iPhone vs Pro Camera: Long Exposure Waterfall Can you guess which photo of this waterfall was taken with my phone and which was my pro camera? I took one with my iPhone 13 Pro ($1,000) and the other with my Sony A7iii ($2,000), Tamron 70-300mm lens ($500), and an ND 6-stop filter ($60 – filter buying guide below). Both…
“A flat photo is a great photo!” said no photographer ever. Whether you paint, draw, or take photos, you’ve probably tried to add depth and dimension to your art, especially if you’re a landscape photographer. There are a number of techniques you can use to add depth to an image. Photo blogs and books are…
In this tutorial, I share my tips for taking better light trail photos.
Depth of Field (DoF) is an extremely important concept every photographer should know. Whether you want to blur the background in your photos or have everything in focus, it’s one of the keys to creating stunning images, and is often misunderstood by both beginner and more advanced photographers alike. The Myth of F/8 If you’ve…
“Maybe we will die. The river keeps us alive.” A Kwegu tribesman from Ehiopia’s Lower Omo Valley asks disconcertingly, “If the fish are gone, what will we feed the children?” To say the heritage and livelihood of one Africa’s richest cultures is under threat is not an exaggeration. It’s a stark reality. A friend of…
Photography goals are useless. You can’t force creativity. It’s only possible to create great work when your muse inspires you! At least that’s what I used to think. The truth is, action leads to inspiration, not the other way around. The Ultimate List of Photography Goals How To Set SMART Goals Overcoming Resistance Beyond Goals:…
What would you do if money were no object? If you answered travel and take photos, then you’re not alone. It’s my dream too. In 2016 I quit my day job to escape the 9 to 5 and pursue my passion. I’ve been self-employed since then. My path has not been a typical one though….
Do you want to tell a deeper story in your photos? As someone who shoots primarily landscapes, I sometimes get this voice in my head that my landscape feels empty. The answer could be to create an environmental portrait. That’s exactly what I did when photographing the Kuala Lumpur skyline against the old wooden houses…
Are you creating a slide show video with your photos and wanting some great music to go with it? You’ll want to make sure you’re not breaking any copyright by using songs illegally. Make sure you’re not doing anything illegal and use royalty free music. Using music you don’t have permission to use could get…
Being a photographer, I sometimes get jealous of video. It’s not that I don’t love photography. The still image is one of the most powerful forms of art and communication. Video though has the potential to connect on a much deeper level. Not only does video allow you to “move” your pictures, you have the…
If you’re looking for an amazing iPhone video editing app, look no further than Splice by GoPro. At first I was put off from downloading this app because it’s made by GoPro. It’s not that I don’t like the company, I just don’t own a GoPro (at least not yet), and I don’t think of…
“I’m doing everything to get noticed, but it’s not working,” said photographer Jason Teale to creative guru Chase Jarvis. Then Jarvis gave Jason a brutally honest schooling on the reality of making it as a creative in the world today. In short, his advice was similar to what we’ve all heard before. Work hard. Be…
One of the most common questions I get is about how to edit/process photos, especially in Adobe Lightroom. While some photographers try to get their image exactly how they want it right out of camera, a photo isn’t finished until it gets some digital darkroom magic. Here is my answer to a question I got…
Is finding your voice or vision really that important? Photographers talk about it like some mystical elusive thing. Find it and the doors to success will fly wide open. And those who don’t risk being a forgotten follower. To add to the pressure, other photographers seem to have found their message with ease: Platon –…
Sometimes the hardest thing about photography is finding time to do it. After I bought my first DSLR camera, a Nikon D40, I used it almost every day. But as time went by, I took it out less and less. It even started to collect dust on my shelf. It wasn’t just that the initial…
If you’re looking for a simple, fun, and inspiring photo project, do what the Australian Aborigines did: walk the earth (with your camera). In the past, they went on a roaming journey of up to six months. It wasn’t just about walking though, it was considered a spiritual rite of passage into manhood. A photo…
I’ll never forget the first time I tried to photograph fireworks. I was in Busan, South Korea, at their annual fireworks show. I had the perfect spot, a brand new DSLR, and a decent knowledge of photography. When I got home and looked at my images, they were either flat, blurry, boring, or all of…
Is there more to photograph in Thailand than buttery bucolic beaches? Absolutely. After spending two weeks on a roaming photo tour of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and the Similan Islands, I’m convinced that The Land of Smiles has plenty more to offer than postcard images of tropical islands. Here’s a short photo guide to one of…
Getting discovered is easy! That’s what it looks like if you’re photographer Benjamin Von Wong. He’s a marketing master who’s figured out the formula – the secret to creating shareable meaningful work. His photos are everywhere, from the front page of Reddit to major media outlets and photography magazines or blogs, not to mention the…
Light painting is an excellent way to get creative with night photography. Although there are many techniques, the process is simple. Just set your camera up for a long exposure. Then draw with light. Some more popular light painting techniques include using a flashlight, sparkler, steel wool, LED lights, or even the lit face of…
One of the biggest problems photographers encounter, or any creative for that matter, is how to fund their personal projects. If you’re lucky enough, an editor will send you out on that dream assignment or a client will hire you for an epic job. Often though, the projects you are most passionate about are not…
Shooting light trails is one of my favorite types of photography. By making long exposures, you are able to slow down time and view the world in a whole new way, one that only cameras can see. It’s also a fantastic way to increase your understanding of the exposure triangle (aperture, shutter speed, ISO). Here…
Is international travel insurance necessary? Absolutely. Imagine you’re in a foreign working on a photography project and you have a medical emergency. You don’t want to bankrupt yourself or loved ones with hospital bills, or worse, be stuck abroad without the resources to return home or get the care you need. Since I live abroad,…
I really like long exposure photography. There is a small learning curve, but when you get it, you can produce some really cool effects with your images. This photo here is from a great spot in Malaysia called Penang. It’s the country’s second largest city but there are parts of it which make it feel…
Are you spending too much time editing your photos? I’d rather spend my time out shooting than in front of my computer. I use these Adobe Lightroom presets when processing my travel photographs. 19 Lightroom Presets that will help you create beautiful images and speed up your workflow. [twentytwenty] [/twentytwenty] Presets: Master Blaster +…
Ansel Adams said, “A good photograph is knowing where to stand.” Being in the right place at the right time is one of the most important aspects to creating images with impact – even more so when it comes to travel photography. In fact, photographers often see an image in their head before it happens….
There’s a saying that success leaves clues. One of the best ways to improve your photography skills is to study the greats. For me, and a countless number of other photography enthusiasts, Steve McCurry is a legend. He’s a National Geographic and Magnum photographer, but most people know him for one of the most iconic images…