February's Photo Theme Challenge: Paint the Town Red
February's photo challenge theme is Paint the Town Red. You could give that a Valentine's spin, in which red might symbolize love or passion -- maybe a romantic evening with red roses on the table. Or, you could take an entirely different approach. After all, red is a strong color with a broad range of [...]
The Human Tripod
This week's tip is about holding your camera. This may sound ridiculously simple and you might be wondering why on earth I would choose it as a subject for discussion. But the truth is: The way you hold your camera can make or break your shots. Camera shake can ruin an otherwise perfect photograph. And [...]
How to Win $2,000 for the Year's Best Photo
Dear Reader, It's a good thing I'm not the judge of this month's photo contest. These are just a FEW of my favorites… And, of course, cute kids always win me over… This month's first-place judge, Heather Hicks, has her work cut out for her. Heather was the first-place winner of last month's contest [...]
Understanding Light (Photography Light)
Way back when, before the dawn of the digital age and "auto everything" cameras, learning the art of photography was a bit more complex than it is today. Today’s digital cameras automatically adjust for lots of things you once had to understand and adjust for manually. That's nice. But there is a downside: When you [...]
January’s Photo Challenge Theme: Blood Sweat and Tears
January’s theme is "Blood Sweat and Tears" and it includes images that depict intense energy and emotional and physical commitment to a goal. Your picture can include people in any form of business, entertainment, or sports -- a student getting through a tough class or passing a big test… business people involved in an arduous [...]
Backlighting: When It Makes Sense and How to Do It Well
Backlighting can add drama, depth, and interest to your photos. But, as with most things, there are times when it makes sense and times when you should avoid it. It all depends on your image and what you're trying to achieve with it. A couple weeks ago, I wrote an article titled: The Perfect Holiday [...]
Gift Guide, Part 2: Pictures Everyone Loves to Receive
Last week I gave you six tips for shooting better "people" shots. (You'll find that issue archived here: http://tinyurl.com/y9tx6n). This week, I'll focus on another two types of pictures everyone likes to receive: ** 1) A fine art print that matches a room in their house. ** 2) A sentimental destination shot. Here are a [...]
Digital Photography Tip: How to Make Your Subjects Pop
Dear Reader, One of the most effective ways to catch a viewer's eye with your photo is to put the main subject in sharp focus and blur the background. In technical terms, this makes use of "depth-of-field." Let me show you what I mean. Take a look at this picture submitted for December’s photo contest: [...]
Gift Guide: How to Shoot the #1 Photo Gift
Framed photographs make great gifts for family, friends, and coworkers (just about anyone on your list). They don't have to take much time to create and they're a wonderful expression of your love and creativity. This week and next, I'm going to tell you about the three types of photos that make the best gifts. [...]
December's Photo Contest Theme
Because December is a special time of year, we decided on a photo theme that we think is special, too. It's "The True Meaning of the Season," and we're looking to see how you can express that as a story in a single photograph. What is the true meaning of the season? Well, that's [...]
