Michael Soo

One surefire way to visually supercharge a scene is to add movement. Move camera, subject, or both. It doesn't matter. Any way you do it, the kinetic excitement of motion can make a boring scene seem vibrant and alive.
Case in point: On one of my recent workshop outings, I was shooting at a 300-acre ranch near Byron, CA. The moment the models and I drove up and I saw the tire swing, I knew I could use it to add movement.
What made the photo on the previous page a creative challenge was the way the movement was captured. Many photographers faced with this scene would have set the swing in motion parallel to the imaging plane and panned with the laterally moving model. (That's what I did in the shot below.) Focusing is easy because the subject is always the same distance from the lens. With the correct shutter speed, the result can be thrilling: a sharp subject and a background of streaked motion blur.
But a lateral pan wouldn't produce the dreamlike, vertiginous feel of the portrait on the preceding page. The model, while sharp, seems to sail toward the camera with an energy and sense of three dimensions that lateral panning can't match. Read the whole article here

Christopher Badzioch proves that it's not always the most expensive and specialized gear that makes a great photo -- it's the eye, vision, a sharpie marker, some electrical tape and a cheap homemade sweep that really matter when it comes to making amazingly detailed, dramatic insect "portraits."
Badzioch, an amateur photographer originally from Opole, Poland and currently residing in Bristol, Conn., has been sharing his unique insect shots in the PopPhoto.com Reader's Gallery and we are so impressed, we asked him to shed some light on his magical techniques. The photos in this story were all captured with basic macro lenses -- not with bellows and rails or other super-advanced specialty gear -- meaning with a little practice and patience, you too could soon be making your own dramatic insect portraits! Read the very nice "how to" here

It’s summer vacation time again. For many people, that means it’s also time for a new digital camera. This guide will help you decide on the best digital camera for your summer travels. There are a few different vacation camera strategies. You might want one that’s small and easy to keep handy. Or you might want a full-featured digital camera that can do it all. You might even be thinking your camera phone will be the best tool for summer photos. No matter what your budget, experience, or inclination, we can help you choose the best digital camera. Read on to learn about different digital camera types, useful camera features, and digital camera accessories that will help you capture and save your summer vacation memories. Read the whole article here

Let's get the big secret out in the open - fireworks are simply one of the easiest, and arguably most boring, things one can photograph. Making a great fireworks photo is easy, and that means there's a glut of great shots out there. But that makes it that much harder to create something that stands out from the rest. And therein lies the challenge. In this guide we'll cover the technical side of taking fireworks photos that aren't a blurry, grainy mess. Read the very nice "How to" here

For wildlife photography, a 500mm or 600mm lens is most often the tool of choice -- and also a bulky, heavy, and expensive piece of equipment. But there are many times when shorter and wider lenses are simply better. I make it a point to always have both a short zoom lens and an intermediate telephoto lens with me when I am in the field. If you know what to look for, you can make some great nature images -- without hauling in the big glass. Read the whole article here

So you finally put away your point-and-shoot and got yourself a gen-u-ine DSLR. Good for you! But, Buck Private, if you've still got it set on the "green zone" -- the fully automatic mode -- you're shootin' like a civilian. Sure, the pictures you take with your new camera are better than any you've gotten before, but it's time to take charge and learn what great photos you can get when you're the one in control. Do these five drills to get started, and don't worry, we'll go easy on ya. Read the very nice article here

Valhalla, NY, August 9, 2006 - With the recent announcement of the FinePix S3 Pro UVIR, Fujifilm has unveiled the world's first production D-SLR camera capable of taking photographs in the ultraviolet and infrared light spectrums. But what does this mean and how does a digital camera that can take pictures at either end of the light spectrum help to empower photographers in technical fields such as law-enforcement, medical research, art history, science and fine art photography? Read the full press release inside

"Let's go out for taking pictures with your camera. When you are going to do so, you may want to take better pictures, if possible. The following pages will show you various unique techniques step by step".

On this site, Nikon takes us on a step by step ride to perfecting our photographing skills.

"With the assistance of author and photographer Jeff Wignall, Fodor's has put together an invaluable guide to shooting great travel pictures: Nearly 100 easy-to-follow tips, with accompanying photos, covering every aspect of travel photography."

Fodor's is a nicely built site with lots's of very useful information & examples for the begginer photographer. You can check it out here.