Photo How To

Let’s get this out of the way up front: The old adage that, “you’re not a real photographer unless you shoot in Manual mode” is sheer and utter nonsense. Plenty of pros use Aperture or Shutter Priority depending upon the situation at hand. Feel better?

(Editor’s Note: Exploring Light is a monthly Shutterbug column featuring tips, tricks, and photo advice from professional photographers in Canon Explorers of Light education program. This month's column is by Lynsey Weatherspoon, with five great tips for documenting heritage and cultural lineage.

Yesterday we featured a very helpful tutorial, explaining how to consistently nail exposure when shooting outdoors. But what happens when you make a mistake and a photo is badly underexposed?

Whether you’re photographing birds in the backyard, planning an outing to a local zoo, or shooting big cats on safari, achieving correct exposures is absolutely essential. This task is often challenging, as subjects move in and out of ever-changing light.

Drone photographing is rapidly gaining in popularity among landscape photographers because of the unique perspective it provides for shooting outdoors. If you don’t want to be left behind, check out the video below with five simple tips for getting started.

When it comes to portraiture, “posing is everything.” So says pro Justin Laurens who regrettably neglected this consideration when first getting started. He admits he was initially confused by how to pose models, and considered this important skill “trivial.”

If you’re like us, you spent the cold and dreary winter months taking fewer photos than you had hoped. But now that spring is here, there are no more excuses. Get outside and start shooting today!