Earlier this week we brought you a quick overview of Photoshop 2025 and reviewed what one expert says are the update’s top features. Today’s tutorial from Blue Lightning TV Photoshop takes a close look at two new filters that should be added to your workflow ASAP.

Apply named “Find Distractions,” these amazing tools will automatically eliminate complex wires, overhead cables, and unwanted people with a single click. Instructor Martin Geller is a post-processing professional whose clients have included national TV networks, major publications, book publishers, and others of note.

To find the two new photo retouching filters simply open Photoshop’s Remove tool on the left side of the screen, then click the Find Distractions tab near the top of the window. Below that you’ll find options for one-click removal of People or Wires and Cables.

Another tab lets you choose one of three modes; Generative AI on, Generative AI off, or an Auto setting that may or may not use Generative AI. Photoshop uses Content aware Fill when Generative AI is turned off. In Auto mode Photoshop decides whether or not Generative AI is employed based upon the size and characteristics of the elements you want removed.

Geller says, “I generally like to keep it on the Auto mode to allow Photoshop to determine what option is most effective.” Don’t be surprised when that choice changes the next you load a new image with different types of distractions.

Geller’s first demonstration begins by selecting People in the Find Distractions window. You’ll see how Photoshop automatically analyzes his image, identifies all the people, determines what it deems to be the main subject, and places a pink outline around each of them.

If any elements are missed like someone’s shadow or the walking sticks in Geller’s example, simple click the + icon at the top, adjust the size of your brush, and draw over the offending areas. Conversely, the – button enables you to prevent one or more people from being eliminated.

The last portion of the video explains how the Wire and Cables option works it’s magic. The wires in his sample images are very complex, and you’ll be duly impressed by how effectively these ugly distractions are removed in an instant.

There’s much more to learn on the Blue Lightning TV Photoshop YouTube channel, so be sure to pay a visit. And don’t forget to watch the video mentioned above, with a summary of other key features in Photoshop 2025.

Today’s mirrorless cameras typically come with two displays: a viewfinder and a rear monitor. Both displays can be useful for still photography, but the rear monitor is almost always preferred for video recording. And really, if you’re serious about making video, you would typically invest in a dedicated recording monitor, either on-camera or otherwise.

The main motivation for my photography has been to describe and share my experiences. I believe this sentiment is common among photographers. Yet sometimes, it leads to obsession over capturing the one “great image” of a scene – when the best way to tell a story can be through a series of images instead.

Are you interested in taking a crack at bird photography but don’t know where to start? Or perhaps you’ve been at this for a while and the images you’ve made just don’t hit the mark. In either case, the basic tutorial below will set you on the path to success.

Instructor Gayle Boyer is an awarding winning pro, prolific author, and a graduate of the Seattle Audubon Master Bird program. In this six-minute primer you’ll learn five fundamental techniques for capturing attention-grabbing photos of our feathered friends.

Boyer kicks off the lesson with this: “These are the most important rules to follow, and if you do these five things you’ll be well on your way to having exceptional quality photos.” Once you’re mastered this handful of tips you can elevate you work further by reading Boyer’s book that’s mentioned in the video.

It’s unlikely that you’re familiar with Rule #1 which is to point your shadow at the bird. Boyer has been preaching this approach for years, and here’s why: “If you point your shadow at the bird you’ll have nice, even light on the subject with no dark shadows, and you’ll have a wonderful image without excessive contrast.”

Boyer’s second tip is one that experienced shooters use for all sorts of wildlife photos and human portraits as well; namely “focus on the eyes”—even if other parts of the bird aren’t critically sharp. That’s because “as humans we connect with a bird, or any animal, through the eyes.”

Rule #3 is all about vantage point and camera position as Boyer demonstrates the powerful effect that’s created when you get eye-level with a bird. You’ll see how the emotional impact of a photo changes as you experiment with perspective. Boyer puts it like this: “We want to show the intimacy of the bird’s world and position ourselves as equals—rather than looking up or down at it.”

Boyer’s last two tips are equally helpful and, despite their simplicity, will help capture much more impactful bird photos the next time you give this popular genre a try. So head out in the field, follow the rules, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you’re able to create.

Boyer’s instructional Tube channel is a great source of information as your skills continue to grow.

On a related topic, check out the earlier tutorial we posted with another accomplished pro who demonstrates a powerful in-camera technique for shooting great wildlife photographs when a scene includes a busy, cluttered background.