We had so many incredible submissions to our weekly assignments last year. With seasonal themes to those focusing on composition and technique, our weekly assignments were created to inspire photographers, and we hope you gained inspiration and new skills over the year.
The gallery below features the winning image from each assignment in 2022. Check it out for inspiration, and then get ready to enter our assignments in 2023!
The winning images from our weekly assignments are featured on the OP Blog, as well as our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
Not long ago, the range of telephoto lenses across brands was boringly uniform. Regardless of camera brand, you had the option to choose between a few classics like the 300 and 400mm with a maximum aperture of f/2.8, and the 500 or 600mm with f/4. But today, the situation is very different. A whole range of interesting telephoto lenses have appeared, and it’s no longer easy to find the right one. Which lenses do I consider the best for Nikon cameras? Read on to find out!
The tutorial below is for all of you who’ve grown tire of hearing “purists” proclaim that, “Unless you turn your mode dial to M you’re not a real photographer.” As we’ve said before, that’s a lot of bunk, as numerous pros regularly shoot in Aperture or Shutter Priority depending upon the assignment.
Another misconception is that Manual Mode photography requires sophisticated skills and is only suitable for advanced shooters, and that’s a silly claim too. After watching this 12-minute video, you’ll be out shooting in Manual Mode in no time.
Hyun Ralph Jeong modestly says, I’m just a guy who loves taking pictures.” But as you’ll see in this episode he’s quite accomplished and a very adept instructor. Whether you just bought your first camera, want to take your photography to the next level, or are simply curious about what Manual Mode involves, this episode will demystify the technique.
As Jeong explains, “There’s a big difference between not shooting in manual because you don’t know how and why, and not using this mode because it won’t affect your style of photography.” So watch this demonstration and then decide what mode is best for you.
Shooting in Manual requires constantly adjusting aperture, shutter speed and ISO, as well as understanding how these three variables interact to achieve proper exposure. It’s also important knowing where to begin; i.e. do you start by first adjusting aperture, and let that choice dictate the appropriate ISO and shutter speed settings, or should another variable be preeminent?
The answer to the above question is simple: “It depends.” In other words, the approach you take depends upon the subject matter and the effect you desire. The hierarchy you use is reliant upon a number of factors, including whether your subject is static or in motion, do you want to blur the background of a scene or maximize depth of field, the light levels you confront, are you shooting handheld or with a tripod, and a few other considerations.
As you’ll see, Jeong provides a clear explanation to these questions so you can make the proper choice under various conditions. And after giving Manual mode a try, you can always go back to your familiar approach
All of us want to do a thorough job of processing photos, but we also want to do so as quickly and efficiently as possible. That way we can get back out in the field with a camera and do what we love most.
With that in mind we think you’ll appreciate the tutorial below for speeding up editing from a post-processing expert who goes by the handle AdamDNN on his instructional YouTube channel. As he notes, there are plenty of things you can do to improve your workflow, but “these five methods really stand out for me.”
Adam also discusses a few new features in the latest Lightroom update that really accelerate your editing, including the new AI Masks that can save a lot of time. Fast and precise edits are really important when you return from a daylong excursion with hundreds of images. Same thing for wedding photographers who may shoot thousands of photos at an event.
Tip number one is new to us, and it involves White Balance. Instead of using Auto White Balance to capture images, he recommends choosing a setting that’s most appropriate to the scene, and sticking with it unless there are dramatic changes to the light. That substantially speeds the editing process because you don’t have to make White balance adjustments for each individual shot
Adam’s second tip has to with the tedious chore of going through all your images to select those that are worth editing. Here he reveals the two methods he uses for rapidly culling photos to choose the heroes, maybes, and rejects. By following this process you can make a second pass to refine your choices.
The other tips you’ll see include a trick for using an iPad and Lightroom mobile to facilitate the process, how to shoot in “sets” of similar images so you can edit in bulk, and the most efficient way to use masks. He also reveals several keyboard shortcuts that he credits for “speeding up my work flow immensely.”
