Advanced Photography Techniques

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
Advertisement
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
January 1, 2014

The Hero Image

The evolution of a shoot with Corey Rich

By David Willis, Photography By Corey Rich
Illustrating the dramatic impact that even a subtle change can bring to a photograph, commercial lifestyle photographer Corey Rich spent a day working out with cross-trainer Del Lafountain to capture a series of high-impact shots of the towering athlete as he muscled through several hundred kettlebell repetitions. Ultimately, despite an extended sequence... Read more
November 5, 2013

Mothership & Scout

How to work with photos on location and seamlessly integrate them back into your studio’s system working with Apple Aperture

By David Schloss
As the plane clears 10,000 feet, I open up my MacBook Air and launch Aperture 3. We bank to the north and I look out the window at the lights over Las Vegas. Just a few hours earlier, I was finishing off the last day of a multiday bicycling event where I captured more than 5,000 images at a series of bicycle races and a bike ride called the Mobile Social. ... Read more
November 1, 2013

Tone Curves

This often misunderstood control is as much about brightness as contrast

Text And Photography By George Jardine
I recently read one popular author’s introduction to his chapter on the Lightroom Tone Curve, and he started out by saying that with the improvements in the 2012 Process Version, the Tone Curve was basically outdated. Nothing could be further from the truth. It’s true the Lightroom 4/ACR 7 update represented a complete overhaul of the Basic... Read more