Discover Digital Photography

If the worst has happened and you have a filter on your lens that refuses to budge you have several methods for removal. Start at the top of the page and work down until the filter is removed.

If you get a chance to visit any local market, you will see a wide variety of photography backdrops with different price ranges. There is a high chance that some of the photography backdrops appeal to you. However, you should keep in mind that these photography backdrops might have been bought by some other photographers as well.

So the question arises, how to make your photographs look different from the other photographers? The question may sound difficult, but the answer is fairly simple. All you need to do is to put on your thinking cap and use your creative instincts to come up with new ideas.

Studio2 by Bruce on flickr (licensed CC-BY-SA)

Have you ever asked yourself why some of your pictures look lifeless, boring or empty? Observe the image; check if the eyes of your subject have a catchlight. If it doesn't, consequently it might be one of the reasons why your portrait is visually monotonous.

A catchlight, or better known as eyelights, is referred to the depiction of the chief source of light that makes an unusual glimmer or flicker. This glint could be typically within the eyes of the subject per se. This is a very important ingredient in adding life or tone towards your portrait and can be seen usually at 10 o‚'clock or 2 o‚'clock in the eyes, where it animates your subject most effectively.

2006_04.09 Isaac closeup by Christine Szeto on flickr (licensed CC-BY)

You can come across photography gear for sale in a range of ways. Regardless of whether you prefer to shop at a retail store, or look for bargains online, finding photography gear doesn't need to be difficult. Sit back and watch for legitimate offers, and high quality sellers by sticking to these tips for finding photography equipment.

Cross polarization is a technique that can be used to take photos of clear plastic objects, revealing a range of psychedelic colors in the objects. It works by using a light source with light polarized in one direction, and then using a polarizer on your lens to filter the polarized light in the opposite direction.

By doing this very little direct light from the polarized light source gets through to the camera's sensor. However, stresses in the plastic object modify the light, meaning it is no longer polarized in the same direction as the polarized light source. This creates the fantastic colors.

Cross polarized photo of part of a plastic tank lid

When you find an interesting subject or location for landscape photography, it makes sense to think about the composition of your image in order to maximize the photos impact, rather than just taking a quick snapshot. If the light is changing quickly it may be a good idea to set up your camera and take a quick shot, just so you have at least one shot 'in the bag'. But after that, take a look around the area, and think in more detail about the composition of the photo.

House on the green sea by Luigi Torreggiani on flickr (licensed CC-BY)

There are a number of different ways to carry around your camera and any extra lenses and accessories with you. In this article I examine the benefits and drawbacks of each approach.

Lenses, both those available separately for DSLR cameras, and those built into compact and bridge cameras, come in a wide variety of focal lengths. This article discusses the different focal lengths, what they are suitable for, and the different trade-offs.

Along with aperture and shutter speed, ISO is one of the settings on your camera that you can use to affect the brightness (exposure) of your photos. Unlike aperture it won't affect depth of field, and unlike shutter speed, it doesn't affect how quickly (or slowly) an image is captured. However, it can affect image quality by introducing what is known as 'noise'.

The shutter is an essential part of every camera, without it you wouldn't be able to take photos. It opens to allow light to reach your camera's sensor, and then closes after a predetermined amount of time to complete the photo. The amount of time the shutter is open for can effect the exposure and look of your photo, and different shutter speeds can be used for different creative effects.