Photo How To

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Ron Leach  |  Jun 02, 2022

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, “destructive editing” occurs when you process an image in a way that overwrites the original file and there’s no way to undo the adjustments once the image is saved. In other words, if you make a mistake, you’re out of luck.

Ron Leach  |  Feb 04, 2025

The affordable polarizing filter is a favorite accessory among experienced outdoor shooters because of the way it darkens blue skies, improves saturation, and eliminates unwanted reflections from non-metallic surfaces. All you have to do is turn the rotating ring until you see the effect you desire.

Ron Leach  |  Feb 14, 2024

Last week we presented a quick solution for eliminating ugly color fringing from photographs captured outdoors in high-contrast situations. Today we're tackling another unsightly problem; namely, color banding and gradient banding that can also ruin an otherwise great shot.

Ron Leach  |  Apr 22, 2025

One common reason for unimpressive photos is a lack of attention-grabbing contrast with weak highlights and shadows, along with an insufficient difference between these two crucial elements. Today's Lightroom tutorial from the popular PHLOG Photography YouTube channel explains how to deal with high-contrast images and achieve a wide range of tones from bright whites to deep blacks, and everything in between.

Ron Leach  |  Jun 11, 2024

One of the most exciting aspects of landscape photography is that we're never sure what to expect from Mother Nature. Sometimes calm, sunny days quickly transform into a dark and foreboding scenarios with threatening clouds and other eye-popping atmospherics that make for awesome imagery.

Maria Piscopo  |  Sep 22, 2015

While branding might not be as sexy a topic as fashion or travel photography, it’s a critical element to making your photography business a success. Fortunately, we have a good group of educated and experienced photographers to help bring us up to date on what branding is, how to create it, mistakes to avoid, and why it’s so important to your business. Bottom line? Marketing your photography with a strong brand message will give you a competitive edge and get you paid what you are worth. I want to thank my patient contributors for sharing their knowledge and lessons with us: Casey Bevington, Matthew Dutile, Andrew Fingerman at PhotoShelter, Karen Hirsch, Giulio Sciorio, Beth Taubner at Mercurylab, and Daniel Waters at Get Pro Photo. They gave so many good ideas and tips that you will want to take notes!

Maria Piscopo  |  Oct 30, 2015

Michael Grecco is an award-winning, internationally renowned director and photographer of celebrity portraits, advertising and editorial commissions, private collections, and fine art. As one of the most respected visual storytellers in the world, his conceptual vision and signature dramatic lighting create distinctive images that are evocative, sophisticated, and comedic.

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Jun 09, 2019

For the legions of photographers who used film cameras in the past, a screw-in type photo filter is as normal as fingerprints on an iPhone. But for those who started their photographic journey with a digital, even the word filter can be confusing. Does it plug into Photoshop or screw into a lens? Are they like the AA filter that covers an imaging sensor, or do they fit in a Mister Coffee? If you don’t own any filters, you’re missing some fun. Here’s a quick guide to buying one for your DSLR camera.

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  May 11, 2017

Binoculars make great gifts, but navigating the styles, descriptions, specifications and nomenclature can be dizzying. How does an 8x42 compare to a 7x50, and why are some models $999 while others are $99? Here’s a sensible (and short) guide to buying binoculars. 

Steve Meltzer  |  Mar 05, 2020

A few weeks ago during a photo shoot, I dropped and fatally damaged one of my cameras. Since I live a good distance from any urban area with a camera shop, I always go online to buy camera and lenses.

Shutterbug Staff  |  Feb 11, 2019

Buying used gear of any kind can be a nerve-wracking experience. But when you’re talking about delicate cameras and lenses, purchasing something secondhand can be particularly challenging.

Ron Leach  |  Jul 30, 2024

We've spent a lot of time singing the virtues of shooting in the Raw file format, and there are numerous reasons why doing so delivers both optimum image quality and greater versatility during post processing. But in this quick tutorial from the Better Pix YouTube channel you'll learn the benefits of shooting Jpeg files, along with several helpful tips for creating amazing images.

Ron Leach  |  May 29, 2025

Capturing a subject in silhouette is one of the most dramatic ways to shoot compelling images, especially if you're working in b&w. Today's tutorial from the New Ways of Seeing YouTube channel demonstrates everything you need to know for achieving this powerful effect.

Ron Leach  |  Aug 14, 2024

We've all had the misfortune of returning from a shoot, only to discover that our "great" images are soft and unfocused. This problem can be overlooked if it's extremely rare, but if it happens consistently there are a few problems that must be resolved.

Ron Leach  |  May 06, 2025

Most photographers are intrigued by the prospect of capturing exotic animals in their natural environment, but many of us lack the time or means to book a safari abroad. The next best thing is a trip to the local zoo where you can make some great shots, work on your skills, and get prepared for shooting in the field.

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