Photography Tips Techniques and Tutorials

The Nikon Creative Lighting System offers a comprehensive selection of revolutionary portable tools to match virtually any need.
Whether used for simple on-camera use at a family gathering or in multiple wireless off-camera arrays, Nikon flashes operate in perfect concert with Nikon’s CLS compatible cameras.

Nikon 1 Flashes

Nikon 1 Flashes provide you with a versatile array of lighting solutions to match your imaging needs.
Use unique bounce effects, illuminate the seas or provide extra lighting to your video recordings and Motion Snapshots. Nikon 1 Flashes provide simple, easy-to-use solutions for your photography, whether you'e just getting started or you're a seasoned pro.

Learn & Explore Tip of the Day

August 21, 2014

Use depth of field in nature photography to get everything in focus. If you are placing an object in the foreground to create depth, use a maximum (high number) f/stop. This will get more of the scene in focus, front to back. If using a COOLPIX camera, set the camera’s scene mode to landscape.

August 20, 2014

Err on the side of shooting more pictures. Take lots of photos, as this will increase your chances of getting that perfect frame. When shooting digital you can just delete the photos that don’t work out. It’s always better to shoot too many than not enough.

August 19, 2014

To learn how to be resourceful, go out shooting and only take one lens with you. This will challenge you to re-think the way you take photos.

August 18, 2014

Turn off the flash when shooting baby photos. That burst of light can sometimes frighten the baby and ruin your photo. If you really need the extra light, use an accessory Speedlight and bounce it at the ceiling to create a nice soft fill light.

August 17, 2014

Spend a day focusing on composing photographs.

August 16, 2014

To freeze motion, choose a fast shutter speed, (1/500 of a second or faster). If you are using a COOLPIX camera, set the shooting mode to “sports” which tells the camera you want to freeze fast action.

August 15, 2014

Use an online community like Nikon Image Space or Flickr to improve your work or get feedback from others about your photography. Post images and ask for criticism or look for weekly photo themes to help pick subjects.

August 14, 2014

Try not to shoot portraits from below because most people look unflattering in this position.

August 13, 2014

Backlighting is shooting when the light is coming from in front of you and is behind your subject. This is challenging because it’s easy to end up with a silhouette of your subject or an overexposed background, but if you frame your subject tightly you can make great shots. Expose for the subject and not the light behind it.

August 12, 2014

Use a circular polarizer to emphasize the rich blue color of the sky. Screw the filter onto your lens, and then rotate the front element until you see in the viewfinder the look you like.

August 11, 2014

Photograph the same subject over time. Pick something that changes with the seasons but doesn’t move too much, like a mountain or a stand of trees. Look for the best light possible and show how it changes as time and the seasons pass.

August 10, 2014

If you’re looking for a great day to shoot a portrait, wait until it’s overcast. The clouds diffuse the sun and create a beautiful natural light that falls over your subject. Have your subject face the brightest part of the sky to get the strongest light on her.

August 9, 2014

Find out what happens when you change your exposure by bracketing. You can do this by taking a series of photos in one of the automatic metering modes (Automatic, Program, Aperture or Shutter) and using the Exposure Compensation button (with the Main Command dial) to change exposures between shots. Experiment with both over (+) and under (-) exposure.

August 8, 2014

Make a great team picture. Get the team together in front of a nice background—maybe the goal, the net or the team logo on the field or floor. Shoot the ordinary, and then let the kids have some fun, making faces or funny poses. That’s the one they will always remember.

August 7, 2014

The second week in August is National Smile Week, which means it's a great time to be capturing portraits of your smiling family and friends.

August 6, 2014

When photographing a landscape, make sure you have a point of interest. This could be an old tree, an animal grazing in a field or a silhouette of a person. It will provide scale and context, and something for the viewer’s eyes to return to as they explore the photo.

August 5, 2014

Experiment with different ways to moderate the light around you. Hang a bed sheet over a window to diffuse the sunlight. Try using a large sheet of cardboard with aluminum foil taped to it to create a reflector to bounce light into shady areas.

August 4, 2014

If you accidentally delete your images or see a card error message, stop using the memory card. There is software that can recover your “lost pictures” even if they don’t show up on the camera. Continuing to use the card before running that software on it can ruin your chances of saving those photos.

August 3, 2014

Babies are great subjects because they’re so darn cute. Focus on the teeny body parts with a macro lens. Pudgy hands, small ears, and teeny elbows—they’re even cuter when they’re the subjects of your photo.

August 2, 2014

When shooting a portrait of an athlete, use fill flash (or flash turned on even in daylight) to light up the shadow areas under a hat or helmet. This will balance the light from the entire scene and light up the face. On a compact camera, the setting to choose is "Flash On."

August 1, 2014

August is Family Fun Month so spend lots of time taking pictures of your family having fun in the sun.

July 31, 2014

Improvise if you need a tripod and don't have one. Try placing your camera on top of your camera bag on the ground or a table, or use a trashcan or ledge. Adding a beanbag or a jacket can help you get the picture. And if you use the self-timer to trip the shutter, you won’t create blur by moving the camera when you take the picture.

July 30, 2014

Knowing your subject maximizes your chance of success. If you want to photograph bees, learn their habits. Same thing goes for flowers. Some bloom only in sunlight, others every two weeks. Find out when plants and animals show their full potential and your pictures will reflect your research.

July 29, 2014

Look for reflections off water. Elements of water can greatly enhance your landscape photographs. Early mornings tend to have the most tranquil, and thus more reflective, water. Try framing your shot with equal elements of water and sky.

July 28, 2014

Most cameras get their exposure readings when you depress the shutter release halfway down. If your subject is off center, point the camera at your subject and press the shutter release halfway so that it can get the right exposure and lock the focus, then re-compose your image and finish pressing the shutter.

July 27, 2014

To take a sharp slow-speed shot without a tripod, hold the camera steady and take a deep breath—and hold it—before you press the shutter release. By holding your breath you’ll stop a lot of your body’s movement.

July 26, 2014

Creating a pan of a moving subject is useful for creating images when the subject is in focus but the background is blurry. To do a smooth pan, place the focus point of your camera on something you can easily track (like the driver’s window on a car, head of a runner) and follow along with the subject well before you press the shutter release button.

July 25, 2014

On photo sharing sites like Flickr you can often view the details of a photograph and take a look at the shutter speed, aperture, ISO and other settings. While this won’t teach you how to create a photo from scratch it will show you what technical choices photographers made to capture their images.

July 24, 2014

If you’re taking pictures to sell something on an auction site like eBay, find a way to isolate the object from the background. Lay out a solid colored sheet or blanket, bring over some lights and try to make it into a still life by focusing on the details of the item.

July 23, 2014

Give yourself a photographic assignment—a photo topic if you will—and spend a day or a weekend working on it. Shoot old cars or street signs. By focusing your creative mind on a single topic you’ll be forced to think of different ways to capture that subject.

Corporate Profile

Nikon is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance. The unique strength of the Nikon brand attributable to the company’s unwavering commitment to quality, performance, technology and innovation. Nikon Inc. markets and distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights…

Shopping Help

Clear All Filters

Sort by:

View:Full Width Grid View List View Full Width Single View

Be the first to rate

The Edge: Drum Circle

Mike Corrado on shooting concert photography using remote cameras

NEW

Read

Viewing

The DX and FX Formats

Understand the differences between the formats to determine which is the one for you.

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

Using legacy NIKKOR lenses with the Nikon Df

How to set the Df to accept legacy Non-Ai or Ai lenses

Advanced

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

Converting Motion Snapshots for Viewing on a Computer

Simple how-to guide to converting Motion Snapshot files on a Mac or…

NEW

Read

Viewing

Exposure Compensation When Using i-TTL Gets Easier with the D4/D4s

Exposure compensation and flash compensation can be…

NEW

Read

Viewing

Nikon World Online Exclusive: Deep North

Corey Rich documents a first ascent in Northern Alaska's Brooks Range.

NEW

Read

Viewing

How to Read Your Camera Manual

Your camera manual, it's not a novel, so don't try reading it cover to cover.

NEW

Read

Viewing

Photographing the Night Sky: Star Trails

Astrophotography: tips for making great star trail images

Advanced

NEW

Read

Viewing

Just Say Mo. Slow-Mo that is.

Steve Heiner shoots slow-motion video

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

Setting up the COOLPIX S800c

The COOLPIX S800c offers wireless connectivity, learn how to set it up easily

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

How to Choose Your Next D-SLR Lens

What to look for when choosing your next lens for your D-SLR

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

Taking Great Portraits with COOLPIX Cameras

See how COOLPIX technologies let you take great portraits

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

Moving Pictures: The Learning Curve

Steve Heiner on starting at stills and going to video

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

Wherever the Adventure…

Underwater photos & movies with the COOLPIX AW110

NEW

Read

Viewing

John Shaw: A Photographer's Vision Simplified

See how one of the foremost nature, outdoor and natural history…

NEW

Read

Viewing

A Basic Look at the Basics of Exposure

The relationship between aperture, shutter speed and ISO is the basis of every…

Advanced

NEW

Read

Viewing

Panoramas

Simple Steps to Big Pictures

Advanced

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

The Anatomy of a Powerful Image

Jerry Ghionis on creating powerful wedding imagery

Advanced

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

Proview: Whether to Tether

Rob Van Petten on tethered shooting

NEW

Read

Viewing

What is a Lens MTF Chart & How Do I Read It?

MTF charts plot the performance and quality of a lens

Advanced

NEW

Read

Viewing

Tips For Making Tempting Food Photos

Alison Lyons offers simple tips for taking great photos of food & drink

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

Top Photography Tips from Nikon School Instructors

Learn photography the easy way, at Nikon School

NEW

Read

Viewing

How to Read Your NIKKOR Lens Barrel

Understanding what all of those markings and designations on your lens really mean.

NEW

Read

Viewing

Create and Publish Your Own Photo Book

A photo book is a great way to share your images with the world.

NEW

Read

Viewing

Underwater Photography

Tips for getting started shooting underwater with David Doubilet

NEW

Read

Viewing

D-SLR Cameras

COOLPIX Cameras

Film Cameras

Software

Film Scanners

D-SLR Lenses

Speedlights

Search the Knowledgebase

Download Product Manuals

Update Firmware

Update Nikon Software

Corporate Profile

Sponsorship Support

Corporate Gifts and Rewards

Shopping Help

The Edge: Drum Circle

The DX and FX Formats

Using legacy NIKKOR lenses with the Nikon Df

Converting Motion Snapshots for Viewing on a Computer

Exposure Compensation When Using i-TTL Gets Easier with the D4/D4s

Nikon World Online Exclusive: Deep North

How to Read Your Camera Manual

Photographing the Night Sky: Star Trails

Just Say Mo. Slow-Mo that is.

Setting up the COOLPIX S800c

How to Choose Your Next D-SLR Lens

Taking Great Portraits with COOLPIX Cameras

Moving Pictures: The Learning Curve

Wherever the Adventure…

John Shaw: A Photographer's Vision Simplified

A Basic Look at the Basics of Exposure

Panoramas

The Anatomy of a Powerful Image

Proview: Whether to Tether

What is a Lens MTF Chart & How Do I Read It?

Tips For Making Tempting Food Photos

Top Photography Tips from Nikon School Instructors

How to Read Your NIKKOR Lens Barrel

Create and Publish Your Own Photo Book

Underwater Photography

Welcome to the NEW Nikon Learn & Explore

Take Today's Poll

Nikon USA

This site is optimized for the latest versions of the following browsers. Please help make the web cooler by clicking below to upgrade:

Welcome to the NEW
Nikon Learn & Explore