Photo How To

Q. In the July 2017 issue, one of the questions dealt with processing black-and-white images in Lightroom as opposed to shooting black and white in camera. One of your suggestions was using add-on programs in Lightroom such as Nik’s Silver Efex Pro to “open up a whole new world of black-and-white possibilities.” How much more benefit or advantage do you get from using an add-on program versus just learning the advanced features of Lightroom and creating the effects yourself? Is it worth spending the extra money on the add-ons or should you just learn to use Lightroom more efficiently?

Halloween is right around the corner, and what better way to have some fun than by shooting spooky portraits with a simple home setup? Best yet, after watching the tutorial below, you can download six free smoke textures to make your Halloween portraits even creepier.

Even the best photographers make mistakes on occasion, and there’s nothing wrong with that as long as you correct the errors and make different one’s next time. The quick video below identifies five common mistakes, and explains how to fix them with ease.

Shooting on the streets of your local town or city is an accessible and engaging form of photography, offering unlimited opportunities for great imagery. Interesting buildings and monuments, colorful street signs, and attractive passersby are among the many possibilities.

When it comes to camera bragging rights, what makes you most proud? My guess: pixel count. In a world where mobile phones can make shots good enough for billboards, nothing seems to make you feel better about yourself than to flog your camera’s megapixel horsepower.

Everyone knows that laughter and smiles are infectious, and there’s no better way to loosen up a photo shoot and capture better images than by getting everyone to smile. This not only includes the model, but the photographer and anyone else at the shoot.

Some experts call it “Color Theory,” while others refer to “Color Psychology,” but the point is that the colors of objects around us have a significant impact upon our moods, attitudes, and perception. In the video below, you’ll see how this concept applies to the photographs we make and how they are viewed by others.