“I wish you good light” – or simply, “good light!” – is a traditional greeting among photographers. But what does it really mean? Every time that I hear this familiar phrase, it makes me think about what exactly my fellow photographer is trying to say. Are they wishing for lots of light? Or maybe a certain angle or color? Do they mean hard light or diffused light? Well, as a wildlife photographer, I believe the definition of good light is much broader than we often think.

Camera store employees can be opinionated—to put it kindly. They often make up jokes about the brands of cameras and lenses they consider inferior. Some can be vicious. Here are a few of my favorites. We’re using the mythical Sputnik brand for our examples.

What’s the difference between a Sputnik lens and a Coke bottle?
You can return a Coke bottle to the store and collect the 5¢ deposit.

What’s the service policy on the Sputnik brand camera?
Best in the world: we ship you 5 and you return the 4 that don’t work.

How long is the warranty on a Sputnik camera?
Thirty days or thirty feet from the store, whichever comes first.

What’s the difference between a Sputnik lens and a bagel?
You can see through a bagel if you hold it up to the light.

Man walks into a camera shop and says, “I’d like to get a UV filter for my Sputnik camera.”
The camera store salesperson says, “That’s not a fair trade – you’ll have to kick in $25.”

What do you call a Sputnik camera that finishes a whole 36 exposure roll of film without breaking?
A miracle.

Do you sell the Sputnik camera in a kit with accessories?
Yes. It comes with a collar, leash and a large box of dog biscuits.

Is it possible to make money with a Sputnik camera?
Yes, sell it on eBay for $5.

More jokes that are not about Sputnik
I took a picture of my gf but I accidentally cut off her entire left side.
She’s all right now.

How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb?
None. When it gets dark, they just use a higher ISO. Except for the old-timers; they use a higher ASA.

My gf said that if I took one more picture of her she’d leave me for good.
That’s when I snapped.

Why did the police detective arrest the photographer?
Because the photographer said she shot her husband and then deleted him.

Why were the pictures from the nudist colony all unusable?
They were overexposed.

Person #1: Beautiful picture! What kind of camera did you use?
Person #2: What kind of paintbrush did Picasso use?

Person #1: That’s a beautiful puppy! She’s adorable!
Person #2: That’s nothing; let me show you her picture!

Two guys see an absolutely stunning beautiful smoking-hot girl at the beach. The first guy nods and says, “Wow…how about that?” The second guy replies, “Oh, probably f/22 at 1/1000 second. It’s pretty bright today.”

A photographer and the group of people he was photographing were attacked and devoured by a mob of hungry rats when he tried to get everyone to smile for the picture.

What’s the difference between a photographer and a chimp with a camera?
The chimp never peoples the images during a photo shoot.

How does a photographer solve climate change, civil unrest and rampant pollution?
He removes the battery, waits five seconds, and then put it back in.

Why shouldn’t a photographer use “goulash” as the password for his Instagram account?
Because it isn’t stroganoff.

What did the photographer say when his rabbit ran away?
“You gotta be kidding – I can’t be losing my hare!”

Why did the veterinarian who treated only mice need a macro lens?
Because he had very little patients.

Why was the photographer disappointed that the camera he bought online was normal size?
Because the ad on the website read, “Huge Camera Sale.”

 

—Jon Sienkiewicz

It’s surprising how infrequently some photographer’s clean the sensor in their cameras, all the while aiming for the best image quality possible. Dirty sensors cause a variety of problems, not the least of which are ugly dusts spots and other artifacts on every image you shoot.

Not only does sensor dust make your camera sad, but when combined with moisture it can lead to some really tenacious dirt. So suspend reality for a moment, imagine that you’re a sensitive electrical component, and then do what’s suggested in the important video below.

Instructor Christian Irmler is an Austrian pro and his begins this episode with an incredulous chuckle: “Photographers really exist who shoot outdoors, change their lenses out in the field, and NEVER clean their sensors.” And this is despite the fact dirt gets more and more resistant over time.

Irmler explains the importance of regular sensor maintenance and reveals a safe and simple hack that makes this process super easy.  And for those of you who have ignored this simple task for weeks, month, or even years, he demonstrates what you should do immediately or sooner. So watch it and get the job done.

It’s important to understand whether small specks on a photo result from sensor contamination, or they’re simply due to some dust on the front element on you camera lens (or filter). Irmler explains how to make this determination so that you don’t needlessly clean the sensor.

Irmler pulls out the simple and affordable maintenance tools he uses to keep filters, lenses and sensors functioning like new, and how to avoid image-killing dirt in the first place before it even becomes a problem.

You’ll learn the best way to swap lenses in the field, and why understanding the direction of the wind is the first thing you should consider. Other tips include leaning over the camera as you make the switch. Another key consideration is when and how a sensor can be contaminated even when you’re not changing lenses.

So please pay close attention to this video and clean up your act—regularly and with conviction. Your camera and photographs will thank you. Irmler’s instructional YouTube channel is full of shooting tips, gear recommendations and more, so do yourself a favor and check it out.

Then take a look on the important camera tutorial we featured earlier from another pro who explains how to verify the shutter count of your cameras and why this information really matters.

Let’s say your weekend plans include a casual hike with the family, photography isn’t part of the itinerary, and your “real” gear will be resting at home. But as nature would have it you stumble upon a beautiful scene that begs to be photographed, so you reach for your iPhone and quickly make a few shots before your kids scream “you promised keep that thing in your pocket.”

Today’s tutorial provides several helpful techniques for doing a much better job the next time around. The five minute lesson comes from the iPhone Photography School whose motto is that you don’t need expensive cameras or heavy gear to capture jaw-dropping photographs—with no more burred shots or disappointing missed opportunities.

The unnamed instructor puts it like this, “Whether you’re shooting sunsets, portraits, everyday moments, or landscapes, you’ll never see your photos the same way again.” Today’s episode concentrates on the latter and reveals powerful composition tips, camera settings, and a key iPhone feature for getting the job done with success.

The form factor of a phone munch different (some would say awkward) than what you’re used to with a mirrorless camera or DSLR and can have an impact on how we frame up our shots. So keep this in mind as the instructor provides several effective composition tips that he illustrates with spectacular iPhone photos that would make any of us proud.

Suggestions include the importance of changing your vantage point, experimenting with perspective, and varying camera angles to suite the specific scene at hand. Not only will this affect how your subject is lit by the sun, but you’ll see how a simple shit to the left, right, up, or down will often provide a big boost.

The instructor says that “the iPhone’s 1X setting typically provides the best view for capturing expansive vistas. With the camera configured according, he demonstrates how his first composition gains it’s power by taking advantage of a strong vertical line formed by the compelling, slanted peaks,

The discussion continues with a thoughtful discussion of the iPhone’s Panorama mode, describing the quick process of using it to advantage for capturing almost effortless ultra-wide images that really grab attention. Tips include dealing with movement and aligning mages to perfection.

There’s much more to learn, so grab your phone and experiment with these powerful tips as they’re explained. Then head out over the weekend and see what you’re able to create.

And for some more universal outdoor photography tips check out the recent tutorial we featured with a notable expert who demonstrates how to capture stunning urban landscape photographs when shooting after dark.