The concept of depth of field describes one of the most important determinants of how your outdoor photographs will appear. If you’ve ever captured the identical scene with two different f/stop settings, you at least have an inkling of how this works.

But here the rub: Some photographers fall for the popular misconception that they should always shoot with a wide aperture to achieve a soft background that separates the main subject from surrounding areas with the frame. This tutorial from the Newcastle Photography College begs to differ by demonstrating an effective, alternative approach.

Our unnamed instructor is an Australian pro who’s determined to pass on the wisdom that he’s accumulated over the past 40 years in the field. He kicks off this 12-minute episode with a warning: “Don’t just follow the crowd by using large apertures and narrow depth of field.”

His point is that we have a wide range of choices with both aperture and shutter speed and it’s your responsibility to explore them and discover what combination works best for just about every image you shoot. With this awareness your photos will display varying amounts of depth and dimension depending upon the exact look you desire.

The bottom line is this: “A greater depth of field may allow you to create a more interesting story with you images.” He admits that this approach takes a bit of some planning and skill, and he walks you through the why and how of getting the job done to perfection.

It also true that “correct” depth-of-field is a very subjective matter because we all have our preferences as to how a scene should look. Or as our instructor says, “I’m not asking that you blindly follow my way, just that you keep your mind open to the possibilities of using a sharper foreground and background to enhance the viewer’s experience.”

This straightforward technique is discussed in the context of environmental portraiture, but it also works wonders for all sorts of outdoor photos—be they landscapes, action shots, or nature and wildlife images. It boils down to another way of viewing the world around us and experimenting with what’s revealed in the demonstration images below.

Be sure you click “View on YouTube” in the black box below. The Newcastle Photography College YouTube channel is a great source of how-to videos that are sure to enhance your abilities, so be sure to take as look.

And don’t miss our recent primer on photographing fast-moving subjects that will help you determine whether to freeze the peak of motion or intentionally blur the subject to create a unique representation of speed.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=g7Y9DPP5LZg

We’re all looking for ways to improve our image-editing workflow by getting the task done faster while achieving great results. Today’s tutorial does exactly that by revealing five Photoshop tips and tricks that you’ve likely never tried.

The eye-opening episode is the 15^th installment in a unique series from the Easy Photoshop YouTube channel that specializes in how to videos that unlock alternative post-processing techniques that are easy to employ. Today you’ll learn five simple-and-effective Photoshop tricks in barely five minutes.

This lesson is different than most because it proceeds without dialogue, so all you have to do is sit back and watch how to put this handful of Photoshop techniques to work. Our unnamed instructor based in Pakistan summarizes his goal in the description beneath the video it like this: “Whether you’re fixing tricky edits, improving workflow, or just discovering hidden features, these tips will make your editing easier and faster.”

While these five “game-changing” tips are straightforward and powerful they’re frequently overlooked, even by experienced users. And we’re quite confident that you’ll want to add them to your Photoshop bag of tricks.

Because this is a visual tutorial we’re not going to intrude with any more words of our own. Just sit back, launch the video, and learn what you’ve been missing. Then head over to the Easy Photoshop YouTube channel for more post-processing advice. You’ll also find previous episodes in this particular series.

And be sure to watch a tutorial we featured recently from another image-editing expert who demonstrates the power of Adobe Camera Profiles and why using them for post-processing in Lightroom delivers far more control for achieving photographs with the specific effect you desire.

Last month we brought you an inspirational video demonstrating why a simple flash can greatly improve all sorts of photographs made indoors or out. It was an illustrative piece without much technical information. Today’s tutorial covers the how in simple terms that beginners can understand.

Instructor Emma Birman is a professional wedding photographer who knows how important an affordable flash can be. She presents this 14-minute guide in the context of her specialty but everything you’ll learn is applicable to other genres as well. And like in last month’s video, her primary goal is to help you overcome a needless fear of flash.

As she says, “I’ll guide your through everything you need to know for mastering on-camera flash to create stunning photos.” She does this by discussing why different types of light impact how you proceed, lighting terms you should know, comparing results between on-camera and off-camera flash, and the pros and cons of each.

The comprehensive video also delves into an exploration of “diffusion,” and Birman’s gear recommendations. But the definitions come first so you won’t be confused. She explains the the meaning of “ambient light,” that the term “strobe” is just another word for flash, and the concept of “TTL” flash. Anther term you need to understand is “synch speed.”

With all that out of the way Birman moves on to practical advice for making a flash your friend. Sitit down with pen and paper in hand so you can jot down a few notes for future reference, then click the “play” button to begin your journey into simple flash photography with confidence.

Once the video concludes head over to the Aftershoot YouTube channel where there’s much more to learn about shooting techniques, photo equipment options, and straightforward post-processing methods.

And don’t forget to watch the video mentioned above with an Australian pro who provides several compelling examples of how the use of flash can create eye-catching images that would be difficult or impossible to mimic with nothing but ambient light.

Before getting started on a project do you carefully select the most appropriate Adobe Camera Profile for the specific image at hand? If not, that’s a shame, as you’ll see in the following quick primer from instructor Mitch Lally. In fact, watching his video could be the most productive five minutes you spend today.

Lally is an Australian pro whose assignments take him across the word, and he’s generous enough to share how-to videos explaining the techniques, gear, and photo concepts he prefers. He kicks off today’s episode with a guess: “If you’ve been editing photos in Lightroom for a while, you may be wondering what the go is with the Adobe Profiles in the Develop panel.”

His goal for today is to explain exactly what these profiles do, how they’re different from in-camera profiles you use when shooting photos with a DSLR. mirrorless model, or even with your  smartphone. A choice between Raw and Jpeg file formats is also part of the conversation. Lally explains the virtues of Raw by comparing a photo to a sculpture made of wet clay, i.e. you can still mold it and change its shape.

When editing a Raw file the profile you use choose helps control “the way you visually represent that image.” He also explains why selecting the proper in-camera option is absolutely essential when shooting Jpegs to get the best possible results and simplify post-processing adjustments.

Lally then answers a question you may have on the tip of your tongue: “If I shoot with my camera’s Standard profile and then import the photo into Lightroom, why does the image look completely different from the in-camera preview?” This is because Lightroom, by default, is going to Select the Adobe Color profile

And unless you choose the camera-matched profile instead, you’ll be off to a rough start when jumping into adjustments and enhancements. This fact forms the basis all the advice that follows from Lally.

Trusts us: After watching this quick less you’ll want to add Adobe Profiles to the top of your -post-processing workflow. Then head over to Lally’s informative YouTube channel where you’ll find lessons on shooting techniques, image-editing, and more.

We also recommend watching a tutorial we posted from another trusted instructor who demonstrates why and how you should take advantage of Photoshop’s Adjustment Layers to fine-tune every photograph you edit.

If you’ve never tried shooting nighttime cityscapes photos it’s time to gets started. That’s because urban scenes that seem boring during the day are transformed into magical opportunities full of sparkling lights, brightly lit windows, colorful signs, and interesting reflections once the sun drops below the horizon.

The tutorial below featuring world-renowned expert Serge Ramelli demonstrates a foolproof post-processing technique for editing your evening nighttime street photos to perfection. He’s an educator and globe-trotting outdoor photographer specializing in nature and cityscape imagery, and today he’s back in his hometown of Paris. Lucky guy!

In barely eight minutes Ramelli walks you through his complete retouching workflow with one of his favorite photos that recently went viral on social media. The original shot definitely needs some work but wait until the see the amazing transformation he achieved after putting Lightroom Classic to work.

The demonstration image was captured handheld at ISO 1,000 and cleaned up beautifully with Lightroom’s new AI Generative and Denoise tools. As he says, “I’ll show you my secret to perfect exposure and white balance.” Creating an eye-catching glow using dodge-and-burn is also part of the process.

Ramelli also reveals how his AI presets make everything super simple by enabling you to achieve superior enhancements with just one click. In fact, he says “I’m even considering selling this photograph in my 120 galleries around the world because it’s one of my cleanest edits ever.” And you can create spectacular edits of your own by following his straightforward advice.

The original shot is overly dark so Ramelli begins by opening the shadows, adjusting the black point, and “revealing” the photo by manipulating overall exposure and the whites.” He provides timesaving keyboard shortcuts for these enhancements and the other that follow.

Ramelli then turns to color grading because the photo has an unwanted cast, and you’ll watch him experiment with different settings to create the vivid tones he desires.

At this point he’s just getting started, so follow along and watch the Lightroom magic unfold. If you enjoy outdoor photography in the field or in the urban environment you owe it to yourself to explore Ramelli’s instructional YouTube channel (with it’s 650K subscribers) where there are many more how-to videos to be found.

And on a related note, don’t miss the tutorial we featured recently with another accomplished pro who explains how to understand Dynamic Range and use it to create outdoor photographs with perfectly balanced exposure.

Serge Ramell1

We’re all faced with a choice when it comes to photographing fast-moving subjects, whether they’re birds in flight, sports subjects, shots of rambunctious kids or pets, or vehicles passing quickly through the frame. One option is to freeze the peak moment of action as it occurs, while the other is to intentionally blur the subject to create a unique, visual representation of speed.

This super quick tutorial is presented by the folks at Great Big Photography World, a great source of imaging information on a wide range of subjects of interest to beginners and experienced photographers alike. The popular YouTube channel also provides access to a supportive network of experts who share your passion for photography.

Today’s unnamed instructor breaks down various techniques for capturing the look you’re after, and it’s all about selecting an appropriate shutter speed and dialing in the best focus mode for the specific task at hand. As he says, “this photography tutorial will give you practical easy-to-follow tips to level-up your skills and instantly capture better photos.”

This eye-opening lesson begins with an overview of how shutter speed impacts motion blur and sharpness. When your goal is freezing a subject, the faster it moves the higher your shutter speed should be. And that means paying attention to how aperture and ISO settings impact exposure at the speed you select.

When sense of movement is the name of the game, however, it’s necessary to reverse the approach you take, and you’ll learn a few easy techniques for using motion-blur creatively for stunning effects.

Our instructor also explains when autofocus works best, and why focusing manually may be preferable in certain situations. The lesson also includes a discussion of focus mode options; namely AF Single (AF-S), and AF Continuous (AF-C). The decision of whether or not to use a tripod or shoot handheld also factors into the equation.

As with most tasks in photography there’s no one “correct” solution to these challenges, which is why the instructor recommends that after understanding the basics you should “experiment with different shutter speeds to see how motion blur and sharpness changes in your shots.” Bottom line: This four-minute explainer is well worth your time.

There’s plenty more to learn on the Great Big Photography World YouTube channel, so browse through their selection of instructional videos.

Then check put the related tutorial we featured with another accomplished pro who demonstrates how to choose the best camera settings for capturing awe-inspiring photographs of flying and perched birds when shooting in Manual mode.

Spring is a favorite season among everyone who shoots outdoors, and many of the best opportunities can be pursued close to home. The trick is knowing what subjects to shoot and how to achieve optimum results in the camera, and that’s the topic of the how-to video below from the PHLOG Photography YouTube channel.

Instructor Christian Mohrle is a highly acclaimed German landscape photographer whose straightforward post-processing tutorials are among the most popular we share. In this episode he explores this beautiful season with three captivating photo ideas and the proper settings to use, along with in-camera shooting techniques for photographers of all skill levels.

His practical tips also involve lens choice, the use of interesting camera angles and effective composition to help you nail each shot with confidence. His first topic may the most obvious; namely spring flowers, buds, and blossoms. We’ve all tried this before at one time or another, but Mohrle’s advice can make the difference between good images and great ones.

His first suggestion for creating a more immersive and intimate perspective is getting closer to the subject and lower to the ground. He recommends placing your camera atop a beanbag or other small support to capture a captivating view of a flower from the side. His goal for composing the shot is to accentuate the small subject by separating it from a soft background.

Mohrle demonstrates two simple tricks for enhancing this effect, the first being a wide aperture to create shallow depth of field “so your subject stays sharp while the background blurs into a soft wash of color.” The second less-familiar option is to take advantage of backlight while shooting at Golden Hour, “letting the sun hit your subject from behind to introduce more depth and a beautiful glow.”

Just as with flower photography Mohrle’s other two recommended subjects each require a unique method of configuring the camera and their own approach to focusing, composition, lighting, and other essential variables. Next on the agenda is photographing forest scenes, taking advantage of fresh green foliage.

One tip here is to shoot after an early morning rain when the low angle of the sun imbues a scene with soft, moody light passing through the trees. You’ll also learn a variety  of helpful ways to compose such scenes using leading lines, tall tree trunks, long shadows, and other eye-catching elements.

Last on the list is harnessing the beauty of gentle, rolling hills that paint a scene with lush green tones and soft textures, capped by dramatic skies. One again, Mohrle walks you through the process with some very helpful tips and techniques with which you may not be familiar

The PHLOG Photography YouTube channel is full of how-to videos for shooting and editing outdoor photos to perfection, so be sure to pay a visit and explore.

And don’t miss the tutorial we featured with another adept outdoor photographer who demonstrates how easy it is to avoid mistakes when shooting panorama landscapes with an iPhone, with all the camera settings and techniques you need for doing it right.

A firm understanding of Dynamic Range is super important for achieving optimum results, yet this key element  is often ignored. In fact, this crucial concept is one key to capturing well-balanced, high-quality images that make you proud.

Today’s quick explainer comes to us from the Great Big Photography YouTube channel, a popular network of experienced creatives who share a wide range of courses catering to both amateurs and professional shooters. This three-minute episode explains Dynamic Range in simple terms and demonstrates why is particularly important if you’re struggling with overexposed highlights or crushed shadows that are virtually devoid of detail.

Our unnamed instructor begins with this definition: “Dynamic Range is the ratio between the maximum and minimum light intensities that your camera can record in a single frame,” and it’s a value that can differ significantly from one model to another.

Consider this interesting fact: “The scope of tones that your camera can record is far more limited than what our eyes can see” (although the disparity has narrowed somewhat as sensor technology has evolved). This is one reason why what you see in the field isn’t always what you get.

When shooting contrasty scenes in harsh sunlight, for example, even the best cameras can fail to deliver a sufficient range of tones from bright highlights to deep shadows. And this dilemma often holds true when photographing in low light.

In either case, there are techniques for dealing with these issues to achieve properly balanced exposures. You’ll learn how file format (i.e. Raw or Jpeg) affects dynamic range, and why our instructor recommends shooting in Raw for maximum post-processing flexibility. He also describes how the metering mode you select factors into the equation—specifically with regard to Spot vs. Evaluative metering.

Another topic of discussion involves using a technique known as “HDR photography” to blend multiple exposures into one perfect shot, and another method used in bright conditions when the trick is exposing for the highlights.

You’ll also see why our instructor recommends shooting in diffused light whenever possible to capture a naturally balanced tonal range. The Great Big Photography YouTube channel has thousands of subscribers and many more how-to lessons like this one.

And don’t miss the explainer we featured recently with another accomplished pro who demonstrates why Photoshop’s new Hue/Saturation tool is a game-changing upgrade for creating photographs with perfect colors.

Do you understand the benefits of shooting in Manual mode, but you’re still struggling to achieve the right combination of settings when photography birds?  If so, this tutorial from the Flying Parrot Photography YouTube channel will quickly simplify the process.

Today’s instructor Sonia is a “nature-obsessed” Australian pro whose how-to videos are designed to help you find art in nature, take bird photography to the next level, and approach all conditions with confidence. She summarizes today’s nine-minute episode like this: “I’ll walk you through how I choose the best manual settings for bird photography so you can stop guessing and start capturing well-exposed shots.”

The tips in this nine-minute video fly by in a hurry so you may want to prepare to jot down a few notes before clicking the “Play” button. Sonia covers her entire process from arriving in the field to understanding how to handle ever-changing light and avoid missed shots while fumbling around with your settings.

The bottom line is this: Whether the subject is stationary, you’re chasing small fast-moving birds, or photographing large raptors, you’ll know exactly how to configure the camera for success. There’s also a link in the description beneath the video for downloading Sonia’s free guides and other helpful assets.

Sonia also explains why this genre of nature photography poses unique changes, and she demonstrates straightforward solutions for getting the job done to perfection with whatever camera you own. She prefers shooting in early morning when many birds are most active and recommends setting your lens to maximum aperture.

Step number two is dialing in a setting of ISO 2,500 and taking a look at the shutter speed that this gives you. Sonia is aiming for a speed of 1/1,600 to 1/2,000 so her preliminary ISO setting may need to be modified accordingly depending upon available light. As she explains, “If the day is particularly dull I may have to boost my ISO up to 4,000 or even 5,000 to get a fast enough shutter speed.”

Sonia takes a deeper dive into the foregoing and several other important settings and considerations, and you’ll pick up some enlightening tips on camera angles, lens choice, and composing bird photographs for maximum impact.

Her popular YouTube channel includes many more instructional videos for photographing our feathered friends, so be sure to check it out.

We also recommend watching the video we shared recently from another accomplished pro who presents a beginners guide to Exposure Bracketing that will enable you to capture outdoor photographs with perfect tones in challenging light.

Want to capture stunning ultra-wide photos with your iPhone? Most folks don’t understand how to how to use the Panorama mode correctly, but this quick tutorial from the iPhone Photography School explains everything necessary to get the job done with ease.

Today’s instructor Emil Pakarklis is founder of the channel and promises that by following his straightforward tips “your shots will look bigger, better, and more immersive than ever.” And like with Emil’s other tutorials you’ll learn why you don’t need an expensive mirrorless camera or DSLR to capture jaw-dropping images.

Emil is on location atop a cliff in a beautiful national park looking down on a giant u-shaped riverbend—a perfect vantage point for shooting a breathtaking panorama with a unique perspective. The first step is opening the iPhone camera app that by default is set to a 1X wide-angle view that prevents him from capturing the entire scene in one shot.

Switching to the .5X ultra-wide setting almost solves the problem by encompassing the beautiful sky along with an interesting foreground element. It’s a really nice image but Emil laments, “it still doesn’t convey everything in the expansive scene.” And this is when the easy-to-use Panorama mode saves the day.

You’ll see why this technique requires that you rotate the camera to a vertical orientation before proceeding. Then Emil swipes his finder from right to left twice to bring up the Panorama mode. There’s another key consideration to understand; namely, determining which of the phone’s lenses will deliver optimum results.

Emil makes this determination by “pre-visualizing the scene while moving the phone from left to right.” He also explains how to decide whether you should start shooting from the left or the right. As you’ll see, there’s a white arrow on the screen for making the choice.

Emil’s says, “I like to start where there’s more interest or the where the scene is brighter” which is why he begins shooting from the left for this particular image. Then he presses the shutter button and moves slowly and gently from left to right, explaining that “the slower I move, the better it’s going to work.”

You’re goal throughout the capture is to keep the white arrow atop the yellow horizonal line on the screen. Another rule, according to Emil, is to capture your panorama image more than once. That’s because the iPhone is stitching a lot of  individual photos together and occasionally there may a mistake with one attempt surpassing another.

Emil walks you through a few other important techniques that are super simple to master, and we recommend having your iPhone handy as this helpful lesson proceeds. Then head over to the iPhone Photography YouTube channel many more mobile photography tips and techniques.