Microsoft Creates a Better iPhone Camera

You’ve got to admire Microsoft.  The company certainly has no shortage of tech and engineers and they just threw a bunch of really cool things together into a new camera app.  It’s called Microsoft Pix  and it seeks to replace your iPhone’s built-in camera app. Key Features The goal of Microsoft Pix is to make it…

HDR: Is a Three Step Process

The biggest mistake HDR shooters make is trying to rush 
the process. Some think its as simple as shooting the photos and running them through a merging application. Others try to save even more time and use in-camera HDR solutions. 
While both of these options can make a better photo 
than just a traditional exposure,…

44 Free Presets for Photomatix

Free Presets?  You Bet! The team at Photofocus has put together a collection of free presets to help you get the most out of HDRsoft’s Photomatix.  These presets are absolutely FREE, you just need to join our mailing list to get them. Please subscribe to our newsletter using the button below. Once you have confirmed your subscription, you will receive…

Choosing the Right Camera for Video Shooting

There are a wide variety of digital cameras available than can shoot video.  In this section, we’ll primarily explore the options available when shooting DSLR video.  However the core technology discussed is also relevant to most video cameras being produced today.  Which type of camera will work best for you? It depends to a great…

Creating Dynamic Black and White Images with Expanded Dynamic Range

I love black and white photography.  Perhaps its the newspaper journalist in me…  but I just adore a beautiful  grayscale image that pops off the page.  Black and white photography is frequently a misunderstood technique in the digital age.  Many photographers incorrectly shoot and post-process their photos.  I’d like to share one workflow (but its…

Get the Most Dynamic Range from a Single Raw File

Do you like dynamic range?  Let’s put it this way, are you a fan of the Shadows and Highlights sliders?  Getting great tonal definition is a big part of making an excellent photo. Pushing the Limits with HDR Most people have mixed thoughts about HDR.  Some resist because of the extra steps of shooting bracketed…

How to Get a Stable Shot When Shooting Video

Shooting video on a DSLR, Mirrorless or Micro Four Thirds camera can be challenging.  Let’s look at how to choose the right camera or camera configuration for the task at hand. Even if you only have one camera to use, you can figure out how to optimize your set-up for the job. Form Factor Shooting video…

A Complete Guide to Photographing Fireworks

Here is a complete guide to making great fireworks photos.  I hope you can use this advice to make some great memories over the holiday. The folks at Macphun also have a great sale on their software, a how-to video, and a bunch more cool stuff.  I made an in-depth tutorial on postproduction and several…