In a Splash

Shutterbug reader JP Gregg captured this striking image of a sunset reflection in a puddle while walking west down an avenue in Venice, Florida, after dinner one August evening. 

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.

If you’re reading this page we assume it’s no mystery that the term “shutter speed” describes the length of time your camera’s shutter remains open when you take a photograph. That’s half of the exposure equation, the other being lens aperture, that determines how much light hits the sensor (or film) in your camera.

It’s a good idea for everyone to occasionally review some basic concepts of photography that are easy to take for granted. To that end, consider this brief article a refresher course in the rules of composition. In fact, if you place two photographers in the same location, pointed at the same subject with identical gear, chances are the resulting images will be surprisingly different because of how each shooter composes the scene.