As I was going through the pains of reducing my photo storage, it was a fun experience to go back to my early work and see if there was anything worth keeping. While deleting a large collection of panoramic images, I found a couple that I ended up saving. Interestingly, I realized that at the time I was taking these photos, Lightroom had no panorama capabilities to create a single DNG image out of RAW shots (I used PTGui and Photoshop at the time). So I selected a few vertical panoramic shots captured at different shutter speeds (obviously, I had no idea how to capture panoramas at the time) and let Lightroom do its magic.

If we asked you to name the “one concept that 99% of photographs get wrong,” it’s doubtful that contrast is the first thing that comes to mind. According to photographer James Parsons, however, this is a critical element that should never be ignored.

Parsons is a very successful pro who travels the globe for a long lists of clients. He’s also a popular instructor whose lessons enable less experienced shooters up their game by learning the powerful techniques he’s developed throughout the years.

In simple terms, says Parsons, contrast represents the tonal difference between opposing elements that are close together in the frame. This episode covers everything from the fundamentals of today’s topic, to “high-level professional concepts and ideas.” He also provides examples of several ways pros use contrast for maximum effect.

Parsons begins with an interesting observation about how people view photos and where their eyes go first. He says we’re typically drawn to the area within a scene that displays the greatest “visual pull,” in other words, the most eye-catching part of an image. And more often than not, the visual target is an area of high contrast.

There’s a discussion of what Parsons refers to as “detail contrast” and he describes it like this “If we use a wide aperture setting we’re creating a difference in detail between our subject and the background that mimics what we see with our eyes because such a small area is really in focus before our eyes compensate by making it feel that everything is relatively sharp.”

Parsons then explains how to accurately evaluate the difference between the lightest and darkest areas of a shot, and how to respond accordingly. He includes a couple diagrams that illustrate his points, so take a look at these and see where your eyes go at first glance.

Color contrast is another important consideration, and Parson’s demonstrates how to put this key element to work. Parsons illustrates why this technique is most appropriate for photographs with a limited color palette. Simply put, concentrate on a limited part of the color wheel  and you’re all set.

At this point you’re only midway through this game-changing episode so there’s much more to learn. Parson’s popular YouTube channel is a great source of instructional shooting and image-editing tutorials like this one.

On a related note, be sure to watch the recent tutorial we featured that demonstrates how another expert uses midtone contrast during post processing to pump up the impact of dull, uninspiring outdoor photographs.

White balance can make or break a photo because this important attribute enables you to imbue a scene with a variety of feelings and moods. Do things right and you’ll have broad control over a variety of appealing effects. The problem is that an incorrect approach may result in photos that appear unrealistic or totally fake.

Today’s primer comes from the folks at Park Cameras, one of the leading photo retailers in the UK. In barely 11-minutes you’ll learn how to use Lightroom to overcome minor difficulties, whether you want things looking natural or your goal is to add a unique element to a shot.

Gareth Evans is a versatile photographer and a very enthusiastic educator. In this episode he walks you through several straightforward Lightroom techniques for manipulating white balance with confidence so you can use it as a primary color-grading method for every image you edit. He makes his tips easy to understand by including photos to illustrate the workflow involved.

Evans’ first image is a cute outdoor portrait of a dog in the forest. He’s working with a Raw file for maximum flexibility and it’s important to note that his camera was set to Auto white balance. The original photo look pretty good, but Evans is dissatisfied by the slight magenta cast.

He starts by explaining how to “eyeball” the shot and use Lightroom’s manual adjustments to balance out the colors. With this approach he simply drops Tint toward the greens and doing so is pretty effective. But there are slightly more involved methods that can enhance photos in a more precise manner.

The first technique involves changing the white balance profile, and you’ll see how easy it to select a custom option. You can use Lightroom’s Eyedropper tool to select a neutral tone within the frame and proceed by following Evans’ simple instructions. He says that selecting an area that’s white or gray tends to work best and illustrates how to evaluate the specific value of your chosen spot by looking at the screen.

The video continues quickly so you may want to take a few notes as Evans moves on to other photos that require different techniques for solving white balance issues and achieving exactly the look you envision. We encourage you to visit the popular Park Cameras YouTube channel where you’ll discover a variety of other instructional videos for giving your images a big boost.

And be sure to watch a recent tutorial we featured with another post-processing expert who demonstrates how to shoot and edit epic sunrise and sunset photographs using several pro techniques that are easy to master. Proper white balance can be a very big helpfor accomplishing this goal.

If you’ve ever marveled at photographs with eye-catching headlights and taillights streaking through the frame, and wondered how it’s done, this quick beginners guide is just what you need. It’s a dynamic technique that anyone can master in minutes.

Instructor Dave Charlton specializes in straightforward shooting and editing tutorials that simplify seemingly complicated tasks. He introduces today’s seven-minute episode like this: “You’ll learn the secrets for capturing stunning light trails like a professional photographer.” It’s all about getting it done with simple gear and takes barely seven minutes to explain.

Charlton covers essential in-camera techniques, demonstrating everything you need to know from the camera settings he recommends to several tips for composition and much more. So grab a camera, follow along, and learn how this unique style of outdoor photography will leave viewers mesmerized by the imagery you create.

The lesson begins with an explanation of why and how shooting in manual mode will deliver optimum results, and Charlton walks you through configuring the camera. A sturdy tripod is recommended because slow shutter speeds are required, but there are also several tips for shooting hand-held.

A bit of experimentation can always help, but Charlton suggests a starting point of ISO 400, an aperture of f/9, and a shutter speed of two seconds. Ambient light in the urban environment varies greatly, with streetlamps, neon signs and other types of illumination that surround the light trails you capture. So shoot a couple shots, see how it goes, and modify exposure settings according to Charlton’s recommendations.

Your vantage point and camera angle are also key to this style of motion photography, and Charlton illustrates how composing from a low (or high) perspective can make photos far more compelling. If you decide to leave the tripod at home, follow his advice for using a bus bench, retaining wall, or other solid object to steady your camera.

Charlton demonstrates several other tips and techniques for a very successful shoot. Once you’re done watching head over to his instructional YouTube channel where you’ll find a variety of straightforward tips and techniques.

We also suggest watching the helpful beginners guide we posted recently from a respected pro who demonstrates the basics of a post-processing exposure blending technique to create nature and landscape photographs with perfect tonal balance.