Learn Photography
If you are looking to learn more about the world of photography, you have come to the right place. PetaPixel publishes in-depth articles into all kinds of subjects across various categories, from the mechanics of how cameras work to the latest technologies sweeping the world and Web. The goal of these articles is to introduce, teach, explain, and inspire.
Table of Contents
Photography 101
- How to Get Started in Photography
- How to Set Up Your New Camera: A Step-by-Step Checklist
- The Exposure Triangle: A Beginner’s Guide
- A Beginner’s Guide to Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO in Photography
- A Guide to Digital Camera Modes
- Camera Metering Modes Explained
- Tips to Take Better Photos
- Rule of Thirds in Photography: A Complete Guide
- Composition Techniques That Will Improve Your Photos
Photography Equipment
- How to Use Bulb Mode on a Camera for Long Exposure Photos
- Prime vs Zoom Lenses: A Beginner’s Guide
- What is Crop Factor? Here is What You Need to Know
- Canon Lens Acronyms and What They Mean
- A Complete Guide to Memory Cards
- ND Filter: A Beginner’s Guide to Neutral-Density Lens Filters
- CPL Filter: Why, When, and How to Use a Circular Polarizer
- Lens Hoods: Why, When, and How to Use One in Photography
- What is Focus Breathing in a Camera Lens?
Beginning Photography
- Photography Abbreviations and What They Mean
- A Guide to Lighting and Weather Conditions in Photography
- The Best Time of Day to Take Outdoor Portrait Photos
- Golden Hour: When Sunlight is Warm and Photos are Magical
- Depth of Field Explained
- Bokeh: A Photographer’s Guide
- Why a Larger Sensor Isn’t Necessary for a Shallow Depth of Field
- The Sunny 16 Rule in Photography
Advanced Photography
- How to Shoot in Manual Mode
- How to Use the Zone System in Photography
- What are Blinkies in Photography, and Do They Really Matter?
- What is Hyperfocal Distance and How Do You Find It?
- Why The Golden Ratio Is Better Than The Rule Of Thirds
- Is Lens Compression Fact or Fiction?
- How to Use Teleconverters for Macro Photography
Photography Genres
- Types of Photography: Photo Genres You Should Know
- Astrophotography: The Ultimate Guide
- Fine Art Photography: A Complete Guide
- Landscape Photography: The Ultimate Guide
- Types of Landscape Photography
- Real Estate Photography: A Complete Guide
- Street Photography: A Complete Guide
- Wedding Photography: A Complete Guide
Photography How-Tos
- How to Shoot Milk Bath Photography
- How to Get Kids to Smile Naturally in Photos
- How to Take Better Photos of Your Kids
- How to Photograph Firefall in Yosemite National Park
- How to Photograph Low-Light Cityscapes
- How to Shoot Real Estate Photos with HDR and Flash
- How to Create the Perfect Automotive Rolling Shot
- How to Photograph the Milky Way
- How to Photograph the Geminid Meteor Shower
- How to Find and Photograph the Northern Lights
- How to Shoot ‘Space Nebula’ Smoke Photos at Home
- How to Create and Capture Stunning Ink Flow Photos
- How to Plan a Street Photography Trip on a Budget
- How to Photograph Your Own Eye
- How to Take Photos Out an Airplane Window
- How to Take Graduation Photos
- How to Photograph Africa’s Big Five Safari Animals
- Intentional Camera Movement: An Intro to ICM Photography
Composition
- Leading Lines in Photography: A Complete Guide
- Negative Space: How to Add Something with Nothing
- Frame Within a Frame: Natural Framing for Better Photo Compositions
Lighting
- A Photographer’s Introduction to Light
- Understanding the Inverse-Square Law of Light
- 7 Types of Lighting in Portrait Photography
- What is Fill Light in Photography?
- A Guide to Studio Lights in Photography
- An Intro to Flash Types in Photography
- Light Modifiers for Portrait Photos: A Beginner’s Guide
- A Comparison of Popular Light Modifiers
- The Ultimate Guide to Softboxes
- A Photographer’s Guide to Umbrellas
- The Basics of Color Gels in Photography
- How to Mix Flash with Ambient Light
- The Best Flash Diffusers for Macro Photography
- An Intro to Shadows in Photography
- What is Split Color Lighting, and How Do You Use It?
- How to Create White, Black, and Gradient Backgrounds
- Is Diffused Light the Same as Soft Light?
- Why Adding a Grid Does Not Directly Increase Contrast
- What Is Flash Duration in Photography?
- HSS Does Not Freeze Motion: Light is the Key, Not Shutter Speed
Post-Processing
- How to Use Curves in Photoshop
- How to Remove a Background in Photoshop
- How to Reveal and Remove Dust Spots in Capture One Pro
- How to Optimize Lightroom Classic for the Best Performance
- Cleanup.pictures: How to Easily to Remove Objects From Your Photos
Software and Websites
- PhotoPills: A Photographer’s Guide to the Photo Planning App
- What is a JPEG? Everything You Need to Know
- How to Convert HEIC to JPG
Science and Technology
- Why Lens Coatings Are So Important in Photography
- The Best Ways to Backup Photos
- What is the Difference Between a CCD and CMOS Camera Sensor?
- Foveon: The Clever Image Sensor That Has Failed to Catch On
- The Megapixel Limit of Scanning 35mm Film with a Camera
- Why the 1-Inch Camera Sensor is a Myth
Do It Yourself (DIY)
- How to Make a DIY Softbox for Free
- How to Make a DIY Camera Timer for About $60
- How to Build a DIY ‘Pixelstick’ for About $22
- How to Hack a Game Boy Camera to Use ‘Real’ Camera Lenses
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)
- What is an NFT and Why Should Photographers Care?
- The Hidden Costs of NFTs: Ecological Impact and Unpredictable Volatility
- How to Mint an NFT: The Photographer’s Guide
- How to Create and Sell NFTs for Free
Inspiration and Education
- Best Free Online Photography Courses
- The Best Photo Contests to Enter
- The Decisive Moment: What Henri Cartier-Bresson Actually Meant
- Why You Should Join a Photography Club
- Photography Workshops: Everything a Photographer Needs to Now
- Female Photographers You Should Know
- Landscape Photography Etiquette: How to Be a Good Photographer
- Inspirational Quotes for Photographers
Law, Rights, and Safety
- Your Rights as a Photographer in the United States
- The Basics of U.S. Copyright for Photographers
- How Long Does Copyright Last?
- How to Register Your Photo Copyrights in the United States
- How to Protect Your Photos from Theft Online
- How to File a DMCA Takedown to Stop Copyright Infringement
- How to Read a Licensing Contract as a Photographer
- How to Stay Safe as a Model or Photographer
Business and Money
- A Beginner’s Guide to Pricing Commercial Photography
- Why Referrals Are Key in Marketing Your Wedding Photography
- The Best Photography Grants and Scholarships
History
- First Photos from the History of Photography
- The First Photo: Nicéphore Niépce’s ‘View from the Window at Le Gras’
- The Three Eras of Photography: Plate, Film, and Digital
- Stereo Photography: A Look at the Origins of 3D Images
- Colorizing B&W Photos Then and Now, From Oils to Neural Filters
- Canon Rebel: A Guide to the Popular Beginner Camera Line
- Why Kodak Died and Fujifilm Thrived
- How the Kodak Brownie Changed Privacy Rights Forever
- Leica Freedom Train: How the Leitz Family Saved Jews in the Holocaust
- Debunking the Myths of Robert Capa on D-Day
- How the Nikon F Revolutionized Photography
Interviews and Biographies
- Elliott Erwitt: A Conversation with the Master Photographer at 93
- Gerda Taro: The Woman Who Invented Robert Capa
- Marcus Yam: From Aspiring Astronaut to a Pulitzer Prize in Photography
- Nick Ut: The Photojournalist Who Shot the Iconic ‘Napalm Girl’ Photo
- Philippe Halsman: American Portrait Photographer to the Stars
- William Henry Fox Talbot: Inventor of the Negative-Positive Photo Process
- William Henry Jackson: Pioneer Photographer of the American West
Buying Advice
- The Gray Market and How It Works
- How Many Megapixels Do You Actually Need?
- What to Check for When Buying a Used Film Camera and Lens
- What Photographers Should Look for When Buying or Building a PC
General Tips and Advice
- How Big is a 4×6 Photo? Everything You Need to Know
- How to Store Film Negatives and Honor Your Work
- How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Computer
- How to Delete Your Instagram Account
- How to Download Instagram Photos
- A Guide to Social Media Image Sizes
- Soft Proofing Your Photos to Get the Most From Your Printer
Maintenance and Repair
- Canon Professional Services: Should You Join CPS as a Photographer?
- A Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Camera Sensor
- How to Clean a Camera Lens
- How to Check Your Camera’s Shutter Actuation Count
- How to Update Your Camera’s Firmware
- How to Downgrade a Canon Camera’s Firmware to a Previous Version
- How to Clean Up a Vintage Film Camera
- How to Remove Fungus from a Lens
- Does Your Lens Rattle? Here’s What You Need To Know