Articles by Justin Hein at PetaPixel https://petapixel.com/author/justinhein/ Photography and Camera News, Reviews, and Inspiration Mon, 22 May 2023 19:37:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 191656271 How to Fix Photoshop Scratch Disk Full Errors https://petapixel.com/how-to-fix-photoshop-scratch-disk-full-errors/ Mon, 22 May 2023 19:37:19 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=683766

One of the most common errors when using Adobe Photoshop has to do with Photoshop not being able to start or complete a command because “the scratch disks are full.”

[Read More]

]]>
683766
How Autofocus Works in Photography https://petapixel.com/how-autofocus-works-in-photography/ Thu, 13 Apr 2023 20:04:27 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=676455

When it was first introduced, many people sharply believed that autofocus would never have a clear place in the photography industry, puns intended. Why have a machine guess where to focus when you can just turn the focusing ring yourself? Today, autofocus systems are among the primary selling points for new camera and lens technology.

[Read More]

]]>
676455
Computational Photography: What is It and Why Does It Matter? https://petapixel.com/computational-photography/ Thu, 06 Apr 2023 20:05:31 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=675057

There’s a reason why my iPhone is often the only camera I’ll carry with me. Its imaging quality allows me to take good photos without having to carry any additional gear.

[Read More]

]]>
675057
Glossy vs. Matte Photo: Which is Best for Printed Pictures? https://petapixel.com/glossy-vs-matte-photo/ Wed, 15 Mar 2023 19:14:01 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=670908

Printing your photography is a great way to display it, give it as a gift, and experiment with different ways to present your work. One aspect of printing that will inevitably come up is the type of paper that you want to print on -- should you choose glossy or matte?

[Read More]

]]>
670908
How to Pose for Pictures: The Ultimate Guide https://petapixel.com/how-to-pose-for-pictures/ Thu, 23 Feb 2023 18:20:52 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=666535

Great portrait photography is so much more than just about knowing how to work a camera. You can memorize your camera’s entire manual and still not be confident in a portrait shoot because most portraits require posing. Luckily, this is the right place to learn how to pose and become a better portrait photographer.

[Read More]

]]>
666535
ISO in Photography: A Complete Guide https://petapixel.com/what-is-iso-in-photography/ Wed, 09 Nov 2022 19:23:32 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=641733

When compared to the other components of the exposure triangle (shutter speed and aperture), ISO appears to be the most intuitive on the surface. It is also the most misunderstood component, and everything from its definition to its usage has been discussed extensively.

[Read More]

]]>
641733
Shutter Speed in Photography: A Complete Guide https://petapixel.com/what-is-shutter-speed-in-photography/ Wed, 19 Oct 2022 18:13:13 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=636799

As perhaps the most important parameter to understand in photography, shutter speed should be one of your first considerations when making a photograph. It’s one of the biggest reasons that photographers might find themselves unhappy with their shots, and having a great understanding of it is crucial to making great images.

[Read More]

]]>
636799
What is a DSLR Camera? https://petapixel.com/what-is-a-dslr-camera/ Tue, 27 Sep 2022 17:07:31 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=632128

If it seems like there’s more new photography technology than what you can keep up with, you are probably correct. However, don’t let that deter you from learning the industry standards and terms within it. One of those terms that you’ll likely come across is the digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera, which has been the leading type of camera for still photography throughout the past decade.

[Read More]

]]>
632128
Aperture in Photography: A Complete Guide https://petapixel.com/what-is-aperture-in-photography/ Wed, 21 Sep 2022 19:23:10 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=630910

Aperture can seem like one of the most challenging camera settings to fully understand, but once you understand it, your photography will improve immensely.

[Read More]

]]>
630910
What is a Mirrorless Camera? https://petapixel.com/what-is-a-mirrorless-camera/ Thu, 08 Sep 2022 18:35:47 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=628226

There is a constant push for faster and lighter technology across different industries, including laptops, smartphones, drones, cameras, and more. In the photography world specifically, mirrorless cameras have appeared on top of the race to overtake DSLR cameras as the industry standard camera for still photography.

[Read More]

]]>
628226
What is Focus Peaking? A Guide to the Manual Focusing Aid https://petapixel.com/what-is-focus-peaking/ Tue, 02 Aug 2022 17:23:40 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=619169

When using manual focus, it’s difficult to tell exactly where your plane of focus is. It’s possible to make a guess using your eye, but you can still be slightly off and end up with an image that is out of focus. Similar to how histograms take the guesswork out of exposure, focus peaking uses an algorithm and a simple visual aid to help take the guesswork out of manually focusing your lens.

[Read More]

]]>
619169
What is EXIF Data in Digital Photos? https://petapixel.com/what-is-exif-data/ Fri, 29 Jul 2022 15:38:33 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=618202

In the digital age, there’s a lot more to a photograph than the image itself. When most digital cameras capture an image, they record certain parameters and write them in the image’s file for later use. These parameters are called metadata and are stored as Exchangeable Image File data, or EXIF for short.

[Read More]

]]>
618202
Histograms in Photography: A Guide https://petapixel.com/histogram/ Mon, 18 Jul 2022 17:22:55 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=615533

If you didn’t believe your grade school math teachers when they said you’d use graphs in the real world, you’re about to. In photography, histograms can seem intimidating, but they are incredibly useful tools that are much easier to understand than they appear. Learning about histograms will help you understand exposure, post-processing, and the overall structure of a photograph.

[Read More]

]]>
615533
Golden Hour: When Sunlight is Warm and Photos are Magical https://petapixel.com/golden-hour/ Thu, 16 Jun 2022 16:31:10 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=608887

If you’ve been outside during a nice sunrise or sunset, chances are good you’ve heard the term “golden hour.” It’s one of the best times to do many types of photography and a beautiful time to be outside. This guide will help you understand golden hour, when it happens, and how to make the most of it through various types of photography.

[Read More]

]]>
608887
How to Clean a Camera Lens https://petapixel.com/how-to-clean-camera-lens/ Thu, 02 Jun 2022 18:10:48 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=605508

Realizing that your lens was dirty during a shoot is not a great feeling. While some specks of dust and other consequences of a dirty lens can be fixed via spot healing and other post-processing, it’s much easier to make sure your lens is clean to begin with and save editing time. Plus, attention to the state of your lens will help it retain its value over time and increase its longevity.

[Read More]

]]>
605508
How to Use Bulb Mode on a Camera for Long Exposure Photos https://petapixel.com/bulb-mode/ Thu, 19 May 2022 17:33:16 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=601290

When you hear “long exposure,” you probably think of a shutter speed that’s too slow to hand-hold and produce a sharp image. It might be something like ¼”, or maybe as long as 30”, which is the most common slowest shutter speed in DSLR and mirrorless cameras. However, shutter speeds slower than 30” can be advantageous in many long-exposure scenarios.

[Read More]

]]>
601290
How to Take Graduation Photos https://petapixel.com/graduation-photos/ Sat, 23 Apr 2022 15:15:11 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=595924

Graduation portrait photography is an opportunity to develop your portrait skills, make photos that your client will treasure, and have fun. There are important logistics to keep in mind for a smooth and well-executed graduation portrait shoot, and this guide will help prepare you.

[Read More]

]]>
595924