Outdoor Photography How To

Ask a bunch of inexperienced photographers to name the easiest editing task they tackle, and most will likely give you a one-word answer: "Cropping." Yet, as you'll see in this eye-opening video from Landscape Photography University, incorrect cropping can spoil an image forever.

Curves are a fundamental component of Photoshop's editing toolbox, and one pro says, "if you're not using them you are seriously missing out." These tools have the ability to significantly enhance dull photos, accentuate mood and drama, and fine-tune color balance with precision.

It took two trips to the Arctic Circle for photographer Dale Sharpe to pop the question to his girlfriend Karlie Russell, but as you see here the resulting photos are totally epic. 

The holiday season is in full swing, and with it come numerous once-a-year opportunities for dazzling photos. And regardless of where you live, now is the perfect time to take a drive and photograph the festive lights and decorations that brighten up your neighborhood.

A camera enforces a “framing” of the world before you. While you can choose various aspect ratios (from standard to panoramic, from 3:4 to 6:19) the fact remains that you always have to choose what to include and what to leave out of the photo. It’s like constructing a box and deciding what to put inside it. Making those decisions often involves utilizing certain compositional guidelines and tools that artists have used in the past, although like any rules they “are made to be broken.” When deciding which guidelines to apply always remember that content rules, and that context helps tell the tale.

All good photographers strive to make images that stand out from the crowd, whether they shoot landscapes, sports, wildlife, or another genre. And the best way to do that is by developing a unique (and hopefully recognizable) style you can call your own.

We’ve all been taught to avoid shooting in direct sunlight whenever possible, to avoid blown-out highlights, harsh contrast, washed-out colors, unflattering shadows, and models with squinty eyes. In the shooting and editing tutorial below, you’ll earn how to meet these challenges and achieve beautiful photos.