An overriding concern when editing photos is the necessity of employing the right tools and adjustments that result in a realistic look, because taking a heavy-handed approach or employing incorrect techniques can actually make our originals look worse. In other words, you're just wasting your time.
Inexperienced photographers typically strive for maximum sharpness from foreground to background in every image they shoot. A more sophisticated approach often involves strategically adding lens blur to accentuate a key subject within frame. And you'll learn an effective way to do exactly that in this tutorial from the Park Cameras YouTube channel.
So what in the heck are bokeh lights? The term bokeh describes an eye-catching effect that's achieved by shooting with a fast lens at maximum aperture to create soft-out-of-focus backgrounds that accentuate the main subject in an image. It powerful method that can be employed at any time of day.
There are several reasons why your outdoor photographs may be far less compelling than possible. Perhaps your images lack uniqueness and don't stand out from the crowd. Or maybe they're short on impact for reasons that are easy to correct by changing the approach you take in the field.
If you've ever marveled at photographs with eye-catching headlights and taillights streaking through the frame, and wondered how it's done, this quick beginners guide is just what you need. It's a dynamic technique that anyone can master in minutes.
If we asked you to name the "one concept that 99% of photographers get wrong," it's doubtful that contrast is the first thing that comes to mind. According to photographer James Parsons, however, this is a critical element that should never be ignored.
White balance can make or break a photo because this important attribute enables you to imbue a scene with a variety of feelings and moods. Do things right and you'll have broad control over a variety of appealing effects. The problem is that an incorrect approach may result in photos that appear unrealistic or totally fake.
The typical goal of most landscape photographers is to capture an image with a broad range of tonal values, with properly exposed highlights, dramatic shadows, and everything in between. This tutorial from the PHLOG Photography You channel demonstrates a different style that will really make your images stand out from the crowd.
One of the biggest challenges when photographing expansive landscape scenes is that they often include such a wide of tones that it's almost impossible to achieve balanced exposures with a single shot in the camera. Today you'll learn how to remedy this problem in the following beginners guide to exposure bending.
There's a notion going ground that photographers aren't serious about the craft unless the mode dial on their camera is set to "M." We strongly disagree, but if you want to experiment with Manual mode photography this tutorial explains everything necessary for getting started today.
Sunrise and sunsets have held immense significance across all cultures since the dawn of time, so it's not surprising that we as photographers are drawn to the symbolism of these beginnings and endings. There are several challenges to overcome to faithfully capture Golden Hour in the camera, and you'll learn how to solve them in the 12-minute video below from one of our favorite instructors.
Reflections in ponds, lakes and streams can be powerful elements for boosting the impact of images shot in the field. The trick is understanding how to accentuate nature's mirrors when you don't quite get things right in the camera.
This quick post-processing tutorial demonstrates a quick and effective method for adding impact to lackluster landscape images that appear dull and washed out. The technique is particularly effective for rehabilitating high-key photos intended to convey an ethereal effect.
You're may tire of hearing us sing the benefits of selective post-processing techniques instead of taking the quick approach of making global adjustment to an image as a whole. Well, apologies for that, but here's another great example for you to consider from David's PNW Adventures.
Thoughtful composition is an essential element of all great photos, especially when shooting complicated nature and landscape scenes that can really confuse a viewer. Today you'll learn how to employ a simple technique that will "instantly" boost the impact of every image you make in the great outdoors.