Photo How To

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Ron Leach  |  Jan 31, 2023  | 

Let’s say you’re photographing landscapes on a foggy day, expecting to capture images full of drama. Instead what you get are boring, disappointing photos. Rather than dumping these uninteresting shots to the trash, why not transform them into something special with the simple edit below?

Ron Leach  |  Jan 31, 2023  | 

Everyone who follows Shutterbug is aware of how a bit of post processing can make a big difference in the quality of one’s images, but for some users the vast capabilities of Photoshop and Lightroom can be overwhelming with a steep learning curve.

Ron Leach  |  Jan 30, 2023  | 

Shutterbug readers tend to be a gear-happy lot, with a variety of cameras for different purposes. In addition to a DSLR or mirrorless camera (or both) with an arsenal of lenses, there may be a pocket-size compact with a large sensor, a lightweight super-zoom model, and perhaps a film camera or two. Despite all this equipment, we all shoot with our smartphones on occasion (whether we admit it or not).

Ron Leach  |  Jan 30, 2023  | 

Last week we featured a very popular tutorial on shooting spectacular sunrise and sunset photos, with tips on gear, camera settings, composition, and more. Today we’re moving on to step two with some great editing advice for achieving maximum impact.

Ron Leach  |  Jan 27, 2023  | 

Yesterday we shared a comprehensive guide to editing colors in Lightroom, with an overview of the most basic techniques. Today we’ll take a more detailed look at two tools that often create confusion because of their similarity, and explain when one works better than the other.

Ron Leach  |  Jan 26, 2023  | 

Whether you edit photos in Photoshop, Lightroom, or another image-editing program, it’s almost impossible to avoid making mistakes on occasion, and this holds true for both amateurs and pros. Robust editing software can be quite complicated, and no one is perfect. Right?

Ron Leach  |  Jan 26, 2023  | 

Unless you’re shooting in black and white, the effective use of color can make or break a photo. And that typically means striking a balance between tones that are vibrant and realistic.

Ron Leach  |  Jan 26, 2023  | 

You don’t have to be an experienced landscape photographer to appreciate the magic of sunset and sunrise. In fact, these spectacular scenes are among the most commonly photographed by anyone with a camera.

Ron Leach  |  Jan 25, 2023  | 

Let’s face it: We all aspire to “shoot like a pro,” regardless of how we make a living. And whether or not that’s a realistic goal, it doesn’t hurt to expand one’s skills as much as possible for the best possible photos.

Ron Leach  |  Jan 25, 2023  | 

When most of us got started in photography we were told to “always shoot with the sun at your back.” That advice was reasonable for beginners interested in capturing simple images with a “Kodak Moment” look.

Ron Leach  |  Jan 24, 2023  | 

There are a number of reasons that landscape and other outdoor photos may be underexposed. Perhaps you neglected to add the necessary EV compensation, or an overly bright sky biased the exposure.

Ron Leach  |  Jan 24, 2023  | 

Camera sensor sizes can be confusing for the uninitiated because of the various options available. Pros and enthusiasts typically use cameras with either full-frame, APS-C, or 4/3 sensors. But there are a number of smaller options too, usually found in compact cameras, super-zoom models, and even our phones.

Ron Leach  |  Jan 24, 2023  | 

One very common Photoshop task is making selections that are used for a variety of purposes during the editing process. We’ve featured tutorials on this several times in the past, but the video below is all about a specific refinement that’s easy to accomplish and will vastly improve your results.

Ron Leach  |  Jan 23, 2023  | 

Have you ever marveled at landscape photos shot with long exposures and ND filters, and said to yourself “This is too complicated for me?” The quick video below will correct this misconception and explain how easy this is to accomplish using a few basic tips.

Ron Leach  |  Jan 23, 2023  | 

Lightroom is loaded with tools and special features, some of which change or are added every time there’s an update. So you’ll be excused for not taking advantage of everything this software has to offer.

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