Photo How To

Dronestagram, the popular global network of drone enthusiasts, has just announced the winners of their 2017 International Drone Photography Contest. For this 4th annual competition they’ve once again partnered with National Geographic to find the best drone photos from across the globe.

Back in the days of film photography, the polarizing filter was widely considered an essential tool for shooting outdoors. These days digital photographers often ignore this important accessory, even though it works it’s magic just as well with digital photography.

It’s time to get prepared for next month’s once-in-a-lifetime photographic opportunity when those of us in the U.S. will be treated to the first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse since 1918. 

Whether you’re shooting indoor portraits by window light or using available light outdoors, an inexpensive reflector is one of best tools for dramatically improving your results. In the five-minute video below, photographer Mark Cleghorn demonstrates everything you need to know to get the job done.

If you want to make great images of next week’s 4^th of July fireworks festivities it’s important to know what you’re doing before the spectacle lights up the sky. The six-minute video below will explain everything you need to know to make the most of this annual opportunity.

One way to avoid unnecessary processing time is to set the optimum white balance for your scene before shooting a photograph. That typically involves selecting one of the camera’s pre-set modes, or taking time to create a custom white balance setting yourself.

There are plenty of rules about which focal length lens works best for different types of photography. For example, many of us were taught to reach for a 50mm or 85mm lens for portraiture and a 24mm ultra-wide for interiors, architecture and landscape shots.