Advanced Photography Techniques

December 8, 2015

Thomas Boyd: Master Of Technique

Oregonian staffer Thomas Boyd knows that gaining access is key—and the veteran photographer knows how to get it and what gear to use once he has it

Text & Photography By Thomas Boyd
All of the great people photographers have the unique ability of gaining extraordinary access to events and people’s lives. This is doubly true of the best photojournalists, but it goes for everyone, from a portrait photographer to a wedding shooter. It’s this access that sets their images apart. There are two different kinds of access, of course.... Read more
September 14, 2015

DPP solutions: Preflight

The future of drones for professionals is becoming clearer

By The Editors
In February, the FAA issued the much anticipated proposed rules for drones titled "The Overview of Small UAS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking." Prior to the notice, there was a lot of speculation and more than a little apprehension about how the U.S. would handle drone usage. Short of plain outlawing unmanned aircraft in U.S. airspace, the biggest... Read more
September 4, 2015

Shoot Your Passion

For Corey Rich, video-ready DSLRs offered more than just a new business opportunity. They made a lifelong dream come true.

By William Sawalich, Photography By Corey Rich
Corey Rich became a professional photographer at an early age. At 16, he got his first job shooting real estate pictures for the local paper. He hadn’t yet mastered all the technical aspects of photography, but he says he’s always known a great picture when he sees one. "I never intended to be a business owner," Rich says. "I... Read more
September 3, 2015

How To Capture Picture from Video

Thanks to the resolution of 4K video, photographers can shoot motion and pull out client-worthy still images

By David Schloss
The moving images we see when we watch videos and movies are really just an optical illusion, a trick played by our brain when it’s shown a certain number of images in a short enough time. At about 30 images per second, the motion caused by this stream of still images becomes indistinguishable from the motion we perceive from actual moving objects.... Read more
September 1, 2015

DPP Solutions: Blurring The Lines

A look at the various tools you can use to create bokeh

By The Editors
Until about 10 years ago, the term bokeh was almost unknown. Coined from the Japanese word for blur, photographers began using the term in the late 1990s, but it wasn’t until the mid-aughts that it really took hold. The effect itself has been around as long as photography—shallow depth of field—but as any marketing expert will tell you, it... Read more
April 16, 2015

Convert Photos to Black & White

Instead of always taking a one-click solution, learn how to take control over the subtle tones to create richer, more nuanced black-and-white images

Text & Photography By Ming Thein
There’s no denying the classical appeal of black-and-white photography. Whilst a certain style of color, for example, Kodachrome of the ’80s, or the pale washed-out negatives of the ’60s and ’70s, or Velvia of the ’90s, evokes the nostalgia of a certain period in time, the very lack of color has the completely opposite... Read more
January 5, 2015

Raw Processing Fundamentals

Take complete control of the nuances and subtle exposure elements within your image files

By George Jardine
At the beginning of every class or workshop, I always ask the question, "How many of you feel that you completely understand—and are comfortable with—basic RAW concepts and the controls for RAW processing?" In response, I’ll sometimes get one or two volunteers, but more often than not, no one is willing to stick their neck out. And... Read more
December 16, 2014

Past & Presence

Douglas Dubler created a historical and artistic project that was ideally suited to the unique qualities of the legendary Polaroid 20×24 camera

By Richard A. Hood, Photography By Douglas Dubler
Imagine a modern professional photographer involved in a photo project allowing only 25 exposures in an entire day—with film so rare, there’s no room for tests, mistakes or retries. This is the story of a meeting between a great photographer and a historic camera. Among the world’s foremost beauty and fashion photographers, Douglas... Read more
November 19, 2014

Essential Lighting
A look at the must-know lighting techniques used by the pros
Photography By Conan Thai, Martin Wonnacott, Ethan Pines, Joanna Kustra & Seth Olenick
Whether you’re creating a beauty shot, crafting an environmental portrait or setting up a still life, one single photography truth will always remain: Light matters. What separates professional photographers from the crowd is the ability to shape light into a previsualized design appropriate for the subject and client. But when faced with every... Read more
November 1, 2014

The Digital Delivery Conundrum

Large file sizes and multimedia projects are changing the way photographers deliver the goods

Text And Photography By John Paul Caponigro
With film, it was simple. You shoot the job, process the film, then place the transparencies in a FedEx box or hand them to a messenger for delivery to your client. They open the box and send you a check for the unpaid balance on the invoice. Life was simple, even if it didn’t always seem like it at the time. Starting with the ability to scan... Read more
July 1, 2014

Over The Edge

As he plunges headfirst into the unknown, Lucas Gilman describes how to be a multimedia pro

By William Sawalich, Photography By Lucas Gilman
Lucas Gilman is a photographer and filmmaker who creates breathtaking adventure-sports imagery for clients like Sports Illustrated, Red Bull, Patagonia, Gore-Tex® and Nikon. He shoots everything from surfing to snow skiing, ice climbing to extreme kayaking, and he does it simply: by choosing high-quality tools, planning carefully, and putting the safety... Read more
March 1, 2014

Autofocus Evolution

Radical advancements in AF technology are blowing away old assumptions about phase- and contrast-detection systems

By David Schloss
Since the advent of digital photography, there have been aspects of a camera’s operation that are shrouded in mystery and confusion. That’s because many of the technologies involved in digital photography are rooted more deeply in optical physics and computational algorithms than in shutter speeds and lens openings. Most recently, a seismic... Read more
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