Knowledge Center

November 2009: 2009 Digital Camera Holiday Gift Guide - Part 5

2009 Holiday Gift Guide TOC Part 1: Sub $150 Cameras [read more]

November 2009: 2009 Digital Camera Holiday Gift Guide - Part 4

[read more]

November 2009: 2009 Digital Camera Holiday Gift Guide - Part 3

2009 Holiday Gift Guide TOC Part 1: Sub $150 Cameras [read more]

November 2009: 2009 Digital Camera Holiday Gift Guide - Part 2

2009 Holiday Gift Guide TOC Part 1: Sub $150 Cameras [read more]

November 2009: 2009 Digital Camera Holiday Gift Guide - Part 1

2009 Holiday Gift Guide TOC Part 1: Sub $150 Cameras [read more]

November 2009: Shooting Interior Composite Portraits - Part 2

Continued from Part 1 of Shooting Interior Composite PortraitsOnce the shoot is finished and the images are uploaded, load them all into your favorite image browsing software.  The first thing I do is pick which of the portraits (the shot with the model) I like the best.  A great about shooting this way is that if I do not like another el [read more]

November 2009: Shooting Interior Composite Portraits - Part 1

I can't say I am a big fan of architecture or interior photography.  I am also not a practitioner of the studio portrait.  But what I have discovered is a mix of these two that is a great way to combine an interior shot with a beautiful, character-driven portrait.  This in-depth, 2 part article will cover the entire process, the end result being a well lit and compelling still image.  I can't say how many times I would look at a portrait shot, and [read more]

November 2009: Three Basic Blending Modes in Adobe Photoshop

One of the most overlooked features in Photoshop is blending modes.  Adjustment layers, masks, selection tools, etc are all fantastic, but there are times when they cannot be used to achieve the desired result, or when using a simple blending mode can save significant work.  The drop down menu for blending modes can be found at the top right corner of the Layers palette, by default it is set to "normal."  Clicking on this menu will display a number of intimidating-looking choices.  Of all the available options for blending modes, there are a few that are best to learn first. [read more]

November 2009: Maximizing Live View on Your Digital SLR

In recent years, digital SLR manufacturers began to introduce Live View onto both their "prosumer" and professional models.  At first, many professionals balked at the idea of having live view as an option, since it has long been relegated to point and shoot cameras.  Even today, I encounter photographers who fail to realize the fantastic benefits that using live view offers.  I will not say that this is a feature used all the time, but it is a tool that can make our jobs easier and our images better.   [read more]

November 2009: The Histogram - How to interpret it

Whether or not we completely agree with it, we as humans thrive on feedback.  Positive feedback makes us feel good and makes us stronger, while negative feedback can help us improve ourselves and learn from mistakes.  For years, photographers' only feedback came long after the photos were taken, once the film was processed and returned from the lab or darkroom.  With the advent of digital, the privilege of instant gratification has been bestowed upon us.  But often, simply looking at a photo only tells part of the story, especially on a tiny screen designed to be bright and saturated.   [read more]