Photo How To

Water is the primary resource on earth and can be the thread of inspiration for a variety of photography styles. For so many photographers it’s nature that inspires them with its beauty, strength and difference, where nature’s expressive power creates different atmospheres.

Star trail photos of the nighttime sky are extremely dramatic, but the typical approach takes a lot of time and advanced shooting and editing skills. If you want an easy approach for getting in on the fun, today’s straightforward tutorial explains how to create the impressive effect from a single image, using a ”hidden hotkey” in Photoshop.

As much as some Shutterbug readers consider it blasphemy to shoot “serious” images with an iPhone, it’s difficult to deny that—when used properly—today’s sophisticated smartphones are capable of making truly superb photographs. In the detailed video below, you’ll learn everything you need to know to do that yourself.

If you’re serious about landscape photography and want to blow a few minds, pull up a chair and watch the 15-minute tutorial below, as one of our favorite outdoor photographers demonstrates how to create absolutely amazing HDR panorama images in either Photoshop or Lightroom.

Photoshop often works in mysterious ways, because making an adjustment with one tool can affect other important image parameters and yield surprising results. Today’s tutorial provides one common example that you may or may not understand.

A lot more goes into making compelling travel and nature photos than finding a stunning location and nailing focus and exposure. In the video below you’ll see what one expert calls “the most important element” for grabbing a viewer’s attention.