guide

Bokeh: A Photographer’s Guide

As photographers, when we hear the word "bokeh", we probably already have a visual in our mind of its meaning. Since bokeh can be somewhat abstract and subjective, describing it can be difficult. 

What Is Flash Duration in Photography?

What are the most important features you look for when buying a flash? Many photographers consider the amount of power a unit has to be the most important, but there are a few other specifications that are just as important, including flash duration. In this article, I will break down exactly what flash duration is and how it works.

How to Create White, Black, and Gradient Backgrounds in Photos

Creating an evenly lit background can be trickier than one would think, but is a skill that every photographer should master. But with the right equipment and knowledge, it gets much easier to capture a pure white, black, or colored gradient background in-camera without the need for heavy Photoshop cleanup in post.

10 Best Photography Books You Should Read in 2024

The Internet is a treasure trove of information, but photography books are still a fantastic way to both learn about photography as well as be inspired by the work of leading photographers.

How to Shoot Milk Bath Photography

Milk bath photography is not a new concept, but it can add something unique to most photographers' portfolios in genres ranging from maternity to newborn, portraits, and even boudoir images. This complete guide will teach you what you need to get started and how you can incorporate milk bath photos into your work.

How to Get Started in Photography

Photography is full of baffling jargon and complex numbers to the uninitiated, and it can be daunting for beginning photographers. If you are just starting out, here is an introductory guide for fundamental things you need to have and know before you jump into the wonderful world of photography.

A photographer's reflection in a window on the street in Budapest

Street Photography: A Complete Guide

Street photography is an age-old photography genre that is both popular and sometimes controversial. However, contrary to the reputation some prominent street photographers give the genre, there is way more to photographing streets than being aggressive and confrontational -- it can also be a relaxing, creative, and freeing experience for both amateurs and experienced shooters alike.

A Guide to Digital Camera Modes

Have you just gotten a more advanced camera and are looking to get better at photography? Having a good understanding of digital camera modes is an essential step in that process. If you are just starting out and are confused about all the different icons on your camera's mode dial, then this comprehensive guide to digital camera modes is just for you.

Yosemite Firefall: A Photographer’s Guide in 2024

We photographers generally have long lists of projects we want to do and then we have our bucket list items -- those things we can only hope we someday get a chance to shoot. As a nature and landscape photographer, the big three on my bucket list were the Subway at Zion, Fly Geyser, and Yosemite’s Firefall.

Real Estate Photography: A Complete Guide

I have been shooting real estate now for over a decade, and as dry and uninteresting as shooting homes may sound, I have found this a very rewarding niche in the photography world. Sure, there are dull, boring, or repetitive days, but then there are some you walk into a home and you just thank your lucky stars the Realtor called you on this one.

How to Combine Photos with Unreal Engine for Creative Composites

Mixing photography with digital backgrounds is becoming easier and more approachable. In this in-depth and over one hour video, Serge Ramelli breaks down how to use the free Unreal Engine to build a background from scratch and use it to create new composite photographic images.

Camera and lens for main image

How to Set Up Your New Camera: A Step-by-Step Checklist

Getting a new digital camera is an exciting time for photographers and videographers. A world of possibilities and learning lies ahead as well as doors to new adventures and places to visit. But it’s not always smooth sailing when it comes to using a new camera as a beginner. There are lots of complex numbers, letters, and acronyms to wrap your head around, let alone figuring out how to operate the numerous dials, buttons, and switches. But by following the simple steps included in this checklist you should be up and running in no time.

The Best Medium Format Film Cameras to Buy in 2024

The past decade has seen an explosion of film users. Whether this is driven by a sense of nostalgia, or a desire to experience the past (for those too young to have shot film earlier in their life), for the simplicity, or perhaps because some celebrities have taken to shooting film, it doesn’t really matter. The reality is likely a combination of many factors.

A Photographer’s Guide to Umbrellas

Umbrellas are perhaps the most under-appreciated light shaping tool around. Due to their low price and wide availability, they are considered by some to be only for those who are beginners. This couldn't be further from the truth.

How to Use Curves Effectively in Capture One 22

The Tone Curve in Capture One 22 is by far my favorite tool to edit images, but it's usually one of the most difficult commands to get to grips with. It can definitely be one of your most valuable assets if you want to improve your editing skills.

Meteor Shower

How to Photograph the Geminid Meteor Shower

The Geminid meteor shower is set to be a one of the most consistent meteor displays of the year, so we will be taking you through the preparation, shooting, and editing tips you'll need to capture the Geminid meteor shower from start to finish.

How to Mix Flash with Ambient Light: A Step-by-Step Method

Can you think back to a time you were taking photos in a dinner scene and they just look "flash-y"? Why does flash never look natural? Well, in order to make flash look natural, you have to make flash part of the natural lighting scenario. Here’s how.

8 Perfect Gifts for Photographers for the 2021 Holiday Season

There’s a lot of technology and terminology involved in photography. So, it’s no wonder that it’s easy to get tripped up when buying presents for photographers. And not just that: There are literally thousands upon thousands of photography products out there. Tyranny of choice, much?

Photography Abbreviations and What They Mean

The world of photography is filled with abbreviations that allow longer words or phrases to be more easily communicated. If you're just starting out as a photographer, however, they could be more confusing than helpful, and this guide was put together just for you.

How to Choose a Godox Strobe for Lighting Your Photos

If you’re just starting out with strobes, there’s more choice than ever to overwhelm you with! In this guide, we will help you systematically narrow down which lights are going to work best for your type of photography.

The Best Mirrorless Lenses in 2024

Much of the imaging industry has transitioned from DSLRs over to mirrorless during the last few years. For most manufacturers, this shift in technology has resulted in the introduction of new lens mounts along with an ever-growing number of newly designed lenses. With so many options available, finding the right lenses to suit your needs can be a daunting task.

This Astronomy Calendar Details Major Astronomical Events Through 2022

Those who want to photograph the night sky can leverage techniques common to all of landscape photography, but they still need to know when, and where, the objects they want to capture in the night sky are going to happen. To help out with that, Telescope Guide has released its 2021-2022 Astronomy Guide and Events Calendar including the best things to see in the night sky.

What is Hyperfocal Distance and How Do You Find It?

One of the more complex technical topics in photography is something called hyperfocal distance. At first glance, the basic definition of hyperfocal distance seems pretty straightforward: It’s the distance at which you focus your camera lens to get as much of your shot in focus as possible, from the foreground to the horizon.

The Best Software for Recovering Deleted Photos in 2024

Industry professionals recommend that photographers backup files locally on an external hard drive as well as with a cloud service. Even the best of us don’t always do this, which means we may delete files we never meant to, or we may lose them if something happens to our devices.

The Best Photoshop Alternatives in 2024

Although Adobe Photoshop has become known as the industry's leading post-processing software with its powerful non-destructive editing tools, it is by far not the only option available out there.