Once you’ve mastered the rule of thirds, it’s time to try a more advanced composition technique that can elevate your photography: framing. It’s not difficult, but it’s something you need to keep in mind and use deliberately. It also helps to have a few examples in your head of what framing looks like. Let’s take a look at a few of these. 

Learn how to set your aperture, shutter speed, and ISO for a variety of shooting situations—from landscapes and portraits to sports and macro. You’ll gain confidence in handling your camera’s settings so you’re ready for just about anything. Manual mode gives photographers the most control. It’s not the easiest option, but it helps you understand the rules of photography so you can better decide when it makes sense to use manual mode and when another mode might serve you better.     

Distractions in your photos are among the most common mistakes beginners make. They draw the viewer’s attention away from the subject and ruin an otherwise good shot. In this article, we’ll show you how to spot distractions easily and eliminate them while shooting and editing. In the end, you’ll also see how cleaner compositions can improve your photos overall.  

Just getting started with photography and feel like your pictures are missing something? You’re not alone. Nearly every beginner photographer makes a few common mistakes, from crooked horizons to poor composition. In this article, we’ll show you how to avoid these beginner mistakes, improve your composition and editing, and sharpen your photography technique.  

Learn how to maintain sharpness when light painting. Flash is not the only way—lighting, color, and movement can be utilized in creative ways. Learn to light your models so they look natural. Also, learn how to create depth while working with multiple light sources. Finally, where does color theory come into play? In this installment, we’ll take a look at advanced techniques that will take your light painting portraits to the next level.  

Creating art or just kitsch? What makes something art? When does a photographer become a fine-art photographer? And what exactly is this elusive, sometimes mythical genre? Does it always include nudes? Is fine-art photography still evolving? And what is fine-art photography exactly?

Shooting in the dark or low light is a challenge for photographers. Whether it’s a city at night, an interior, or evening portraits, these photos are often plagued by digital noise, blur, and a loss of detail. I’ll show you how to properly set up your camera for low-light and night photography, what to avoid, and how to use adjustments and the right equipment to get great pictures.

Colors are all around us and we often perceive them peripherally, yet they play a crucial role in photography. This exercise will make you focus on different colors and how to capture them aesthetically.

Reading articles about photography is fun, but how about putting theory into practice? Here’s a simple composition exercise with a few rules to help you think more intentionally about what’s in front of your lens and how to work with the scene. Join us for this photography “homework assignment” and sharpen your composition skills!   

If you enjoy taking trips with friends, they probably know you’re into photography. They expect your photos to be better than their phone snapshots, even if you’re using your phone too. After all, you’re the photographer of the group. So, what can you do differently?