This week’s photography challenge topic is PATTERNS! Diogo Nunes Patterns – a repeated decorative design – are all around us in nature, architecture, technology, and human-made objects. So go out and capture anything that has patterns. They can be color, black and white, moody or b

Whether you’re shooting landscapes, street photography, outdoor portraits, or just making a photo of your cat lounging in the window, a great many photos have one thing in common – sunlight. Yes, that big burning ball of fire in the sky can either ruin your photos or make them memorable.

Purple has had a long history in visual arts. From prehistoric to modern artworks, purple has come to represent aspects of religion, royalty and status. In this article, we’ll look back on the history of the color purple, its evolution and its impact in the context of modern visual art. The p

Helios 44M-4 58mm f/2 lens is probably one of the most mass-produced camera lenses in the world. I was lucky enough to find the M42 screw-mount version of this Helios lens in a nearby camera store. Using an ‘M42 to EF’ adapter I was able to use this 58mm f/2 lens on my Canon APS-C camera

The digital age has made photography easier, cheaper, and more accessible than ever before.  Even people who wouldn’t call themselves “photographers” now carry a camera in their pocket in the form of their cellphone. However, has the ability to snap a picture without skill or

Are you having trouble landing a job? Do you keep showing your work but are not getting any clients? Maybe it’s time to review your photography portfolio. Whether you’re doing a digital or printed portfolio, here are some do’s and don’ts to improve the way you present your ph

This week’s photography challenge topic is TEXTURE! Image by Glenn Harper Go out and capture absolutely anything that includes texture. You can photograph anything that has texture, or you can overlay textures in post-processing to create a whole new work of art. They can be color, black and w

Monochromatic photography is often associated with black and white photography, but it is certainly not limited to just that. As the name implies, monochromatic is about one color. Thus an image that contains tones and variations of a specific color is termed monochromatic. Why use monochromatic c

The illusion of perfect experiences I haven’t used any images from the anecdotes I discuss. I don’t want to create targets. Instead, the images in this article are from successful photoshoots but also some very challenging shoots. It’s time to talk about the photoshoots that go wro

Have you ever felt fed up with your photography? Disillusioned? Frustrated? Uninspired? Burnt out? If that’s the case for you, you are not alone in those feelings. Most of us feel that way at some point or another, often on multiple occasions. Fortunately, there is and always has been a lot o

It’s a universal truth that everyone has to start somewhere. It’s also true that when you start something new, you’ll make mistakes. All the expert writers on this site will have gone through this process – myself included. In this article, you’ll learn about 12 common

What was once a weird little niche in photography is now a worldwide phenomenon. Food photography is only growing in popularity if the 32 million posts currently on Instagram are anything to go by. Food photography is here to stay, but it’s not an easy genre to master. Our guide gives you so

One of the best ways to “improve” at photography is to look at a lot of pictures. Ask yourself why some photos work and others don’t. This is easy to do with the endless photo books and magazines available. You can also learn a lot from the world of cinema. Use movies to inspire yo

“I love spending time in front of a computer working on my images – sorting them, cataloging them and editing them,” said no photographer ever! Well, maybe a few of us like to be sitting in front of our desk pouring over image after image, shoot after shoot. But let’s face it

Sparklers are fun, festive, and can add, well…Sparkle to your photos! Getting good sparkler shots will test your skills too, teach you new ways of operating your camera and allow you to make some “hot shots” people will admire. So let’s look at the tools, techniques, and tip

Many newborn photographers, especially those who specialize in purely newborn photos, have their own studio. Parents come to them with their newborns, and their studios are fully kitted-out with lights (unless they are a natural light only photographer), backdrops and props. Some newborn photograph

There are a variety of ways to quote on a commercial photography job. Every photographer has their own approach. If you’re new to working with clients, or even if you’ve been at it for a little while, putting together a formal estimate can be a daunting process. The bigger the scope, the

Birds are a delight for the eye, and it’s natural you want to capture them with your camera. However, when you start shooting more and more, you’ll realize that each environment offers challenges, and therefore each requires a unique approach. Red-Crowned Parakeet © Samuel Bloch Bir

Think back to the time when you first got interested in photography. From the moment you first pick up a camera, you are bombarded with a constant onslaught of dos and don’ts. You have to do this. You can’t do that. Rules, rules, rules, some more rules: then once you have a grasp on thos

Think dark, moody shadows. Sparse illumination and a somber atmosphere. No color. This is low key black and white photography. © Kevin Landwer-Johan Usually one main light, or ‘key’ light, falls on your subject and the background fades to black. It’s all about the highlights a