You really don’t have to struggle in the darkroom to learn the ropes of how to take great photos. That is because the lessons of photography have gone online too. Ten blogs – that’s minuscule compared to the great photography blog sites out there. Just like the art of photography, there is a great variety in the nature of the photography blogs too.
There are the general blogs which try to cover everything related to this visual art; there are specialized photography blogs that dive into the niches like wedding photography; there are blogs which only talk about gear; and then there are the personal blogs by some immensely talented photographers themselves.
That’s a lot to take in and condense in just a list of ten. But let me push you into it and hope each blog helps you become an amazing photographer.
Digital Photography School
DPS is one of the best known photography sites and an essential bookmark for both the newbie and the virtuoso. You have a whole section on photography tips and tutorials. Head for the articles under the ‘For Beginners’ section. Simple basics like exposure and aperture are well-explained. If you get that right, you can jump into the section on post-production. You can also opt to get photography tips from the site in your inbox daily. Then there is the well-frequented community behind DPS which itself is a focal point of photography action.
DIY Photography
I didn’t know that if you buy a lens, the first thing you should do is check it for fungi infection. That’s what I learnt at this DIY Photography pretty early on. The site has a mish-mash of advice, tutorials, and tips on a wide variety of photography topics from how to set up a home studio to quick tips and camera hacks (Using A Door Peephole As A Fisheye Lens). I am pretty sure you are going to stay here awhile.
Photography Concentrate
Rob Lim and Lauren Lim share their love for photography here. The husband-wife duo love photography and it shows on the site. The About page is an interesting read and it almost inspires you if you are at the beginning yourself. The site has some paid products (tutorials), but there is enough free content to give you the nitty-gritty on all the angles on photography. Free stuff includes – The Camera Buying Guide and The Shy Photographer’s Guide to Confidence eBook, among others.
Inspire Me Baby
You could fall in love with this photography blog. You could at least fall in love with the art of taking portrait shots. From babies to elder citizens, the tips here could make you a better photographer if your interest lies in capturing people and emotions.
Beyond Megapixels
This is a relatively new site…just an year old. This blog is perfect for rank beginners because it is so easy to understand. The language might be dumbed down, but the tips aren’t. There’s an abundance of them arranged in categories as diverse as Bird Photography to Photography and The Law. Start with the Getting Started with Photography section which is a walkthrough of all the basic techniques.
The Photo Argus
A simple (but beautiful) blog that’s filled to the shutters with tips, resources, inspiration, and photography news. The article that drew me to The Photo Argus was 27 Most Followed Photographers on Google+. Then I stuck on to browse through the other photographic showcases on the site. If you feel that you aren’t getting anywhere with your photography learning, read – Inspirational Blind Photographers and their Portfolios for inspiration. It will open your eyes.
PhotoJojo
The guys behind Photojojo scour the web and pick the best kick-ass photo tips, projects, and other resources for you. They do the hard work so you can lean back and take some of the coolest pictures around. Their newsletter is a worthwhile subscription that could contribute to your photography skills. They have an interesting feature called the Time Capsule which takes you back to the photos you shot a year ago.
Strobist
Strobist is a very normal Blogspot blog. But the tips here on how to use light and flash make it worth a bookmark. As any photographer will tell you, light sometimes makes all the difference between a great shot and an okay one. As the Welcome page says – the site is about learning how to use off-camera flash with your DSLR to take your photos to the next level. Or the next ten levels. There’s the Lighting 101 beginner course to put you on the first level.
Canon Blogger
I am guessing here that the camera you are using is a Canon (especially the EOS series). If you are then this blog could be your one stop for all Canon photography related resources. This is a personal blog by the way and not affiliated to Canon. There are photography tips and tutorials that maximize the potential of your Canon, and if that’s so then you can put up your best shots on the monthly contests on the site.
There are similar blogs for Nikon fans too in Nikon Rumors and Nikonians too.
Photofocus
You will almost categories list in the dropdown on the right. Don’t…because each category is a rich vein of photography how-to. The blog’s first entry dates back to 2008 and one of the first tips it offered was – check your batteries. Since then the blog authored by Scott Bourne, a multi-faceted man, has gone on to give tips, reviews, Photoshop how-tos, and contests through the years. There are a few audio and video podcasts and you can subscribe to the podcast feed on iTunes or any other podcast catcher. Check out the contests which could give you a chance to walk away with some really useful gifts.
Digital Photography Guide