Cameras & Photography

A good photo is part art, part science. Whether you like to manually focus and carry a slew of lenses in a Tamarac bag or go digital and let a high-tech camera do the work for you.

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If you know how to calculate image size and PPI when printing, you'll be sure that your printed photos are crisp and vibrant. Learn about how to calculate image size and PPI when printing in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

SD memory cards come with different technology and memory capacities. Learn whether you can use any SD card in your camcorder in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Photo albums aren't what they used to be. Now, there are decorative scrap books, digital photo albums and even quilts that tell a story. The ideas are limitless, so you have no excuse to put it off. Make your keepsake photo album today with our help.

By Sara Elliott

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There's something about fall that makes people want to break out the cameras. Is it the foliage, the fun of Halloween, the gorgeous harvest moon or all of the above? Whatever your pleasure, here are 10 photography ideas designed to inspire.

By Dave Roos

Even the best camera needs a good photographer to capture the best images possible. No matter your skill level, you still need to know the basic photography terms and tenets. Here are 10 of the most important ones.

By Ed Grabianowski

Digital cameras allow amateurs to produce stunning photos worthy of the pros. It takes more than a camera, though. Here are photography techniques to know!

By John Kelly

We'll tell you how you can take better pictures by taking advantage of the light sources you have available to you -- and by using a few tips and tricks when the lighting is less than ideal.

By Jamie Page Deaton

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Sure, action shots make great photos. But some of the best pictures are of common, everyday items -- this is the case for still life photography.

By Jane McGrath

Maybe you've seen ads for online photography courses and considered signing up. But will you learn something about photography on a computer, or is it better to go to an actual classroom?

By Jane McGrath

When the thunder rolls, most people go running for cover. But if you're more adventurous, falling rain could mean the opportunity to capture some really interesting photographs -- if you know what you're doing.

By Mark Boyer

Snowscapes are appealing due to certain qualities of light and texture -- traits that make it a daunting subject for shutterbugs. Learn to conquer snow's challenges and even turn them to your advantage.

By Nicholas Gerbis

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A raindrop falling off a leaf may not seem very remarkable, but when viewed up close, it's a complicated dance between the leaf, water and air. Raindrop photography shows us what we've been missing.

By Patrick E. George

Do you want to make a new photo look as though it was taken in the early 1900s? You're looking for the sepia tone effect — and all it takes is a special chemical soak or a few clicks on the computer to get it. Learn how today!

By Patrick J. Kiger

When you look at a photograph, consider all of the visual elements that make it so striking: light versus dark, red against blue, black on white. How do we make these things that seem to clash work so harmoniously on paper?

By Dave Roos

This hypnotic, psychedelic swirl of lights is a star trail image, and it's just one example of the amazing effects captured by night photography. How hard is it to take night photos, and what's astrophotography?

By Nathan Chandler

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You've finally learned how to use your new camera, and there's no shortage of subjects your lenses haven't captured. But you want to share them -- and not just online. Starting a photography club is a great way to interact with other shutterbugs.

By Gerlinda Grimes

Many people find photography to be a fun and fulfilling hobby, so it only makes sense that some try to make a career out of it. What would it take to start a business?

By Clint Pumphrey

With so many software options out there for editing photos, it can be difficult for an amateur to decide what to get. We've covered the most important ones here, many of which are free!

By Josh Briggs

In consumer optical devices like cameras and telescopes, aperture is an incredibly important concept. But what is it, exactly? Let's find out!

By Nathan Chandler

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When you take a photo and hear that distinctive click, you’re really hearing the sound of the camera’s shutter opening and closing in a fraction of a second. That shutter speed can dramatically alter photo quality — and fortunately, you can control it!

By Ed Grabianowski

All these numbers and letters might seem confusing at first, but using your camera's f-stops is really quite simple once you understand some basic principles. Find out how fiddling with f-stops can enhance your photos.

By Nathan Chandler

ISO speed is one of three things that determine the quality of your photos. How can you control ISO speed to get the best shots possible? Learn all about it here.

By Dave Roos

It's a shock when a photo image looks completely different from the image you've retained in your mind. Did you know that UV radiation is partially to blame?

By Patrick J. Kiger

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The best photographers feel a need -- a need for ideal film speed. But what is film speed and why does it matter?

By Thorin Klosowski

Photos of all kinds can capture memories, and there's something particularly endearing about family photos (especially really old ones). But what happens when those delicate old prints get damaged? What's the best way to restore them, and can you do it yourself?

By Nathan Chandler