Photo How To

Stories and videos with secret camera hacks aren't just fun, they can be super useful if you want to save time and money while getting awesome, fresh looks for your latest photo or video. In the quick, easy and eye-opening video below, Joris Hermans shares five camera hacks that he employs on a regular basis.

The idea here was...well, there were a few ideas. First, I wanted to do photography that was bright, cheerful, colorful—and different. With times being a bit harsh and stressful for many, I was looking for something light-hearted and, frankly, far from reality. Dreamy and summer-like came to mind. 

Depth-of-field is like the weather—we can’t control it but we can take advantage of its powerful effects. That is, if we understand its behavior. Here are 7 facts about DoF to coach photographers through the laws of physics and optical phenomena.

One of the many benefits of modern mirrorless cameras is that they enable you to use vintage lenses of various brands with the use of simple and affordable adapters. So if you have an assortment of old legacy glass gathering dust, it’s possible to get started as soon as you acquire a new camera, without immediately investing in native lenses.

Among the most popular stories we post are those in which professional photographers recount mistakes they’ve made in the past, so you don’t make them in the future. And that’s exactly what you’ll find below, as Curtis Padley discusses seven shooting errors he wished he had avoided as his skills evolved.

One characteristic of great portrait photographers is the way they employ empathy to develop a strong rapport with their subjects, and the New York-based visual artist known as Shotti is a great example. He says, “My process relies heavily on communicating with my subjects on an emotional level, and through that connection I am able to get an insight into our shared experiences.”

Cropping is a simple and effective way to fix poorly composed images, turn a horizontal shot into a vertical one, or get rid of distracting elements. And if you’re caught out in the field without a telephoto lens, cropping is an effective way to get in tight on a distant subject—especially if you’re using a hi-res camera.