tips

Article: Still life tent buying guide.Your guide to digital camera scene modes

Still life tents consist of a white translucent fabric supported by an internal “snap-to” support system.

Article: Wedding Photographer Jasmine Star—AdoramaTV.reDefine with Tamara Lackey

In this episode of reDefine, we talked with celebrated wedding photographer Jasmine Star, recently selected as one of the top 10 wedding photographers in the world by American Photo Magazine.

Article: Fireworks photography basics.How to capture the rockets' red glare...and more!

No matter what kind of camera you own or your level of photographic knowledge, you can capture stunning fireworks this 4th of July!

Article: Sharpening and printing.Look sharp...but not TOO sharp

To show maximum detail, use a glossy or semi-gloss (satin) paper. Detail not important for this image? Then choose any high-quality paper whose surface reinforces the mood you are trying to create.

Article: Subtleties In The Shade.Harsh direct sun can ruin a shot

I love sunlight. It adds backlit punch to portraits, and lets me shoot at superfast, stop-action shutter speeds. But sunlight can also take something away. Harsh direct sunlight can cast dark shadows that lack detail. When shooting nature, that can be a big minus.

Article: Picture-taking techniques - Outdoor portraits in the sun.What gear you need to get great outdoor pictures, and how to fight harsh outdoor sunlight...and win!

Whether you're traveling, enjoying a backyard barbecue, or recording your graduate's moment of glory, everyone ends up shooting outdoor portraits. And most are less than satisfied with the results. But a few simple picture-taking tips can soften and flatter those harshly-lit, squinty-eyed faces.

Article: The Shadows/Highlights Adjustment in Photoshop.Stretch your image's dynamic range

Sensors are limited as to the range of light that they can capture. Is there more information in a single "flat" digital image that you can tease out in Photoshop? You betcha!

Blog: Quick Tips to Speed Up Your Compact Camera.Make sure you don't miss that magic moment!

I originally wrote this piece as a guest blogger for our friends over at Techlicious.com, a cool site all about tech gadgets geared towards women. But as holiday gatherings approach, these are great t

Article: Off-color remarks: Fix the Pix, Episode 14.What to do when the color in your photos has an unnatural tint

Are your pictures coming out too blue or orange? It's time to learn how to set your White Balance.

Article: "Why is my nose so big?" Fix the Pix, Episode 8.Avoid the fun-house mirror look

You've followed my advice and are shooting frame-filling portraits with your compact digital camera. But did you remember to zoom, or did you leave your lens at its widest setting? Here's the one time you shouldn't zoom with your feet!

Article: Fill the frame when shooting a portrait: Fix the Pix, Episode 7.Are you ready for your close-up?

The trouble with people pictures is most photographers don't get close enough. Look at the difference a more intimate approach can make!

Article: Beware distracting backgrounds: Fix the Pix, Episode 6."Hey, what's with that tree growing out of my head?"

When taking photos of your friends and loved ones with your digital camera, pay attention to what’s going on behind them. Otherwise, unintentional hilarity might ensue.

Article: Is the background brighter than the foreground? Fix the Pix, Episode 4.How to avoid shadowy figures

Your subject is sitting by the window and you can see her face perfectly, but your digital camera can't. Here's why, and how to fix the problem.

Article: Lighten deep shadows on faces in bright sunlight: Fix The Pix, Episode 1.The sun is up, the sky is blue, it’s beautiful…but your subject looks like a raccoon!

When part of a face is thrown into deep shadow by bright overhead sunlight, the results are not flattering. Here's how to get better photos with your digital camera in the mid-day sun.

Article: Classic window-light still lifes.Let the natural soft light in!

Like most photographers my greatest photographic joy is to travel to exotic locales where I can take pictures of llamas dashing through the ruins of Machu Pichu, surfers hanging five on the curls at Big Sur, or skyscrapers soaring in any big city.

Article: Make it Rain.A garden sprinkler and a little imagination goes a long way

You can make it rain! Well...actually, you can make it appear to be raining in your own backyard with simple gardening tools and a bit of planning.

Article: Tonemapping your 32-bit File.HDRI under the hood

True 32-bit High Dynamic Range Images have too much information to be accurately displayed on traditional computer monitors, so it is necessary to downsample or "develop" the 32-bit information into 8- or 16-bit space—just like a traditional digital photo.

Article: Making a 32-bit High Dynamic Range Image.Demystifying HDRI

Each series of bracketed source images needs to be combined into a single 32-bit High Dynamic Range Image. This 32-bit image can contain much more information than any 8- or 16-bit file type.

Article: Lenses for HDR photography.Expand your range, both optically and otherwise

HDRI (High Dynamic Range Imaging) has become a much-discussed way to get the produce images with a range of tones and colors similar to what the human eye sees. Here are some basic HDRI techniques and advice.

Article: Bracketing a series of exposures for HDR photography.Photograph how the eye sees

HDRI (High Dynamic Range Imaging) has become a much-discussed way to get the produce images with a range of tones and colors similar to what the human eye sees.

Article: Tripods are the HDRI Photographer's Friend.For better dynamic range, you need a steady friend

In the field, High Dynamic Range Photography begins with a series of images of the same scene captured at different exposures. A tripod helps to ensure that the multiple source images are aligned properly.

Article: Tripods: The ultimate image stabilization.No shaky shots. Guaranteed.

In this time of high-tech image stabilized and vibration reduction lenses as well as anti-shake capabilities built into cameras from Sony, Olympus, and Pentax, you might wonder if you even need a tripod? I think so. Let me tell you why.

Article: Use fast lenses for low light.Wide aperture lenses can see more in the dark

Most lenses are designed to work under normal lighting conditions. In photographic terms, "normal" generally means outdoors. Normal lighting may work in overcast weather, shade of trees or buildings, or in brightly lit rooms with skylights and plenty windows, but the real world isn't always like that.

Article: Make your camera sing.Lalalalalala

Although I can't sing, my camera has a wonderful voice. When it's been fine-tuned, its voice results in expressive photos.

Article: Activate the camera-Photoshop partnership.Think like your digital camera. What does that mean? Read on!

Photographers from the darkroom ages learned to take pictures in a way to facilitate further improvements in the darkroom. They would "expose for shadows and develop for highlights."

Article: Why your camera acts like a teenager.Think like your digital camera. What does that mean? Read on!

If you can get past the "No Trespassing" and "Private-Stay out" signs posted on your teenager's door, you'll see the same thing your cameras sees every day—a mess.

Article: How do metering patterns work?.Unlocking exposure secrets

These days most digital SLRs offer multiple methods for metering the light in a scene. The most common method includes Multi-segment, sometimes called “matrix” or multi-zone metering.

Article: Do You Have The Blinkies?.How your camera lets you know your exposure is wrong

A very useful exposure tool found on some digital cameras is the highlight alert feature that my pal Barry Staver (www.barrystaver.com) calls the “blinkies” or “marching ants.”

Article: Film vs. Digital exposure, and Histograms.The ultimate tool for determining proper exposure

Correct exposure is critical, maybe even more so for digital capture than film, especially color negative film. That because the latitude (the ability to over or underexpose an image) is greatest with color negative film than for any other capture media.

Article: Understanding contrast in exposure.Unlocking an exposure mystery

Contrast is the difference in brightness between light and dark areas in a scene and can be a function of the subject matter, lighting conditions, or a little of each. Controlling contrast in camera can be a challenge.

Article: Understanding Shadows and Highlights.More exposure basics

Light has three major qualities: quality, quantity, and direction. As photographers seeking to master the art of exposure, seeing that light is the key to mastering the art of exposure.

Article: It's an imperfect world. Accept it.A cure for Photoshop addiction? Letting go

Organic and natural. Foods that grow without the artificial interference of inorganic chemicals. That's the trend in food. The reason? Because natural is, well, natural. Therefore, it must be wholesome and healthful. It's what nature has given us for thousands of years.

Article: Sharpen to show--not to kill.Finding a realistic middle ground, by the numbers

Sharpening photos is easy to overdo—especially for web display. Oversharpened photos seem filled with razor-sharped edges and internal details that look as prickly as a bed of nails. And tiny halos appear on contrasty edges. An oversharpened photo looks unnatural.

Article: Should grandma's face be as smooth as a baby's?.Cure Photoshop addiction!

Today, we wrestle with the question: Is it OK to retouch wrinkles or should you leave them alone? Imagine making Grandma look like a Hollywood starlet. Don't you think there's something wrong with that?

Article: Cornering Curves and leveling Levels.Curing a common Photoshop addiction

Curves and Levels are the perhaps the most basic Photoshop adjustments because they address image fundamentals: brightness, contrast, and color.

Article: Too much color saturation? Not a good thing..Don't be a super soaker saturater

Congress should pass legislation against those who super saturate. Photoshop's saturation control is like the volume control for color, and pictures are being pumped up like everybody is deaf.

Article: 100 in 100: Air-to-air plane photography.100 Photographic Tips in 100 Days, Part III: Day 50

Article: Six scene modes you may actually want to use.Are scene modes useful? These are!

Some scene modes seem unnecessary, but I've used these, and find them very useful!

Article: DSLR scene mode secrets!.The easy way to good exposures

Scene Modes are Program mode on steroids. They turn the whole job of exposure over to camera's CPU to not only make all of the relevant exposure choices—and maybe even ISO and color balance settings--but is biased toward specific shooting conditions. The Scene Mode you choose may even automatically pop-up the built-in flash!

Article: 5 Fall foliage photography tips.Capture the mood, the color, the season

Are you a leaf peeper? Turn your passion into photographic unreality by following these five basic, practical autumn leaf photography tips.

Article: The substitution metering method.A useful exposure tweak

When using the substitution method, you replace an object within the scene with an object of known reflectance, such as a Kodak Gray Card and take a reflected-light meter reading from this object.

Article: Metering for the Brightest Object.Compensate for a misled reading

When taking a light meter reading from the highlight area within a scene, keep in mind that meters used thusly can produce the equivalent of medium gray and underexpose the image in areas of the scene that reflect less light.

Article: Metering for the Darkest Object In A Photo.Coax details out of the shadows without blowing out the rest of the shot

If the shadow areas of the scene are most important, you might be tempted just take a meter reading only from that area. If you do this, you could overexpose the image and cause total lack of detail in some of the highlight areas.

Article: Metering for Brightness Range.Tweak your reading at the time of capture

Even with today's sophisticated DSLRs and many compact digital cameras, the ability to tweak the exposure at the moment of capture--and recognizing what tweaks you need to apply--can make or break your image's quality and content.

Article: Metering for the "correct" exposure.Sometimes it's more of a judgement call

Even with today's sophisticated cameras, the ability to tweak the exposure at the moment of capture--and recognizing what tweaks you need to apply--can make or break your image's quality and content.

Article: PPSOP: Painting with Shutter Speed.Noooooooo Tripods Allowed!

The following is a free sample lesson from Adorama's online photography partner school, the Perfect Picture School of Photography (PPSOP). Go here to check out the full course listings!

Article: Adorama Photographs America: Acadia National Park.For nature and landscape photographers, this is the Maine event

Bob Atkins takes you to one of the most photographically fascinating corners of the country, Maine's Acadia National Park.

Article: Adorama Photographs America: The Finger Lakes.Purple tongues, waterfall madness, and other surprises

Derek Doeffinger takes you on a tour of the Finger Lakes region of central New York state.

Article: Photographing Waterfalls.You're never far from a waterfall. Here's how to shoot 'em.

The great joy of photography is that it often takes you to inspiring subjects that make you feel happy. That’s how I became a happy waterfall addict.

Article: Adorama Photographs America: Puerto Rico.Visiting the Island of Enchantment? Vamos a sacar fotos fantasticos!

Joe Farace flies out to the Caribbean and focus on the glorious American Isle of Puerto Rico.

Article: Get to know a new lens.An optimal optical opportunity

Looking for photographic opportunities, consider trying out a new lens—or familiarizing yourself with a lens you don’t use often.

Article: “Staycation” photos in your backyard.You can find plenty of perfect pictures within your property line

My backyard isn’t much to look at. It’s a bit overgrown, the grass consists of thick clumps surrounded by clay-like dirt, the fence is aging but not gracefully, and there’s this huge maple tree throwing the entire yard into deep shade. And yet, it is quite photogenic.

Article: A day at the races.How to photograph the horses

Photographing horse racing--The Sport of Kings--can be challenging, because you are photographing a fast subject, and not always from as close as you might like.

Article: How to photograph joggers and runners.Keep close and keep track

Today, let's take a run at photographing fleet-footed subjects, and see how it jogs your creativity.

Article: Serving winning tennis shots.Shoot sports like a pro

Whether you’re covering the U.S. Open or snapping a friendly match at the local court, Tennis is a sport that offers plenty of opportunities to capture exciting action while fine-tuning your picture-taking timing. It’s all about knowing the game—and keeping your eyes on the ball.

Article: How to dress for a family photo.Matching colors help unify the image

If you’re going out for a family photo, doing it yourself, or are photographing other families, there’s one visual element that will tie the photo together in a nice, neat bow: clothing.

Article: What's an aspect ratio?.Why some print sizes cut off parts of your picture

Aspect ratio is the numerical relationship between the height of the image and its width, and is usually expressed with two numbers.

Article: Driven to abstraction.Look for patterns and colors everywhere.

If you are driven, visually, to abstraction, you’ve got plenty of material. Just look around you.

Article: Look sharp with Unsharp Mask.Unblur your photos

"What is Unsharp Mask, and how do you use it to sharpen pictures?" is a question that we get often from readers. This tip provides the answer.

Article: Use shadows to your photographic advantage.Lighten up your photographic sensibilities

When the sun shines, shadows come out to play, giving you a chance to create some unconventional photographs. So pick up your camera and catch a few before they flee at the approach of clouds.

Article: How to photograph a silhouette at the window.A way to simplify a composition

Silhouettes are a great way to simplify a photo: They reduce an image to dramatic areas of light and dark, lines, and not much color. One of the best places to shoot a silhouette is against a window.There are several ways to expose a silhouette; here are two:

Article: April showers bring great photos.When the rain comes, don't run and hide your camera

There are wonderful photo opportunities when it rains that you won’t find any other time.

Article: How raindrops can transform a scene.Shoot through a window on a rainy day? The secret is the focus.

I’m sitting in my office, typing away, when something outside catches my eye: dark, menacing rain clouds! Sure enough, within minutes it’s pouring rain, and the wind is whipping it around. Drops are landing on the window.

Article: Digital Infrared Basics.Infrared photography is easier than ever, thanks to digital cameras.

Back in the days of IR film, you had to use special film and load and unload your camera in total darkness to reduce the damage of fogging.

Article: Proofing and reviewing prints.How to make sure it's picture-perfect

When making a proof print, I often use 5 x 7 paper to save costs and time.

Article: Adjust in RAW.Preparing for a picture-perfect print

You've chosen your image. Now it will need to be adjusted for the best possible print.

Article: Shooting to sell? Get closer!.eBay product photography tip

The three biggest mistakes sellers make when photographing eBay products are using the on-camera flash, having a cluttered background, and not getting close enough the product.

Article: View Camera Moves in Adobe Photoshop.Tilt and shift your pixels

Those of us who don’t lug view cameras around get perspective distortion in our subjects whenever we point the camera up or down (even slightly) or diagonally towards a flat surface.

Article: Take A Photo A Day.A resolution, and a challenge

If you've been reading Adorama's tips series, you've been getting a lot of (hopefully) useful information. Now, it's time for you to get to work and apply these tips, because just reading about it isn't going to improve your photography. Getting out there with your camera and taking pictures will.

Article: Stack the Composition.Add layers of depth to your photos

"Stacking the Composition" is a technique, often used by photojournalists and by wedding photographers who take a photojournalistic approach to their subject, in which one or more secondary subjects are placed strategically within the photograph, usually at a different plane.

Article: Fine-Tune Monochrome RAW Files.Achieve subtle tonal changes

Here's a compelling argument for shooting in RAW and using Adobe Photoshop CS2 or higher: The level of control when converting a color digital image into black-and-white is amazing.

Article: Cluttered Shots? Simplify!.Pay attention to the background

Here's one thing that separates snapshots from great shots: Clutter. It could be a distracting background, a tree seeming to grow out of Aunt Doris's head, or irrelevant elements distracting the viewer from what you want to emphasize.

Article: Boost ISO to Increase Depth.The benefits of high speed, continued

Most people think of high ISO settings on a digital camera as something to use when shooting in low light, but there are other situations in which a higher ISO setting can beuseful.

Article: Extra Texture.Read all about it!

An important aspect of photographic composition is texture. The texture of skin is important in portraits (if a portrait subject’s skin texture is too rough, you may need to add a softening filter or do work in Photoshop), while objects in photos may have textures that set the mood of the image.

Article: Window Treatment.Go ahead...let your photographic subject be a real pane.

I do windows. No, not Microsoft's operating system, but actual windows. Windows range from common to unusual, and can be a source of photographic inspiration.

Article: Slow Shutter Speed Action Panning.Show movement

A common newbie mistake when photographing sports is to use the fastest shutter speed to freeze action. That’s fine where there is a peak of action, as in basketball and baseball. The Sports mode on many cameras selects short exposures to stop movement.

Article: Using Lighting Modifiers.Studio Lighting Basics, Part IV

There's an old rule of lighting to keep in mind when working with the lighting equipment featured in this series: The closer and larger a light source is to a subject, the softer quality of that light becomes.

Article: Career Jumpstart: Getting started in wedding photography.Thinking of a career in wedding photography? It ain't easy! Here are some things to keep in mind

Over the years, the wedding business has really boomed. People are spending more and more time and money to create their dream weddings. Part of that dream often includes fabulous photographs for the couple and their family to commemorate this monumental occasion.

Article: Composition Basics: That's Deep.Create the illusion of depth in landscape photography

One of the creative problems inherent in all photographs is that they're flat.

Article: Outdoor and Travel Photography Basics S to Z.Basics A to Z Part Three

Everything you need to know to bring home great shots.

Article: Outdoor and Travel Photography Basics I to R.Part Two

Everything you need to know to bring home great shots.