Call us “old-timers” or whatever you want, but many of us have boxes of old film negatives buried in the back of a closet. Some of these images are undoubtedly great shots that we’d like to scan, edit in Photoshop or Lightroom, and put them in play for use in today’s digital world.

There are several methods for getting the job done, some more expensive and effective than others. You can buy a new dedicated film scanner, but those are very expensive and can be difficult to use. Another option is to purchase a film holder if your flatbed printer offers that capability. The problem here, though, is that resolution and image quality isn’t all that great.

A third possibility is searching on eBay for a high-end scanner from years gone by, but there are drawbacks here too. These tend to be costly and few and far between. Moreover, the original drivers don’t work with modern operating systems, so you’ll also have to buy a modern driver from a third party vendor.

The good news is that it’s possible to make great “”scans” with nothing more than a macro lens on what ever camera you currently own. The caveat here is that all close-up lenses aren’t created equal, like with some so-called macro lenses with only a 1:4 reproduction ratio.

As you see in this tutorial from the Adorama TV YouTube channel, a true macro lens with life-size 1:1 capability is what you need to really do this right. NY-based instructor David Bergman recommends using a tripod to steady the camera during these up-close, high-magnification photos, along with an inexpensive holder to keep the film in place (and he provides a link where you can find one in the description beneath the video.

Bergman begins by explaining how to set up your simple gear, and there’s really not much to it. Then he walks you through a simple step-by-step process for digitizing your negative. He explains the best camera setting to use for consistently great results.

There are a few simple tips you’ll want to follow, so pay close attention to those. Even today’s “hipsters” enthralled with shooting film will be intrigued by this technique. So watch the lesson and get busy cleaning out your closet.

The is much more to learn on the Adorama YouTube channel, and by visiting the Ask David Bergman website, so be sure to visit both.

We also recommend watching anther tutorial we posted, explaining why every outdoor photographer needs a macro lens and how to use one properly.

Today, I’m excited to announce the start of Photography Life’s raw image database! With every new camera and lens we test, we’ll be publishing full-resolution raw files available to download for your reference. We’re also adding existing cameras and lenses to the database, with more than 400 raw sample images from a variety of cameras already available.

Experienced landscape photographers are known for carrying a bunch of lens filters, and the discussion often involves using ND filters for cutting the amount of light entering the camera to permit the use of slower shutter speeds. Today’s tutorial, however, concerns the more common polarizing filter and how to use it for spectacular results.

Unlike expensive ND filters that can be difficult to use, the affordable polarizer requires no complicated computations. And all that’s required is rotating the filter ring until you see the exact affect you want.

Polarizers work their magic in a number of ways. They darken pale blue skies, increase saturation, and remove image-killing reflections from non-metallic objects like foliage and water. Instructor Alex Armitage puts it like this: “They provide an indispensable use case that can’t be replicated with anything else.”

This episode is devoted to one specific application; namely photographing waterfalls—a task for which Armitage says, “a polarizing filter is a must.” Despite the rather narrow focus of this nine-minute lesson, the tips you learn will prove helpful with other types of outdoor photographs as well.

The behind-the-scenes tutorial takes place in central Pennsylvania in an area resplendent with small waterfalls. If you don’t currently own a polarizer we guarantee you will shortly. And even if you’ve employed one in the past, we guarantee you’ll learn a thing or too about using a polarizing filter more effectively in the future.

Polarizing filters come in several varieties, the most common of which thread onto a lens. This means you’ll need a couple of cheap step-up rings or more than one filter if you use lenses of different thread sizes. There are also square filters that require an adapter, as well as convenient magnetic versions that are Armitage’s preferred choice for reasons he explains.

Despite how easy the polarizer is to use, Armitage has several solid tips for achieving optimum results under different conditions. One important factor is that your position relative to the angle of the sun has a significant impact on the degree to which the polarizer enhances the scene.

Another thing to keep in mind is that it’s not always preferable to rotate the filter to achieve a maximum effect. That’s because an image may appear flat if you eliminate reflections completely. Bottom line: by the time you’re done watching you’ll understand why Armitage says, “A polarizing filter is typically the first item I recommend to anyone getting started in landscape photography.”

There’s more great advice on Armitage’s YouTube channel, so pay a visit when you have time.

And don’t miss the earlier tutorial we posted from another expert, with 10 pro tricks for shooting better outdoor photographs using basic gear.

Sometimes we come upon a scene that would make am awesome photo—were it not for bland, boring light and ugly distractions in the background. Rather than move on or come back another day the next time this happens, we suggest you watch the tutorial below with a fast and effective edit for making dull images “really POP.”

British photographer Mathew Grimsley hosts an instructional YouTube channel devoted to “straight-to-the point” tutorials on a variety of imaging topics. In today’s episode he demonstrates how to turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse in barely seven minutes.

Grimsley’s straightforward technique combines in-camera HDR with a few adjustments in Lightroom and Photoshop to get the job done. His last step is what Grimsley calls “the cherry on top that will really make this image stand out to the viewer.” Here’s hint: it involves using a phone app to create intentional distortion.

This episode begins with Grimsley explaining how he captured the original shot, just so you’ll appreciate the remarkable transformation that follows. The scene has potential, with a nice car atop an interesting small bridge. But, for the reasons alluded to above, despite good composition, his photo is quite uninspiring.

Grimsley’s method involves taking three images of the scene; one with the exposure recommended by the camera, another that’s somewhat overexposed and a third that is intentionally too dark. All three are imported into Lightroom and the magic begins.

The idea is to combine this trio of photos into one eye-popping image and, as you see, this task is surprising easy to accomplish. With all three images selected, right-click on one of the shots to bring up a window that enables you to first choose Photo Merge and then HDR Merge from the dropdown menus that appear.

Grimsley notes that once you done this, “Lightroom is going to take care of everything itself.” The resulting image is now much improved, but he makes a few basic adjustments in Photoshop to rid the shot of several distracting elements.

All that’s left is what Grimsley calls “the coup de gras” of this impressive technique. You’re likely to be surprised when Grimsley turns to his phone to download an app called Lens Distortion. He then transfers the merged image to his phone.

Grimsley then walks you through the simple step-by-step procedure for transforming the image using the Lens Distortion app. One you’re done it’s a simple matter to transfer the photo back to your computer. The result is an absolutely stunning image.

There’s much more to learn on Grimsley’s instructional YouTube channel, so be sure to take a look. And be sure to check out the tutortial we posted from another image-editing expert, explaining why Local Adjustments can be the key to the best edits possible.