It’s one of the unfortunate ironies of the business of photography that the two most important elements in getting great photographs are, for most budding photographers, the least interesting. Lighting The key to any good photo is lighting. Certainly in these days of Photoshop and Lightroom you can take otherwise average pictures and make them […]
Sometimes you just want a window, but all you’ve got is a hallway. Using a simple lighting rig and some drapes, however, you can make it seem like your model is staring wistfully out a windowpane: As video host Scott Kelby shows, the real trick is to lower the exposure enough to make the entire room black—avoiding mirrors and […]
If you grew up in the ’80s, your concept of “cool” may still be hazy purple skies, lighting bolts, and clean red convertibles. The Mazda Miata in this photo isn’t from the ’80s, but the photo itself sure is: Reddit user xHaZxMaTx snapped this with a Canon 7D and 28mm f/1.8 lens. It’s a composite of four long-exposure […]
It’s one thing to shoot a portrait—prime lens, nice bokeh, diffused light—but it’s a whole other ordeal to shoot a portrait the way Jake Hicks does. His style of fashion-forward photography is aimed specifically to make his models stand out from a crowd. In the tutorial video below, he shows viewers his unique setup to create those shots: […]
You might think you need an abundance of expensive lighting gear in order to create a high key lighting setup for commercial quality images like those seen in hair and make-up ads. But that’s not true. Sure you need at least two or three lights, but you could work with a set of inexpensive speedlights and […]
Times Square in New York is any photographer’s bokeh heaven – the stoplights, billboards, street signs and headlights make for an interesting backdrop to any photo. Whether you’re shooting wide open or otherwise, Times Square will not disappoint. Jay P. Morgan explains in detail how to experiment with different lenses and distances from the subject […]
Composite photography is becoming increasingly popular for commercial use and as interest rises in the technique, so does the talent behind the photographs. Photographers are adapting to the style and experimenting with lighting that will give them the best possible HDR experience. In the following video, a pair of photographers are presented with the challenge of doing […]
Using the bright setting sun as a backlight can be intimidating for some photographers when shooting portraits outdoors, but it’s not impossible to get some great shots out of it. Check out the video below for some useful tricks and tips on shooting portraits at sunset, including how to use a xenon flashlight to create a warm, complementary […]
Learn how to bring life and emotion to your photography as Gavin Hoey explains step by step how to balance flash and low levels of ambient light. Hoey’s Red Riding Hood photograph is transformed into a storybook fairy tale setting with a dark forest and rays of sunshine through the trees. Check out the video: […]
Creating great lighting for portraits can be hard work, especially when you are first setting out on your photographic journey. What lights should I buy, how do I set the studio up? In this video from B&H Photographic, portrait photographer Erin Manning gives us a comprehensive guide on basic studio lighting and how to use […]
