Capital Photography Center Blog

Scott Kelby Answers Questions about Adobe’s Creative Cloud

2013-05-08T16:23:20Z

Scott Kelby Answers Questions about Adobe’s Creative Cloud

Luria’s Secret Tips on Photographing Washington DC

2013-05-07T22:34:55Z

With its many landmarks, historic places AND bright sunlit streets, Washington DC is an ideal training site for people who want to improve their skills in travel photography. Enjoy E. David Luria’s Secret Tips on the best places to go when photographing the nation’s capital!

How to Shoot Panoramas

2013-04-23T22:34:03Z

Why shoot panoramas? Why not? It increases file size and gives the viewer a much wider sense of the scene without the distortions of super-wide angle lenses. Find out how to create your own panoramics in a snap.

Enough already with screens! Let’s make some prints!

2013-04-07T18:35:26Z

On screen viewing for photographers is the Wild West; lawless and guaranteed to vary from screen to screen. However, in a color managed workflow, the screen can become a very useful reference from which informed decisions can be made to help create a print that is both expressive and representative of what we have on screen.

Keep An Open Mind!

2013-03-26T16:34:36Z

"Don't let a location lock you into an expectation. Keep an open mind!" Ideas, images, and an example from a recent photo shoot with the hope of helping you expand your photographic opportunities when out in the field.

10 Tips for Photographing Captive Birds of Prey

2013-03-10T16:34:34Z

An alternative to capturing images in the wild is to photograph these magnificent creatures at raptor rescue centers or at state parks with aviaries that care for rehabilitated, non-releasable birds.

Follow these 10 tips to capture stunning images.

Painting with Light

2013-02-27T16:35:10Z

By definition, Light Painting is the process of photographing at night while illuminating your subject with a handheld device such as a flashlight or camera flash.

A fascinating mix of painting and photography, illuminating your subject with a flashlight is an extraordinary amount of fun, and due to modern digital cameras, this type of photography is easier than ever.

4 Ways to Capture White Snow

2013-02-13T18:35:37Z

Photographing your favorite subjects in snow offers a special way to capture winter memories but often times we’re disappointed with the results. Exposing for snowy scenes can be tricky as our camera’s light meter is easily fooled by the brightness causing dark photos with washed out, gray looking snow.

It can be pretty easy to correct for this, try one of these 4 methods for better results.

Black and White - Then and Now

2013-01-29T18:35:05Z

The tools for converting color to black and white in Lightroom, Photoshop, and to an extent Elements, are intuitive, flexible, and quite exciting to work with. The mechanics are not particularly hard. But just as work in the chemical darkroom required contemplation and a “map” for where one wanted to go with the print, so it is with digital processing.

8 Tips for Backing Up Your Photos

2013-01-18T01:24:42Z

If you’ve ever heard a story from someone who’s lost a hard drive you know how heart wrenching it can be. When every photo of your friend’s child’s first year are lost due to a hard drive failure, there’s not much you can do but feel sorry that they didn’t take steps to backup such an irreplaceable treasure.

8 Great Tips for Photographing Holiday Lights

2012-12-05T22:56:17Z

Colorful holiday lights add to the magic of the season and can be great fun to photograph. At this time of the year we’ll find beautifully lit outdoor displays at many of the DC area regional parks, at houses in our neighborhoods, along city streets and of course let’s not forget the Christmas tree in our own living room.

Improve Your Photography With A Photo Critique

2012-11-20T22:48:37Z

Having your images critiqued by a professional is paramount to your growth as a photographer. It’s tough working in a vacuum. Not knowing whether you are executing your techniques properly or more importantly if your vision is getting across to your viewers.

FotoWeek DC 2012 Concludes

2012-11-18T22:44:39Z

As a FotoWeek Partner, Capital Photography Center offered a week of free events as an opportunity for people to learn from our instructors, enjoy their insight and come away motivated and energized.

Holga Photography – Fun with Toy Cameras

2012-11-07T22:42:20Z

Have you ever wanted to photograph without worrying about the aperture, shutter speed, and lens focal length options? Sometimes I feel today’s cameras offer just too many choices. I feel this way when I go into Starbucks and have to stare at all the drink flavors on the menu board. Whenever you come to a decision crossroads, whether for camera equipment or a latte, you inevitably ask which one should I go with?

Fun with Fall Reflections

2012-10-29T22:38:56Z

Fall has arrived and naturally we think of photographing the brilliant display of color as the leaves turn from gold to crimson then bronze. There’s no doubt these make stunning photographs, but next time you venture out to capture the season’s color, put on your creativity cap and instead of looking up to the leaves, look down to find colorful reflections in the water.