Do you find your interest in photography to be constant or does it waver? Passion and interest are a complex topics for me. I find myself trying to answer why my interest in photography has remained strong over the years even through distractions and challenges along the way.
Post Archive By Jason Polak - Page 8
Bird Photography in Southeastern Arizona
At the beginning of May, I travelled to southeastern Arizona on a wildlife photography trip. This is one of the southernmost areas of the United States. Thanks to its dry desert environment, the species here are quite different than those found in many other parts of North America. After arriving,...
13 Wildlife Photography Tips for Beginners
One of the great challenges of wildlife photography is that there are so many things to consider in such a short amount of time. Even if you do everything right, the uncontrollable stuff can still stop you from getting "the shot." However, there are some basic tips that are easy...
How to Buy the Best Camera for Your Needs
Quick question: what's more complicated, buying a house or getting married? Answer: neither, it's buying a camera! That's right, and I wrote this guide because if you don't go about it right, then one day you'll realize you've made a horrible mistake and you'll give up photography. Okay, that could...
What Is Dynamic Range in Photography?
Dynamic range is the ratio between the strongest and weakest signal measured in a given context. For example, the dynamic range of a camera sensor is the ratio between the brightest and darkest signal that can be captured in a single image. Like most other things in photography, dynamic range...
What Are Megapixels and How Many Do You Need?
It's impossible to read about cameras and not encounter the terms "pixels" and "megapixels." Nowadays most cameras have 20 megapixels (MP) or more, and there are some monstrosities with 100MP. I still have memories of walking into camera shops as a teenager and seeing the higher end models having 2...
10 Tips for Better Bokeh in Photography
“Bokeh” is a term to describe the quality of out-of-focus areas in a photograph, both in the foreground and background. Although some aspects of bokeh are subjective, everyone seems to like creamy, smooth bokeh, whereas the infamous “onion rings” are unwanted in photos and probably better left as a food.
Micro Four Thirds vs APS-C As Someone Who Uses Both
What's better: micro four thirds or APS-C? Are these two sensor formats at odds? Could any question spark an internet argument more quickly than comparing sensor sizes? There is no doubt that there are advantages and disadvantages of each. Today, I would like to talk about why I (gasp) choose...
Bird Photography with Really Cheap Lenses
There is no doubt that the best gear for bird photography is shockingly expensive. For example, the latest generation 600mm f/4 comes in at about $13,000 US dollars whether you look at Nikon, Canon, or Sony - and that's without a camera. More modest setups are not cheap either and...
How to Get a Blurred Background in Your Photos
Blurring the background is one of the many ways to isolate or emphasize your subject. Do you need a special lens to do so? Absolutely not! In this article, we look at some of the ways you can get those creamy, beautiful backgrounds using almost any camera and lens.