Learn & Explore Tip of the Day

January 23, 2013

Protect your SLR lenses. Get a good UV, Skylight or Neutral Clear filter for the front of every lens. This will help protect the expensive front piece of glass in your lens. When you get in dirty or rainy conditions, you'll be wiping the filter clear instead of risking the front element.

January 22, 2013

In bright sunlight, when you may be focusing on the sky, set your exposure compensation for -1 to darken the image and the sky. This adjusts the meter to allow less light into the exposure. If you have a subject in the foreground, make sure he doesn’t become too dark.

January 21, 2013

If you’re taking really important photos that you won’t be able to recreate, bracket your exposures to ensure the photos look great. Most Nikon digital cameras have an exposure-bracketing mode that you can set. It is faster if you let the camera do the bracketing, instead of you having to snap a photo, change the exposure, snap another frame, change it again, and snap a new frame.

January 20, 2013

When photographing a lot of people at a party, use your camera’s Smart Portrait System to help you get better pictures. The blink mode lets you know if your subjects blinked, and the smile timer can snap the photo when the camera sees that your subjects are smiling.

January 19, 2013

If you’re using a GPS-enabled COOLPIX digital camera and are on vacation and not sure where to go next, check out the POI (Points of Interest) feature which will let you know of landmarks that are nearby to your location.

January 18, 2013

Use the pet scene mode when photographing cats and dogs. If your camera doesn’t have a pet mode, disable the audible beeps and focus assist lamps while photographing them so the lights and sounds aren’t a distraction.

January 17, 2013

Successful close-ups of babies often involve eye contact. Focus on the eyes. Use a longer lens, or a macro lens, and get in tight on the eyes and nose.

January 16, 2013

Like the look of HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography but not sure you’d be able to pull off the technique? A number of Nikon cameras have a built-in HDR mode where the camera does the hard work for you. Check your manual to see if your specific camera offers this feature.

January 15, 2013

Looking for inspiration for your photography? Look no further than Learn & Explore, the area on the Nikonusa.com website that is packed full of educational articles, how-to tutorials and inspirational pieces on all sorts of photography topics.

January 14, 2013

Take a moment to look at the photo framed in the viewfinder or LCD before you snap it. Make sure you can see over the tops of your subject’s heads, and all the way to their feet if you’re taking a full-length portrait. It is easy to cut off part of a person if you’re in a rush to snap a picture.

January 13, 2013

Sometimes you just need to throw out the rules. Tilt the camera for different angles and unique compositions. An old filmmaking term is called “Dutch Tilt” (made famous by Alfred Hitchcock). As long as something is recognizable, it will work.

January 12, 2013

Compose photos using the “rule of thirds.” Think of the frame as being broken into nine rectangles (like a tic-tac-toe grid over the picture). Place your subject at one of the intersections of the lines for a more visually stimulating photo.

January 11, 2013

Photograph pets at their eye level—then try photographing them from way up high or down low for a really unique image.

January 10, 2013

To get the starburst effect you often see in photos, use the smallest aperture possible on your camera (this is usually f/16 or f/22) and shoot towards the sun. Shooting towards the sun will cause you to see flare in an image sometimes but this can add interest to your image. Shoot a bunch of frames—capturing the starburst with and without flare.

January 9, 2013

Add drama to an image by shooting when the shadows are long and deep. Try to photograph just a person or object’s shadow for a unique image.

January 8, 2013

When you want to tell a story with your photographs, take multiple pictures—close-ups, wide-angle views, different perspectives. A photo essay can include as few as three photos or as many as it takes to fully document a subject, and will often tell a better story than just one image.

January 7, 2013

Adding objects—man-made or natural—to a landscape will add interest and scale.

January 6, 2013

When shooting video of an event, add interviews for a unique viewpoint. Shooting a birthday party—talk to the birthday boy or girl; shooting your kids sport—interview them or the coach—at a wedding—ask the bride and groom to comment.

January 5, 2013

When shooting food, simple compositions are always better. Zoom into the dish so you don’t capture the table, or zoom tighter so you don’t even see the plate. If you’re taking a shot of your meal at a restaurant, move some of the cutlery or glassware out of the frame for a better shot. It will only take you a moment to do so.

January 4, 2013

Use contrast to separate a subject from its background. A light subject will stand out against a dark background and visa-versa.

January 3, 2013

The eyes, it is said, are the windows to the soul. Capture the personality of your subject, through his/her eyes. Make sure you can see them by zooming in on your subject or moving in close to her.

January 2, 2013

One of the rules of composition says that horizon lines should not be placed in the center of an image, but closer to the top or bottom of the frame. Sometimes rules are meant to be broken. When you’re photographing a subject and its reflection, its perfectly fine to place the horizon in the center of the frame.

January 1, 2013

Be creative with your posing of groups. Don't just line everybody up. Use the steps or the arm of a couch to experiment with some people standing and others sitting. Have kids sitting in laps or someone sitting on the floor or kneeling. Mix it up.

January 1, 2013

Happy New Year! Kick off the New Year by giving yourself a photo project. Shoot a photo a day; document the changing seasons; or learn more about photography and how your camera works.

December 31, 2012

New Years Eve is a fun holiday and a great time to take lots of photographs as you celebrate the coming of the New Year.

December 30, 2012

Placing a person into a scene will almost always add interest, and can also provide scale.

December 29, 2012

Use fill flash to add a little sparkle to your subject’s eyes when shooting portraits outdoors, during the day. Even in bright sunlight, fill flash can even out the lighting for a more pleasing photograph.

December 28, 2012

Look around when you’re out photographing. Not every great photographic subject will be right in front of you.

December 27, 2012

When shooting landscapes at dusk or nighttime, use a tripod and cable release or self-timer so you can slow down the shutter speed to let in more light. This is the technique used when you see pictures of car lights as lines, not pinpoints.

December 26, 2012

If possible, try to place your subject on an angle to the light. When light is more directed, causing highlights and shadows, your images will look more dramatic than if flat lighting is used.

Nikon Product Support

Learn more about your product, download user manuals, find answers to frequently asked questions, log into MyNikon to ask a question of your own, contact Nikon and more. Just tell us what product you own, and we'll connect you with everything you need.

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 prefessional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights…

Camera Technique: Looking Into the Viewfinder, Not Through it

View Mark Alberhasky's video on a photography fundamental -…

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

5 Easy Composition Guidelines

Follow 5 easy tips for better photo compositions

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

Add Interest to Photographs with Framing Elements

Using elements of a scene to frame your images adds interest while…

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

How-To Take Great Photos at the Aquarium

Tips for photographing the fish and creatures that live under water

Advanced

NEW

Read

Viewing

Tips for Photographing Mountains

Making the most of mountains in landscape photographs

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

Taking Better Photographs on the Water

Harbors, bays, oceans and rivers all have one thing in common—interesting and…

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

Basic Underwater Photography Tips

5 tips to taking better photos under the sea

NEW

Read

Viewing

Creating D-movies with your Nikon D-SLR: Lesson 2

Composition of each scene.

NEW

Read

Viewing

Photographing the Night Sky: Star Trails

Astrophotography: tips for making great star trail images

Advanced

NEW

Read

Viewing

Getting that "silky" look when photographing moving water isn't…

NEW

Read

Viewing

Photographing Sports Indoors and Out

Capturing the action of a sporting event is easy when you follow a few simple…

Advanced

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

Take Better Portraits

Tips for taking a good portrait photo

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

Panoramas

Simple Steps to Big Pictures

Advanced

NEW

Read

Viewing

In Praise of Details

Finding the details in the everyday things around us can make for interesting photographs.

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

Making Pictures in the Rain

Just because it's raining doesn't mean there aren't great pictures waiting to be made.

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

How to Shoot Landscapes

Learn some of the basics for taking better landscape photos.

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

Why Carry a Zoom Lens?

Sometimes using a Zoom-NIKKOR lens is convenient, and sometimes it's a necessity.

NEW

Read

Viewing

Tips For Making Tempting Food Photos

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

NEW

Read

Viewing

How to Photograph a Solar Eclipse

Learn the techniques needed to shoot solar eclipses from Mr. Eclipse, Fred Espenak

Advanced

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

Photographing NYC’s Times Square at night

Big cities like New York are full of great places to take photographs, with the…

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

Taking Better Photographs of the American West

When you get a chance to visit the open prairies, and photograph ranchers…

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

Getting Started: Memory Cards and Batteries

Take care of the little things, and you'll be ready for the big things.

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

Understanding Maximum Aperture

Learn how aperture affects the end-result image.

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

How an image was conceived is as important as the metadata…

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

Control Color for Maximum Impact

David Mendelsohn shoots color as monochrome

NEW

Read

Viewing

COOLPIX: Top Choice for Vacation Camera

Nikon's compact digital cameras are packed with features that let you make great…

NEW

Read

Viewing

Nature Photography: Close Ups with Carol Freeman

Nature photographer Carol Freeman shows you just how spectacular getting…

NEW

Read

Viewing

Top Ten Trek Tips from the Trail with Mark Alberhasky

The top 10 questions asked of Mark Alberhasky on photo treks may…

NEW

Read

Viewing

How to Photograph a Lunar Eclipse

Learn the techniques needed to shoot lunar eclipses from Mr. Eclipse, Fred Espenak

Advanced

NEW

Read

Viewing

How to Photograph Lightning

Storm chaser Jim Reed offers valuable tips for making photos of lighning while staying safe.

NEW

Read

Viewing

Fine Focus: A 1-to-1 Photo Learning Experience

Expanding photographic horizons with a mentor's guidance

NEW

Read

Viewing

Photograph Family and Friends During the Holidays

The holidays are prime picture-taking time. Get some great tips on…

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

Canyon Country Shooting

Tips for taking great photos of the Southwestern United States

NEW

Read

Viewing

High Dynamic Range Photography

Why and How to Shoot HDR Images

Advanced

NEW

Read

Viewing

Want Better Pictures? Tell a Story

Learn how to tell a story using a single photo or series of images

NEW

Read

Viewing

How To Grow Your Garden Photography Skills

Taking great photographs of your own garden is easy with a few simple tips

NEW

Read

Viewing

Shooting Spectacular Sunrises and Sunsets

Jim Harmer’s tips for photographing at dawn and dusk

Advanced

NEW

Read

Viewing

D-SLR Cameras

COOLPIX Cameras

Film Cameras

Software

Film Scanners

D-SLR Lenses

Speedlights

Nikon Product Support

Product FAQs

Contact Us

Corporate Profile

Sponsorship Support

Corporate Gifts and Rewards

Camera Technique: Looking Into the Viewfinder, Not Through it

5 Easy Composition Guidelines

Add Interest to Photographs with Framing Elements

How-To Take Great Photos at the Aquarium

Tips for Photographing Mountains

Taking Better Photographs on the Water

Basic Underwater Photography Tips

Creating D-movies with your Nikon D-SLR: Lesson 2

Photographing the Night Sky: Star Trails

Picture Controls Step-by-Step

Add a Human Element to Your Photographs

Image Overlay: Combining Images Together In-Camera

Creatively Photographing Objects Up Close

Photographing the Night Sky

How to Take Pictures of Water Using Long Exposures

Photographing Sports Indoors and Out

Take Better Portraits

Panoramas

In Praise of Details

Making Pictures in the Rain

How to Shoot Landscapes

Why Carry a Zoom Lens?

Tips For Making Tempting Food Photos

How to Photograph a Solar Eclipse

Photographing NYC’s Times Square at night

Taking Better Photographs of the American West

Getting Started: Memory Cards and Batteries

Understanding Maximum Aperture

Master Class: Just Watch and Learn

Photographing Insects and Other Small Creatures

Flash of Inspiration

Peter Hemming: A Dozen Photos and the Stories Behind Each One

Control Color for Maximum Impact

COOLPIX: Top Choice for Vacation Camera

Nature Photography: Close Ups with Carol Freeman

Top Ten Trek Tips from the Trail with Mark Alberhasky

How to Photograph a Lunar Eclipse

How to Photograph Lightning

Fine Focus: A 1-to-1 Photo Learning Experience

Photograph Family and Friends During the Holidays

Canyon Country Shooting

High Dynamic Range Photography

Want Better Pictures? Tell a Story

How To Grow Your Garden Photography Skills

Shooting Spectacular Sunrises and Sunsets

Welcome to the NEW Nikon Learn & Explore

Take Today's Poll

Welcome to the NEW
Nikon Learn & Explore