Outdoor Photography How To

Most photographers know that Blue Hour and Golden Hour are great times to shoot because of the gorgeous colors at the beginning and end of the day. Last week we explained how to turn a dull landscape shot into a beautiful sunset image in Lightroom, and today you'll learn a technique for making a boring Blue Hour photo jump off the page.

If you’ve seen the classic 1973 film “Day for Night” you’re no doubt familiar with the cinematic technique, popularized by director Francois Truffaut, of making imagery shot during the day look like it was captured at night. And with a few quick steps in Lightroom, you can do much the same thing with your photographs.

Have you ever been out in the field on a nice day, found a great subject, and framed up the shot perfectly—only to discover that the images you captured are far less impactful that you expected? If your answer is "no," then you're better or luckier that the rest of us.

This comprehensive tutorial from the Photographic Eye YouTube channel is for those of you whose images lack the drama and impact that's required for an outstanding shot. You'll learn how to employ shadows, silhouettes and interesting shapes to transform photo in a very compelling way.

There’s no better source for photography advice than an experienced National Geographic photographer, and in the eye-opening video below Jim Richardson shares his five favorite tips for travel and destination photography.

The September 25, 2016, issue of The New York Times Magazine was titled "The Voyages" Issue, and it featured an impressive collection of images. In the introduction to the issue, the writer Gideon Lewis-Kraus talks about the idea of the image as document or experience: this is what a place looks like as opposed to this is what it feels like to be there. He notes the cliché of “the traveler so busy with documentation that he misses out on some phantom called the ‘experience itself.’”

Nighttime is often the right time for making dramatic images, especially if you know how to utilize long exposures to your advantage. And if you need some inspiration to give this technique a try, feast your eyes on these gorgeous shots from a British travel photographer.