Sharpen Your Photography Skills, Knowledge and Passion

Photography News December 5, 2023 Quote: ”Light is the soul of a photograph.” – Fan Ho Techniques and Tutorials: The Importance of Finding Balance in Landscape Photos Creating Powerful Art – Brooke Shaden https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWS-lMnj8B4   9 Priceless Composition Tips For Amazing Photos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMOGSxgY5yc   Unlock the World of Fine Art in Photography https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dJvPWTGE5U   10 Brushes All Photographers Should Have https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkI0xMO6jyE   Paint Brilliant Color with Linear Light Blend Mode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqHSjwY9uVQ&t=0s   Thought for the day: What is Useful Feedback on Your Photos? Likes? Comments? Camera Club wins? All may or may not be useful, but what are your goals? If in your photos you [...]

Photography News November 28, 2023 Quote: When you move the horizon up you bring in a sense of scale” – Alex Kilbee   Techniques and Tutorials: The Hidden Power of the Horizon Line In Photos And Film – Alex Kilbee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkLM1yDBJCI   3 Superfast Ways to Auto-Repair Skin + Free Actions! – Photoshop Tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJad3iATQi8   The Ultimate black & white conversion for a Dramatic look – Joel Grimes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4HYksU_7Tg   How to Composite Photos in Photoshop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzM9CqwDvfo   Giant Reflectors, Scrims and Absorbers for $5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou1It_UY9Jo   Quick and Easy Skin-Tone Copying in Photoshop under 1-Minute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLsnRkmddIY   Thought for the [...]

Photography News November 22, 2023 Quote: “I am always stimulated by people. Almost never by ideas“ – Richard Avedon Techniques and Tutorials: Should You Imitate? Capturing Colors Unseen: A Simple Tutorial on Cross Polarization Photography Best $50 to transform your photos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxO0QjohzHY   $200 curved reflector results for $15! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0t0eHOGy58   7 top tips for better mono photography https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcIXyzS5YHo   How to Shoot Conceptual Photography https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxkpa7oHRrc&t=1s   Thought for the day: Critical Onc-Chance-Only Photograph? Walk through in your mind what you want. Simulate and brainstorm as best you can ahead of time. Figure out where you want to take the picture from, the best [...]

Photography News November 7, 2023 Quote: “I think all art is about control – the encounter between control and the uncontrollable.“ – Richard Avedon Techniques and Tutorials: Remember This Date: Dec 28, 2024 – Death of DSLRs? Photographing Mushrooms Without a Macro Lens How Much Do You Make? 27yo Female Photographer, Austin, TX Shadows: The Unsung Hero In Photography https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e92hcY4IJ44   Photography Styles: Learning from the Best https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd2IEsRv4ig   How to Deal with Rain with Landscape Photography https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KwD-pr8B4Y&t=1s   Thought for the day: Copying or Learning? In Europe artists train by studying and copying great painters of the past. Not just composition but also. light, shadows, color, [...]

Photography News October 24, 2023 Quote: “The truth is, editing is a fundamental part of photography and a welcome one” – Robert Baggs Techniques and Tutorials: The Telephoto Lens: A Shortcut to Getting Attractive Images Best ISO for Different Conditions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOdlDyolhr0   We Need To Talk About Sharpness In Photography https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9G-r0fsJmI   Why Life Looks Better in Movies – Hollywood Lighting Breakdown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCu6GiEWMvY   How I scan 35mm film at home (with my digital camera) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV9jsgBkGbw   Are tele-extenders worth it? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmfcTK0F5HA   Thought for the day: What is your main camera? For most people, it is the one you have with you, which is normally [...]

Photography News October 11, 2023 Quote: “No photographer is as good as the simplest camera” – Edward Steichen Techniques and Tutorials: Ocean Moods – Michael Frye The Artist's Paradox Art Plagiarism: Top 5 Worst Cases of Photo Plagiarism How To Create Soft Light https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDaU9L6e4EE   The Key to Successful Exposure Blending For Stunning Interior Photography https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RblEbqypl80   Fraud Complicates AI Copyright (In re: Théâtre D’opéra Spatial) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WXvfeTPujU   Thought for the day: A Painful But VERY Useful Exercise Take a bunch of your finished images. Maybe a handful to a dozen dozens*. Downselect them to the best 10%. Wait a week. Further downselect to [...]

Photography News September 26, 2023 Quote: We all move on the fringes of eternity and are sometimes granted vistas through fabric of illusion.” – Ansel Adams Techniques and Tutorials: What is Fine #Art #Photography? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvhC9cgKGgQ   Portrait Lenses: A Thoughtful Conversation with Chris Orwig https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K1evOLghuQ   Secret Life of Animals: Behavior & Wildlife Photography https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQP80sv-eCE   Getting Started with Macro Photography 2 Mistakes the Best Photographers Never Make Aberration in optical systems   Thought for the day: If? If you never post-process your images. If you never ever share them. If the images just stay in the (phone, card, computer) until the heat death of the universe? [...]

Photography News September 18, 2023 Quote: “The pictures are there, and you just take them.” – Robert Capa Techniques and Tutorials: Planning vs Spontaneity in Landscape Photography Previsualization in Photography Meaning, Use and Origins of Bokeh Top Photoshop Adjustment Presets Why Using the Golden Ratio in Your Photos Might Not Be a Good Idea After All 3 Things That Ruin Poses: How to Fix Them – Lindsay Adler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRI1zRZBhsc   Thought for the day: Safety – Annular Solar Eclipse in October, be safe If you want to photograph or view the annular solar eclipse in October it might be a good idea to order safe and effective solar filters [...]

Photography News September 11, 2023 Quote: “The truth is the best picture, the best propaganda…” – Robert Capa Techniques and Tutorials: Ocean Moods – Michael Frye Six Lighting Setups to Try on Your Next Photoshoot How to Photograph a Music Festival – Lens Rentals Unlikely Hero Accessories for Landscape Photographers Comet Nishimura will be at perihelion on September 18 and at its brightest the comet will be visible in the evening twilight skies of San Francisco low along the western horizon for maybe 15m after the Sunset. How to Plan and Photograph Comet C/2023 P1, Nishimura(8–17 September 2023) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYH934Uzips   Thought for the day – Forever? Cameras don’t last forever, [...]

Photography News September 6, 2023 Quote: “If your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough…” – Robert Capa   Articles: Photographing the Olympic Peninsula – Michael Frye A Simple Guide to Focus Stacking Master The Art Of Timelapse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMnj1g1fEEw   How to Get Long Exposures without Filters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wUiCaF9YjU   Compelling Photo through Composites https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHQRbOaok_U   Posing Basics for Studio Dance Photography https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8fN55BYyfQ   Thought for the day: – Don’t stop down too much Modern high resolution cameras and lenses have the highest resolution with the lens only stopped down a stop or two (ƒ/2.8 is wide open, so stop down to ƒ/4 of ƒ/5.6 for the [...]

Photography News July 24, 2023 Quote: "Lately I've been struck with how I really love what you can't see in a photograph. An actual physical darkness. And it's very thrilling for me to see darkness again.” – Diane Arbus Articles:   The Best Photography Advice I've Ever Heard – Stills in Motion, Episode 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL-kCakaSwg   FRAMES — Photography Visual Patterns #1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ua1A7VI2H0   Opacity vs Fill in Photoshop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qq9CEyLmHg   What Every Photographer Should Know About Lenses https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRvkpa-9Djs&list=PLgGbWId6zgaXEqhwuq19JGbnEgIZ3Vtoy   Example of the Arc of Storytelling in a PhotoBook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-SCQZZakj8   Another landscape shot with discussion on angles, sun, etc. and a detailed discussion on post-processing: [...]

Photography News July 17, 2023 Quote: "Yes, for me the drama of storm in nature, the drama of sorrow in life, are the most impressive. Oh, there must be a little bit of light, a little bit of happiness, just enough to indicate the shape, to make the limbs of the silhouette stand out, but let the rest be dark.” – Vincent van Gogh Articles: How AI Tools are Making Retouching Easier Than Ever Beware the Poisoned Apple (AI in Art) Leading Line – The Best Technique To Tell Stories In Your Images https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu_5lEja2vA   JPEG vs PNG – Are You Using the WRONG Image Format? [...]

Photography News July 10, 2023 Quote: The negative is comparable to the composer’s score and the print to its performance. Each performance differs in subtle ways.” – Ansel Adams Articles: Is AI-Generated Art Ethical? – suggested by Linda Lee Rutherford Landscape Photography Tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPveao-ZOLY   Creating that Dreamy look, using Vaseline https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mbxjZ2MN4A   Andromeda Galaxy with only a Camera, Lens, & Tripod https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXcRKoxTPVg   Street and Travel Photography Full Online Course https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLMjr3YQMMQ   Photoshop Retouching for Beginners https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMYVhdyppe0&list=PLgGbWId6zgaXEqhwuq19JGbnEgIZ3Vtoy&index=5   Thought for the day: The excellent video Creating that Dreamy look, using Vaseline has good ideas, but two major problems. This may be due to wanting room to [...]

Photography News July 3, 2023 Quote: "Artists (fine ones) don't copy nature, and when they do record quite literally the presentation is such as to arouse connotations quite apart from the subject matter." – Edward Weston Articles: Dramatic Portraiture & Lighting Class w/ Chris Knight Tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi8XiGKGU3s   Lightroom Classic Masterclass 2022 – Developing Images https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG4GKLSua7A   What Pros Know about ISO that Beginners Often Ignore! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBzUkVo_MRo   How to capture a Galaxy with your DSLR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKKlzbgQStE   Ultimate Guide to Street Photography https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh6PIafC8wU   The Biggest Lie Social Media Feeds Photographers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PndV7QfWKTI&t=11s   Thought for the day: What sees Truth? What the camera sees [...]

Photography News June 26, 2023 Quote: "To send light into the darkness of men's hearts – such is the duty of the artist.” – Robert Schumann Articles: How to Quickly Ruin Your Camera and Lens Generative Fill AI This WILL Change Everything! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wKw6LBzDBU   Capturing Powerful Portraits – Photographic Tips and techniques https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVdwKiTcJNs   How to Shoot Like Sean Archer, Tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-JqNA8ITG4   How To Edit like Sean Archer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sewlReH9O0c   How to Quickly Improve Your Landscape Photography Compositions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjXCFUTb9Ww   Thought for the day: You can learn a lot about better photography from great Hollywood movies.   Art of the Week: Casablanca Behind The Scenes – many good [...]

Photography News June 19, 2023 Quote: "Of course, I hear that I must have a marvellous lens or extraordinary camera – instead of a lens with shutter and all for 20 pesos, and a camera quite gone to ruin! Not many realize that good photographs – like anything else – are made with one's brains.” – Edward Weston Articles: How Much Do You Value the Process of Creating Images? Sensor Format Size and Image Quality A Photo I’ve dreamt of… - good example of how to ‘work’ a subject https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap8uYufdtOo   Composition Case Study: Analyzing Arnold Newman's Photo of Igor Stravinsky https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lOwJbcKFRg   The Worst Photography Advice [...]

Photography News June 13, 2023 Quote: “When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.” – Ansel Adams Articles: How Do You Take Images That Look 3D? How to Upscale an Image Without Losing Quality Eight Tips for Preventing Camera Theft Forget the Rule of Thirds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2OTMIRyiFo   Framing in Photography: 6 Ways You Can Use It https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo7yQ8neq20   Learning to See: Visual Fundamentals – suggested by S. Maurice Krumrey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fszXLO6fURY   Thought for the day: Generative AI vs AI Assistance There is a major difference between Generative AI and software that have “AI” assistance. Currently most photo programs have a [...]

Photography News May 29, 2023 Quote: "The observation of nature is part of an artist's life, it enlarges his form-knowledge, keeps him fresh and from working only by formula, and feeds inspiration” – Henry Moore Articles: Aspect Ratio – The Secret to Stunning Fine Art Photos Suggested by Paul Pokrywka https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkWkWoK_LBs   New Beta Photoshop Removal Tool https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqbwJU_7rPY   Portraits with a Plastic Dust Sheet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQN6eNBjUvw   Shooting Winter and Snow Studio Portraits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5QU9Jvc7v8   How to Shoot Dance Photography – Quick Explanation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYQj6sxGDR8   Some of the oldest photos you will ever see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH5Mx5acrBk   Thought for the day: Another [...]

Photography News May 22, 2023 Quote: "I am constantly torn between the attitude of the conscientious journalist who is a recorder and interpreter of the facts and of the creative artist who often is necessarily at poetic odds with the literal facts." – W. Eugene SmithArticles: Camera Life Cycles – Thom Hogan Natural and Continuous Lighting for Headshots – Peter Hurley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rclrgp1oz1Q   What Is Motivated Light? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB8O5NoLGm4   Creating Motivated Light in a Photo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6sZlhhe3h4&t=5s   Dance Photography – Lois Greenfield https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaJXxYhA0Uo   How to Light a Magical Box https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO1YRW8OP5Q   Thought for the day: A Painful But VERY Useful Exercise Take a bunch of [...]

Photography News May 8, 2023 Quote: “I am sure the next step will be the electronic image, and I hope I shall live to see it. I trust that the creative eye will continue to function, whatever technological innovations may develop.” – Ansel Adams Articles: Here Are Some Photoshop Plug-ins to Make Astrophotography Much Easier Black and White: Why and How https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDMkZ7aZ8Yc   Giselle – Photo Shoot with Kaori Nakamura https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcs-Q_1VKtU   Dance in the Street Photography https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNfArgr_hPQ   Four Looks, One Gray Background https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIoWwx-elCE   Creating Shadows with Everyday Items to make D.I.Y. Gobos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sBK4xFmF3Q   Thought for the day: Solid state storage (SSD, [...]