Outdoor Photography How To

There are numerous “rules” of photography and some are meant to be broken—including a few of the most familiar. But as you’ll see in the eye-opening video below from a trusted pro, you can avoid sabotaging images by using an oft-ignored trick.

Last week we featured the first of a two-part beginners guide to nature and wildlife photography from expert Janine Krayer—a photographer and instructor who spends much of her time teaching workshops and photographing exotic animals in the wilds of Africa.

OK, listen up. If you’re rolling your eyes because “real photographers use real cameras,” we have two suggestions for you to consider: Either replace your five-year-old phone or watch the tutorial below. Then, if you’re still not convinced, go ahead and ridicule mobile photography all you want.

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.

Lens diffraction is an important concept that’s not very well understood by many photographers, and it can have a big impact on your images. In the tutorial below you’ll find a simple explanation, and learn how to deal with diffraction for better results.

The quickest way to fall into a creative rut is shooting the same types of images over and over again. Landscape photographers shoot landscapes, portrait specialists concentrate on people … well, you get the idea.

Sometimes simple is the way to go, particularly when it comes to landscape photos. In particular, that means outdoor images that are less cluttered, more organized, and cleaner overall to create a more impactful scene.