Do you ever have a photo that you really like, but you want it to be a little … more? Or maybe you just want another version of the image that is a little different? Perhaps more dramatic and artistic looking? Adding textures is a fantastic way to get that extra depth and create a really unique look in your images. In this video I'll show you how easy it is to add … [Read more...]
5 Reasons Why Your Photos Aren’t Sharp
It is a disappointment all photographers face at some point. In fact, it is a disappointment most photographers face on every shoot! There are so many things that can go wrong, so many mistakes that can be made to cause a photograph to be blurry. It's inevitable. Here are 5 common reasons why your photos are not as sharp as you want them to be: 1. Your shutter speed is … [Read more...]
Create a Soft Dreamy Effect (the Orton Effect)
The Orton Effect is a simple technique you can use to add a soft, dreamy look to your photos. I love this effect because it has a way of making a photo magically soft and sharp at the same time. In this video, I'll show you how to create the Orton Effect using Photoshop, Lightroom, or Luminar. https://youtu.be/PWvdlYd2Blo Click here to watch the video larger on … [Read more...]
Creating Unique Photo Effects with Topaz
When it comes to post-processing, my goal is usually to enhance a photo’s best qualities while maintaining a natural look. After all, nature is stunning just as it is! But sometimes I want to take my images a bit further; I want to go beyond the natural look, maybe add a painterly effect, some texture or colour grading. That’s when I turn to the plugins from Topaz Labs in my … [Read more...]
Photo Editing Case Study: Shanghai
I'm not big on cities. But photographing cityscapes makes it all worthwhile! And Shanghai must have one of the prettiest skylines I have ever seen. When I visited China a couple of years ago, I had an extra day to explore Shanghai and get used to the time change. It was hot, muggy and raining. So when I processed this photo I decided to make an abstract impressionist version … [Read more...]
What is the Best Focal Length Lens for Bird Photography?
Last winter I returned to one of my all time favourite bird photography destinations: Cibola National Wildlife Refuge which is on the border between California and Arizona. During my first visit to Cibola the previous year, I discovered some problems with my wildlife photography gear, which resulted in my not getting any long lens photos. Bummer! That was one reason why … [Read more...]
How to Upgrade to Lightroom Classic CC and What You Need to do First
Upgrading Lightroom can be a bit intimidating! You wouldn't be alone to worry that all the time you've put into organizing your photos into catalogs, folders and collections might suddenly go POOF! Or that maybe your whole computer might suddenly go POOF! So it's better to be prepared and feel secure that you can recover from any disaster that might occur. Not that I … [Read more...]
How to Use the Dodge and Burn Technique in Photo Processing
Dodging and burning is an easy and effective way to make portions of your image lighter or darker. So why is it so confusing to understand how it works? Because the terminology comes from the old darkroom days when processing photos was a two stage process. First we made the NEGATIVE by exposing the film to light. Just like when you make an image in your digital camera … [Read more...]