Tutorial

The world of macro photography is full of fascinating subjects, but eyes and irises have got to be among the most mesmerizing ones. As with most captivating subjects, capturing it can be quite a challenge. In this article, I will share tips, tricks, and all the know-how you’ll need to create photographs, just like the

Despite what some people think about LIDAR for cars, in the near future it is foreseeable that this technology will take its rightful place in our daily lives. Not just for cars but with almost anything and everything. We have already seen Apple’s new iPad and iPhone utilizing this technology. I wanted to see if

A pinhole camera is a simple image capture device that doesn’t use a lens but instead makes images through a tiny aperture. The simplest ones are just a light-proof box with a hole in it, and in this 7-minute video, you’ll learn how to make one as well as how to make your digital camera

A common misconception among beginning landscape photographers is that when using a tripod, one should stay at ISO 100 for the best resulting photos. Photographer Mark Denney made this 10-minute video dispelling the myth and showing examples of when that’s not true. “I was so conditioned to think that the only way to get a

A primary question in photography is, “What is composition”? Photo composition governs the manner in which our eyes travel through an image. It defines how objects within an image are placed relative to each other in such a way that generates visual excitement. Used correctly, it transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. Over time, various

Sometimes it may be necessary to make a set of images darker or lighter, more or less contrasty, or otherwise change their appearance but retain their relative appearance. Lightroom has the ability to make relative adjustments on a selected set of images to facilitate that. Look at the following images, for instance. They convey the

[embedded content] If you’re a film photographer who likes to go the do-it-yourself rather than store-bought route, here’s a fun little tutorial for you. In this 3-minute Darkroom Magic episode by the George Eastman Museum, Historic Process Specialist Nick Brandreth shows how you can make your own photo paper developer at home from scratch. First

The holidays in New York City are my favorite part of the year. It’s such a magical and festive time all throughout the City. You’ll find holiday trees, light displays, and the prettiest decorations around every corner. It’s such a joy to take photos in New York City during that time, and I’m excited to

With several astrological events coinciding with the Winter Solstice, including the Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction and the Ursids Meteor Shower, December 21st is poised to be a prime opportunity for practicing nighttime and astrophotography skills. An Astrological Phenomenon: December 21, 2020 After sunset, Jupiter and Saturn will hover together above the western horizon at a strikingly close

Now and then, it just so happens that I find a show or movie that visually amazes me. I was blown away by the colors of Grand Hotel Budapest and by the cinematography of Birdman. The hit Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit is one of those surprises that I have discovered recently. Steven Meizler, the

Teleconverters are handy lens add-ons that multiply the focal length of the lens they are attached to. They can be mounted in between the camera body and lens (typically a telephoto lens) and increase the focal length of the lens to which they are attached. By how much is dependent on their power, which is

Each year I update experiments in the collection of the High-Speed photography lab at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). One of this year’s additions is an air-powered water bell. In this experiment, air pressure is used to push a column of water vertically. The top of this column of water falls back on itself as

One of the consequences of reviewing computers for PetaPixel and running benchmark after benchmark is that you learn a thing or two about working in Lightroom. From weird quirks to the optimal performance settings for import, export, and editing, there are a few key changes you can make to coax a little more speed out

While you’re stuck at home, why not try out some cool photography science experiments? In this short 5-minute video, the George Eastman Museum shows you how to make your own photographic prints using salt. The George Eastman Museum recently shared a video on how to make your own Daguerreotype at home, but some folks weren’t

We’re going to walk you through common posing mistakes, particularly for sitting poses, and how to fix them. I want to cover this subject from both a masculine and feminine body language standpoint so you can see the differences and know how to fix issues on the spot no matter who you are photographing. Learning

If you’re looking for a fun project to try at home, the George Eastman Museum just published this short 5-minute video that explains how to safely make a 35mm Daguerreotype without dangerous chemicals or expensive equipment. The Daguerreotype was the first commercially viable photographic process and the name stems from the name of its inventor

Photographers might be struggling with coming up with interesting photography ideas when cooped up at home to stay safe from COVID-19 or because the weather is bad. In this 7.5-minute video, Photographer Spencer Cox shows that great photos can still be made despite these challenges. Cox came up with five macro ideas that you can

Iranian photographer and camera tinkerer Alireza Rostami wanted to shoot tilt-shift photos but found the specialized lenses too expensive, so instead he decided to make himself a selective focus lens using a cheap CV boot. Rostami needed a lens that could project an image circle big enough to avoid vignetting while adjusting his selective focus,

[embedded content] Lake Tahoe-based photographer Tajreen Hedayet made this short, sweet, and inspiring 2-minute video tutorial on six different editorial self-portraits you can try shooting at home if you’re looking for a way to exercise your creative muscles. “The object of editorial photography is to tell a story or convey a feeling in a creative

In this video and article, we’re going to work through some of the nuances of maternity portraits in regards to lighting and posing. If you’re interested in learning more about how to capture maternity portraits, be sure to check out the full workshop over at SLR Lounge. Before you pick up your camera or reach

This video is for all of you professional and aspiring professional photographers who want to communicate more effectively with your clients as well as feel like you’re having more effortless photo shoots. Tip #1: Know Your Gear One of the things that you’re going to feel the most as a working professional, especially early in

The Polaroid instant camera may conjure images from the 90s, but photographer Jason D. Page breathes new life into the system using the newer OneStep+ camera and mixing it with modern light painting techniques with fabulous results. The Polaroid has always been a popular – albeit perhaps hipster – choice for casual photography, but Page

Lindsay Adler is an accomplished portrait photographer and educator, and in this 11.5-minute video she explains three different, versatile, and easy-to-master lighting setups using a beauty dish as the key light. With all beauty images, Adler makes a point that to get an outstanding result, you need to have great lighting, makeup, model choice, and

In the latest Lightroom update, Adobe removed the Split Toning tool and replaced it with Color Grading, a move that photographer Mark Denney explains in this 12-minute video has forever changed the way he develops color – for the better. Denney says that of the three factors that make for a compelling landscape image –

What even is a ‘studio shooter’ today? Years ago it was a little easier to define, but due to us having tons of heavy, cumbersome lighting and cameras, we were all pretty grounded in the actual home-base of a studio. Today though, the vast majority of my own jobs are not shot in my own

The School of Photography has shared a detailed 19-minute video breakdown that explains how to color grade in both Adobe Photoshop and the latest version of Lightroom, details the differences between the two systems, and talks why you might want to use one or the other. Adobe recently released an update to Lightroom that changed

Want to shoot indoor “natural light” photos… at night? All you have to do is build yourself an artificial sun. That sounds wild, but it’s actually neither too difficult nor too expensive — this 24-minute tutorial by DIY Perks will teach you exactly how it can be done. Sunlight has unique qualities that ordinary artificial

PiXimperfect is an excellent resource for learning Photoshop techniques and in this 10-minute video, host Unmesh Dinda shows you how to add believable-looking snow to any image using Adobe Photoshop. The first step is to isolate the background that you want to add snow to. To do this, navigate to Select and then Color Range.

Each print that I create is a composite of hundreds (sometimes thousands) of individual photos digitally stitched together. Using a method of macro photography called “photo stacking” it’s possible to create images with an incredible amount of detail, even when printed on a very large scale. To show you the amount of work involved—often reaching

Pye Jirsa from Lin and Jirsa Photography and SLR Lounge dispels the idea that making a great home studio is expensive. In this 20-minute video, Jirsa explains how you can make a quick studio at home for as little as $20. Though the whole video is 20 minutes long, much of it is spent going