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How To Show Motion

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Columbia River GorgeA photograph is a still frame of a precise moment in time. So, although a photograph can’t show motion in the same way that a video can, there’s still a way to illustrate or imply motion in a photograph. You might want to do this for a variety of reasons: maybe your subject moves a lot or you captured it while it was moving and you want to show that movement, or you want to show motion to give more action to a scene or help guide the viewer’s eyes. In those cases, here are a few ways to show motion in your photos: [Read more…] about How To Show Motion

How To Photograph The Lunar Eclipse

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Lunar Eclipse (2011) / Photo by Steve Berardi
Lunar Eclipse (2011) / Photo by Steve Berardi
On October 8th (this Wednesday), there will be a total lunar eclipse. It’ll be visible from much of North and South America, Australia, and much of Asia (see map).

In a total eclipse, the moon turns red (due to the way the light from the Sun is scattered as it passes through our atmosphere), and it’s truly a beautiful sight!

Here are some tips for photographing the eclipse: [Read more…] about How To Photograph The Lunar Eclipse

How To Shoot In The Fog

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Photo by Eric Pohl
Foggy morning at Bastrop State Park, Texas (1/30 sec, f/8, ISO 100) / Photo by Eric Pohl
Shooting in fog has always intrigued me. From golden rays lighting wavy mist rising from a placid lake to an atmospheric scene of a craggy coast line and silhouetted tree — fog can be a truly amazing gift in photography. It can add a moody and mysterious ambiance to any scene. It has the ability to take the most mundane places and turn them into mystical worlds where anything is possible.

On the downside, without taking a few things into consideration, it can also make a photo dull and washed out. So, here are a few strategies for taking photos in the fog: [Read more…] about How To Shoot In The Fog

How To Photograph Wildlife Action Shots

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If you enjoy wildlife photography, then you’ll surely love to capture action shots:

Photo by Jim Braswell
Photo by Jim Braswell

Capturing action or behavior gives impact to your images. Sure, an image of a bear just standing in a creek can be a nice image, and it certainly has its place. But, an action shot of that bear can bring your photography to the next level.

To increase your chances of capturing action shots, here are a few techniques you can use: [Read more…] about How To Photograph Wildlife Action Shots

Remember To Always Put Safety First

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Photo by Jackson Hole Central Reservations (used under the CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 license)
Photo by Jackson Hole Central Reservations (used under the CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 license)
Today I read a sad story about a man who was attacked and killed by a grizzly bear while trying to photograph it in Denali National Park (Alaska). Apparently, he was photographing it for over eight minutes, and got within 50 yards of the bear. The bear probably then felt threatened, and attacked the man.

Whenever you see wildlife, it’s always exciting. And, especially as photographers, I think we get even more excited than the average person, and totally forget about safety sometimes in the pursuit of a photograph.

But, it’s important to remember that wildlife can become dangerous if they feel threatened. [Read more…] about Remember To Always Put Safety First

Why You Should Prepare For the Unexpected

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Photo by Steve Berardi
Photo by Steve Berardi
This past weekend, I missed out on a really good photo opportunity. I was hiking with a friend in the chaparral of Southern California, when all of a sudden a big thunderstorm rolls through. I noticed the weather forecast called for a 20% chance of rain and thunderstorms, but I’ve seen that kind of forecast so often (and end up hiking under crystal clear skies), that I’ve learned to ignore anything below a 60% chance of rain 😉

Plus, I’ve only heard thunder or seen lightning twice in my five years of living in Southern California. So, when the weather forecast keeps saying “thunderstorms,” I always think to myself, “yeah, right…” [Read more…] about Why You Should Prepare For the Unexpected