance to provide maximum depth of field in landscape photography
"Applying simple rules hyperfocal distance you can be sure you're capturing images that are sharp from foreground to background for almost any occasion. I'll use an image I took recently from Castlerigg Stone Circle to show you how you can put these simple rules into practice so you can get maximum depth of field (DOF) in all your landscape images."
Introduction to Using Triggered in Your Photography
"Have you ever seen a painting and wondered how the photographer got the perfect lighting on a subject? You might ask, "What kind of flash does he use?" Or "What settings on his camera to get that kind of lighting?" In this tutorial, I'll explain the secrets transforming your image to perfection."
Create a brilliant light effect with cross polarization
"Light has the ability to create many various types dramatic effect, although there is nothing as bright as cross polarization. It awakens the imagination with its rich colors. Although this technique was popular 20+ years ago, it seems to have been lost in the digital shuffle. This guide will walk you through the process and equipment for polarization cross experiments."
Achieve greater focus and sharpness in your images
"This tutorial will give you a better understanding of focus and sharpness, and hopefully help you take photos that you're very happy with!
Mastering the art of black and white photography
"So why black and white photography teams such recognitions? One reason is that color is distracting. It takes attention from the visual blocks of a large photo, texture, tonal contrast, shape, form and lighting. A black and white photographer to learn how to use all these elements to create a memorable image. "
Adobe Camera RAW for Beginners: Histogram and White Balance
"Adobe Camera RAW (not to be confused with the camera's image format RAW) is a powerful tool for editing and fine-tuning your photos. Software gives you creative control over your files while preserving the original photo. I like to call it non-destructive editing. "
"Flatter your portrait theme with a beautiful background, even if you don't have professional backgrounds or lighting. With a little exposure and composition know-how you can go a long way to a beautiful portrait background"
Shooting and Editing Big Water Fruit Speed Splash
"This tutorial will make for a fun weekend project that has the potential to spark your imagination, teach you some interesting lighting techniques, and even give you great shots for your portfolio. It's a great way to spend a few hours experimenting and honing your skills."
Share your favorite Tuts!
The huge list above only scratches the surface of excellent free tutorials can be found on the Internet. Write a comment below with a link to some tutorials or blogs that you have either written or have helped you a lot as a photographer.
Josh Johnson
Joshua Johnson is a designer/recording designer with over six years of experience working with a major international marketing agency. He is also the editor of Design lessons
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