“Lens diffraction” is a term you’ve likely heard before, but do you really understand the concept and how it can impact your photos? If not, it’s time to get up to speed, and this lesson from the Visual Education YouTube channel will do exactly that in less than nine minutes.

Instructor Karl Turner has been a working pro for over 25 years, and he has an uncanny knack for simplifying complex subjects. He begins this enlightening lesson with a blunt warning: “Diffraction is the mother of all lens problems.” Now do we have your attention?

In this brief but comprehensive guide Turner provides a complete understanding of everything from the basics of diffraction to its practical implications for lens selection, aperture settings, and sensor size. He also explains how this optical concern impacts sharpness and other key imaging characteristics.

Here’s how Turner defines the concept: “Simply put, diffraction occurs when light waves encounter obstacles, causing them to bend and interfere with each other, and it directly impacts the overall quality of images.” That’s why it’s essential to understand how to mitigate this concern when manipulating various camera settings and shooting parameters to optimize these variables.

Turner doesn’t spend too much time discussing the science behind wave-particle duality and interference patterns, and instead concentrates on practical considerations like how diffraction affects your photos at different aperture settings. Whether you’re a beginners seeking an understanding of essential photographic principles, or an experienced shooter concerned with optimizing image quality, this lesson is a must see.

You’ll also learn a variety of techniques for minimizing the negative attributes of diffraction, such as focus-stacking and more basic post-processing solutions. There are also some interesting insights into how lens manufacturers address this challenging concern.

Bottom line: By unraveling the mysteries of diffraction you’ll be far better equipped to capture exceptional photographs with the best quality possible. After watching this eye-opening lesson take a look at the Visual Education YouTube channel where there’s much more to be found for elevating your skills.

And for another tutorial that begins with an important question, we suggest our earlier post  that poses this query: “Should you apply a camera’s crop factor to aperture?” The answer may surprise you.

These days a modern smartphone is now considered by many to be a “real” camera, and there are many experienced shooters who capture excellent image on a mobile device. In this quick tutorial from Great Big Photography World, a comprehensive source of imaging tutorials, you’ll learn how to make great edits on your phone without uploading them to the computer.

Today’s video from this popular YouTube channel is episode 17 of a 52-week series. It’s a departure from others we’ve featured in the past that concentrated on shooting tips, camera settings, and other capture techniques.

This episode explores three mobile image-editing apps in barely three minutes. You’ll learn the differences between Snapseed, Lightroom Mobile, and even the Gallery App that’s installed on many mobile devices, how to use them, and which one makes the most sense for you when it’s time to refine the images you capture.

Adobe Lightroom Mobile will feel somewhat familiar to those who process images with the Desktop and Cloud versions of Lightroom, and it’s sort of the standard for many photo enthusiasts who’d rather edit images for precision, than just applying filters. Here the instructor demonstrates how to employ a variety of popular tools, beginning with using the Crop Menu to adjust composition—a foundational aspect of every great photo.

You’ll learn how to make sure horizons are level and much more. According to the instructor, the nice thing about Lightroom Mobile in general is that “you can progress through the tabs in a linear fashion.” This enables you to simplify the workflow and edit images in a common-sense manner. And there’s an “undo” button at the top of the photo—just in case your adjustments don’t go as planned.

Snapseed is another super popular app that’s available in versions for both Android and iOS smartphones. It’s often employed by serious photographers because it avoids gimmicky effects in favor of powerful tools that enable you to process images for a realistic look by taking advantage of a wide array of powerful enhancements for getting the job done.

According to today’s instructor, “Snapseed is a little easier to use that Adobe Lightroom,” especially for beginners who want somewhat advanced results. You have a choice of using sliders, as well as apply what could be described as built-in presets to achieve exactly the look you envision.

The video concludes with a discussion of the ubiquitous free Gallery app that’s likely already installed on your phone. The interesting aspect is that many photographers simply use the app as a repository for their images, without realizing that it also functions as  built-in photo editor for quickly making basic adjustments.

After watching this lesson and deciding which of these apps best suits your needs, take a look at the Great Big Photography World YouTube channel where you’ll find previous installments in this series and much more.

On the other hand, if you prefer to process photos on the computer, be sure to watch the earlier tutorial we featured that reveals four Lightroom quick tips for significantly improving your edits.

Landscape photography and telephotos lenses aren’t two concepts that typically go together, because most photographer reach for wider focal lengths. But if you’re familiar with the tutorials we feature from Utah-based pro Austin James Jackson, you know how much he loves shooting the great outdoors with telephoto glass.

As Jackson says, “I continue to fill my portfolio far quicker with telephoto landscapes than I do with wide-angle scenes.” In this informative 10-minute episode he provides 7 helpful tips for doing the same. He discusses a wide range of topics, from composition, using negative space and leading lines, to adding depth, understanding compression and much more.

One reason for using a long lens to capture images of the great outdoors is that it enables you to reduce clutter, create a more intimate look, and bring attention to “something that’s out of the ordinary.” One example is photographing forest scenes, and Jackson says this can be “excruciatingly difficult under most lighting conditions” when shooting with a wide-angle lens.

But watch what happens when Jackson pulls out a telephoto lens and uses it to advantage in California’s coastal redwoods where the forests are really busy with tightly-packed tree and clusters of other types of foliage with different colors and tones. As you’ll see, a telephoto zoom enables you to make sense out of all the chaos.

When taking this approach Jackson typically keeps the sky out of his composition to further simplify the images. He also explains why it’s very important to keep a close eye on the edges of the frame to make sure that no distracting elements intrude into the shot, and thereby draw attention away from the essence of the photo. As you’ll see, it’s easy to avoid that problem by zooming in as tight as necessary.

Jackson also provides sound advice for “following the light” in a way that is significantly different than what you’d might do when shooting wide-angle landscapes. He also explains the concept of “telephoto compression,” and how to leverage this optical effect for creating images with maximum impact.

Other important topics include the power of negative space, simple methods for adding depth to telephoto landscapes, and the manner in which Jackson employs leading lines to tell a story and draw the viewer into the scene.

If landscape photography is your thing, you’ll definitely want to pay a visit to Jackson’s popular YouTube channel where there are many more powerful techniques to learn. So set aside some time to explore everything that’s available.

And if you prefer to stick with the standard approach, be sure to watch the tutorial we posted from another accomplished outdoor photographer who demonstrates several pro tips for shooting expansive landscape photographs with a wide-angle lens.