A source of essential tips, techniques, and creative guidance for photographers of all levels, blending practical advice with deeper exploration to elevate your craft.
Scameras: The Deceptive World of Fake Digital Cameras A few days ago, a student showed up to my Toronto group photography workshop with a camera I couldn’t recognize. That’s rare. I’ve taught people using everything from professional DSLRs and mirrorless bodies to fixed-lens cameras like the Fujifilm X100V and Sony RX100 series. As long as …
Photographic lens filters play an essential role in enhancing your images and protecting your lens from abrasions. This guide introduces the basics and explores the three most common types: polarizers, neutral density filters, and UV/protection filters. Learn which filters can make a significant difference in your photography and which ones might not justify the cost. …
Image artifacts are one of those things that every photographer deals with at some point, whether you’re a beginner just getting the hang of your camera or someone with a bit more experience. These issues can crop up for all sorts of reasons: sometimes it’s user error, sometimes it’s just the way your specific lens …
Have you ever noticed a faint pattern of colourful circles or dots—most prominently red, but also green and blue—when taking a photo with a bright light source in the frame? That’s grid flare, although it’s also called flare grid pattern and red dot flare. It’s a unique quirk of digital camera sensors that can be distracting …
Introduction: What is (and Isn’t) Bokeh? If you’ve spent any time around photography forums, workshops, or social media, you’ve probably heard someone say, “This lens has so much bokeh,” or “Why can’t I get enough bokeh in my shots?” As someone who teaches photography—and someone who enjoys nuance—I can’t help but cringe a little. The …
“If you’re not practicing, you’re not learning” Learning photography is rewarding, but it’s also a skill that requires effort to retain, maintain, and improve. If you’re not practising, you’re not learning. I’ve been teaching group photography courses in Toronto since early 2018, and one thing is clear: practice is essential. It solidifies the theories you …
Beginner photographers often struggle with photos being either overexposed or underexposed. This is normal and happens occasionally when using your camera’s full automatic mode. However, under normal conditions and scenes, persistent or recurring over- or underexposure should not occur consistently. If you find this behaviour happens frequently, follow these steps to troubleshoot the root cause. …
This article will teach you about one of the most fundamental concepts in photography — the photographic stop. The stop is ubiquitous — it’s everywhere — and understanding it will make you an efficient photographer. However, to learn why the stop is so vital, we need to establish a foundation of knowledge about the basics …
The following article is a transcript of the video above. Hi there, my name is Paul, and this is Exposure Therapy. In this video, I’ll explain why your photos of the moon are often overexposed and how you can fix them. It’s sunny on the Moon I teach group photography workshops, and occasionally, students will …
In this post, I’ll walk you through what to look for when inspecting a used lens in person. Once you’re done, check out my guide on what to inspect when buying a used camera in person. New photographers who are passionate about their hobby quickly develop an enthusiasm for lenses and the creative possibilities they …
