With digital editing, if you can imagine it, you can probably do it, often make a convincing image that never really was. Was the sky flat and boring the evening you were shooting at that iconic photo location? No problem, add a more dramatic sky in the computer. It’s not a question if you -can-, …
What is AE / AF Lock on an iPhone? (And how does that help my pictures?)
The camera in your smart phone is a remarkable piece of technology, but it’s not perfect. There are times when you must take control and tell it what to do. One of the easiest ways to do this is by using AF/AE-Lock. While I’ll mostly cover photography, the same points hold true for videographers, …
Landscape Photography – Becoming a Craftsman
I would presume the reason you are reading this article is because, as the name of the website indicates, you want to Improve your Photography. So how does that work? What is it you need to learn? Who can help you learn it? How can you go from being a snapshooter to a photographic craftsman? …
What is AE-Lock on a Camera?
You’ve seen the little button on your camera and wondered “What the heck is AE-Lock? What does it do? Is it something I should be using and, if so, when?” This article will cover the ins and outs of what you need to know about Auto Exposure Lock. What is AE-Lock? Auto Exposure Lock is …
5 Well Known Photographers that Still Shoot Film
Film photography has been in the photographer’s news frequently. There was a particular website on which an article suggesting the antiquation of film photography was posted; the article has since been taken down, but it caused quite a stir not only for its content but also for plagiarizing an image from a photographer. One of …
3 Reasons to Use Continuous Lighting with Your Photography
Photography is an art form, and I love getting a chance to be creative. There are a ton of different ways to be creative, but for me, I like doing things with lighting. For the main part, I use speedlights or strobes for all of my creative shots. I have found, though, that there are …
Tips for the Non-Traveling Photographer
So you’re looking over more photos from someone who’s just returned from a trip to an exotic international photo hotspot. You think…”Wow, I could be making great photos too if only I could go there.” Yes, there’s probably some truth in the quote from National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson – “If you want to be …
Getting Started in Infrared Photography
If you’re looking for something completely new to add to your photographic endeavors, this guide to getting started in infrared photography is exactly what you need. Perhaps you’re in a rut or perhaps you just want to try something new or do something that not a lot of other people are doing (yet). The ethereal …
Ideas for Making Great Rain Photos
Rain, rain, go away. Little Johnny wants to play. Johnny must not have been a photographer. If he was, he might know that when the weather gets bad, the photos get good. Rainy days often provide the drama, the light, and interesting subjects to photograph. The key is knowing what to shoot and how to …
9 Tips for Your First Photography Retreat
I recently returned from a fantastic time at Improve Photography’s Create Photography Retreat in Charleston, South Carolina. It was my first photography learning event of any kind, and I’m excited about taking advantage of similar educational events in the future. Having one under my belt hardly makes me an expert, but I have a much …
How to Overcome Your Fear of Photographing Strangers
Taking photos of strangers can be weird. No, that’s not strong enough. It can be terrifying. But there are some steps you can take that will help up your street photography game and help you become accustomed to taking photos of people. The first thing to know is: not everyone will want to have their …
10 Tips for Getting a Photography Portfolio Review
A portfolio review is one of the best and fastest ways to improve in almost every aspect of your photography. From composition, camera settings, post processing, and even storytelling and image theory, you’ll learn so much when you talk to someone about your photos. There are a few things you need to do to make …