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50 Free Resources That Will Improve Your Photography Skills
August 30 2009, 11:50am
Photography is a wonderful hobby enjoyed by lots of people all over the world. It’s a very enjoyable passtime, but also a very technical one. There’s a bewildering range of cameras, lenses and accessories, and photographers also have to get to grips with computers and image editing software packages. It can get very confusing, especially for newcomers to the hobby, and there always seems to be something to new to learn, even for experienced photographers. With this in mind we’ve put together a list of over 50 free resources that will be useful to anyone involved in photography. We’ve compiled a list of the best and most comprehensive websites that will help you get the most out of your photography equipment. You’ll find a gold mine of articles on equipment and technique, plus advice from some of the most active and well-known professional photographers practising today. We’ve divided these websites into categories for easy reference, but please bear in mind that many of these websites deal with more than topic. Many talk about both photography techniques and camera equipment, for example. We’ve categorised them according to how we think you will find them most useful. The resources section at the bottom of the article has links to more articles about photography websites, so check them out. Beginner’s Zone These websites are an excellent place to start for beginners. They have content for more advanced users too. Digital Photography SchoolVery comprehensive photography resource. Lots of inspirational and informative articles.
PhotodotoClick on the Photography 101 link for an excellent set of articles for beginners.
About.com: PhotographyPhotography articles and techniques from the team at About.com. Inspiration The EOScarsMore and more digital SLRs are coming with a movie recording mode. The highest spec models rival the quality of high end movie recording equipment and have been used to shoot music videos and movie trailers. The EOScars compiles the best movies recorded with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.
Photography NowPortfolios from past masters and contemporary greats.
World Press PhotoAnyone interested in photojournalism needs to check out this website. You can look at the winning images from the annual World Press Photo Contest and read interviews with professional photojournalists.
National Geographic PhotographyBeautiful showcases of inspirational photography plus tips and advice from National Geographic photojournalists. Exposure CompensationFocusing on the work of inspirational photographers from around the world. Technical Stuff Cambridge in ColourA series of very technical tutorials about aspects of digital photography such as camera sensors, histograms, colour management and autofocus. Luminous LandscapeAnother website with a comprehensive series of technical articles. One of the oldest and most prestigious photography websites around. Depth of Field MasterDepth of field is commonly misunderstood. This website explains depth of field very well. You can also print out depth of field tables for your lenses - a must for landscape and architecture photographers.
Ken RockwellStraightforward technical advice from a pro photographer. Canon Professional NetworkLots of technical advice for Canon users and inspiration from Canon’s Ambassadors - pro photographers using Canon equipment.
Canon Digital Learning CentreMore technical advice and tutorials for Canon users. Nikon DigitutorCamera specific tutorials for Nikon users. Pentax User MagazineThe website of Pentax User Magazine, brought to you by the publishes of ePhotozine (another great photography resource), lots of useful info for Pentax camera owners. Photo NotesTechnical articles. Some excellent summaries of camera specs - click the Lookup link to see them. Photography Equipment It’s stating the obvious but photography is impossible without the basic equipment of a camera or camera body and lens. There are hundreds of pieces of equipment and many brands to choose from. These websites will help you make sense of the choices. Digital Photography ReviewComprehensive reviews on just about every new piece of digital photography equipment released over the last few years. The first stop for anyone interested in purchasing new gear or understanding more about the features of what they already own. Radiant LiteLots of equipment reviews. Photography and Photoshop Technique Photo AnswersThe official website of UK photography magazines Practical Photography and Digital Photo. Lots of news and technique to complement the magazines.
StrobistAll the information you need to use your camera’s portable flash unit to its full advantage.
Joe NcNallyJoe McNally built his reputation as a commercial photographer specialising in the use of Nikon’s portable flashes. He passes on his knowledge in his blog.
Photoshop DailyPhotoshop tutorials from the publishers of UK magazine Photoshop Creative.
Apogee Photo MagazineArticles, tips, techniques and portfolios. PhotojojoTechnique and creative ideas.
Photography Blogs Discussion about the topics and techniques that matter most to contemporary photographers. The Online PhotographerLots of articles about equipment, technique and the concepts behind photography.
Epic EditsLots of techniques and advice. The recent series about making fine art prints is very useful.
All Day I Dream of PhotographyLots of interesting photography articles. Toy Cameras Toy cameras have become very popular over the last few years. Learn all about them at these websites: Holga BlogAll about holgas.
Toy Camera Light LeaksPrint magazine featuring the best toy camera photography from around the web.
Square FrogLife through a plastic lens - techniques and tips.
Four Corners Dark
Professional Photographers One of the best ways to learn about photography is to study the work and ideas of professional photographers. Luckily, the trend for pros to blog about their work has created some priceless educational resources. Here are some of the best: Chase JarvisProfessional commercial photographer Chase Jarvis on the latest developments in the industry. The Digital TrekkerTravel photographer Matt Brandon talks about his work and the ideas behind his photos.
Pixelated ImageHumanitarian photography David duChemin discusses his career and work.
PixsylatedSyl Arena’s photography web magazine. Includes the excellent ‘Lessons I didn’t learn in photo school’ series.
Photo SmudgerLondon based snapper Tom Miles shares his real world experience. Essential reading for any student or photographer aspiring to work in London.
Digital Pro TalkSocial photographer David Ziser blogs about making a living in the competetive world of social photography.
PhotocratiArticles for photographers, by photographers. A wealth of information and insights from some of the world’s best pro photographers. Interviews by Crash TaylorSocial and wedding photographer Crash Taylor interviews some of the best known names in the business. Essential reading for anyone who wants to break into wedding or social photography.
Other Useful Resources Photo CompeteOnce you’ve polished up your photography skills no doubt you’ll be tempted to enter a few photography competitions. Photo Compete has a listing of current photography competitions. Photo CompetitionsEven more photography competitions including the big name competitions from companies like Sony and National Geographic. Pro-Imaging Photo CompetitionsBut make sure you read this before entering a photography competition. There are competitions that take away your copyright - this website lists the competitions that don’t. PhotopreneurA ton of ideas for making money from your photos. Photo NetcastPhotography podcasts bought to you by a team of passionate photographers.
Photographers who photograph need models, stylists and make-up artists. You can search for them at Model Mayhem and Purestorm. You can also search by geographical area there. Purestorm
In light reports of photographers being harassed by security guards and police, it’s a good idea to know your rights. These websites have the information that you need: Photographers’ legal rights - UK Photographers’ legal rights - United States Photographers’ legal rights - Australia Last Click JPG MagThe magazine that publishes your photos and your articles.
Resources
87 Great Photography Blogs and Feeds 29 Fresh Blogs and Photoblos to Add to Your RSS Readers 85 Great Photography Blogs, Galleries and Sites You Can’t Afford to Miss 40 Great Photography Websites, Portfolios and Resources 90+ Online Photography Tools and Resources Some Great Photography Techniques, Tips, Tutorials and Resources Part 1 Some Great Photography Techniques, Tips, Tutorials and Resources Part 2 60 Photography Links You Can’t Live Without
About the author Andrew Gibson is a photographer and writer. He runs Magical Places Fine Art, an online photography magazine and another great photography resource.
© Andrew Gibson for Smashing Magazine, 2009. | Permalink | 34 comments | Add to del.icio.us | Digg this | Stumble on StumbleUpon! | Tweet it! | Submit to Reddit | Forum Smashing Magazine
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