Videos

A lot goes into making captivating portraits, and we regularly post tutorials on lighting techniques, camera settings, and how to pose and direct models. Today’s episode has a narrower focus; namely, taking a look at how lenses of three popular focal lengths perform with regard to several important imaging characteristics.

Upscaling photos is a common task, and there are a variety of ways to get the job done. Discussions about which method to use, however, typically revolve around how images look on the computer screen at 100% or more.

Focusing speed and precision are key considerations when buying a new camera. Some models use a phase-detection autofocus (AF) system, while others use contrast-detection AF, and some offer the advantages of both.

Photography is no different than other creative pursuits, in that mistakes happen regardless of one’s skills. That’s often true with exposure, particularly under difficult lighting conditions. 

Many landscape photographers never leave home without a polarizing filter, and consider this simple accessory almost mandatory for everything they do. But as you see in the eye-opening tutorial below, one pro says polarizers may detract from an image in certain situations—depending on the specific scene at hand and the mood you want to create.

It’s not uncommon for photographers to adopt a “set-it-and-forget it” mentality when configuring their cameras, thereby ending up with photographs that aren’t as good as possible. Whether you call this habit lazy or uninformed, there are times when the choice of a custom setting results in more creative images.

Manny Ortiz is a professional photographer we turn to again and again for inspiration and instruction. In this video titled “All Photographers Take Bad Pictures,” he offers a little bit of both.