Lighting Photography Tips - A Guide to Using Your Flash

Although flashes are just one type of photography light, they are also one of the most common. Nearly all cameras these days have a built-in flash and most professional photographers use a flash regularly for their work. Just like cameras, flashes vary significantly in their construction, functionality and accessories. Here's a breakdown on how to get the most out of your flash.

Hyperfocal Focusing: What Is It And Why Should You Use It?

When should you use hyperfocal focusing? Well, sometimes when shooting a landscape, you want everything sharp from the front to the back of the scene. Setting a small aperture such as f/16, f/22 or even f/32 can help, but if you really want to maximize depth of field, hyperfocal focusing is the technique you need to use.

What is Photorealism?

With modern times, comes modern ways of thinking. With modern ways of thinking comes new ways of approaching old things. This is done by blending the old and the new by correcting the old with the new. Such is the way with photorealism. This art from, which is dominated by painters instead of photographers, is the making of a painting out of a photograph. This started in the 1960's in the United States and has even branched to another art form called hyperrealism. Photorealism has emerged from Pop Art to act as an opposition to Abstract Expressionism and Minimalism. At times, it has been wrongly names as Super Realism, New Realism, Sharp Focus Realism and Hyper Realism.

Light The Night - Light Painting

Light painting is one of the lesser known techniques in photography and is usually only carried out by serious night owls... and some very keen photographers. Primarily performed at night and outdoors, such night captures can make scenes look more dramatic than they would under normal conditions. Light painting is not a new thing either, it's a technique that has been used for over 100 years, and contrary to modern beliefs it's not at all easy to get the optimal result. Accuracy in exposure settings, the right tools, the right atmospheric conditions, and patience are all key to a great night capture involving light painting.

Get Closer to Your Subject

Almost any shot will look better if you take two or three steps closer to your subject. Filling the frame entirely with your subject will make a terrific difference to your photos.

Alternatively, instead of moving closer, use the Optical Zoom of your camera to get a close up shot. Don't use your Digital Zoom as it will degrade your image quality.