Panoramic Action

Try Photoshop’s Photomerge to create some panoramic magic

Text & Photography By Rick Sammon

Even though I’ve been using Adobe Photoshop for 20 or so years, and have been teaching the program in my workshops for about 10, I’m still amazed by its capabilities. The opening image for this column is one example. I created it from six images taken with my Canon EOS 5D Mark III and Canon 24-105mm IS lens. I stitched the images together... Read more

The Beckoning Of Black & White

I was a film photographer long before—and even after—digital photography became mainstream.

Text & Photography By Tracey Clark

I was a film photographer long before—and even after—digital photography became mainstream. Back then, I recall making careful decisions about the kind of film I would need to pack prior to each shoot. My photographic intention had to be deliberate, thought out and carefully planned. I had to make choices, both before the shoot and about what... Read more

One-Light Portraits

Learn how to use one light to capture incredible portraits

Text & Photography By Rick Sammon

In portraiture, there’s a temptation for some photographers to use several lights, with the goal of creating a dramatic portrait. That can work, for sure. On the other hand, using only one light also can produce some awesome portraits. What’s more, it’s much easier to work with one light than with two or three lights. In this article,... Read more

The Big-Glass Effect

I remember my first big telephoto lens.

Text & Photography By Tom Bol

I remember my first big telephoto lens. I was living in a small cabin in Alaska, working as a mountaineering guide and living on a shoestring budget. I awoke many mornings to see moose wandering through my yard or sandhill cranes feeding nearby. My Nikon 80-200mm ƒ/2.8 lens was always attached to my camera, ready to go. I captured some nice moose images,... Read more

Ultralight

Use multiple exposures and light-painting techniques to create powerfully luminous images

Text & Photography By Eric Curry

If you devour Flickr and YouTube videos on photography, you probably know about the “paint with light” photography technique—it’s really more of a lighting technique. For anybody who hasn’t stumbled upon this unusual and inspiring form of photography previously, you’re in for a wild ride of discovery. During my own journey... Read more

The Making Of “Multiplicity”

I believe that nothing is ordinary, that everything and everyday life can be seen as art.

Text And Photography By Meredith Winn

EDITOR?S NOTE: The image Multiplicity by Meredith Winn was featured on the cover of our October 2012 How-To Special Issue. We asked Winn to take us through her creative process in making the image. Also be sure to check out the related story by Winn from that issue, "Express Yourself." I believe that nothing is ordinary, that everything and... Read more

Tips For Ultimate Sharpness

When I teach a workshop, I encourage my students to take the sharpest picture possible.

Text & Photography By Rick Sammon

When I teach a workshop, I encourage my students to take the sharpest picture possible. Afterward, if they want to soften an image with software for a creative or an artistic effect, that’s cool, easy and fun. There are several requirements for getting the sharpest in-camera shot. There are also several techniques for enhancing sharp shots in... Read more

Be A Storm Chaser

Inclement weather creates dramatic photography opportunities

Text & Photography By Tom Bol

If I had a nickel for every time I decided not to go out in bad weather with my camera, I’d be a rich man. After all, I can hardly resist a good cup of French roast and a fresh blueberry muffin at my local coffee shop. I sit down in those big fluffy red chairs, start reading my favorite book—what photographer in his or her right mind would go... Read more

Express Yourself

We use self-portraits to explore a basic question that plagues all of us: Who am I?

Text & Photography By Meredith Winn

We use self-portraits to explore a basic question that plagues all of us: Who am I? As early as the mid-1400s, artists began painting themselves onto canvas. With the invention of the camera, photographers began turning the image (and their artwork) inward, as well. Yes, a photograph can tell a person what he or she looks like, but we know that the... Read more

Portrait Background Basics

One of the most important things you can do to make better portraits is to find, or create, a background free of distraction.

By Wes Pitts

One of the most important things you can do to make better portraits is to find, or create, a background free of distraction. This doesn’t mean your backgrounds have to be plain, especially if you’re shooting an environmental portrait where context is key. But, generally, you want to find a setting that focuses attention on your subject... Read more

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