One of the great things about stepping up from compact cameras to SLRs is the amount of extra control you get over the final shot. While that control can be used in an almost infinite set of combinations, one of the more popular and effective ways to use it is with motion blur photographs.Photo by TheMonnie The fact that motion blur can be used to create stunning photographs in everything from wedding through to sports photography shows its utility. Mastering the basics of motion blur for different settings simply adds an extra weapon to your arsenal of photography skills that can be applied in an almost limitless amount of photographic situations. It's the utility of motion blur in its potential application to so many situations that means that mastering it will result in you being a better photographer.Why Use Motion Blur?It is most often said that motion blur allows the photographer to simulate movement in their static images. It certainly offers a very different effect from freezing a moment in time with faster, perfectly focussed shots. Used creatively like in the shots in this article, it can result in some amazing effects. Photo by Brent NashvillePhoto by Express Monorail So What is There ...

A lost of people know about the rule of thirds, the s-curve as well as other elements of photographic composition. Let's have a look at something that is a little more advanced in the world of image composition that was discovered by a 12th century Italian mathematician called Fibonacci.Introducing The Golden SectionThe Golden Section is simply a compositional rule that dictates that a well composed image can be achieved by dividing the frame by 1.6 several times.By doing this, you get a pattern like this:Image courtesy of Nam Nam The Geek ExplanationFibonacci is most famous for developing a series of number sequence which adds the previous two numbers:0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55...When you divide successive numbers, you come up with 1.6 which is a key in mathematics to proportions (hence its relationship to photography). When you apply the Fibinacci sequence to a rectangle you get a tiling with squares whose sides are successive Fibonacci numbers in length. Each square is roughly 1.6 times as big as the last. Like this:How to Use the Golden SectionImages speak louder than words, so have a look at this image and the one below it to see an almost perfect application of the Golden Section in action. The proportions ...

Composing a great photograph can be done in so many different ways that it seems more logical to talk about "guides" to composition rather than "rules" of composition. We have covered several compositional elements of photography previously such as the photographer's rule of thirds and the s-curve, but let's move on to some other less stringent "rules" for composing a great shot. These elements of an image can create spectacular results if done well.Pattern - Repetitious patterns or textures within an image can either draw or direct the viewer within a shot. In some cases it can be what makes the shot. Patterns can often be found in nature (clouds, sand, waves) and sometimes architecture and other human-made elements (farms, gardens etc).Photo by Andrew MorrellPhoto by Garry at www.visionandimagination.com Symmetry - Shots that use symmetry can often be very boring, but if you can incorporate other elements of composition such as shadow, pattern or colour then they can also be quite eye-catching. When using symmetry, look for these other elements also to add extra interest to the shotPhoto by Kicki DOF - Using depth of field well is one of the best weapons a photographer has in their arsenal. Consider which elements ...

It's time for another competition!First to the important part - the prizes!!!1st Place - A Copy of Alien Skin's Bokeh 2 Software and a Bokeh Master's Kit (Value: $224)These prizes will give you everything you need to become a master of bokeh photography. The kit has you covered for producing brilliant effect while shooting while the software lets you get funky with the post processing part of it.2nd Place - An Incredible Photography Wordpress Theme from the Theme Foundry (Value: $68)This will enable you to have one of the best looking photography websites on the internet. This theme is specifically designed for photographers and will give your portfolio that professional look.3rd Place - 2 Photography Guides from Craft and Vision (Value: $10)Some of the most striking and professionally presented photography guides to be found anywhere online, you can choose a couple for free. David DuChemin constantly puts out such quality that it makes us at Light Stalking quite self conscious!How to EnterNow this is the simplest thing ever.Step 1) Go to the Light Stalking Facebook Group and make a new post on the wall. (It can be a tip, a question or a photograph).Step 2) Get as many friends and ...

Travel and photography go hand in hand. Who doesn't dream of taking incredible shots to wow your friends and colleagues with when you return from some exotic destination? Unfortunately, there are a few down sides to travel photography that you probably need to be aware of before you go, especially when it comes to traveling in poorer areas.Photo by Tranuf Depending on where you are going, security is going to be an issue. Sure, you are probably (but not always) reasonably safe in your own country or places like New Zealand or Europe. But in a lot of other places, especially in third world countries, the cost of your photography gear is equivalent to a year's wages (or more) for the locals.Discretion is Your FriendIt is quite staggering to see so many people whip out a $1500 camera setup to take snaps in some tourist hell in the third world. Pull your Canon DSLR with a 300mm lens out of your Lowepro backpack and you are going to attract attention! And yes, the thieves will have an opinion on Canon vs. Nikon.Photo by Yan Boechat Now, I am not saying don't take these things, but lets think of a few ways you ...

A lot of the time, people miss a well composed shot simply because they didn't take the time to seek out a slightly better alternative. When you have found a scene worth shooting, don't forget to consider a few ways that you could improve the composition. It's easier than you might think.Photo by Rob Wood Go for a Walk - Often finding a better place to shoot a scene or object from will give you a better alternative for composing the shot. if possible, take a walk around and look at the scene from different areas. Consider which spot gives you the best chance to compose the shot with good composition rules in mind and whether any of those rules are worth breaking. Tilt the Camera - Simply moving the angle of the camera up and down then left and right will show you what you could get. Does the foreground add or detract from the scene? Can you omit distracting elements like tree branches from the edge of the composition? Horizontal or Vertical - Will your shot be better served by holding the camera vertically or horizontally? Don't forget that you can also consider how you might crop the shot while you ...

The Internet is an amazing thing, and we take pride in providing you with content to help you with your passion for photography.  There is however, something to be said about printed material, just like it's a different experience in holding a photographic print compared to looking at it on a monitor.  Magazines offer this same experience, and often in a format that is more easily read over a period of time whereas most Internet articles tend to be under 500 words for easy consumption.  Additionally, photography magazines have some of the best work which can be admired and inspire.  For that reason, here are five great magazines you should be reading.Thomas Shahan's Photos in Popular Photography Magazine Popular Photography is perhaps one of the most comprehensive magazines for gear, technology and everything about cameras and accessories.  Packed full of articles on the latest and greatest, and how to use them, it's an essential magazine for all photographers.B&W, as the name implies, focuses on black and white photography, both analog and digital post-processing. By many, black and white is still the most pure form of photography and the striking range of a quality image can be breathtaking.  It's also worth noting ...

Studio work is nearly the exact opposite from location shooting, especially for portraits.  With location portrait shoots, the focus is easily on the person posing, but the surrounding elements also contribute to the final product.  Also, the studio presents some more challenging lighting situations, as the photographer needs to create the light, rather than modify what the sun is providing.Because studio work alone can be intimidating, adding in people can often make things nerve-racking.  Here are 10 tips for shooting studio portraits that we've found really help.1. Think of shooting in a studio like a bowling ally.Photo By Chuybregts With your model in place, and you directly in front of them, you can only move forward and back.  You cannot move to the left or right, and depending how wide your lighting is, neither can the model.  Rather then take two steps to the left, you will have to ask the model to turn.2. Watch the clockPhoto By Bethan Not for time, but for direction to your model.  It's very easy to confuse and get confused if you ask them to turn right or left, but turning clockwise or counter-clockwise is the same for you and the model.3. Who's right?Photo By TheTruthAbout... While ...

Photographing smoke can often be a tricky endeavor as it can throw up all sorts of weird exposure problems. On the upside, however, it can really be used nicely to enhance the composition of a photograph.These photos all use smoke in some way to enhance the composition of the image. Whether it is to provide a sense of movement, to guide the eye with lines or to provide a atmospheric layering effect, they all effectively use smoke to create a more interesting photo.Photo by EggmanPhoto by Fabiana ZoncaPhoto by Hamed MasoumiPhoto by ShutupyourfacePhoto by www.ericcastro.bizPhoto by Thomas MiorinPhoto by Fanboy30Photo by RammorrisonPhoto by RobbiePhoto by Xava duPhoto by KickiPhoto by Looking4PoetryPhoto by Locator

This is a guest post by New Zealand landscape photographer, Chris Gin. Some of you might recognise images from Chris' Flickr stream that we have used in our collections before.I've been into landscape photography for a couple of years now. It's a fantastic hobby and hugely rewarding, but also has a bit of a learning curve. While I would not consider myself anywhere near a pro at this stage, I've picked up on a few useful things here and there. Below are some tips which I hope others who are just starting out in the world of landscape photography will find useful. Why You Should Research Your LocationsIf you are planning a photography trip then it’s important to do some research beforehand. Use the internet to find as much information as you can about your destination. Try to identify potential places of interest and find out the best times of the year to go – some places are much more photogenic in certain seasons while others look great all year round. Try to avoid peak tourist seasons though, as busy places mean more people to get in the way of your shots. There are some great tools to help you prepare for ...