The post 9 Tips for Beautiful Flat Lay Food Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Ana Mireles. Flat lay food photography is a popular sub-genre of still life – in fact, you’ve probably seen plenty of flat lay shots while scrolling through Instagram or even browsing recipes on a cooking website. But how can you create a professional-looking flat lay shot, the kind that is beautiful and elegant and mouthwatering all at the same time? In this article, I share nine flat lay tips that are guaranteed to enhance your photos, including simple settings tips for beginners, as well as high-level composition tips for more serious shooters. By the time you’re done, you’ll be ready to...

There are lots of lighting techniques to learn, some simple, some complex, and they all offer something a bit different. One of my personal favorites is clamshell lighting and in this video, learn how to do it and when it will work particularly well. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Robert K Baggs)

Did you have to take cursive in elementary school? Is that ability to write in beautiful, curvy letter lying dormant somewhere in the recesses of your mind after all these years? Why not awaken those skills and use them to create a beautiful custom watermark for your images? This great video tutorial will show you how to do just that quickly and easily using Photoshop. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

If you want to shoot for brands and land large commercial projects, you have to know how to pitch to brands in a way that matches their expectations while still helping your own work stand apart from the other portfolios they have seen. If that is something you are new to or if you want to improve your chances, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will walk you through the entire process step by step to get you up and running in no time. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

Warning: although Photoshop was used to identify the guitar, this isn't really photography-related, but this story is too good not to share. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Lee Morris)

Of course, you should never outright copy or steal the work of other photographers; that is never in question. However, there is something to be said for turning work you know and love into something of your own, and this great video tutorial discusses the merits of doing so. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

The Sigma 20mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary for L-Mount and Sony E-mount cameras is the seventh lens in the company’s I series of compact primes. The new lens is the widest currently offered in the series, and one of four with a fast ƒ/2 maximum aperture, along with the 24mm F2 DG DN | C, 35mm F2 DG DN | C and 65mm F2 DG DN | C. Sigma 20mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary Sigma I Series lenses feature all-metal bodies and hoods, with manual aperture rings on the barrels. The Sigma 20mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary also has an “arc-type” AF/manual focus switch and a magnetic lens cap. The lens can focus as close as 8.7 inches....

In the days of film, the square format used to be more popular, particularly since 6x6 medium format cameras were around. Nowadays, no digital camera has a native 1:1 aspect ratio, and as such, the square format has fallen out of popularity quite a bit. That being said, it is a tremendously interesting and different way to compose and digest images, and this helpful video tutorial will give you some useful advice on creating interesting photos using it. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

In the desktop (Mac/Windows) version of the Lightroom (Lr) app it is possible to create connections to several online resources for making prints and books. It’s even available via the lightroom.adobe.com site. When it comes to printing I always turn to Lightroom Classic (LrC) and the Print module, but I’ve been testing out the connections in Lr to sample some print media that I can’t print at home, like canvas, floats, and wood. I’ve been pleased with the results and it couldn’t be easier to set up and use. Obviously, you’d need to be running the cloud-based version of Lightroom and have that installed on your computer. From there, click the + sign next to Connections to open the connections manager...

It seems hard light is trending these days. From elaborate food spreads in Bon Appetit to fashion shoots for Burberry, hard light is in. If you've ever wondered how to create this look, this quick and simple tutorial will lay it out for you. I'll share a few concepts, and you can watch the video for a demonstration. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Michelle VanTine)

Getting your first tripod is a balance between affordability and quality. This tripod from K&F Concept might be a good start. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Nicco Valenzuela)

Photo By Beth Young Today’s Photo Of The Day is “Sandhill Crane Silhouettes” by Beth Young. Location: Pacific Flyway, Sacramento Valley, California. “One of the things I love about living in Sacramento is our proximity to the Pacific Flyway, a major north-south route for migratory birds, and the numerous wildlife refuges and seasonally flooded agricultural fields in our area that provide a temporary habitat for dozens of species of migrating birds,” explains Young. “In winter, I like to venture out with my telephoto and capture the antics of the sandhill cranes, elegant in flight and amusing when performing their dancing courtship rituals.” Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 400mm, 1/8000 sec. at f/5.6m, ISO 2000. See more of Beth Young’s photography at...

Amid a busy week, I figured I’d share a few brief thoughts on why it’s important to keep moving forward and why it’s just as important to sometimes remain still long enough to see where you stand. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Christopher Malcolm)

The post How to Edit Black and White Photos (A Quick Guide) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Nisha Ramroop. Black and white photography can look incredible, especially after some careful post-processing. But how do you edit black and white photos? How do you go from a mediocre, flat image to a stunning final product? In this article, I share plenty of tips and techniques for turning a standard photo into a masterpiece. I explain how to approach a black and white edit – and by the time you’re done reading, you’ll know exactly what to do for amazing results. Let’s dive right in. How to think about black and white editing Not all photos look equally...

I own a lot of modifiers. My studio contains Broncolor Hazylights, old fresnels that are as rare as hens' teeth, and softboxes of pretty much every size from under a meter to so big I can stand inside them, but this latest addition is the one that has helped me. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Scott Choucino)

Would you pay $5,600 for a zoom lens? And a variable aperture one at that? It sounds crazy, but with the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f/2.8-4 ASPH., you get that beloved Leica look with the convenience of a zoom lens. How good is this premium offering? This great video review takes a look at what you can expect. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

Natural light portraiture is forever popular, but as us photographers know, more light isn't necessarily better. In fact, like half-breed vampires, we shy away from the sun at its brightest during midday. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Robert K Baggs)

When it comes to portrait photography, it is not uncommon for photographers to have a focus on the technical aspects of their craft. However, what if the secret ingredient of portraiture is more than just nailing a technically perfect photograph? Portraiture is all about the human subject and displaying their authenticity with each photo taken. The hidden ingredient that can take an average portrait to an exceptional piece of work has everything to do with the human connection to the subject. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Austin Miller)

The used market is always full of lenses, and given how well many photographers take care of their gear, you can often save a fair bit of money and still get a quality lens by purchasing preowned. There are a few things you should check before you agree to buy that lens you are eyeing, though, and this quick and helpful video tutorial will take you through them all to make sure you are not wasting your money. [ Read More ]Original link(Originally posted by Alex Cooke)

The post 11 Best Lenses for Macro Photography (2022) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Ringsmuth. Picking the best lens for macro photography is tough. There are dozens of options available, all capable of transforming small objects into works of art, and each offering a slightly different set of features. That said, no matter your skill level or budget, there is almost certainly a macro lens suited to your needs. Now, if you’ve never done this type of photography before, I recommend you keep a few key items in mind: For one, most macro lenses offer fixed focal lengths, but the upside is exceptional optical quality and very large apertures that let in a great deal...