Photography Features

How To: Make an LCD viewing hood from a slide viewer

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make an LCD viewing hood from a slide viewer. This hood will prevent any shining or glaring of light when looking at the LCD screen. Most LCD covers are expensive or just get in the way. This viewing hood is inexpensive and only cost $6. 95. Users will simply need a slide viewer. Pull off the diffusion screen and cut off the ledge so that it is flat. Sand it to make it smooth and add some felt to cushion it on the screen. This video will benefit th...

News: Sleeveface

Favorited by our man Crow. Submitted by user God. How could I not be tempted by this tutorial?    A perfect combination of old school retro, arts & crafts, and hipster cool.    Just take an old vinyl record sleeve, cover a part of your body, and snap a photo.     Proof once again that the how-to imagination of the internet has no bounds.

How To: Choose photography backdrops

Interested in taking professional-caliber portraits but aren't sure what sort of backgorunds to buy? When choosing a background, your biggest consideration should, of course, be the backdrop's primary application: browns and blues, for example, are great colors for standard portraits. For more information on selecting your first photo backdrops, watch this free photographer's guide.

How To: Take a family portrait

Looking to get your family together somehow? Why not a family portrait? It's both a great keepsake and as an excuse to get everyone together. In this video, learn how to snap a great family portrait.

How To: Isolate your subject to get better photos

In this tutorial, we learn how to isolate your subject to get better photos. If you are taking a picture in an area with a lot of people or surroundings in the background, have your subject stand up on something. After you do this, you can take the shot and have nothing in the picture with your subject but the background. You can also have a child go on a playground and zoom in on them if you are taking a picture of a child. On the playground, you can find tons of spots where the child can be...

How To: Create mood with the Gaussian blur tool in Photoshop

Learn how to use the Gaussian blur tool to add mood to your digital photos while maintaining sharpness and detail. Meet the Adobe Photoshop pen tool! Whether you're new to Adobe's popular image editing software or simply looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, you're sure to benefit from this free video tutorial, which presents a complete overview of how to use the Gaussian blur filter when touching up a photo. For more information, and to get started using the Gaussian blur tool yourse...

How To: Use fill flash to get blue skies

In this tutorial, we learn how to use fill flash to get blue skies. If you take a picture of someone in front of a blue sky, they will most likely have shadows on their face, making the sky look good and them look bad. If you change your flash, the sky will look pure white and the person will look good. To change this, put a flash onto the camera, then use the exposure compensation to -1. Then, adjust your flash exposure to 2 2/3 and take the picture of the subject again. Now, you will have a...

How To: Get sharp images in low light w/ a digital camera

In this tutorial, we learn how to get sharp images in low light w/ a digital camera. If you are wanting to take quality pictures indoors but don't have great lighting, there is still a way to make your pictures turn out great. First, you will need to take a camera with a long lens and zoom in on your subject. After you do this, hold the camera steady and take the shot. When you look at the picture you just took, the picture should be brighter than it would be if you took a wider shot and it w...

How To: Process black and white film photographs

Ruth from Stuff.tv goes retro to show us how to process a black and white photographic film. Film isn't dead, maybe because there's nothing quite as satisfying as printing out a set of negatives to make photographs. Watch this video photography tutorial and learn how to process pictures from black and white film.

How To: Protect your camera lens

This video shows us the method to protect your lens. This can be done by putting the lens caps. The cap for the part of lens going into the camera can be screwed on to the lens. It stops dust from getting on to the lens surface. The front part of the lens can be protected by a lens cap which can be put into the position and pulled out when needed. You can also put a filter on the lens. The filter can be used to protect the lens in case you drop it in the sand and any other similar condition. ...

News: Fake UFO photographs

In Photoshop-speak, we call them faux-tographs. Michael Shermer presents this lesson in falsehoods as a children's craft project. Just tie up some kitchenware to an old fishing pole, flash the photo and ta-da! There's your err... evidence!

How To: Photograph with infrared

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to photograph with infrared. Infrared photography is photography the infrared spectrum of light, rather the visible spectrum of light. The main effect are to turn the sky darker, smooth out skin and turn foliage white. Users will need a camera that is converted into infrared. Then simply take a picture with the infrared camera and all the photos that are created by the camera will be in infrared. This video will benefit those viewers who are intereste...

How To: Photograph with a tilt shift lens

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to photograph with a tilt shift lens. Shooting in a position of height will exaggerate the field, Make sure to lock down the exposure of the camera before tilting. A tilt shift lens allows users to choose where the focal point lies and are able to blur out the image. To maximize the depth of a field, users need to simply turn the lens to change the focal point. This video will benefit those viewers who are interested in photography and have a tilt shi...

How To: Change your lens aperture to affect depth of field

In this Fine Art video tutorial, you will learn how varying your lens Aperture can affect Depth of Field. Depth of Field is defined as the range of the photograph that appears to be in focus. This can be controlled by using the aperture settings. With a wide aperture like f/1.4, f/2 or f/2.8, only a small range of the image will be in focus. This is used to isolate the subject from the background. But, if you have a smaller aperture opening like f/8, f/11 or f/16, you will get a large depth o...

How To: Make a helmet headcam

This video tutorial shows how to make your own rough and ready headcam/helmet camera for shooting videos or taking photographs at work. To do this project, you will need a helmet, mounting plate, and a video camera. Start taking pictures and footage hands-free. Watch and learn how to make this simple headcam.

How To: Manually white balance a Nikon DSLR with the BaLens

In this video you will learn how to manually white balance a Nikon camera using the Ba-lens. Paul Franklin explains in a few simple steps. First take the lens cap of the appropriate size and put it on the lens. Then go to the camera and set the meter to spot meter he says its important because it measure the amount of light going through the little dome as he shows. Once you've set it all you need to find the white balance button. Then scroll through the icons until you reach preset. Then hol...

How To: Take better photos by understanding depth of field

In this video from clickherephotography we learn how to take great photos by using depth of field. In a picture of a bird he used an aperture of about 5.6 which increased the shutter speed on a 300mm Canon lens. With depth of field you can blow your background out. If you used a higher aperture, a lot more of the bird would have been in focus and a bit of the background would have been in focus. By using an F-stop and this aperture, you really bring the bird or whatever object is in the foreg...

How To: Set up and take a portrait with a digital camera

Taking really professional-looking portrait is a tricky business, which is why so many people are so well-paid for doing so. If you want to create similar results without hiring the professional, this two-part video will give you some handy tips for how to do it. It includes how to frame the shot, some equipment and props that you will need, and other techniques. Never pay hundred of dollars for a professional Christmas card photo again!

How To: Use 35mm SLR cameras

In this video series our expert, Fred Norwood, will not only show you the different components of a 35mm camera and how to use it but he will also show you how to load the film and when and how to use certain types of other cameras. Certain cameras are used for certain things in certain places and you will learn when it is best to use a tripod as well as the benefits to disposable cameras.

How To: Freeze motion in photography

To freeze motion in photography, you need three things. First, you need a good camera, triPod, and a subject to photograph. One thing to keep in mind is your shutter speed. For example, if the subject is moving towards you, you want the shutter speed between 1/100th to 1/250th. If you are capturing the subject going from side to side, you want it set at 1/250th or more. Keep in mind that the more you increase the shutter speed the less light you will have in your picture. Next, move the camer...

How To: Apply depth of field to your photographs

Learn how to use depth of field with help from this photography tutorial. Although it may seem that depth of field is a confusing factor in photography, it's actually quite easy to understand & adjust once you've gotten the hang of it. Depth of field (or, DOF) is a great way to experiment with your photography & improve your skills as a beginner photographer. When taking your photograph using DOF, it is imperative to remember that the shutter speed and aperture (or F-stop) need to change at e...

How To: Take a woman's portrait

Taking a woman’s portrait isn’t just about photographic skill, it’s about flattery. You will need a single lens reflex camera, a female subject, a backdrop and a hurricane of compliments. Tip: to isolate the subject from the background, use a long telephoto lens at the widest aperture possible, and stand a minimum of 10 to 15 feet in front of the subject making sure she fills the frame.

How To: Make a family photo album from digital photos

In this tutorial, we learn how to make a family photo album from digital photos. iPhoto from Apple has a ton of different options for you to make a great photo album. You can first start out with loading these on your computer and then creating them into a book. After this, you can choose the borders and text that you want to include in this, then drag the pictures in. After this, you can add in captions for each of the photos and then design the layouts of the different pages. After this, yo...

How To: Photograph your dog or any other pet like a pro

Dogs and pets make beautiful portrait subjects, but they can be difficult to photograph. In this video, learn exactly how to set up your surroundings, lighting and camera to take your best animal picture. This tutorial will teach you a photography technique that you can use to photograph your pet in studio or at home using an inexpensive lighting setup. You can apply the same technique to shoot a cat, bunny, pig, pony, tiger.. anything!