Unfortunately, they’re a sight few get to experience unless you happen to live in the far northern (or southern) parts of the globe. For the rest of us, seeing this awe-inspiring phenomena involves quite a bit of traveling and expense! If you are going to invest the time and treasure to cross this off of your bucket list, then let me help you take great Aurora photographs. [Read more…] about How To Photograph The Aurora Borealis
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How To Photograph Wildlife in Low Light
Have you ever tried to capture that great wildlife shot in low light? It’s often not easy, is it? Such is the case of capturing this rare and endangered Barn Owl in a Missouri barn:

In Missouri, loss of habitat and farms, including barns where the Barn Owl prefers to live, have caused the Barn Owl to be placed on the state’s endangered list. In fact, the above owl is only the second Barn Owl I’ve heard of in the state over the past few years. Photographing it was a high priority on my list. And I certainly didn’t want to cause it undue stress by using flash photography. In cases like this, shooting in very low light may be the only alternative you have.
Let’s explore some of the factors of shooting in low light and look at some things we can do to help us capture a great image in low light: [Read more…] about How To Photograph Wildlife in Low Light
How to Reduce Noise in Your Photos
Noise is that ugly discoloration that makes your photos look “grainy” (like in the image on the right, where the noise has been exaggerated to make it more clear). It’s one of the most annoying things you’ll have to deal with in digital images.
Although you’ll never get rid of noise completely, there are a few things you can do to reduce it so it’s barely noticeable by the viewer: [Read more…] about How to Reduce Noise in Your Photos
How to Keep Your Camera Ready For Action
By the time you get out your camera, put on a longer lens and find the right exposure, that bird or dragonfly is probably in another zip code.
That’s why it’s a good idea to always keep your camera ready for action as you’re hiking down a trail. Always keep it by your side and ready to photograph a distant subject that may only be there for a second or two. Here are a few tips for making your camera ready to go: [Read more…] about How to Keep Your Camera Ready For Action
Three Great Resources For Comparing Cameras and Lenses
It’s always hard to make a decision about purchasing a new camera or lens. There seems to be an endless amount of things to consider: everything from ISO performance of a camera to the sharpest aperture of a lens you’re thinking about buying.
Well, luckily there’s some great resources for helping you compare all those cameras and lenses: [Read more…] about Three Great Resources For Comparing Cameras and Lenses
How To Reduce Noise In Your Close-Up Photos (using Photoshop)
To get these faster shutter speeds without sacrificing your desired depth of field, your only option is to use higher ISOs (making your camera’s sensor more sensitive).
Unfortunately, at these higher ISOs, sometimes you get some really ugly noise in the background.
Well, there just happens to be a great way to reduce this noise in Photoshop. Here’s how: [Read more…] about How To Reduce Noise In Your Close-Up Photos (using Photoshop)