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Some photographers are confused by the concept of setting white balance in the camera, and we frequently post tutorials on this important topic. Today’s video with Jimmy West simplifies the notion by explaining that “white balance matters more you think and why these three settings are the only ones you’ll ever need.”

West is a versatile Australian pro whose portfolio contains an impressive selection of landscape, street, and seascape imagery. He begins this enlightening episode by breaking down what white balance actually does, how it affects every photo you capture, and three simple options that will keep your editing workflow fast and stress-free.

He puts it like this: “Whether you’re shooting landscapes, street photos, or video content, these are the only white balance settings I recommend, and I’ll explain why I personally lock mine to Daylight (5600K) for nearly all of my photography—even when the light changes.”

The bottom line is that by following his advice you be able to achieve realistic results and maintain color consistency from one shoot to another. So what is this trio of essential settings? Keep watching!

The trick is understanding which option to choose when, and this is what you’ll learn how to determine with precision in the next 10 minutes. As West likes to say, “sometimes capturing the perfect shot isn’t about what’s in front of you, but rather how you see it.”

West starts with the basics, explaining that white balance is a setting that tells the camera how neutral white should appear based upon the color temperature of prevailing light. Natural illumination on a cloudy day, for example, is cool and bluish, while incandescent bulbs or sunrises and sunsets are warm and orange.

But here’s the rub: “You camera tries to compensate for this by shifting the color tones to try to make white look neutral”—even though this may not faithfully represent what your saw through the viewfinder nor be the effect you intend to convey.

That why white balance isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it operation and why you often must help your camera out by exerting a bit of control. West greatly simplifies the process with illustrative photos that exemplify the benefits of the three settings he recommends.

There’s are many more shooting tips and gear recommendations on West’s instructional YouTube channel, so be sure to take a look when you have time to explore. We also recommend watching the helpful explainer we featured earlier in the week with a notable German pro who explains how camera drive modes work and which options are appropriate for different styles of photography.

Capturing a subject in silhouette is one of the most dramatic ways to shoot compelling images, especially if you’re working in b&w. Today’s tutorial from the New Ways of Seeing YouTube channel demonstrates everything you need to know for achieving this powerful effect.

Instructor Rupert Vandervell is an accomplished British fine art photographer and a very popular educator who isn’t afraid to take an unexpected approach. This episode is designed with street photographers in mind, but much of what you’ll learn is equally applicable for capturing all sorts of images in the field.

Rupert puts it like this: “The balance of light and dark is very important in photography, and no more so than in the high-contrast fine art style. Light and shade are the very building blocks of this kind of imagery and shooting in black and white is the perfect way to show off the look as the tonal ranges can be pushed to the extreme.”

As you’ll see, the human shape can be quite fascinating when viewed in silhouette,” and so are other easily identified subjects or objects. Rupert notes further that recognizable forms can be even more powerful when combined with geometric shapes within the frame. There are also several composition techniques you can employ to heighten the result.

It’s also important to give subjects a prominent place against the backdrop. And when it comes to shooting on the street, he recommends looking for people wearing hats, flowing coats, carrying bags, or even interesting hair styles that add a unique twist to their shape.

Rupert notes that, “the way a person walks or their standing pose looks quite exaggerated (in an eye-catching way) when seen in silhouette and create the kind of character that will make an image have a real stand-out quality.” One way to do this is by anticipating a subject’s movements so that you’re prepared to capture the key moment before it occurs.

This is just a small taste of the helpful advice that Rupert provides, and by the time the video concludes you’ll be ready to expand your vision and give these technique a try. There’s much more to learn on the New Ways of Seeing YouTube channel, so pay a visit when you have time to explore.

And don’t miss a tutorial we featured recently with a successful German pro who demonstrates what he says are the most effective outdoor composition techniques for inexperienced photographers.

One key step in becoming a better Photographer is learning how to evaluate a scene and then make the most of whatever lighting conditions you confront. You may think that these means concentrating on the intensity of Light, but this tutorial from the Nifty Fifty Photographers YouTube channel demonstrates another consideration that’s equally important consider.

Instructor Richard Gill is a successful British pro who leverages his skills to produce straightforward how-to videos on a wide range of photography fundamentals. He introduces today’s five-minute episode like this: “The direction of light can have a huge impact on your photos, and you’ll find out how to use side-lighting, rim light and more to make your images pop—and avoid flat, lifeless photos.”

Consider this five-minute lesson “Lighting 101” as Gill demonstrates how the position of the sun, camera angle and perspective, and the vantage point you take make all the difference in the photographs you bring home. These techniques are explained in the context of landscape photography, but they’re equally powerful for whatever outdoor images you make.

Gill’s tips and techniques are super easy to understand while watching him illustrate exactly how they work. So we’re going to step back for a change and let the expert get you up to speed in a hurry. Then head over to his instructional YouTube channel where you’ll find many more simple tips and techniques.

And on a related note, be sure to check out a tutorial we featured earlier this week in which a notable German shooter demonstrates how to employ depth, balance, lines and perspective to compose outdoor photographs like a pro.

The task of editing landscape photos is typically challenging because we often shoot in complicated situations, like when pointing the camera directly into the light at sunrise or sunset. Then there are those confusing scenes with bright highlights, dark shadows, and important midtones within the frame.

If these dilemmas sound familiar pay close attention to this quick tutorial from the Photo Feaver YouTube channel that provides three post-processing solutions for overcoming these common challenges. Instructor James is a British pro who says he loves helping beginner photographers improve their shooting and editing skills.

Feaver says that in the next eight minutes you’ll learn “the three best landscape photography tricks” in Lightroom. His promise goes even further by suggesting that one of this tips is so good that it’s like cheating. He also jokes that “it might even cause your computer to explode.”

At the top of his list is a trick Feaver calls Photo Contrast and it differs significantly from Lightroom’s familiar Contrast slider or other more advanced techniques. Feaver pays close attention to highlights and shadows while demonstrating this masking method for perfect adjustments.

Tip #2  works wonders when you want to convert a ho-hum color shot into a jaw-dropping b&w image. He refers to this tip as Hidden Profiles. Some photographers simply click the B&W button in Lightroom’s Basic panel. Unfortunately, unlike Feaver’s easy-and-effective solution, this approach may be simple but it often delivers mediocre results.

Last on the list is the one you’ve been waiting because Feaver admits it’s “sort of like cheating and I frequently do it myself.” We don’t want to spoil the surprise, so watch this video until the end. Then update your Lightroom workflow accordingly.If you enjoyed this lesson and appreciate Feaver’s straightforward style, be sure to check out his instructional YouTube channel where’s much more of the same.

We also recommend watching the recent tutorial we featured with one of our favorite Adobe experts who demonstrates eight Lightroom tips and techniques for refining Contrast to create photographs with more impact and drama.

Do you notice annoying dust spots on every photo you shoot, causing you to waste time cleaning things up during post processing? If so, a dirty sensor is the most likely culprit and this step-by-step guide will show you how to prevent sensor dust in the first place—and exactly what to do when it inevitably occurs.

Instructor John Peltier kicks off today’s important episode like this: “Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced photographer, this guide walks you through everything you need to know for keeping your camera’s sensor spotless and your photos looking their best.” He’s an experienced freelance travel and documentary photographer, and the methods he describes are both safe and easy to accomplish.

In barely 10 minutes Peltier explains why sensor cleaning is such an essential task, the best practices for changing lenses in the field, when to use a camera’s built-in sensor-cleaning feature, and how to use an affordable sensor-cleaning kit for spotless results. He also provides links to the necessary supplies in the description beneath the video.

Peltier takes you through what he calls “the escalation of steps—starting with prevention—because nobody wants to deal with a dirty sensor.” Proper lens-changing procedures are particularly important when shooting outdoors, especially in wet and dusty conditions. These preventative measures are especially necessary when shooting with a mirrorless camera because “the sensor is exposed to the environment every time a lens is removed.”

Another recommendation is to periodically examine the rear element of a lens and use a pocket air blower to remove any contaminants that could otherwise enter the camera and land on the sensor. Most modern camera’s include built-in sensor cleaning capabilities that shake dust off a sensor until more thorough maintenance procedures are required, and Peltier describes exactly how this works.

The reminder of the lesson is devoted to doing the dirty deed yourself, and Peltier walks you through getting the job done with confidence. You’re learn how to employ an air blaster, a sensor-cleaning swab kit, and a simple sensor-cleaning brush to accomplish this important task with precision. Just follow Peltier straightforward  advice and then utilize the preventive measures he recommends for keeping things pristine as long as possible.

There’s much more to learn on Peltier’s informative YouTube channel, so take a look and subscribe.

Whether you’re just getting started or a more experienced shooter, the tutorial below will change how to approach photography by explaining what types of lens filters are appropriate for your style of imagery and demonstrating how to use them. Dollar-for-dollar these simple accessories are perhaps the most valuable you can find, so pay close attention and then add a few filters to your kit.

Today’s eye-opening beginners guide come to us from the folks at Camera Zone, a popular YouTube channel created by professional photographers and enthusiasts  who produce how-to videos on a wide range of topics from gear reviews, post-processing tips, and in-depth buying advice.

Today’s nine-minute episode falls into the latter category by taking a deep dive into all the essentials of filters and explaining why they’re so popular among seasoned outdoor photographers. Bottom line: if your colors look flat, reflections are distracting, or light seems unmanageable, these affordable add-ons can quickly save the day.

Our unnamed instructor puts it like this: “Filters modify the light before it hits the camera sensor, resulting in effects that are sometimes impossible to achieve with post processing alone.” In fact, filters not only improve image quality, but they’ll also protect your expensive lenses from scratches, dust, water, and other environmental hazards.

First up are the economical UV filters that serve three basic purposes—namely, reducing ultraviolet light, eliminating atmospheric haze, and protecting the front element of a lens. Just remember that, as with all filters, quality is crucially important. So don’t try to save a few bucks by threading a “bargain” filter on a good lens.

Have you ever wondered how some landscape photographers make pale skies appear richer or water surfaces glare free? That’s the work of a polarizing filter that enables you to modify the effect—stronger or weaker—simply by rotating it’s front ring. In simple terms, Polarizers are valued for their ability to reduce reflections on lakes or when shooting through windows.

They also enhance color saturation and provide a vivid look to lush greenery, flowers, and inanimate objects. There are a few considerations to keep in mind, like your position relative to the angle of the sun and the possibility of deadening a photo or making it appear unrealistic by rotating a polarizer to the max.

As the lesson proceeds you’ll gain insight onto other popular filters and how to use them under various conditions you confront in the field. Then pay a visit to the Camera Zone YouTube channel for more transformative videos on gear and techniques.

And speaking of lenses, don’t’ miss the tutorial we featured earlier with another expert who demystifies the concept of focal length and explains why there’s much more to it that just magnification.

Lightroom’s Contrast slider is the most frequently used tool for editing images than can benefit from a boost in contrast but, unfortunately, this approach provides far less control than the other methods you’ll learn today by watching this tutorial from the popular PHLOG Photography YouTube channel.

Instructor Christian Mohrle has set his sights on being the best landscape photographer in Germany, even though he doesn’t make his living with a camera. In the video below he explains eight techniques for introducing more contrast that he greatly prefers to the limitations of Lightroom’s Contrast slider that you’ve be using until now.

Mohrle explains the process like this: “Instead, I use Tone sliders like Highlights, Shadows, Whites, Blacks, and even Exposure to more precisely target the tonal ranges you want to change.” His goal for the dramatic sample shot is to make the image even more impactful by bringing down exposure, improving Clarity and Dehaze, modifying midtone and color-range contrast, and improving color luminance contrast.

The 12-minute episode also explains an interesting technique for managing contrast through the use of split toning and reveals how a quick histogram trick contributes to the process. He begins by carefully bringing down the shadows without sacrificing important details in these portions of the frame.

The next step is increasing the highlights to significantly distinguish between the brighter and darker tones in the image. He also pushes the whites, taking care to avoid clipping, and illustrates how Lightroom will let you know when you’ve taken the highlight and shadow adjustments too far.

Mohrle’s histogram trick is super simple and helps you maintain control throughout the eight-step process, and he explains it like this: “Did you know that you can actually drag the histogram? If you want to make midtones a little brighter, for example, simply drag the histogram to the right.”

Lightroom will then automatically change the tonal sliders accordingly (whether you’re dragging the histogram to the left or to the right). As he says, this is important “because enhancing contrast is all about spreading the histogram” and he demonstrates why.

There’s much more to learn as the video proceeds, and Mohrle walks you through all the straightforward adjustments. Once the video concludes head over to his instructional YouTube channel that’s full of more post-processing tips and techniques.

And don’t miss a tutorial we featured recently with another Adobe expert who explains why it’s time for some belated spring cleaning if your Lightroom catalog is ” freaking disorganized mess.” Then he demonstrates how to clean it up once and for all.

Today’s quick tutorial from German pro Benjamin Jaworskyj explains what he considers to be the most effective composition techniques for inexperienced photographers, and he kicks off the lesson with this promise: “You’ll learn how use lines, balance, depth, and perspective to transform your images from average to awesome.”

Ben is a self-taught German photographer and educator who travels the world capturing compelling images with a unique, polished look. He also posts straightforward videos that share his experiences, technical tips, and rare mistakes to help other shooters elevate their skills with whatever gear they own.

This nine-minute tutorial builds on Ben’s previous installment of a two-part beginners guide to composition, and we recommend watching the introductory episode first if you’re absolutely new to our craft. Just visit his popular YouTube channel and scroll through the videos. The first session discussed the Rule of Thirds, explained the power of grids, where to set the horizon within the frame, and more.

Ben acknowledges the importance of camera settings and other technical matters, but he insists that thoughtful-and-precise framing is what enables you to showcase your creative vision. In fact, “a very slight change in vantage point can lead to a very different and more captivating composition.”

The trick involves what is basically a more advanced way to employ the familiar Rule of Thirds, in which the frame is divided by two vertical and two horizonal lines. But instead of concentrating on regions within the frame, this time it’s all about the “crossing points” identified by four yellow dots where the lines intersect in the center of the screen.

Ben put’s it like this: “I try to move myself and the camera position to where these crossing points occur.” He demonstrates the concept with a landscape scene that includes a prominent church in the background, and Ben begins by precisely positioning this key element atop the lower right crossing point.

Then he experiments by moving the church to the top right, top left, and bottom left crossing point to demonstrate the impact of each composition on the final result. Ben continues with more photos and other key considerations, and his claim is not that one approach is always better than the others, but rather that it’s up to you to determine the specific look you prefer depending upon the specific scene at hand.

There’s much more to learn about basic photography techniques on Ben’s popular YouTube channel so pay a visit and explore.

We also recommend watching an eye-opening a tutorial we featured with a professional travel photographer who shares his seven favorite techniques for capturing “authentic moments” of your journeys.