How to retouch to ensure the people in your pictures will love the way they look
If you make portraits—whether strangers or friends, for fun or profit—it won’t be long before you realize there are a few key fixes that almost everyone appreciates. So if you want to give the gift of a beautiful portrait, here are six techniques you can use to ensure that your portrait subject will be happy with your work.
Tips from action sports photographer Justin Kosman
Action sports are bigger than ever these days, and nothing's more exciting than high-flying BMX. Whether it's racing or freestyle, on a half-pipe or on the street, if you've got friends who are into the sport—or maybe you're just curious about it—you might try taking pictures of it.
Tools and techniques for better interior architectural photographs
My real estate agent recently asked what camera and lens I used to photograph my home's for sale listing. These tools and skills can be useful for lots of people, so I decided to write about it here.
Harness the power of camera position and angle of view for more interesting perspectives
One of the most powerful compositional tips is the one that I think people are quickest to overlook. It’s the suggestion to change your viewpoint to anything but eye level.
How a film-era axiom still applies to help you create perfect digital pictures
When I was in high school my photography teacher was quite a character. Mister Colgan challenged students to one-armed pushup contests, and promised that if you were to bring him a box of Cuban cigars and a bottle of Napoleon Brandy he'd give you an A for the semester. As far as I know, nobody ever took him up on either count.
A very simple way to think about color and tone is to orchestrate them as if they sat at either end of a see-saw: if you raise contrast, try lowering saturation, and vice-versa.
Some flare’s good. This flare’s not. Two simple fixes to keep it at bay
Some lens flare is obvious and dramatic. It produces specular highlights and disembodied orbs and streaks of light—caused by light bouncing around through the optics in your lens—that show up obviously in your pictures.
