Learn what lens focal length is, how zoom works, and when to use a wide-angle, portrait, or telephoto lens.

The peak tourist season in Europe is slowly but surely winding down. At the same time, the weather is cooling down, at least at night when temperatures drop to a comfortable 20°C (68°F). It’s the perfect time to start thinking about famous Mediterranean destinations. September is also a great month to head into the mountains. The summer heat and storms have passed, and at higher elevations, the first touches of autumn color are beginning to appear.  

Everyone has advice for you when you start taking photos. What “looks good,” what “gets likes,” or what you “have to do” to be successful. But following the crowd isn’t always the best way forward. Sometimes it’s more important to tune out the noise and trust your own direction. Here are five reasons why ignoring advice might be the best advice you ever get.  

Landscape photography isn’t just about pressing the shutter when you see a beautiful view. To give your photos atmosphere, depth, and a story, you also need a bit of strategy. Good lighting, a touch of creativity, and the ability to perceive space can turn an ordinary scene into an impressive image. We’ll show you how.  

Do you shoot landscapes but find the sky is either blown out or hidden in shadows? The solution is HDR—merging multiple exposures into one balanced photo. In this article, I show you how to easily create HDR images in Zoner Studio, when exposure blending makes sense, and when tone mapping is the better option. I also share tips for taking the right source photos.   

Do you have a camera with a basic lens (like an 18–55 mm), love taking portraits, but still can’t seem to get that beautiful blurry background you see in other portraits? Let’s be honest—a portrait with a nicely blurred background just looks more professional than one where everything is in sharp focus. Don’t worry, you don’t need to rush out and buy an expensive lens. To start with, you can work with the gear you already have.  

Every photographer eventually asks themselves what they want to say with their photography. It’s not about chasing trends or what’s popular at the moment. It’s about you—what you know, what you feel, and what you want to share. Finding your photography theme isn’t something you can figure out overnight—it’s a long process.   

Photo editing is a great way to make your shots stand out and take them to the next level. But it’s also where many beginners run into trouble. Instead of improving their photos, they often end up ruining them with heavy-handed editing. It’s a common rookie mistake. Almost everyone starting out tends to push the sliders as far as they can go. Learn how to avoid beginner mistakes and get better results from your editing. 

Do you want your creative still life photography to look like it came straight out of a fairy tale? In this article, I share some simple camera tricks you can try at home, from rainbow effects to making objects levitate, and crafting frozen-glass scenes. You’ll learn how to work with light, a polarizing filter, and everyday props that make your photos eye-catching at first glance. All you need is a bit of creativity and a few easy-to-find items.  

Street photography is about courage, mindfulness, and the ability to see beauty in everyday moments. Unlike landscape or macro photography, the city offers not only opportunities to work with light and composition, but also to connect with people, their stories, and your own boundaries. In this article, you’ll learn how to overcome your fears, photograph people respectfully, make the most of the city’s hustle and bustle, and capture images with soul.