All photographers are looking for an edge when it comes to shooting in mixed light outdoors, where there’s often a wide range of tones from bright highlights to deep shadows. While arriving at a balanced exposure can be challenging in these situations, there’s a way to use varying light levels to advantage.

Versatile British pro Paul Miguel shoots everything from landscapes and macro to wildlife images, and the tutorials he shares reflect this broad experience. In the quick episode below, he reveals “one of my biggest lighting secrets for better photos of wildlife.”

There’s no reason to worry if you’re averse to using flash in the field, because this video is all about natural light, and a very effective technique for using it to create a unique balance in your photos. If you are interested in outdoor fill-flash, there’s a link to a tutorial explaining that in the description beneath the video.

While this lesson is targeted at wildlife photographers, we’ll let you in on a little secret: The technique you’ll learn also works wonders for outdoor portraiture, macro, and even landscape photogrphy..

Miguel’s stylistic approach involves carefully choosing a vantage point that places a subject in the most favorable light, being mindful to where sunlight and shadows fall within the frame. It’s a very effective technique, that’s easy to accomplish, and Miguel’s images speak for themselves.

Most photographers strive to shoot with a main subject and the background illuminated by the same light. Miguel, on the other hand, prefers using what he calls “half-and-half light.” By lighting the subject and the background in a slightly different way, Miguel says you’ll make images that are far more impactful than those captured with the conventional approach.

Miguel provides examples of photographs made with uniform lighting, and others captured with his half-and-half approach, and he includes gear and exposure information so you’ll know exactly what he did. Personally we’re pretty convinced, but take a look and decide for yourself.

There’s much more to learn about outdoor photography on Miguel’s popular YouTube channel, so pay a visit and subscribe.

And if outdoor photography is your thing, take a look at our earlier post revealing photo accessories another experienced pro always has in his bag.

More and more photographers are using Luminar Neo, either as an adjunct or replacement for Photoshop and/or Lightroom. Created by Skylum, Luminar Neo is an AI-powered program for Mac and PC users that’s updated frequently and relatively simple to use.

If you just jumped on the bandwagon or you’re thinking about doing so, the tutorial below is a must-see, explaining three image-killing mistakes that you’ll want to avoid. Naturally, the simple solutions are revealed too.

Photographer Jim Nix is also an excellent instructor who frequently posts straightforward tips on gear, shooting techniques, and image editing. All of Nix’s lessons have a common goal: “I’m here to make your photos look beautiful.”

Nix is a Skylum aficionado, and there’s a link to Luminar Neo with a $10 coupon code in the description beneath the video. He says that the mistakes revealed in this episode can send you down the wrong path when editing your work, or potentially ruin the overall look of an image.

Mistake #1 is not using a Raw file if you want harness the power of everything Luminar Neo provides. As Nix insists (perhaps no surprise to you), “Raw files are richer in terms of data, you can do more with them, and get better-quality results.” In fact, Nix says, “Starting with a Raw file is a foundational step.” He provides several clear examples to illustrate this point.

There’s a lot more to learn in this video, especially when it comes to Luminar’s AI capabilities, including why it’s essential to make edits in the proper sequence. You’ll also see why “you don’t want to let AI do everything for you”­—hence the importance of making certain adjustments yourself.

Nix also provides a very helpful overview of the numerous tools provided by Luminar Neo to help you adjust everything from exposure and contrast, to color and much more. That way you’ll understand when to let artificial intelligence work it’s magic, and when to step in and use your newfound skills.

After watching this video head over to Nix’s instructional YouTube channel where you’ll find many more helpful tips and tricks.

And check out the tutorial we posted recently from another pro, describing what he says is a “huge problem” for Lightroom users that’s super easy to fix.

We spend a lot of time here at Shutterbug explaining techniques for shooting great images and improving them further during the editing process. What we may not do often enough is discuss best practices for output.

Let’s face it: Beautiful framed prints make great gifts for family and friends, and there’s no better way to decorate your home or office with some of your best work. Unfortunately, some photographers get frustrated with the output process because while this task should be rewarding, it can be difficult to get the great results you expect.

All that ends today with the comprehensive guide to printing in the tutorial below. By following the straightforward advice from Utah-based landscape pro Austin James Jackson, you’ll be able to consistently make impressive prints that everyone will admire.

As Jackson says, “One of the most rewarding feelings as a photographer is getting the opportunity to see your work—in person and in real life—printed on paper, metal, canvas, acrylic, or whatever it may be.” His goal for this episode is to reveal everything he knows about achieving great prints—big or small—based on his experience making and selling awesome prints of his images.

He walks you through the effective steps he uses, so you’ll be able to produce high-quality sharp and crisp prints with great color that do justice to the images you shoot. Jackson also explains how he upsizes files in order to create really large prints that demand attention and praise.

Jackson discusses the concept of DPI and provides recommended settings. He also explains the importance of checking the size of photos before sending them to print, and why making a test print or two is a good idea—especially if you’re printing on media you haven’t used before.

Jackson’s advice on upsizing files is illuminating, as is his discussion of files formats; namely JPEGs vs. TIFFs. So take a close look, and then start pumping out beautiful prints today.

There’s much more to see on Jackson’s YouTube channel, especially for landscape photographers, so be sure to pay a visit.

And for some more helpful tips, check out the tutorial we posted explaining simple camera settings that will minimize image-killing noise in your photographs.

We’re only two months into 2023, and I’ve already had many “firsts” in my photography life. For the first time, I traveled to the Amazon for the unique wildlife opportunities, used the OM-1 (the best Micro Four Thirds camera today), took my Panasonic G9 underwater at my favorite spring, and more. I’ve also been developing a new lighting setup for my reptile and amphibian photos. So, here’s a bit of catching up for you!