Photography How-Tos — Page 9 of 13 « Photography

How To: Take an HDR photo with a Nikon D50 digital camera

See how to take an HDR photo set (three photos, each with different exposures) using a Nikon D50 digital SLR camera. This how-to video includes a walk through of the settings you should use to take the high dynamic range imaging photo. It pretty much works the same on most digital SLR cameras, so pay attention to this video tutorial.

How To: Take effective photo portaits

Here are some photography tricks used to create visually effective portraits and techniques used to get more natural looking portraits. Turn off the flash, survey the scene, adjust your camera to pick up the darkest skin tone, and most importantly, be patient with your subject. This instructional photography video demonstrates how to take free spirited and naturalistic children's photo portraits with a point and shoot camera.

How To: Creatively document events with photography

In this video sequence, learn how to choose a context when shooting and editing your photos, allowing themes to emerge in your narrative work. By simply documenting the events around you, you will find ways to creatively show what happens through photography. Documenting events will not only make your photography work more interesting, you will also become a better story teller. Practice grouping photographs to tell a story.

How To: Choose a narrative theme for a photo series

This instructional photography video provides some helpful tips on how to build narrative ideas surrounding body of photography work that you'll want to create. You can use these techniques when building a book, a web site or a series of consistent images for your story. You will not only make your photography work more interesting, but working with narrative will train you to become a better story teller.

How To: Choose an umbrella or a softbox in the photo studio

Do you have a preference for using an umbrella or a softbox with studio strobes? This instructional photography video demonstrates the strengths of each. The umbrella can spread light over a wider area and creates a softer light. The soft box creates a soft light with a defined edge to it.

How To: Assemble a softbox in the photo studio

This one minute video shows how a softbox and speed ring are assembled quickly and easily in the photo studio. A softbox is just loose cloth with four flexible rods inside. You can use a softbox to adjust the direction of your lights for a professional studio photo shoot.

How To: Use a Holga camera

Here are some tips about the Holga camera. The Holga is a plastic camera that takes unique, distorted pictures. This instructional photography video is good for people who just got their Holga camera and want to learn some photographer's tricks.

How To: Learn the parts of a Diana+ 35mm camera

Watch this photography tutorial for an out of the box look at the Lomography 35mm film back for the Diana+ and Diana F+. It's great to have a vintage film camera, but these days most of the individual camera parts are mysteries to the amateur photographer. Have fun learning to use your Diana camera.

How To: Load a 35mm camera

Don't risk exposing your first rolls of film. Watch this instructional photography video to load a 35mm manual camera. This camera is a Nikon FM2. This is a simple process, but it takes some practice to load film into a camera fluidly.

How To: Make a velcro modification for a Diana camera

Here's a simple modification for your vintage Diana or Lomography Diana+. Watch this instructional photography video to make a velcro film counter cover. You can also use black masking tape to cover the film counter for subtle camera work.

How To: Take flash photos with a Diana+ camera

Want to take flash photos with your Diana+, but don't want to drop $100 on a DianaF+? Here's how you take flash photos with your standard Diana+. You can use a simple two battery flash unit and flash bracket to hold the flash to the camera. Note well: There's a trick to making this camera modification work, so pay attention to this instructional photography video.

How To: Make a 35mm plastic camera rewind helper

This photography video shows how to make a rewind helper out of an 35mm film canister. If you use a simple film camera with a small rewind crank, you can use this tool to make a more comfortable grip. Use a 5/32 inch drill bit to make a small hole in a film canister. This can easily slip over the small film crank for quicker film winding.

How To: Load a roll of 120 film into a Holga camera

This photography tutorial demonstrates how to load a roll of 120 film in a Holga camera. You can use different masks for different shapes of negatives. This vintage camera is difficult to get used to, but once mastered, the Holga is an incredibly versatile film camera.

How To: Make a velcro Holga camera modification

Use this camera modification to secure the Holga back to the camera and to provide a light blocker for the counter window. You will need a small package of velcro with industrial strength adhesive. This photography tutorial provides tips for making your vintage Holga camera easy to use in hectic shooting situations.

How To: Repair a Lomography Diana camera shutter

If your film camera shutter has stopped working, chances are that the shutter spring has become detached. This photography tutorial shows you how to disassemble the Lomography Diana Plus shutter assembly and re-attach the spring. You will need a small screwdriver to make this camera repair.

How To: Use a Diana camera shutter release lock

This photography tutorial shows you how to make a better shutter release lock for Diana Plus and vintage Diana cameras. This is helpful for low light situations and long exposures. You can make a replacement shutter release lock with a clothes pin and a file. Have fun taking night photographs with this handy tool.

How To: Load a Lomography Diana Plus camera

Watch this instructional photography video to to load a Lomography Diana Plus Camera. You can shoot photos with three main types of film on this camera. This film loading process can be confusing at first, but once mastered this versatile camera can shoot detailed 120 film photographs with ease.

How To: Test out different photography tripods

There are many types of photography tripods for using in different shooting situations. Watch this instructional photography video to test out different tripods from mini to mighty. Make sure to label your tripod with your name and address, because at a large photo shoots, tripods often get lost, stolen, or confused with other tripods. Most of these tripods work well with digital SLR cameras and 35mm film cameras.

How To: Take outdoor photo portraits

Here's how to take a well lit outdoor portrait. It's best to shoot outdoor photographs in the morning or late afternoon to catch the best light. Use light reflectors to deflect light coming from below. This instructional photography video will show you how to make subtle lighting adjustments to take a stunning photo portrait.

How To: Take top fashion photos with a point and shoot camera

You don't need a 30,000 or even 3,000 dollar camera to shoot high-quality fashion photographs. A regular point and shoot and a lighting umbrella are all it takes to take quality images. Watch this video photography tutorial and learn how to take magazine quality beauty headshots with a point and shoot camera. Take top fashion photos with a point and shoot camera.

How To: Shoot close-up shots with a macro lens

In this lesson, learn how to shoot compelling close-up shots using a macro lens. Tips on composition, lighting and controlling depth of field are discussed in detail. Watch this video photography tutorial and learn how to shoot close-up pictures with a macro lens.

How To: Use white balance on a camera & Photoshop in filter

In this lesson, learn what white balance is and how to effectively use this function on your digital camera. Also learn how to use the photo filter function in Photoshop to eliminate and correct color casts created by various light sources. Watch this video photography tutorial and learn how to use white balance on a digital camera and how to correct colors with after-effects lens filters in Photoshop.

How To: Shoot stunning raindrop reflection photos

This tutorial will walk you through the steps of making stunning raindrop reflection images. Lindsay Adler (of Adler Photo Workshops) will cover equipment and techniques, and give you advice to make the most of your time. You don't need a rainy day, just the right preparation to create amazing raindrop reflection photos.

How To: Shoot panoramic photographs

Watch this instructional photography video on how to shoot Panoramic photographs with What Digital Camera Magazine. Panoramic photography is a format of photography that creates images with exceptionally wide fields of view. You don't have to use a tripod but it's much easier than eye balling it while taking a series of photos of the landscape, and you won't have to crop as much.

How To: Take pictures of lightning with a Nikon DSLR

Here is a detailed video that explains techniques and equipment you can use to take pictures of a lightning storm. Yes, take photographs in an actual lightning storm. You will definitely need a tripod to take a photograph with a long exposure and a plastic bag to protect your camera from the rain. Telephoto lenses allow you to keep a safe distance and avoid switching lenses during a lightning storm. Equipment used in this video: Nikon d300, Nikon 18-200mm vr and Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 vr lenses.

How To: Take pictures of stars without a telescope

This tutorial shows you how to take nice star pictures and star trail pictures with just a camera. This video also provides tips on choosing film, digital processes, and how to take late night photographs of stars in the night sky. You will need a tripod or a way to keep your camera absolutely still for long exposures. You can take photos of stars with a regular 35mm camera using a release cable, or use a digital camera with long exposure settings.

How To: Load film into a Hasselblad back

This is a how-to video featuring the A12 film back for a Hasselblad 500 series camera. Watch this photography tutorial to begin using your antique Hasselblad camera and all of its confusing parts. Once you are aware of the unique film loading process for this camera, you can adopt this camera into your photography practice and begin shooting.

How To: Load 120 film into a Paterson plastic reel

Many people have trouble loading 120 film into developing reels when they are first starting. In the darkroom, it's tricky business to wind film and load it into a developing tank. Find out what works for you and repeat the process until it becomes second nature. If you are interested in developing your own photographs, you will need to know this process backwards and forwards, using all types of film, reels and developing tanks.

How To: Load 120 film onto stainless steel reels

Ever try to load a roll of film onto a reel and into a sealed developing tank in complete darkness? If you have, you know that anything unexpected can throw a kink into your personalized process of developing photographs. This video demonstrates how to load film onto stainless steel reels. If you are interested in developing film by hand, it is a good idea to be aware of all types of winding reels and developing tanks so you don't fumble in the darkroom.

How To: Load film into Kodacraft tanks

This video will be useful to a select group of people, who are still interested in developing film by hand using the Kodacraft film canisters. Practice loading Kodacraft film tanks with plastic film aprons. Use an exposed roll of film to do try this process in the light. Now, let's see if you can do it blindfolded, or in the dark room.

How To: Shoot high dynamic range (HDR) photography

You can take high dynamic range photos with a regular point and shoot digital camera. You may need to take up to three versions of the same photograph and make a high definition composite photograph. Even a small digital camera can take three photographs at the same time using an auto bracketing feature. You can also do this by hand if you have a steady hand or a tripod. Edit the individual photographs on the computer using Adobe Photoshop or a another digital photo editing program.

How To: Take photographs with reflections

This videos will explain how to experiment with ITC and receive images from spirit using water, mirrors, and light. These photography techniques will allow for a great range of experimentation in pictures. Watch this video photography tutorial and learn how to take pictures with reflections, using waters, mirrors, and light.

How To: Take a timelapse picture with a compact digital camera

Digital cameras are the best way to take a quality timelapse pictures. While there are a variety of great cameras out there, you don't have to spend a lot of money. Watch this video photography tutorial and learn how to take a timelapse picture with a compact digital camera and how to choose a digital camera to meet your photography needs.

How To: Take a timelapse photograph

Timelapse photography needn't be complicated, for advanced photographers only. This video photography tutorial helps explain how to take a timelapse picture, even if you're a complete beginner. Learn the process of taking a timelapse photo with a web, video, and digital camera. Watch, learn, and start practicing your shutter skills.

How To: Take a digital SLR timelapse photograph

Timelapse photography is possible with a huge variety of cameras, especially if you're willing to teather them, hook them up to a computer. Connectors, pclix, shutter times, and all sorts of plug-ins will make timelapse pictures relatively simple. Watch this video photography tutorial and learn how to take quality timelapse pictures with you digital SLR camera.