Sunset Photography - Close-up Water Reflections!

By Kerry Drager

photo copyright by Kerry Drager

One of my favorite "go-to" spots for nature photography is a nearby country pond that really comes alive in the warm light of late day. I've shot it many times with a wide-angle - to catch the sweeping views - but I also like switching to a telephoto and capturing intimate scenes too. Tele-zoom lenses, in fact, are great for non-macro close-ups.

For this photo, I was particularly attracted by the beautiful colors and also the pattern/abstract quality of the reflections of reeds and grasses. Zeroing in tight with my 70-300mm Nikkor lens gave me the tight composition that my eye saw.

Have fun getting out in the beautiful light of late day and looking for colorful details!

Editor's notes: Learn more about visual creativity techniques in Kerry Drager's courses at BetterPhoto's digital online photography school. Check out his pro bio and online photo workshops.

More details on the photo: Nikon D3 DSLR camera, f13, 1/8th sec., 220mm, ISO 400, tripod, image processed in Adobe Camera Raw

Infrared Digital Photography: It's Creative and Fun!

By Kerry Drager

Infrared photography has always had a special attraction for me. Like black and white, the best infrared images are very striking and very dramatic.

One of the best infrared digital photography shooters around is Deborah Sandidge. After all, she wrote an outstanding book on the subject - Digital Infrared Photography - and teaches a fine online photo workshop too: Digital Infrared Photography

But be sure to check out Deb's excellent BetterPhoto Instructor Insights blog:

• Infrared Digital Photography: It's Creative and Fun!
  

Enjoy!

Kerry

Use a Slow Shutter Speed to Your Artistic Advantage!

By Kerry Drager

As photographer/author Simon Stafford puts it, "the shutter speed has great potential for creative effects!"

In his BetterPhoto Instructor Insights blog, Simon showcases an eye-catching photo of Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, England. He describes the technique and settings for capturing the scene and photographing motion. Read his blog here:

Use a Slow Shutter Speed to Your Artistic Advantage!

Enjoy learning more about creative techniques in photography!

Kerry

Moonlight Photography for Capturing Memorable Pictures

By Kerry Drager

Looking for a different look for your outdoor photography? BetterPhoto instructor Simon Stafford has the answer: moonlight photography.

In a new BP article, Simon talks about a 13th-century church near his home in England. "I have pictures of it in all four seasons, at all times of day," says Simon. "Looking for a fresh approach, I decided to try shooting using nothing but the light of the moon - which is, after all, reflected sunlight!"

For some great night digital photography techniques and tips, read his article:

Moonlight Photography for Capturing Memorable Pictures

Have fun getting out at night and capturing some memorable moonlight images!

Kerry

Creating Macro Photography Art

By Kerry Drager

A great way to portray a flower in an abstract way is to move in extremely close - via macro lens or accessory. Then focus on one part and use a wide aperture for a veryt shallow Depth of Field. The result will be a very soft and very beautiful blur of colors. Pro photographer Deborah Sandidge - also an instructor for BetterPhoto's digital photography school online - offers a great photo blog on the subject:

Creating Macro Photography Art

Enjoy reading Deb's insights and tips, and seeing an outstanding example of macro flower photography!

Kerry

Use Nik Viveza 2 to Enhance Your Digital Photos

By Kerry Drager

The Photoshop plugin Viveza 2 makes editing in the digital darkroom "easy, fast and effective!" So says Deborah Sandidge, a BetterPhoto instructor and top pro photographer.

Don't miss Deb's new Photoshop article, which offers many insightful tips and techniques for using the newest version of Nik's excellent Viveza plugin. Plus, she uses a captivating image of a Cuban sugar cane farmer as an example for turning a fine image into an outstanding one. Read Deb's article:

• Use Nik Viveza 2 to Enhance Your Digital Photos

Have fun discovering the creative potential from one of the most creative photographers around!

Kerry

Street Photography - How to Capture Expressive Portraits

By Kerry Drager

Ibarionex R. Perello is a pro photographer who specializes in street photography and shooting inspiring outdoor portraits. In his newest BetterPhoto article, he shares many tips and techniques, such as:

"I'm not trying to make my subjects smile for the camera. I'm simply taking them as they are at that given moment. Trying to make someone smile, particularly a stranger, invites a look to the images that I don't believe would work. If I think the expression is forced, I may ask the subject to close their eyes, take in a few deep breaths and then open their eyes."

Check out his article at:

Street Photography - How to Capture Expressive Portraits

Enjoy reading the thoughts and techniques of a top street photographer!

Kerry

Free Photo Newsletter Features a Great Picture Each Day

By Kerry Drager

Get inspired every day with BetterPhoto.com's Photo of the Day! This free photo newsletter showcases outstanding digital pictures from BetterPhoto's monthly photo contest. Best yet, this daily dose of inspiration has just been updated with a very cool and sleek new design - see below.

Note: Subscribe soon and you'll be able to download a Free Photo Tips Booklet, with thoughts and insights from the BetterPhoto pros.

For all the details on POTD, the tips booklet, and other free photo newsletters, go to the free photography newsletter subscription page.

Subscribe now and start enjoying this free photography resource from BetterPhoto.com!

Kerry

How to Shoot Double Exposures for More Dramatic Photos

By Kerry Drager

Multiple exposures, points out Deborah Sandidge, can be accomplished digitally with a variety of digital SLR cameras - no Photoshop needed!

"Multiple exposures create an interesting and beautiful interpretation of a single flower, try it!" In her BetterPhoto Insights photography blog, Deb offers tips and techniques on how to shoot double exposures. Plus, you'll see some very beautiful and inspiring photos:

How to Shoot Double Exposures for More Dramatic Photos

Great Lighting for Outdoor Portraits: Overcast!

By Kerry Drager

The soft light of overcast is the best type of lighting for outdoor portraits, says Jim Zuckerman, a stock photographer who is widely published. "The contrast is low and the colors turn out to be much more brilliant than you'd expect," says Jim.

Read more of Jim Z's thoughts and tips in his BetterPhoto Instructor Insights blog:

Great Lighting for Outdoor Portraits: Overcast!

This photo blog also includes a captivating color photo that Jim shot during Carnival in Venice, Italy. Enjoy checking it out!

Kerry

How to Take Better Pictures? Practice at Home!

By Kerry Drager

Noted nature photographer Brenda Tharp is a big believer in photographing close to home. Such regular photo shoots between the big trips not only will keep your digital camera skills honed, but just as importantly, says Brenda:

"If we can’t see creatively right where we are, what makes us think we’ll see creatively in a new place?"

On that "the grass isn't always greener over there" note, don't miss Brenda's BetterPhoto Instructor Insights photography blog:

How to Take Better Pictures? Practice at Home!

Have fun with your photography!

Kerry

Cropping Digital Pictures: In the Field or After the Fact?

By Kerry Drager

In her photo workshops and online photography classes, Brenda Tharp is "always amazed at how much students crop their pictures to get what they really want. ... I tell students to 'zoom with their feet' - move the body to get the composition they want, adding zooming when necessary."

By learning to "crop" in the viewfinder at the time of shooting, you'll have less work to do in the computer later, you'll be maximizing the pixels you have, and you'll be honing your skills and refining your vision. Plus, she points out: "Quite frankly, a crop after the fact often doesn’t fit a standard format and you end up with odd-sized images."

I heartily agree with Brenda ... and I also see many people who say, "I’ll crop it out later in the computer." You can certainly do that, but says Brenda: "Is that really mastering the craft of good composition?"

Don't miss Brenda's excellent BetterPhoto Instructor Insights photo blog:

Cropping Digital Pictures: In the Field or After the Fact?

Off-Camera Flash Photography Basics

By Kerry Drager

While in Venice, Italy, during Carnival, Jim Zuckerman and his photo workshop group photographed at dawn.

"Surprisingly," he says, "there were quite a few costumed people already waiting for photographers. I experimented with off-camera flash to illuminate some of the wonderful Venetian costumes. ... this type of lighting is so much better than on-camera flash."

In his new photography article at BetterPhoto, Jim discusses the technique and insights of using flash off-camera. Read his informative article here:

Off-Camera Flash Photography Basics

Best White Balance Method

By Kerry Drager

Selecting the best white balance setting to match the scene is a challenge for many digital photographers. But many people, including myself, shoot just about everything with a "default" of daylight or sunny white balance.

In his BetterPhoto Instructor Insights photography blog, Jim Zuckerman says:

"Because I shoot in Raw with my DSLR camera, the color balance of the photos can be tweaked in ACR (Adobe Camera Raw) or Lightroom later, if I'm not pleased with what the daylight WB gives me. However, I find that most of the time, I like the color."

I totally agree, but be sure to check out Jim's excellent blog, which includes colorful photos from his trip to Venice, Italy, during Carnival:

Best White Balance Method

Nature Photography Tips: Shooting Projects Near You

By Kerry Drager

I often photograph in and around my country home in northern California. Oh, I always love venturing far afield, but I can't always get away. Nearby photo projects help keep my vision and camera skills sharp, while also providing some nice pictures too. Plus, getting out for regular short shoots is fun too!

For nature photography tips and just all-around photography, this is good advice to follow!

In his BetterPhoto article, instructor Rob Sheppard takes on this very same subject ... in an interesting and enlightening way, and from a nature photography point of view. In short, he totally "trashes" the old saying, "The grass is greener on the other side of the fence". :-)

Read this photography article here:

Nature Photography Tips: Shooting Projects Near You

Natural Light Photography - Shooting at Twilight

By Kerry Drager

Twilight is my favorite time of day for outdoor photography! The lighting is tremendous, and so are the colors. For city scenes, there's a beautiful blend of natural and articial light, and for nature scenes, there's just all-around color and drama.

In her new BetterPhoto Instructor Insights photography blog, Deborah Sandidge shares tips, thoughts, and techniques on night photography - specifically twilight:

Natural Light Photography - Shooting at Twilight

Photography Composition: Fixing Terrible Backgrounds

By Kerry Drager

Digital photographers face challenges of all kinds, points out Jim Zuckerman, a top stock pro and BetterPhoto instructor. "Much of the time, there are solutions either photographically or within Photoshop to fix the problem."

In the case of photographing the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey, he used both solutions in order to fix a bad background. Read more in Jim's BetterPhoto Instructor Insights photography blog:

Photography Composition: Fixing Terrible Backgrounds

Photography Panning for Sports and Action

By Kerry Drager

Panning is a powerful technique for sports such as race cars, motorcycles, running or bicycling, and it works equally well with wildlife. That's the word from Doug Steakley, a professional photographer who also teaches Photographing Motion for the BetterPhoto online photography school.

"Panning is an excellent technique for capturing a feeling of motion and action," says Doug, and he offers his thoughts and tips in an Instructor Insights photography blog:

Photography Panning for Sports and Action

Digital Photography Exposure for Snow and Ice

By Kerry Drager

Jim Zuckerman is a top stock pro who has his own unique - and very successful - approach to digital photography exposure challenges. With his DSLR camera, he put his digital metering methods to use during his recent photography adventure in Antarctica.

Find out Jim's exposure tips and techniques in his new article at
BetterPhoto.com: Digital Photography Exposure for Snow and Ice

Would you like to learn more? Jim teaches digital photography exposure and Techniques of Natural Light Photography for BetterPhoto's online photography school.

Photographing Wildlife: Patience Pays Off

By Kerry Drager

Photography has taught Jim Zuckerman to be patient. Says Jim, a top wildlife stock photographer:

"If you are impatient, you can forget about shooting wildlife photography. It will drive you crazy. If you love photographing animals, then you must learn to invest the time required to wait for those peak moments that will be so rewarding."

Read his fascinating thoughts and insightful tips - plus see some outstanding wildlife pictures - in his new BetterPhoto article: Photographing Wildlife: Patience Pays Off

Jim, by the way, teaches a terrific wildlife photography workshop online at the BetterPhoto digital photography school.