Photo How To

Q. Re: your answer to the question about solving noise problems in the writer’s wedding shots in the February 2017 issue. You mentioned Photoshop, Lightroom, and Nik for noise reduction, but left out the best noise reduction software I’ve ever used—DxO’s OpticsPro 11. I had great night shots of lava flowing into the sea off Hawaii that were unusable because of noise, but OpticsPro 11 Prime worked wonders.

One of the benefits of today’s advanced digital cameras is that they offer extremely high ISO settings that deliver remarkable results under low-light conditions. When shooting with good light, however, most photographers simply set their camera to its base sensitivity of ISO 100 or 200.

Food always looks great in TV and magazine ads, right? That’s usually the case whether we’re talking about a cheap burger at a fast food joint or an expensive steak at a nice restaurant. Well, we hate to break it to you but some of that appetizing food you drool over in ads isn’t really edible at all.

Videos about photo tricks and photo hacks are some of our most popular posts so here’s another good one from the folks at COOPH. In the below video, titled “10 Photography Tricks to Do at Home,” COOPH’s photographers are once again showing you cheap, fun, and easy photo ideas to give you images extra oomph without having to spend a lot of money (or time.)

Binoculars make great gifts, but navigating the styles, descriptions, specifications and nomenclature can be dizzying. How does an 8x42 compare to a 7x50, and why are some models $999 while others are $99? Here’s a sensible (and short) guide to buying binoculars. 

Many of the most dramatic outdoor images are made by experienced photographers using neutral density (ND) filters in conjunction with long exposures. In the video below you’ll learn everything you need to know about choosing the proper ND filter for the scene at hand and using it properly.

If the used camera lens you see online is packaged with a leash and a bone, odds are very good that it’s a dog. But in the absence of obvious evidence, how can you tell a bargain from a bagel? It’s impossible to physically examine the merchandise before purchase. And you can’t always trust what you see in the listing photos. However, you can conduct a thorough inspection upon receipt. Here are 10 things to check the minute the used lens is delivered.