NEW FEATURE - Photography Tutorials

[tentwo]

So far, i've been covering photography from a generic point of view - but of course, that's not how we take photos. Tutorials shine especially when the time comes to learn a specific new technique. Let's have 'em...

1 - Water Waves Tutorial
If you're going to be making waves with your photography... Okay, yeah, I went there. Photographing waves is a cool exercise in studio work - it combines a fast-moving subject with advanced lighting techniques, the risks of working with a 'wet set', and a huge amount of patience - it's not that hard, though, and the results can be rather fabulous. Give it a go!
Get more at Water Waves Tutorial on Chris Nuzzaco

2 - Infra Red Photography
So you've heard about infrared photography and you'd like to give it a go. But where do you start? And where do you end? This tutorial walks you through it. Can't get enough? Read it all on Infra Red Photography on Galits

3 - Panoramas and Photomerge
A very good tutorial about panorama photos, featuring a good collection of picture stitched together to show an extended view of landscape. The in-depth instructions in the article help you get started - and the extra little bit of inspiration included in the article comes in handy, too! There's more at Panoramas and Photomerge on Second Picture

4 - Doll Photography Tutorial
Photographing dolls might seem quite specific, but this tutorial provides useful information on general product photography. Don't overlook it just because of the niche subject matter. There's more for you on Doll Photography Tutorial on American Doll Outfitters

5 - Easy Water Photography
Photographing water is never the same twice; it's fun and challenging. This tutorial gives you lots of ideas and takes you through the process of capturing coloured water droplets. Get it all on Easy Water Photography on Free Photo Sources

6 - Night Photography Step by Step
Your adventures don't stop when the sun goes down, and your photography shouldn't have to either. Night photography can record beautiful scenes that have a fairytale world feel to them when compared to their daytime counterparts. This 6-page guide shows you how. Get it all on Night Photography Step by Step on Photography about.com

7 - Photographing Smoke
There might not be a 'right' way to photograph smoke, but there are some tips and recommendations to help you get the most out of it. These are some of the best. The whole nine yard's at Photographing Smoke on Pixiq

8 - Smoke Photography Tutorial
This tutorial takes you through capturing awesome photographs from everyday smoke sources. There are some fabulous pictures to set alight the flame of inspiration, too. Break out those incense sticks, sing some Kumbaya, and take it from there.
There's more on Smoke Photography Tutorial on Designzzz

9 - Basics of HDR photography
Which kinds of photos work well for HDR; which don't? What do you need to create HDR images and how do you go about it? This tutorial explains it all. The full article is on Basics of HDR photography on Emmett Lollis

10 - How To Photograph Comets
With everything from rough dates of meteor showers to required kit, this tutorial guides you through everything you need to capture gorgeous images of shooting stars, comets, and meteors. More tasty treats at How To Photograph Comets on Free Photo Sources

11 - Macro Photography
Taking close-up photos of small and things is always an amazing experience especially when you start enjoying it. This tutorial will provide you with useful information and tips about macro photography. More tasty treats at Macro Photography on Photo Net

12 - How to take Worlds Best concert Photos
How do you get that iconic rock photograph? Once you've got yourself into the pit and snapped the picture that freezes time in low-light, how do you make some money from it? This article reveals all! Read more on How to take Worlds Best concert Photos on Photo Shelter

13 - The Complete Guide to Shooting Farming Agriculture
This one wins the prize for most bizarre tutorial: How to take photos at farms. I have no idea why anyone thought this was a good idea, but it's actually pretty well written, and the photos are nifty, too. Find it all on The Complete Guide to Shooting Farming Agriculture on Photo Tuts+

14 - Night Photography
Night Photography isn't exactly easy, but it makes for great pictures. This tutorial will help you to get the best pictures out of low-light situations. The full article is on Night Photography on Photoxels

15 - Hunting for superior mirages
Ever seen a superior mirage? It's a mirage in the sky above an object, rather than below it. They're awesome to photograph, if you get the chance. This guide helps you find them, and them capture them with superior results.
Read all about it on Hunting for superior mirages on Weather Scapes

16 - Food photography on Wikipedia
Want to know how to make drinks sparkle, keep green vegetables looking green, and glasses stay frosty? This article is full of the sneaky tricks used by food photographers.
The whole nine yard's at Food photography on Wikipedia on Wikipedia

17 - Making a time-lapse
Making a time-lapse is fun and with Small Aperture's excellent step-by-step guide, you'll be having a go in no time. Sunsets never were this awesome! Get more at Making a time-lapse on Small Aperture

18 - Introduction to Lomography
Off-kilter, bleeding colours, slightly blurry, but definitely fun. It's lomography. Want to have a go at it yourself? This quick and easy guide shows you how. Read all about it on Introduction to Lomography on Lights Talking

19 - Car Photography That Sells the Car
Most of us are probably taking photos for fun or 'just for the art of it', but what happens when you actually need to go the whole hog into the world of commercial photography, as the photos are going to be used for 'something'? Photographing cars is one of those instances - if you've ever browsed eBay for second-hand cars, it's easy to see how huge the variation is in the quality there's available. This tutorial helps you along. More at Car Photography That Sells the Car on Car Photo Tutorials

120 - Camera Toss Photography Techniques
If you're confident that you won't drop your camera, camera tossing can create some beautiful photos. If you'd like to give it a go, take a look at this tutorial. Check out Camera Toss Photography Techniques on Designzzz

21 - Photographing Buildings a Guide
Architecture is an abundant photographic resource - it completely surrounds you. So why aren't you taking more beautiful photos of buildings and bridges? Maybe because you think it's difficult? This tutorial takes the stress out of it.
Get the full skinny at Photographing Buildings a Guide on Free Photo Sources

22 - How to Take the Perfect Spring Flower Macro Photograph
Flowers are fab photo subjects, and even better in macro. Want to have a go at some floral close-ups? This guide will get you started.
Learn more by going to How to Take the Perfect Spring Flower Macro Photograph on Lights Talking

23 - Underwater Photography
I'm a complete convert to underwater photography. But it is very different from shooting on dry land. If you want to give it go, read this first! Get the full skinny at Underwater Photography on NYIP

24 - How to Photograph The Moon
So you like macro photography, do you? How about doing the exact opposite: Photographing outer space? Even just as an experiment, you can learn a lot from attempting to get a good shot of the moon - and this article shows you how to, er, shoot for the moon.
Get it all on How to Photograph The Moon on Photo Tips

25 - 13 Steps for Shooting The Perfect Water Droplet
Photos of water droplets aren’t hard to come by. Flickr is littered with them and although some might look impressive, they all seem to have very similar composition and formation. However, the techniques used to capture a water droplet may not be second nature to all of us and the skills learned here will undoubtedly be applicable to other photographic situations. Here are 13 steps to getting the technique right! There's more on 13 Steps for Shooting The Perfect Water Droplet on Photo Tuts+

26 - Camera Skills Night Photography
Lighting is what makes or breaks a shot, writes the author, so it's a little ironic that night is one of my favorite times to shoot. I totally know where you're coming from - and this article is a lovely guide to stumbling through the darkness with your camera.
Learn more by going to Camera Skills Night Photography on Worth 1000

27 - HDR Explained
This tutorial explains what HDR is, what you'll need to take HDR pictures, and then how to ut it all together when post-processing for that overall HDR effect. Get it all on HDR Explained on Free Photo Sources

28 - How to Photograph Macro Water Droplets Splashes
Photographing water droplets is an easy way to drive yourself mad, but you might be able to avoid plenty of hair-pilling and head-scratching if you read this guide first. Read more on How to Photograph Macro Water Droplets Splashes on Hypergurl

29 - Photographing Waterfalls
With some great technique tips, for example ensuring that your images aren't too dull or too busy, this tutorial helps you ensure that your waterfall photo isn't just another waterfall picture. Read more on Photographing Waterfalls on Luminous Landscape

30 - How to Take Great Photos of Holiday Lights
Want to take great photos of the lights on your Christmas tree, or of your Chanukiyah? This tutorial is full of advice to getting it just right. Interested? Check out How to Take Great Photos of Holiday Lights on NYIP

31 - The Ultimate Guide to HDR photography
What is HDR photography? How did it come about? What does it mean for your pictures? This guide explains the mysteries of high dynamic range. Give it some love at The Ultimate Guide to HDR photography on Pixiq

32 - Photography Secrets from One of the World's Top Shooters
Photography secrets from Joe McNally shares a series of stories behind some of his best shots: a great behind-the-scenes insight into some lovely photographs. A great inspiration, and best of all: you may even learn a few things! Read it all on Photography Secrets from One of the World's Top Shooters on Creative Pro

33 - Food photography for Amateurs
This food blogger takes one image of a plate of food and deconstructs it critically, explaining just how it can be made better. This makes for an excellent read in both constructive criticism and good food photography! Read more on Food photography for Amateurs on Jenn Cuisine

34 - The Complete Guide For Photographing Live Insects
Some photographers prefer their insects for macro photography to be standing still - but that doesn't mean you have to kill 'em to get a decent photo! This guide gives you an insight into how you can capture live insects. The whole nine yard's at The Complete Guide For Photographing Live Insects on DIY Photography

35 - Auto Racing Photography
Fast cars and race tracks make for brilliant photos, but how do you get involved and how do you go about it? This tutorial gives you lots of ideas, pointers, and advice. The whole nine yard's at Auto Racing Photography on Luminous Landscape

36 - Winter Photography Tutorial
Winter scene photographs look amazing, but what about getting the exposure right for snow, or your camera coping with the cold? This tutorial comes with advice a-plenty to ensure you get that perfect snow landscape.
The full article is on Winter Photography Tutorial on Picture Correct

37 - Beginners Guide to Sports Photography
Want to have a go at sports photography? This tutorial goes through equipment basics, composition, what to expect when you're at a game trying to capture images, and post processing. Check out the full tutorial on Beginners Guide to Sports Photography on TutsPlus

38 - Concert Photography
Concert photography - if you're mad enough to try it, what with nothing staying still and the light being low - is monumentally rewarding. Want to give it a go? Start here! Read more on Concert Photography on Pixiq

39 - How To Photograph Bubbles
To quote Jaques the Cleaning Shrimp from Finding Nemo: Bubbles! Bubbles! Bubbles! My bubbles!. Erm, yes. (can you tell I've been spending just a tiny bit too long writing descriptions about photography tutorials? Especially awesome because I have my doubts whether anyone will ever read far enough down this list to actually read this, but hey. I did set out to do 250 tutorials, and by jove, will I complete this herculean task). Anyway - this tutorial is called how to Photograph Bubbles, and you win today's top prize if you're able to guess what it covers. Read more on How To Photograph Bubbles on Learn My Shot

40 - Abstract Photography
If you want to make some cool, dramatic images you should read this fantastic tutorial. It'll help you to approach photography from a new, abstract angle. There's more at Abstract Photography on Ron Bigelow

41 - Rural Photography
Rural photography isn't just about landscapes. There're plenty of details to pick up on an stories to tell. This guide will get you started. Strap on your wellington boots, dig out your flatcap, and let's get started. More tasty treats at Rural Photography on Digital Photos Secrets

42 - Night Photography
From using reflections, to light painting, to cooling down and warming up images, this is a pretty comprehensive guide to taking pictures at night. Now where did I leave those night-vision goggles? Read it all on Night Photography on Photo.net

43 - Getting started with Time Lapse Photography
Photography, from its very infancy, has been great at the art of either freezing or 'flowing' motion. Time lapse photograpy bridges the gap between motion and stop-motion, between photography and video, and between the real and the uncanny. This is a lovely introduction to the art - and a great little article to boot. There's more on Getting started with Time Lapse Photography on Picture Correct

44 - Shooting in Low light Situations
These four pointers will help you get the best out of your low-light shots, helping you to think about composition as well as develop some practical skills. Get it all on Shooting in Low light Situations on The Photo Argus

45 - An introduction to Food Photography
What does it take to make a plate of food look good enough to eat? These eight top tips let you in on the secrets of successful food photography. There's more for you on An introduction to Food Photography on Digital Photography School

46 - Spectacular Night Shooting
Getting great shots at night isn't as hard as you think it might be, despite the relative lack of light. If you follow these five steps, you'll be well on your way. Learn more by going to Spectacular Night Shooting on Digital Photos Secrets

47 - Smoke Photography
Starting with the equipment that you'll need and taking you right the way through to post-processing to capture some delicious-looking smoke photographs, this tutorial is a lovely starting point for smoke photography! More at Smoke Photography on Paxton Prints

48 - Shooting in the Rain
A downpour doesn't necessarily mean that you have to put away your camera. This guide to rain photography helps you to freeze raindrops, to create a background haze with rain, and to have some fun with soft focus. Have a read at Shooting in the Rain on The Photo Argus

49 - Moon Photography
We love the moon...' except that it isn't always easy to photograph. This tutorial gives you six invaluable tips and plenty of inspiration to get it right. Can't get enough? Read it all on Moon Photography on Dan Heller

50 - How to photograph fireworks
Want to know how to capture the gorgeousness of a fireworks display? These ten tips will guide you through tripods, framing, and exposure to help you get it right. Give it some love at How to photograph fireworks on Digital Photography School

51 - High speed Photography Tutorial
With equipment lists, hand-drawn diagrams, and photos to aspire to, this tutorial tells you everything that you need to know to get started taking photos of things moving at high speed. Get more at High speed Photography Tutorial on DIY Photography

52 - Photographing Star trails
If you'd like to have a go at making a time-lapse of the night sky or photographing star trails but aren't sure where to begin, try here. There's lots of useful information and plenty of inspiration. Get it all on Photographing Star trails on Dan Heller

53 - Lomo Photography Tutorial
You know, you don't have to spend money on a Lomo-camera to create lomo-style images. Nope! With good old post-processing you can get that Lomo-look. This tutorial shows you how. Read more on Lomo Photography Tutorial on Digital Photography School

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[tentwo]

I know ahhhhhhh....... The Boring stuff, but what what good is learning all that good practical stuff with out the why!

A lot of the stuff we've had so far is rather practical, but what if you want to learn some of the theory of what goes on behind the scenes? Do not despair, my fellow photography comrades, here's a load of theory for you to enjoy!

1 - How to Get Tack Sharp Photo Images
What does it take to achieve pin-sharp images, both technically and practically? This guide sets out the basics, looking at shutter speeds, focal length, and more.The whole nine yard's at How to Get Tack Sharp Photo Images on Apogee Photo

2 - What is ISO?
If you're new to photography, ISO can seem this arbitrary scale that has some sort of effect on your pictures. This guide explains what ISO is and how it can have an impact on your images. The whole nine yard's at What is ISO? on Small Aperture

3 - Understanding White Balance
If you come from the world of film, you may remember using filters to correct for incandescent or fluorescent lighting. Most people didn't bother and their indoors pictures invariably came out with a yellow/orange or bluish cast. In the digital world, these correction filters are no longer necessary, replaced by a feature found in most -- even the entry-level -- digital cameras called, White Balance. Here's an article explaining the whats, hows and wherefores. There's more at Understanding White Balance on PhotoXels

4 - What is shutter speed?
What sort of effect will adjusting your shutter speed have your pictures, both technically and creatively? This short tutorial has some answers - and a light dusting of inspiration, too. Read it all on What is shutter speed? on Small Aperture

5 - Photography illustrated
A fun and unusual take on teaching photography, this site takes a couple of cartoon characters explaining photography to each other, and turns it into a somewhat-readable guide to various aspects of photography. I'm not a big fan myself, but several of my readers e-mailed the link to me, saying it helped them out - so why not! Get it all on Photography illustrated on Worth 1000

6 - What is a small aperture?
What is a small aperture? How will altering the aperture of your lens affect your photos. This quick and easy guide should answer those questions. Read more on What is a small aperture? on Small Aperture

7 - What is white balance?
Knowing what white balance is, how it affects your pictures, and how to control it can make a huge difference to your pictures. This introductory guide will help you out. There's more for you on What is white balance? on Small Aperture

8 - Infra Red Basics
Infra red photography is a great challenge - and enables you to take a couple of steps into the world of the arcane and unreal-looking. With a side helping of awesome. Here's how... Read more on Infra Red Basics on Worth 1000

9 - Understanding Lens Contrast
Many photographers — even some experienced and knowledgeable ones — seem permanently confused about contrast, especially when the word is used to describe lenses. This article thoroughly rectifies that situation, and is well worth a read if you're interested in having a deeper understanding of lenses and what you're looking for when you buy one. There's more at Understanding Lens Contrast on luminous Landscape

10 - 8 steps to sharper pictures
I personally love this tutorial as it has helped a lot of photographers get a firm grip on how to produce sharp images without using any specific software such as Photoshop or Lightroom. 8 Simple and easy to follow steps to make difference in your images.
Check out the full tutorial on 8 steps to sharper pictures on Pixiq

11 - Your pictures; your rights, redux
This article sets out the difference between copyright and licensing rights, and highlights what you need to look for when signing licensing rights deals, even if it's only to display your pictures on a photo-sharing website.
Interested? Check out Your pictures; your rights, redux on Small Aperture

12 - Understanding Polarizing Filters
There are a lot of photographic efects you can re-create digitally easily enough... Polarisers isn't one of them, so if you're planning to take the leap into the world of landscape photography, you could do a lot worse than buying one - and learning how to use it.
Check out the full tutorial on Understanding Polarizing Filters on Cambridge in Colour

13 - Understand digital camera Sensors
For the geek among us, learning how a camera sensor actually works is very interesting indeed - this guide talks you through some of the details about how to make it tastier. There's more at Understand digital camera Sensors on Cambridge in Colour

14 - White Balance Basics
Digital SLRs do a great job of figuring out white balance for you, but sometimes they don't get it quite right. If you understand the principles behind white balance, and how to control it yourself, your photography will come on leaps and bounds. This guide will get you started. Can't get enough? Read it all on White Balance Basics on Paxton Prints

15 - Your pictures; your rights
What is copyright? When do you need a model release? If you want to use your images commercially, what do you need to know? This quick-and-dirty guide should help you out. Read more on Your pictures; your rights on Small Aperture

16 - Understanding Camera Lenses
This tutorial sets out the basics in lens composition and focal length. It talks you through zooms and primes and it covers apertures. When you're starting out with glass, start here. Get the full skinny at Understanding Camera Lenses on Cambridge in Colour

[tentwo]

So there you have it. All the information I uncovered and used throughout my start at the NY school of Art and This was the conglomorate of the notes and readings we had from the classes. I hope this aids all of you new and old and I look forward to learning from all of you as well!

[ratssass]

WOW!!!Thanks........kinda like Christmas in Dec.
...while i love to read,and do so every chance i get,i also enjoy the videos from adorama,b&h,adobe,to name a few.I semi watch them quite a bit while performing other tasks.

[Overread]

tentwo - only had a quick look but that looks like a great listing and quick summary of some very good articles - many thanks for putting the time into those posts

Histograms by Sparky Demystifying Histograms

[tentwo]

No problem. I just took my notes from the courses and copy and pasted them here. I tried to break each reply up into the topics.

[felicity]

Hi thanks alot I have a great passion for photography...but dont know where to start, what to do? You helped me alot

[dxqcanada]

Umm, Overread ... someone's going to have to sort/categorize all of tentwo's additions ...

[jowensphoto]

10 one light portrait set ups: 10 Ways to Shoot Stunning Portraits With Only One Light

[KansanShooter]

Thanks 10-2! Spent the last 2 days reading all that. Great info!

[surin]

i really like this post it is very informative for my all doubts regarding photography thanks for sharing such wonderful post.

[Sumnerr]

For general information and tutorials I would check out this site. The site is mostly for landscape and nature photographers, but there is a lot of good information for any type of photographer none the less.

[Michael79]

I like this a lot, and have read quite a bit of it. I hope I don't get crapped on for this next suggestion. Wouldn't these topics make it's own great forum though? Or a sub-forum? Just asking.

Thanks for all the post all.

[Stoikimagic1]

I really like this link & it's very helpful for us.