Clouds make great backdrops for most nature subjects. They add interest, become compositional elements, create balance, provide color and add drama to landscape or wildlife photos. They can be a primary or secondary component. At times, they can simply serve as a colorful backdrop for a silhouette. As you can see, they’re quite diverse and integral to the success or failure of a photo. The more strategically you weave them into your compositions, the greater the chance of them improving the photo. Here are some tips for cloud photography when working with landscapes and wildlife.  Landscapes Cloud Photography Landscapes are one of the most popular subjects of every nature photographer. Whether you’re a seasoned pro, weekend warrior or simply make them...

Leica cameras and lenses are rather polarizing, with some seeing them as overpriced niche items that do not do anything special and some absolutely swearing by both the experience and images they offer. So, are they worth the price? This great video essay discusses the topic and why one photographer thinks they are worth their premium cost. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

Canon's 35mm f/1.4L II USM lens is known for being sharp, with a beautiful rendering and strong performance. Nonetheless, like most Canon L lenses, it is rather expensive. Tamron's SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD undercuts the Canon's price significantly. However, can its image quality and performance match the more expensive option? This great video review compares both to see which is the best option for your own work. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

Printing professional-quality images can be an intimidating task if you are new to it. However, it doesn't need to be overly complicated. By following a few simple steps you can easily create high-end prints ready for your walls or print sales. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Abby Ferguson, MFA)

Astrophotography is by far one of the most specialized genres out there, requiring quite a bit of specific equipment, software, and technique, but capturing things that are unfathomable distances away can be really rewarding. If you are new to the genre or looking to improve your work, check out this awesome video tutorial that answers 10 of the most common questions people have about astrophotography. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

Many street photographers might claim that the Leica M series is the best street photography camera. While they are not wrong, necessarily, I think the Ricoh GR Digital IV offers more flexibility and value. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Michael Ernest Sweet)

Photo By Harry Lichtman Today’s Photo Of The Day is “On the Wind” by Harry Lichtman. Location: Death Valley National Park, California. “The blowing sand from these Death Valley dunes was best illuminated using a long lens (600mm) to isolate the shadow forms and wispy sand trails,” explains Lichtman. “In this way, the wind and blowing sand became the main event.” Want to get your images in the running for a Photo of the Day feature? Photo of the Day is chosen from various galleries, including Assignments, Galleries and Contests. Assignments have weekly winners that are featured on the website homepage, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To get your photos in the running, all you have to do is submit them. The post Photo Of The...

Bird photography is a very challenging genre that requires a lot of specialized knowledge, top-tier technique, and patience, but when it all comes together, it can reward you with stunning photos. If you are looking to improve your own bird photography, this awesome video tutorial features two seasoned professionals discussing their background and a range of lessons and ways to improve your work. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

Wildlife photography can be a tremendously fun and interesting genre, but it often requires very long focal lengths, and the lenses involved can be very expensive. Canon's RF 600mm f/11 IS STM offers the kind of focal length wildlife photographers need at a very affordable price, albeit with some compromises to get to that price level. Is it still worth it? This great video review takes a look at what you can expect. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

The post Macro Photography: The Complete Guide to Breathtaking Macro Images appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Barrie Smith. What is macro photography? How can you get started capturing macro photos? And what are some easy tips and techniques to take your macro images to the next level? That’s what this article is all about. I’m going to share everything you need to know about macro photography – so that, by the time you’ve finished this article, you’ll be well on your way to becoming an expert. Specifically, I’ll discuss: The two pieces of gear you need to take stunning close-up shotsThe best lighting for vibrant colorsHow to create a scrumptious, creamy background blurHow to capture consistently...

If you have a big budget for an editorial shoot or you're lucky enough to live near some beautiful scenery, then finding an ideal location for a portrait or fashion shoot won't be an issue. However, the vast majority of photographers have to work with less than that, so here are some great tips to get creative in ugly environments. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Mike O'Leary)

GVM recently sent me their new 50SM lights, and in this video, I do a quick overview and put them to the test filming a puppy adoption video. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Lee Morris)

You could spend a lifetime out in nature with your camera and still barely scratch the surface of what is out there to photograph. If you would like to improve your landscape and nature photography, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features five helpful tips that will improve your work and expand your creative palette. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

Photography is something we all choose to do willingly, and as such, it should be something that makes us happy. Nonetheless, a lot of photographers are not particularly happy, which is a shame. Why is that, though? This insightful video essay discusses some of the possible reasons. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

Original, innovative photography is hard to find. However, Ethan Beckler has excelled. He leads the way in macro photography, pushing camera and lens technology beyond normal limits and creating astounding art at the same time. With great generosity, he shares his techniques with us. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Ivor Rackham)

Supertelephoto prime lenses are often prohibitively expensive, but in the past few years, we have seen a big influx of much more affordable supertelephoto zoom lenses. For Sony shooters, there is the FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS, and this fantastic video review takes a look at how it performs in practice. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

Capturing the world in 360 has been a thing for years. While companies such as Ricoh and Insta360 have made the process far easier than the days of specialized tripod heads and sophisticated software, it’s still not an easily understood process or format. Vecnos aims to change that with its new IQUI 360 camera. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Wasim Ahmad)

Adobe Photoshop is such a deep and impressive tool, that most things can be done within the software. While you may (and arguably, should) want to get it right in-camera, sometimes you don't have that option. Here is a great tutorial on how to fake the colored gel look. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Robert K Baggs)

Photo By David Connel Today’s Photo Of The Day is “Gibbon Bond” by David Connel. Location: Tanjung Putting National Park, Kalimantan, Indonesia. “My wife and I traveled to Borneo to photograph the orangutans and gibbons in the Tanjung Putting National Park, Kalimantan, Indonesia,” says Connel. “The gibbons were particularly fun to observe and photograph as they traveled through the trees. We encountered a few mothers with their babies. After watching their interactions, I was highly motivated to capture this emotional bond between mother and baby. This turned out to be extremely difficult since they never stopped moving. After three days in the jungle, I managed to capture this image when they paused right in front of me.” 1/90 sec., f/6.3, ISO...

Portraiture is a challenging genre that requires sharp skills with the camera, in lighting, post-processing, and your ability to work with and pose a subject. If you have been feeling a little unsure of your work lately and need something to get you back on track, check out this great video tutorial that will give you five helpful tips to improve your portraits. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)