This post, Improve Your Photos in 60 Seconds, takes a lot longer to read than 60 seconds, but the tips in there may just improve your work.

ePHOTOzine

ePHOTOzine, apparently the UK's largest and friendliest on-line photography magazine, looks like a hit. There are tons of articles, tips, reviews and techniques. Check it out, even if you live in France—they won't mind.

Photographing Autumn

Ritz Camera has posted two articles related to photographing this autumn season. Check out How to Photograph Football (American Football), and How to Photograph Autumn Color.

One Exposure HDR

There's been much talk about HDR in the last year and how you have to take multiple shots of exactly the same thing. Unfortunately there are times when this isn't possible, whether it be because you are tripodless at the moment, or there's some action in the shot. Fortunately, if you're shooting RAW files there's hope. (You are shooting RAW right?) Eirikso has a technique for creating HDR images from one RAW file.

Camera Porn has a neat article about Shooting the Moon.

Understanding Resolution, is an important aspect in getting the best prints from your photos. This comprehensive guide to it, just might save you some trouble.

Top Photography Blogs

If you're just learning about digital photography (or film) in your spare time, as I am, or are a full time studio shooter, traveler, or other paid camera-slinger you undoubtably subscribe to some photography magazines. I for one keep getting Outdoor Photographer even though my subscription ran out; thanks! I also subscribe to ShutterBug. I find that ShutterBug is insightful for thinking about new techniques and equipment to buy, whilst Outdoor Photographer is mostly just inspiring with some sprinkles of technique. Both magazines, I think are geared more towards learning than say, American Photo or any of those artsy or journalism ones. (Note: I love "artsy" photography, I just don't subscribe.)

However, the purpose of this blog isn't necessarily to point out good magazines that you can get in print, although I guess that might not be a bad idea for a future article about off-screen learning, but in fact it is about the numerous resources of the World Wide Web. There are many great blogs out there that update their content much more regularly than I, and in fact with much more insightful and useful tips and articles. That isn't to say that you should stop reading Photub of course. If you've been a reader of Photub for any length of time, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

The blogs that I am listing in this post, are blogs that I consider great additions to your RSS subscriptions—those blogs that probably have enough new content for books or bi-monthly magazines in themselves:

In no particular order...

1. The Online Photographer: The Online Photographer packs a wallop of new commentary, reviews, techniques and personal adventures into a blog that is updated fairly frequently.
2. Photocritic: Perhaps one of my favorite blogs, is this one. The authors always have something interesting to share, and do a good job presenting it. The critiques that are occassionally done are quite helpful to new and upcoming photographers, and the DIY attitude helps create some really useful and fun tools. Of note is the DIY Pringles can macro lens, that I have been wanting to try out.
3. Strobist: Everything you'd ever want or need to know about effective flash photography is right here in this blog. Literally courses of information are contained on the pages of this blog. It's also not all about flash photography. Consider the recent series about Flickr and what it can do for your photography career. Insightful articles, interesting topics and amazing techniques make this truely one of the best photography blogs on the internet.
4. Photojojo: While not really a blog per se, Photojojo's unique style and unique media (email newsletter), make it in a class of it's own. I include it in this list because they do have an RSS feed, making it "blog like." I have just one complaint about Photojojo and that is that they often seem to post stuff late, after it's already been posted elsewhere. Nevertheless, Photojojo has knocked my socks off more than a few times with interesting ideas, it's creative writing style and overall growth.
5. Digital Photography School: Anyone looking for tips can always find something at DPS. Choose a "Random Tip" or read them all. It's easily becoming an encyclopedia of techniques, buying tips, etc. for the beginner, casual student and the advanced amateur.
6. Andy Frazer's Night Photography Blog: Taking pictures at night can yeild some extremely interesting results, but not many will give you insight on creating breathtaking images at night without the flash. Andy Frazer does. You'll see lots of examples of compelling night imagery, if nothing else.
7. After Capture: The only site listed here, that actually is a monthly publication, actually has a decent blog. The blog talks, interestingly enough, about post production of your images. Becomming a "post production prince" might not happen overnight, but it'll probably happen faster with the reading of some of the articles here.
8. DIYPhotography.net: Face it, photography equipment is expensive, and we see time and time again, that a cheap light tent provides excellent results. DIYPhotography.net is all about creating cheap equipment to aide in the creation of great photographs. It's a wonderful collection and continues to grow.

The web is full of great content, and with RSS being used by nearly everyone, there certainly isn't any reason (other than time) that you can't be informed of the latest photography happenings, techniques and ideas every 15 or 20 minutes. Surely there are other great blogs out there that I did not address, but these are the ones I read on a semi-daily basis. If you think your blog should be on this list, please submit it for review, and I'll take a look.

Deconstructing the Megapixel Myth

This semi-old article by David Pogue, Deconstructing the Megapixel Myth, upset a lot of people despite the fact that his point is spot on.

Philip McClure, has written an article comparing The Gimp to Photoshop.

Take a Cue From Movies

Watch Movies talks about the similarity in shooting a major Hollywood Production and shooting a wedding. The following quote sums it up quite nicely (though the rest of the article is well worth reading):

"Some people think that one of the most important differences between good professional photographers and good amateurs is that the pros have a picture in mind before they take one and get it because they know how to; the amateurs get a shot more by accident."

I guess this makes me an amateur, but it seems only a matter of time before a good amateur begins to see the good shots and allows for planning of them. Likewise, like any artistic medium, it takes a while to truely master it. Professionals are professionals because they are able to create the shots they want by looking to previous shots they've taken and combining the experiences from them. They understand that blurring occurs with slow shutter speeds not because of theory, but because they've taken shots of hummingbirds with a shutter speed that was just a bit too slow. They've learned from their previous photography and because of this they can see new images. Want to get paid to take photos? Become a master by learning everything you can and by practicing. Shoot everyday, even if it's in your living room and study your results.

For the record, I'm not a professional. I haven't developed all of the skills it takes to become a professional, and without true dedication to photography, I may never become a professional. I do hope to some day become the step just below professional--the step where I make images like described in the quote above.

Creative Shots With Longer Exposures

Dan Heller has some thoughts about longer exposures leading to creative exposures. Slower shutter speeds will obviously blur moving objects, and Heller's article shows some of the creative things you can do with that basic fact as well as introduce a neat piece of equipment-- Neutral Density Filters. Neutral Density Filters allow you reduce the amount of light coming into the camera, without stopping down your aperture.

Update: His tutorial about Fill Flash is also worth reading.

Building a Digital SLR System

Phillip Greenspun now and then writes about photography. Some of his articles appear on photo.net, including the original film version of How to Build a Digital SLR System.

Your Exposure Might Be Off

Photocritic's latest critique talks about exposing for the highlights and developing for the shadows. Aside from the critical points, the best advice from the article is that of the exposure. Given a really bright scene, or a bright portion of the scene you must make sure to not blow out the highlights, and therefore it is best to underexpose a bit (metering the highlights).

Earthbound Light talks Nikon preset white balance and rescuing images.

The Strobist brings us a great article about the challenges and solutions to this holiday pastime of Photographing Christmas Lights

Adobe Digital Photography Guides

John Nack's blog has links to a series of commissioned articles from described "industry heavy hitters," ranging from tutorials on color management in Photoshop, to a guide talking about making the switch to digital.

This article is blowing up big on digg and for good reason. It's a great, comprehensive, beginner's guide on the subject of Photography.

A Hopeful Vision

An inspiring article about Steve Simon, who just launched a book "Heroines & Heroes: Hope, HIV and Africa." The book is a limited edition (50 copies) and is available on his site.

From the article on Digital Journalist:
"Steve Simon's latest book, Heroines & Heroes: Hope, HIV and Africa, balances human tragedy with hope in sub-Saharan Africa."