What is the Circle of Confusion — Photography Definition

How do you ensure your photos are sharp and in focus? Getting comfortable with the circle of confusion is a good first step. What is circle of confusion? This concept is an under-defined, yet super critical idea in photography. And understanding it will help you see how everything works together. The circle of confusion is related to how we understand focus and sharpness, but let’s get a bit more technical. After all, the more you know, the more intentional you can be with every shot. Continue reading What is the Circle of Confusion — Photography Definition

Loop Lighting Photography — Definition, Setup & Creative Uses

For portrait photographers, loop lighting is essential. And for beginners, it’s a straightforward lighting setup to learn. It can be created with only one light source and an understanding of where to put that light source. So, what is loop lighting photography and how can you capture it? In this article, we’ll be taking a look at what defines loop lighting as well as how to create your own setup.Continue reading Loop Lighting Photography — Definition, Setup & Creative Uses

Short Story Contests Worth Your Time — Prizes, Fees, Deadlines

Writing contests are great ways to build your portfolio, and hone your writing skills. For emerging writers especially, the price to pay is usually quite small, while the rewards range from getting published to receiving thousands. Not a bad trade-off. The only reasonable downside is all the extra work...for well...all the extra rejection. Ah, I’m only slightly kidding. Rejection is part of the journey. It’s the bumpy road that takes you from nobody to somebody. So even if you don’t win first prize, entering into contests can help you get better. This article looks at some of the best short story…

What is Butterfly Lighting — Definition, Examples and Setups

Lighting techniques are the heart of great photography and cinematography. Knowing the fundamentals and learning each lighting pattern will give you more control and intention over your shots. Butterfly lighting is fundamental to portrait photography. Not only is it one of the most flattering lighting patterns, it is also extremely easy to set up. So, what is butterfly lighting and how can you achieve it? Let's get into it.Continue reading What is Butterfly Lighting — Definition, Examples and Setups

Underexposed Photography — Editing in Photoshop & Lightroom

Becoming highly-skilled at any craft always starts with learning and honing the fundamentals. So of course, if you want to become a photographer, knowing how light interacts with your camera and how to use that light to produce well-exposed images, are good first steps. In this post, we’ll lay out a few examples to answer specifically, what is underexposed photography, and how you can manipulate the scene to create underexposed images that work for you instead of against you.Continue reading Underexposed Photography — Editing in Photoshop & Lightroom

Best Cheap 4K Camera — 5 Great Options Under $1,000

To find an easy-to-use professional-level camera isn’t too difficult in today’s market. There might be lots to pick from but at least you have options. But if you’re on the beginner/enthusiast side, even getting closer to professional-level, and on a budget, it’s not always easy. Finding that sweet spot between inexpensive and well, good enough, can be daunting. Below are our picks for the best cheap 4k camera for filmmaking that will give you excellent stills and video. Continue reading Best Cheap 4K Camera — 5 Great Options Under $1,000

What is Overexposure in Photography & How to Fix It

Knowing how to properly expose your shots is an obvious first step for becoming a photographer or cinematographer. We’ll lay out examples and visuals to answer what is overexposure in photography. But we’ll also take a look at why overexposing photos with intention sometimes works (sometimes doesn’t) and the ways in which you can break the rules to produce visuals that are uniquely yours.Continue reading What is Overexposure in Photography & How to Fix It

10 Best DSLR Microphones — Shotgun, Lav, and More

So you finally found a DSLR camera and now it’s time to start shooting video. Only one problem. How does the sound come out? ...Not as good as you hoped? Most built-in camera microphones pick up minimal sound. So for professional grade audio to go along with your professional grade video footage, it might be time to look into buying a microphone for your DSLR. We’ve laid out our top 10 picks for the best DSLR microphones out now. But first, a few things to consider...Continue reading 10 Best DSLR Microphones — Shotgun, Lav, and More

Rotten Tomatoes Ratings — How Does Rotten Tomatoes Work?

The Rotten Tomatoes ratings system―good or bad? Well, I’d say it’s a bit better than the original way tomatoes were used to judge entertainment. Because even if we want to throw fruit at the screen, 21st century technology reminds us we don’t have to. Rotten Tomatoes will provide us with a fair Critic consensus before we even get to the theatre (saving us a ton of food and money).So how does Rotten Tomatoes work, exactly? Is it a reliable judge of... characters... Okay, okay, hold your tomatoes please. Let’s get a behind the scenes look at how it all works.Continue…