Spring Oak, Ahwahnee, California, 2011. A key element on our property is this magnificent spreading oak, which resides just outside our front door. We built the house where it is to feature the tree. I wait for the right conditions, like here when the new leaves just come out. I’ve lived in this home near Oakhurst, California, for 20 years. I’ve always found something to photograph over that time, be it my purple plums in bloom, the oaks or pines or manzanitas, moss-covered boulders, fog, snowstorms or the clouds, irises or poppies or lupine blooming. Or the first fresh leaves budding out on the large oak in my front yard. I watch the light and weather daily and wait for inspiration....

I recently shot a new portfolio and every photographer I have shown it to thinks it is rubbish. But every art director, buyer, agent, and creative director loves it. Let's look into why this is. [ Read More ]Original linkOriginal author: Scott Choucino

In this video, Jason Boone from Boone Loves Video shares the best tips and methods of using still images in Premiere Pro and how to make the visual aspect as interesting and visually appealing as possible. [ Read More ]Original linkOriginal author: Wouter du Toit

New York is the city that never sleeps. It’s a city that’s famous for it’s bustling streets and the weird and wonderful community that populate it. It’s a hub of activity, or at least it was until lockdown. [ Read More ]Original linkOriginal author: Jennifer McCord

Decisive: Having the ability to decide when it’s crucial and important characterized by, or displaying, little or no hesitation. Synonyms: Conclusive, definitive, absolute, certain, assured, imperative. Moment: A short period of time, an instant, a minute allotment of time. Synonyms: A wink, juncture, brief period, split second. Put the two together and we’re talking about performing an action at the most important and crucial time that gets accomplished in an instant. Henri Cartier-Bresson And The Decisive Moment So what does this have to do with photography? Henri Cartier-Bresson was a famous photographer who coined the term. He was a street photographer and photojournalist. At the time he authored the phrase, photography was a new art form. The time at which he...

OK, Sony’s can’t tether directly into Lightroom (Sony won’t share their secret tethering code with Adobe, like Nikon and Canon have for years), so we have to use a workaround…but hey, it works. Here’s how it’s done: STEP ONE: On your Sony camera (this is an A7R II mirrorless) go to your USB Connection menu and change the setting from the default of “Auto” to “PC Remote” (as seen above). STEP TWO: Go download and install Sony’s free Imaging Edge software. Included in this free software bundle is the desktop application ‘Imaging Edge Remote’ which is what you need to send images directly from your Sony camera to your computer. It’s a small application (file size wise) and an easy install....

Death photography was, at one time, a popular way of preserving a memory of a loved one who has passed. This video discusses the history of it, and suggests that it can still play a role in modern society as a way to cope with grief. [ Read More ]Original linkOriginal author: Mike O'Leary

Lighting is often the difference between a boring scene and an interesting one. In this video, you get to see a full breakdown of the transformation of a scene from flat and common lighting, through to complex and cinematic looking. [ Read More ]Original linkOriginal author: Robert K Baggs

In what is becoming a familiar story, yet another celebrity is being sued for posting photos of themselves on Instagram. This time, the celebrity is actress Amy Schumer. [ Read More ]Original linkOriginal author: Alex Cooke

In this video, I look at some of the dos and don'ts of photography websites. Although there are many ways to skin a cat, there are some things that are real turn-offs for potential photography clients. Here are my top five tips. [ Read More ]Original linkOriginal author: Scott Choucino

The post Fujifilm Will Award $90,000 in Gear as Part of “Students of Storytelling” Initiative appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey. If you’re a university student, or you’re interested in following the work of student photographers and videographers around the US, then I have good news: Fujifilm is launching its Students of Storytelling contest, which awards 30 students up to $3000 USD in Fujifilm gear. Its purpose? To help students tell their own stories through photography and videography. As Fujifilm explains, ” We are passionate about stories and truly believe that the future of storytelling rests in the hands of today’s college students. This is why the Students of Storytelling contest will award up to...

Filmmaker Mark Bone has just discovered that some free software from Sony can stabilize footage from his FX9 to the point that he’s wondering how often he will ever need to use a gimbal in the future. Check out this short video. [ Read More ]Original linkOriginal author: Andy Day

Photo By Clayton Peoples Today’s Photo Of The Day is “Heaven on Earth” by Clayton Peoples. Location: Kings Canyon National Park, California. “I hiked into Kings Canyon National Park from the east side for the first time this past summer,” explains Peoples. “I knew that there were lakes below Kearsarge Pass, so I was hoping to get some reflections. Unfortunately, when I reached the lakes, the winds were just strong enough that most of the lakes had ripples, and, thus, no reflections. But I noticed that there was a wind-sheltered outlet between the first and second lakes where the water was reliably calm. So, I navigated toward that area—crossing a creek in the process—and balanced on some rocks in the water...

Critique the Community In this episode of Critique the Community, we are looking for your best photographs featuring groups of people. The group needs to be more than 2 people and can be of any genre of photography. Keep in mind, our critiques are always based on the idea that only your best work should be featured in your portfolio and these images would be used to gain future clients. Feel free to submit any images you want that fit the guideline but we will still critique based on portfolio quality work regardless. As always, the highest rated image will win a free tutorial from the... [ Read More ]Original linkOriginal author: Patrick Hall

Every photographer is dealing with the global pandemic in a different way. For Chris Wallace, that means shooting a wedding with Lego pieces. This brilliantly creative series follows the ceremony, reception, and even family group photos with incredible accuracy to that of a real wedding. [ Read More ]Original linkOriginal author: Jack Alexander

If there's one subject you're always going to have access to, it's you. Here are three great ideas that can work as templates or inspiration for some self-portraits to try. [ Read More ]Original linkOriginal author: Robert K Baggs

The post How to Convert a Photo to a Drawing in Photoshop appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Mark C Hughes. If you are anything like me, your artistic skills with a pencil are not great. I can, however, take pretty good photographs. So, this technique will show you how to convert a photo to a drawing in Photoshop. The steps aren’t complicated, but we will use smart objects, filters and blend modes. If you are not familiar with these, check out the related links to learn more about them. You will need to use Adobe Photoshop for this particular technique and I will be using the current 2020 CC version of Photoshop. Different versions of Photoshop...

Most macro lenses are generally in the 100mm range, but sometimes, macro photographers prefer longer focal lengths, as they can give better telephoto compression and longer working distances when trying not to disturb a subject. If you are interested in such a lens at an affordable price, check out this great video review of the IRIX 150mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1 lens. [ Read More ]Original linkOriginal author: Alex Cooke

It is quite impressive just how advanced editing and retouching tools have become, but even so, many of the world's best retouchers prefer a more fundamental, old fashioned technique: dodging and burning. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how you can use dodging and burning for retouching skin using Photoshop. [ Read More ]Original linkOriginal author: Alex Cooke

Composition in landscape photography can be a really subtle and tricky thing. If it is something you struggle with, this excellent video tutorial will give you nine guidelines that can help you improve the compositions of your landscape images. [ Read More ]Original linkOriginal author: Alex Cooke