Browsing Category "Tech Tips"

Winter Photography: Be Prepared, Be Successful

By Kurt Budliger | Jan 24, 2012
Posted in: Landscape Photography, Tech Tips, Vermont, Winter Photography |

Winter Photography: Be Prepared, Be Successful

Winter is arguably one of the prettiest times to be an outdoor photographer; winter white can transform an otherwise lifeless brown landscape into a magical wonderland. However, winter is also one of the most challenging times to be outdoors shooting. Frankly the biggest limiting factor in winter photography is personal comfort (for me anyway, I’m a wus). If you’re not comfortable you won’t be free to think and see creatively [...]

By Kurt Budliger | Dec 22, 2011
Posted in: General, Inspiration, New Hampshire, Tech Tips |

10 Comments

How Photography is like Tequila

For some they both can be an acquired taste, a little bitter at first but after a while starts to get easier to swallow. Just think about the first time you tried to shoot an epic sunset and came home with nothing but washed out skies or blocked up foreground details. I don’t think I need to remind you about the first time you drank tequila, or maybe someone does? [...]

Want Your Images to Look Different? (part 2)

By Kurt Budliger | Dec 12, 2011
Posted in: Acadia National Park, Creativity, General, Tech Tips |

4 Comments

Want Your Images to Look Different? (part 2)

In part one of this series I offered 5 strategies for jumpstarting your creative juices and beginning the journey toward creating unique or different images. Part one can be found here and is probably worth reading in conjunction with this post. 6) Incorporate motion. Many of the techniques we’ve learned as nature photographers have been geared toward maximizing sharpness in our images. We use tripods, small apertures for depth of field, [...]

Want Your Images to Look Different? (part 1)

By Kurt Budliger | Dec 5, 2011
Posted in: Creativity, General, Tech Tips, Vermont |

14 Comments

Want Your Images to Look Different? (part 1)

Then photograph differently! I don’t mean to be glib, especially since this is my introductory post to the Dreamscapes Blog (give me a couple of more posts and believe me I can be glib) but it’s really true. We’ve all no doubt heard the famous Albert Einstein quote about the definition of insanity: something like doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Simply put, if [...]

By Ian Plant | Oct 4, 2011
Posted in: eStore, Featured, Photoshop, Tech Tips |

9 Comments

New Photoshop Tutorial Videos

I’m pleased to announce the release of my Creative Digital Processing Series Two instructional videos. Series Two expands on the core learnings of Series One, teaching basic and advanced techniques for digital image processing. Series Two contains six new instructional videos that will help you explore your creative potential: Cloning, Patching, and Fills Removing Lens Flare Wildlife Photography Techniques Selective Color Adjustments Removing Digital Noise Creative Blurring You may buy the tutorials separately (each for $2.99), or as [...]

By Ian Plant | Jul 20, 2011
Posted in: Olympic National Park, Outdoor Photographer Blog, Tech Tips |

9 Comments

Lens Diffraction

My latest post to the Outdoor Photographer blog, Lens Diffraction, discusses whether or not you should be concerned with the loss of image quality that results from using small apertures such as f/16 or f/22. The image below, which illustrates the post, was taken in the rain forest of Olympic National Park in Washington. This was one of the most chaotic environments I have ever photographed. I simply love working with [...]

By Ian Plant | Apr 8, 2011
Posted in: General, Tech Tips |

3 Comments

10 Tips for Brilliant Landscapes

I have a new article in the May issue of Outdoor Photographer magazine, 10 Tips for Brilliant Landscapes (available both in print and online). The article is based on tips and techniques discussed in my eBook Chasing the Light. Check it out!

By Ian Plant | Mar 31, 2011
Posted in: Patagonia, Tech Tips |

2 Comments

Composition tip: look for graphic shapes to add drama to your photos

I am always looking for opportunities to use shapes when creating my nature photo compositions. The human brain tends to react to shapes, and to categorize random elements into shapes in an effort to simplify the world around us—think of the way we have organized stars into constellations and you can easily see my point. Using shapes when composing nature photos helps simplify chaotic elements for viewers so that your images [...]

By Ian Plant | Dec 17, 2010
Posted in: Grand Tetons, Outdoor Photographer Blog, Tech Tips |

1 Comment

Top 5 Tips for Winter Photography

My latest post to the Outdoor Photographer Magazine blog, Top 5 Tips for Winter Photography, is now online. Don’t use the cold as an excuse—get out there this winter and make some great photographs! And don’t forget to help me get to the ultimate winter environment: please vote to send me to the North Pole, and spread the word—I need all the help I can get! The image below was taken [...]

By Ian Plant | Sep 30, 2010
Posted in: Adirondacks, Autumn, Tech Tips |

3 Comments

Fall Photo Tip #1: Reflections

Last week I posted an entry on the Outdoor Photographer blog listing Top 5 Tips for Autumn Photography. I thought I’d spend some time here on my personal photoblog exploring more fully some of these tips. Let’s start with my favorite: autumn reflections. Sunny weather is the key to successful reflection photos. Angle of sunlight is critical as well: the foliage that is reflected must be lit by the sun, whereas the water [...]

By Ian Plant | May 20, 2010
Posted in: Tech Tips |

4 Comments

New eBook: “Chasing the Light”

“Chasing the Light”: For years, landscape photographers have lived by this motto, chasing those rare magical moments when Nature displays her finest. Making great landscape photos, however, takes more than just chasing the light: it takes proficiency in composition, and learning to master the moment. I’ve just released my first eBook called “Chasing the Light: Essential Tips for Taking Great Landscape Photos.” This eBook contains essential tips that can make your [...]

By Ian Plant | May 10, 2010
Posted in: Tech Tips |

1 Comment

How to Photograph Rainbows

Who doesn’t love rainbows? Rainbows are a favorite of nature photographers, and for good reason. Not only are they beautifully vibrant, representing all colors in the spectrum that can be seen by human eyes, but their graceful arcing shapes add compositional interest to photographs. But finding rainbows is a tough business, and doing them justice even tougher. So, what is the best way to photograph a rainbow? My newest free tutorial, [...]

By Ian Plant | Feb 23, 2010
Posted in: Tech Tips |

28 Comments

Using Live View for Nature Photography

I’ve just posted a new article on my website about Using Live View for Nature Photography. Live View has become a vital part of my image capture process, and I use it for almost every photograph I make to optimize focus, composition, depth-of-field, and even exposure. Live View is a serious professional tool that can help you significantly improve your photography images. My simple tutorial shows you how you can [...]