This quick tutorial from instructor Mark Denney begins with a question nobody wants to hear: “Is your camera secretly dying?” This disturbing concern has to do with the fact that every camera has a finite life span, and if you don’t check the shutter count regulalrly you may be in for a rude awakening.

In fact, Denney refers to shutter count as “the hidden number that could kill your camera.” In other words, ignore it at your peril because your camera might be closer to failure than you think. Bottom line: “this video could save you from costly repairs, missed shots, or even a total camera breakdown.”

It doesn’t really matter if you’re an amateur or pro, or whether you’re shooting with a DSLR or mirrorless camera. Thus, this oft-ignored number affects every single photographer. Denney covers this essential topic in barely eight minutes, beginning with what shutter count really means and why it matters—even if if you take care of your gear and the camera you use looks virtually.

Denney explains the procedure for determining how many clicks are too many for your specific camera, because the answer varies wildly from one model to another—with higher-end cameras designed to last the longest before it’s time to consider repair or replacement. He then walks you through the fasted and easiest method for checking your shutter count now and in the future.

One key consideration is the differences between mechanical and electronic shuuters, and the associated ramifications for longevity. You’ll also learn why some modern cameras like the Nikon Z8 no longer even have a mechanical shutter.

So here’s the deal: Check your shutter count today and hope you don’t receive an alarming surprise. Then head over to Denney’s instructional YouTube channel where there’s plenty learn about gear, outdoor shooting techniques, and post-processing methods.

On a related note, don’t miss the recent tutorial we featured with another accomplished pro who demonstrates several interesting techniques for using shutter speed to capture attention-grabbing photographs with an artistic flair.

We’re all looking for new ways to expand our repertoire and b&w infrared (IR) photography is a great technique for capturing awe-inspiring images with an otherworldly look. Today’s quick tutorial with instructor Richard Herzog demonstrates how easy it is to get the job done in the camera.

The magic behind this method occurs because IR photography captures the invisible infrared light spectrum to create captivating imagery with high contrast. As a result, your photographs will be imbued with a distinctive effect whereby foliage on trees, leaves, and grass appear bright white in a surreal way. You’ll also notice dramatic separation between clouds and the surrounding sky.

All you need is the appropriate lens filter and a firm grasp of how to use it. Herzog is an adept pro whose passion for photography developed at an early age while watching his grandfather shoot with a basic Polaroid camera. Over the years he developed his skills, opened a studio in Arizona, and made photography his career.

Today’s behind-the-scenes episode takes place in Watson Lake, AZ where Herzog is surrounded by impressive boulders and the lake in the middle of the frame. He begins by mounting an IR filter on his lens. Fortunately he locates a tree within the scene because a green element is very important. There’s a list of the filters Herzog prefers in the description beneath the video.

The first big consideration is this: “The infrared focusing spectrum is different from the visual spectrum, so we have to put the filter on and then focus manually.” That’s because the camera’s AF system will get things wrong. The trick involves using Focus Peaking to identify the precise spot on which to focus.

Herzog also has some interesting suggestions for adjusting exposure both before and after you trip the shutter. Exposures tend to be long when making IR images, and he explains that you don’t want to boost your ISO setting too far, otherwise image noise rears its ugly head. He limits himself to ISO 500 or lower.

You’ll see how Herzog experiments with exposure times of 30 seconds to two minutes—hence the need for a sturdy tripod. There’s more to be gleaned as the four-minute tutorial proceeds, culminating with Herzog’s exceptional final image.

There are many more valuable tips and techniques to be found on Herzog’s instructional YouTube channel.

And don’t miss the recent explainer we featured earlier with a beginners guide to Exposure Bracketing that demonstrates everything you need to know about camera settings and post-processing techniques for perfect exposures when shooting outdoors in complicated light.

This tutorial from the PHLOG Photography YouTube channel is different from others they share that typically take a deep dive into a single technique from beginning to end. Instead, the goal of today’s episode is to provide an overview of Adjustment Layers in general and demonstrate why they should play a prominent role in your everyday Photoshop workflow.

Instructor Christian Mohrle is one of Germany’s finest landscape photographers, and his post-processing videos are second to none. This 10-minute episode describes the concept behind Photoshop’s Adjustment Layers, where they’re located within the workspace, the different enhancements they enable you to make with precision, and the best ways to use them.

While Mohrle doesn’t concentrate on any one specific technique he does share his five favorite Adjustment Layers which include Photo Filter, Gradient Map, Levels, Color Balance, and Selective Color. He puts it like this: “Adjustment Layers are a great way to add some final retouching on your images. I love using them as a last step in my editing process to apply very fine, distinct changes.”

Mohrle provides an overview of how these layers can enhance colors and tones without changing pixel value. In other words, these are non-destructive adjustments. This means you have plenty of freedom to experiment with the changes until you’re completely satisfied with the outcome.

You’ll find a variety of icons near the bottom of Photoshop’s Layer panel. Mohrle shows you where to click to access the tools which are divided into groups. Mohrle explains why the upper options are of less interest to landscape photographers. The lower group is where things get interesting because “here we have the Adjustment Layers affecting the tones of your images that can be used to change brightness and contrast.”

Then there’s s bunch of Adjustment Layers targeting colors that enable you to change saturation, specific colors, and overall color balance. The remainder of the 10-minute video is devoted to exactly how Mohrle’s five favorite Adjustment Layers work, and you may find that this handful of techniques is all you really need.

After the video concludes be sure to check out the popular PHLOG Photography YouTube channel where there are many more instructional videos for anyone who shoots in the great outdoors and wants to edit their photos to perfection.

We also recommend watching another helpful tutorial we posted recently in which a successful British landscape photographer demonstrates three “secret tricks” that anyone can use to capture super-sharp images with any camera and lens.