Outdoor Photography How To

Converging verticals, skewed horizontal lines, distorted buildings, tilted horizons, and other such "wonky angles" will quickly spoil an otherwise nice shot. This basic Lightroom tutorial explains why these distractions occur and demonstrates a simple Lightroom technique for straightening everything out.

In general, taking photos, particularly portraits, in direct sunlight is considered a no-no. The light is simply too harsh and the shadows it produces are unflattering on your subject.

For many photographers, working with “existing light” means shooting during the day and stashing the gear after the sun drops below the horizon. But if you take that approach you’ll miss out on a whole realm of moods, special effects, and creative possibilities.

We’ve all seen them: night shots of some wind-weathered rock formation in the American Southwest, backed by a dramatic, star-spangled sky. Earth, the universe, and everything.
Your first thought: “What sort of unaffordable equipment does it take to make a photo like that?” Your second thought: “You know, a 16x20 nighttime pic would sure look good above the pool table.”

Are you suffering from “resolution envy,” but can’t afford a super hi-res camera? Or perhaps you’re put off by the immense storage requirements or have an older computer that bogs down when editing huge files.

One advantage of owning a home, or living in an apartment with a pretty yard, is that there's abundance of great photo opportunities right outside your door. Today's topic is garden photography, and the following tutorial from Quiet Light Photo provides five time-tested tips for getting the job done to perfection.

Giving up on a favorite lens is almost like breaking up with a loved one – yes, photographers are a weird bunch – but if it’s ever happened to you, you know the feeling can be oddly familiar. “I used to love this lens but, for some reason, it just doesn’t do it for me anymore.”