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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

This is a guest post by New Jersey wedding photographer, Julianne Markow. Check out her photography blog here too.Bokeh is something that makes non photographers say to you “Wow, that is an amazing photograph,” and the professionals tend to agree with them. The definition of bokeh is simply “blur” and comes from the Japanese word boke, meaning “blur quality.”  Bokeh is really just a fancy way of saying that a photograph is aesthetically appealing by having a shallow depth of field.Bokeh must be done right. It is not difficult to set your camera up to do some of the work for you, but if you don’t follow these 5 tips, your results may be less than desirable.Open your lens up wide. This goes without saying. Many DSLR cameras come with a kit lens that varies from f/3.5-5.6, this means that at your shortest zoom level you can set your aperture to f3.5 and as you zoom into the subject, the aperture will change to f5.6. A 2.8 lens or faster is of course desirable, but if this is too much for your pocket to handle, remember a 5.6 kit lens can go a long way if you follow the next ...

Tripods are wonderful tools in photography but are also one of the most inconvenient pieces to carry around with you.  Since it's not always possible to carry a tripod with you here are five ways to steady your camera without one.Raise the ISO.  Generally speaking, a tripod should be used when your shutter is slower than the focal length of your lens.  Since modern DSLR cameras have amazing high ISO performance, try raising the ISO to get a shutter speed closer to or exceeding your focal distance.Hold your camera close.Photo By dmcopernicus Unlike the photo here, you want to hold your camera in close to your body with your elbows tucked in next to your sides.  Use the viewfinder of the camera, not the live view, so the camera is right in front of your face.  With your feet shoulder width apart, keep your body relaxed and when you breathe out, squeeze the shutter release button.Get your lean on.Photo By Ed Yourdon Find something solid to lean against, a wall, light post, a friend, car, anything solid to help steady your balance.  Utilize the previously mentioned techniques to hold your camera close and breathe.Lay down on the job.Photo By ...

Summer is here!  The northern part of the world is in summer right now, which means good times with friends and family, outdoor activities and vacations.  It's also a great time to practice shooting different and new subject matters.  Here's ten things you will want to practice shooting this summer that will make you a better, more well rounded photographer.Blue HourPhoto by Torley The blue hour refers to the small window of time that occurs just before sunrise each day and just after sunset.  It can provide some of the most stunning landscape photos you've ever taken, but some careful planning is required.  Check out this blue hour website to see what time the window is open in your part of the world, get your tripod and go shooting!MacroPhoto by Aussiegall Blooming flowers make for some of the best subject matter for macro photography, so take advantage of the vibrant and fun colors as different varieties change through the summer season.TexturePhoto by Visualpanic Shots like the one of this pool show how important texture is to photography.  Look for subtle details like how light reflects and refracts off and through the water for impressive photos like this one.Architectural DetailsPhoto by Klearchos Kapoutsis So ...

Knowing how to manipulate, capture and deal with light is what makes you a photographer.  Even the best photographers can often be dealt a bad hand with lighting and nightmare conditions exist, it's how you shoot in them that makes all the difference. Here are three of the worst lighting conditions and how to shoot in them.Bright, Midday SunPhoto by kwerfeldein Oddly enough, shooting in the middle of the day seems to be an obvious no-brainer, but it can actually be one of the most difficult lighting situations to shoot in.  For portraits, people and group shots, always use a flash to help fill in light on the face caused by the sun directly above you.  Alternatively, look to shoot in the shade of a tree, building or other structure to help reduce the harsh shadows.  A large reflector is also an option to help fill in shade.  When shooting nature, wildlife and landscape shots, utilize a polarizer filter to help saturate the bright sky and set the exposure compensation on your camera to -1/3 to -2/3rds to help even out the direct light from the sky and the reflected light from the ground below. If all else fails, don't ...

Almost everyone enjoys sunny, warm days outside. Some will even take a sunny cool day if they enjoy winter sports, but almost everyone can agree that rainy, miserable days outside can be the worst for comfort and photography.  Lying right in between are overcast days, those days when the sky is neither blue or black, clouds don't form nice, beautiful pillow like objects and the sun doesn't really shine anywhere specific.  These overcast days can be a photographers best friend if you know what to shoot.Photo by Symic Commonly referred to as nature's softbox because of the lack of actual direct sunlight, rather it's filtered and diffused through layers of thick clouds.  The direct result of this is a near shadowless day, absolutely perfect for moody and fun portraits.  The lack of shadows means utilizing on or off camera flash on location, reflectors or light modifiers to help compensate for the normally appearing shadows that come out.  The end result is a soft, feathered light that seems to near perfectly illuminate people.Photo by Oslo In The Summertime Shooting portraits on overcast days does require some attention to detail though, slightly differently then shooting on sunny days.  Because there is less light, and ...

Anyone who's ever been a Boyscout will tell you their motto is Always be prepared. Their motto isn't just for them, it's applicable to everyone, in just about every aspect of your life.  Planning ahead of time helps reduce problems during an event and when mishaps, accidents and problems arise, you'll have everything you need ready to deal with them.Take note here, we don't want problems to happen, but there is no way to avoid unforeseen issues which are bound to happen.  Photo shoots, especially involving people, can be very strenuous and when the photographer is stressed out, it tends to bring the whole mood down.  This is true from your hometown baby portrait photographer to a high end wedding photographer to a commercial photographer and even weekend warriors who like to go out and take landscape pictures.So, always be prepared, what does that mean exactly?  How should you be planning on what to bring?  The better question to ask yourself is, how do you envision the shoot going and what mishaps could potentially happen? For the sake of this article, let's examine an on-location portrait shoot in someone's home.You've met with the client, they like your work and they ...