Photo How To

Back in the days when 35mm cameras were king, photographers typically chose film to suit the situation at hand; perhaps Kodachome 25 or Velvia 50 for landscapes with vivid colors, and something like Kodak Portra 400 for portraits when a less punchy look was desired.

Many photographers rely on their camera’s sophisticated metering system to provide the “correct” exposure for the scene at hand. While this approach works well under a wide variety of lighting conditions, there are times when even the smartest camera can be fooled.

This may be strange to hear from a travel photographer, but I can make a case that location isn’t everything—light is. And I’d build my argument on the fact that the right light brings out the best in any location.

New York photographer Brandon Woelfel is a force to be reckoned with on Instagram, with a unique shooting style and over a million followers. Last week we shared a free Lightroom preset to give your images the “Brandon Woelfel Effect,” and in the video below you’ll learn how to mimic his style in camera.

You may be surprised to learn that long-exposure photography at night can be accomplished without any specialized equipment, and if you watch this two-minute tutorial from Mango Street you’ll be able to easily capture stellar images of starlit skies.

The practice of incorporating water reflections into your photography can create amazing effects and beautiful images. Water reflections can completely alter an ordinary image and create something deeper, more abstract, and artistic. 

Today’s modern DSLRs offer powerful video capabilities and even if your passion is still photography, shooting an occasional video can be a lot of fun—and sometimes addicting. To get you started, the basic tutorial below demonstrates setting up a camera for your first video shoot.