Still Life Stories

Ashraful Arefin manipulates colour and light to create ethereal still life images that tell exciting stories about simple household objects

Toy stories

Simon Sweetman uses camera trickery and clever lighting to breathe life into plastic action figures

Good things come to those who wait

Discover how waiting for the right moment can net you the shots of your dreams

Get out of a photographic rut

Shooting the same type of image, of the same clients, in the same locations? All that gets boring – here’s why you should shake things up

Sticks and stones

Mike Harris talks constructive criticism and negative comments, and how both can be used to empower your work

Rework the obvious, obviously

If you run into creative roadblocks when shooting, try attacking the problem face on

Make a time-slice

James Paterson crafts a unique collage that shows the passage of time and teaches fundamental Photoshop layer skills

Shooting stars

Mike Harris shoots a sequence of starry images and blends them together in Photoshop to create sweeping star trails

Nikon SnapBridge

Mike Harris takes a look at SnapBridge, which can be used to remotely control your camera and instantly download images

Hide life

Patience is a key trait of the successful photographer, especially when in hiding

Heart-shaped bokeh

Mike Harris shows you how to transform bokeh into almost any shape you like using a homemade aperture disc

Dealing with disappointment

After a shoot, the mind can sometimes fixate on the shots that you didn’t take. How can photographers make sense of that sinking feeling?

Synthetic soft focus

Mike Harris applies a thin layer of petroleum jelly to an old UV filter and creates a dreamy soft-focus effect

Near death in paradise

Tropical beaches are a popular destination as they look so idyllic, just be careful that you don’t risk everything looking for paradise

Mud on the tyres

Once the first whistle sounds, Stuart Wing has precious few chances to capture the speed and power of the World Rally Championship

Get close to nature!

There’s a whole world of miniature environments out there right under your nose! Ross Hoddinott shows that you don’t need to travel far – or spend a fortune – to capture captivating close-ups…

Let's get physical

Are all your photos stuck on your hard drive? Mike Harris explains the many benefits of printing pictures at home…

Great light, great weather, great shoot

Pro photographer Olivia Bossert heads to the Lizard Peninsula, for a shoot in a luxurious manor house to create a narrative inspired by this incredible location

From photo to painting

James Paterson uses Photoshop CC’s Mixer Brush tool to transform any photograph into a unique digital painting

Build it and they will come

Finding ways to continue growing is an imperative part of being a photographer

Where eagles dare

Eric Esterle talks about the respect every photographer should have for wildlife and how he photographed bald eagles in Alaska

Rewrite the stars

Richard Tatti is a master night-time photographer who uses multiple exposures and light painting to form his astro artworks

The f-words for photographers

Faith, fear and fatigue: how to manage the many feelings of running a photography business

Project three: Essential gear skills - Fly me to the moon

Mike Harris shows you how to take one giant leap towards a stunning moon photo in just six small steps

LIGHT BOX

Our favourite Nikon images from Close-up Photographer of the Year

Project six: Photo Apps - The Photographer's Ephemeris

George Cairns demonstrates how to shoot a scene in the best light using The Photographer’s Ephemeris

Flower power

The sun is shining, the gardens are exploding in an abundance of colour, this is the day! Head out with your Nikon to take luscious pictures of nature’s spectacular displays with Edyta Rice

Domestifying photography

With the lockdown here to stay, it’s best to look at tasks and projects to keep yourself busy

Take advantage of isolation

Self isolation can be just what a photographer needs, in trying times or otherwise…

Colorado revisited

Landscape photographers are often encouraged to go back to locations they’ve previously visited, but is waiting 40 years too much?