Check Out These Photos Of The Night Sky With Incredible Detail

The night sky is amazing and seeing a photo of it that has so much detail is hard to find! Now these amazing sights can be captured on film by amateurs in their Sydney, Australia backyards.

Australia’s astro-photographers are using rapid advances in technology to take advantage of some of the best stargazing skies in the world and we wanted to share some of their awesome photos with you that we found on the Herald Sun. 

“You’d swear that some of these pictures were taken from spacecraft, but they’re not,” said John Sarkissian, from the Parkes radio telescope. 

Photo credit: Stephen Humpleby

Mr. Sarkissian said cameras from 20 years ago used to capture only 2 per cent of the light and detail that they do now. With that said, now photographers can stitch together dozens of images, which have been captured over 60 hours of lens exposure.

These images are just some of the 24 being entered into the 2016 CWAS David Malin Awards which is named after the famed photographer, who brought galactic photography to mainstream Australia.

Photo credit: Andrew Campbell

Photographer James Stone said that Australia is able to see the Milky Way better than most other countries on Earth. We hope you enjoy all these photos as much as we do! 

Photo credit: Mark Slater

Photo credit: Jason Jennings

Photo credit: Stephen Humpleby

Photo credit: Glenn Martin

Photo credit: Paul Haese

Here are a few other articles we think you will enjoy:

• 8 Ways To Make Money With Your Photography
• 8 Of The Top Underwater Marine Wildlife Photos of 2015
• 12 Great Finalists In The Sony World Photography Awards

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Do you take photos like these above that have bold, bright colors? Do need to pop out the weak colors in your photos, give your photos a soft, dreamy look, or even need some help with basic retouching (exposure, contrast, white balance)? Presets Made Easy! (The Complete Collection) is for you! You will get a total of 67 presets and a Lightroom brush set. This set is compatible with Lightroom. 

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Awesome Rainy Day Wedding Photos And 4 Tips To Be Prepared For Bad Weather

Wedding photographers have to be able to go with the flow, and sometimes that means dealing with bad weather. Rain and storms can happen at anytime, especially over the warmer months when the temperatures are soaring. 

As a great wedding photographer, you need to be able to use the bad weather to your advantage and that is what these photographers did in these 9 great photos below. As you are checking out these great photos, we will also give you a few tips to be sure you are always prepared for bad weather no matter what type of wedding you are photographing. 

Unplugged Photography via SnapKnot

Tip #1 - Be Prepared With Your Equipment

You do not want a sudden downpour or steady rain to ruin your equipment and even though most cameras are weather sealed, you still want to give these expenses pieces extra protection just to make sure they stay dry. Bring plastic ziplock bags or anything else that works best for you along in your bag so you have them handy. These can be great for covering your camera, lens and anything else quickly.

Also, think about yourself as well. If you know it is supposed to rain and it is a mainly outdoor wedding, dress appropriately and even think about bringing yourself a poncho to keep yourself covered and dry. It is much easier to take photos when you are comfortable (even though we know you are all great at taking photos anytime and under any circumstance)! 

"Wedding in the rain" by Ivan Zamanuhin via 500px 

Tip #2 - Back-Light the Rain

When shooting photos in the rain, you want the raindrops to stand out just like they do in all of these amazing photos and the best way to do this is with a backlight. You can do this with a flash, but also with another light in the distance such as a front porch light or even the sun.  

Federer Photography via SnapKnot

Tip #3 - Look for Puddles

Puddles are a great way to include amazing reflections in your photos so be sure to use the rain and the puddles it creates to your advantage! 

"Rockleigh Rain" by Ryan Brenizer via 500px 

Tip #4 - Use The Best Camera Settings

Cloudy skies typically come along with rainy weather so you want to be sure you are using the best camera settings you can to get the best possible photos you can for your bride and groom. Be sure to use a higher ISO setting. You most likely shoot outdoors with an ISO around 200... for rainy weather, you may find yourself raising it to 600, 800 or even up to 3,200 depending on what camera you are using. You also want to make sure that you have a shutter speed fast enough to catch the raindrops in your photos which will most likely be 1/500th of a second or faster.

Garrett Hubbard Studios via SnapKnot

"Let It Rain" by Alexey Tsibin via 500px

"Thailand Destination Wedding" by Adam Johnson via 500px

Hoffer Photography via SnapKnot

"I & M" by Zoran Ivanovic via 500px

These photos came from articles we found on SnapKnot and FStoppers. Are you a wedding photographer? Here are a few other articles on Camera Giveaways that you may be interested in:

• 4 Tips To Photographing An Amazing First Look Wedding Shoot
• 3 Tips To Pricing Your Wedding Photography Packages To Sell

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Are you a wedding photographer and know that some things just do not go as planned? Sometimes you have to find a plan B when the weather does not agree and you have to stay indoors rather than use the gorgeous outdoor scenery you wanted to utilize in the wedding photos. The Indoor Wedding & Engagement Posing Guide is for you! Learn when it is best to reschedule your shoot due to rain, shooting in the rain, using indoor elements and SO MUCH MORE! 

GET THE INDOOR WEDDING & ENGAGEMENT POSING GUIDE NOW! 

 

 

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Photo Of The Week

This week's photo of the week was submitted by David Hartley. Here is what he had to say about his photo:

"I was shooting butterflies at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond, Virginia.  Walking past the hatchery I saw these butterflies and shot them in passing, figuring it would be a throw away shot because the hatchery was a plastic enclosure, and I thought the plastic would distract from the shot. As it turned out, it was my favorite shot that day!" 

To see more work from David, visit his website. 

We Want To Feature Your Work! 

Do you have some really amazing photos you have taken recently or some of your past work that you simply love? We want to see! Each Tuesday, we will be featuring a "photo of the week" right here on the Camera Giveaways blog. We are looking for anything from amazing landscape photos, a gorgeous wedding or engagement shot, sports or animal photography, an awesome fashion photo...whatever you want to share, we would love to see!

Email your photos to contact@cameragiveaways.com with the subject "CG Blog Photo Submission" for consideration. In your email be sure to include a description of your photo, your name and company name as well as website and social media links. Please... no watermarks! If this information is not included, your photo will not be included.

9 Places In Australia That Are The Perfect Photo Spot

You never know the amazing photography that you can capture while traveling around the world. Whether you are near the gorgeous blue oceans, walking through the hot desert, exploring the native culture of a city or even through a beautiful field of greenery and flowers, the possibilities are endless when it comes to travel photography.

To prove that point, here are 9 places in Australia that are the perfect photo spot for anyone traveling and wanting to capture some amazing photography. With beautiful, bright colors, clear blue water and great city landscapes, you will surely find some great photo spots here.  

We hope you enjoy these photos that we found on Mashable. 

1. Lucky Bay, Western Australia

Photo credit: Tom Rex Jessett

2. Centre Place, Melbourne

Photo credit: Jamie Alexander

3. Allora, Queensland 

Photo credit: Gareth Mcguigan

4. Mrs Macquarie's Point, Sydney

Photo credit: Mitch Green 

5. Liffey Point, Tasmania

Photo credit: Paul Fleming

6. Honour Avenue, Macedon

Photo credit: Daniel Johnson Photography

7. Cape du Couedic Lighthouse, Kangaroo Island

Photo credit: Melissa Celestine Koh

8. Sugar Pine Forest, Laurel Hill, New South Wales

Photo credit: Mitch Green

9. Mount Gillen, Alice Springs­­­

Photo credit: Andrew Northover

To see more detail about each of these 9 locations in Australia, check out the original article on Mashable.  If you loved these great places in Australia, here are a few other photos you would enjoy: 

• These Aerial Shots Of The Sea Are Stunning
• 15 Winning Dog Photos From The Dog Photographer Of The Year Awards

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7 Great Travel Photography Tips To Remember

Traveling is fun to do all throughout the year. You may be taking a family vacation over the summer and want to photograph all the great things you do and see. Perhaps, you are traveling with your goal being to capture great photos of landscapes, unique places, events or people. No matter your reason for your travels, you always want to plan ahead and keep a few things in mind to make sure your photos turn out how you hope they do. 

Today, we want to share 7 great travel photography tips that you want to remember before and during your travels. Safe travels and happy photographing! 

Photo credit: Sebastien Bicard Photography

1. Do Your Research

Before you go, you want to do your research of the location you are visiting. You can find really great locations that are popular around that city or town, off-the-beaten areas that may be unique to photograph and events or fairs that may take place that would be great to capture the culture and people of the destination. 

Doing research is also important so you make sure you bring travel items that are necessary during your visit. You would not want to be without sunscreen if you will be roaming outside in the sun all day or bug spray if you are in a state park that has tons of trees and mosquitos.

2. Pack Essential Gear and Backups

When packing, you want to make sure you pack your camera, extra backup batteries and lenses. It is also important to have a reliable camera bag or book bag you can easily explore while carrying your equipment and items comfortably. Also, you may want to have a laptop, extra memory cards and a removable drive back at your hotel if you need to store your photos there to keep everything organized. Depending on what you plan to photograph, you may also need a tripod. Here are a few reasons why a tripod may come in handy.

3. Dress Comfortably 

You want to make sure you dress comfortably when you are out photographing and you want to be prepared. Dress according to the weather... you would hate to be sweating in jeans when it is going to be 90 degrees outside. Being hot can distract you from enjoying the sites and capturing amazing photos. Also, wear comfortable shoes that you can get around in easily. You do not want to fall while carrying your expensive equipment (and of course so you do not injure yourself)! A wide brimmed hat may also be helpful in keeping the sun out of your face. 

Photo credit: Airows.com

4. Get Out Early

When you are traveling, it is always nice to get out early before the rush, especially if you are photographing a busy city. This will give you time to capture the architecture and other details without tons of people crowded around getting in the way of your photos. 

It is also great to get out early to take photos in the beautiful morning light. Once the morning is over, the late afternoon into the evening when the sun sets is also an ideal time to capture photos. This time is called the 'magic hour' and your scenes can be illuminated with a warm, golden glow. 

5. Shoot In RAW 

When you shoot in RAW, you can go back at any time and process the image in a different way. It's good to have the original RAW file to convert again and again.

6. Take Candid Shots

When traveling, while you may want to have a few posed shots if you are with your family or friends, candid shots that are very natural and can make some awesome shots. Take photos of subjects who are unaware you are photographing them. Perhaps a group of people enjoying a bite at a sidewalk cafe, or a few children playing around near a farmers market or playground. Finding those places and people that showcase the uniqueness and culture of that city can be perfect for your travel photos. 

7.   Look For Unique Areas or Architecture

One great thing about travel photography is the ability to get out and explore the unique areas and architecture in that city or town. Keep an eye out for unique textures, bright colors or cool patterns that would make for a nice shot. The possibilities are truly endless! 

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Do you have any travel photos that you want to add a little something extra to? Do you want to fill in a blown out sky? Overlays Made Easy! would be perfect for you. Along with these great overlays, you will also get video tutorials on how to use each one. 

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE OVERLAYS MADE EASY! NOW. 

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4 Wedding Photography Mistakes You Want To Avoid

As a wedding photographer, you are responsible for capturing the precious moments between a couple's engagement and wedding day. They are looking to get the most amazing photos that they can, so they have something perfect to remember their day by. 

You want to make sure that you take the absolute best photos you can and need to remember you need to shoot those photos perfect the first time. Unlike portrait photography where you can take more time to shoot many different shots, at a wedding, everything continues on a schedule and you will not get a second chance! Sometimes, mistakes can be made that can create not so great photos and we want to make sure you do not make these mistakes! Today we want to share with you 4 mistakes wedding photographers can make that you want to make sure you do not to keep your clients happy customers. 

Photo credit: Deposit Photos

1. Not Thinking About The Background

There is so much going on during a wedding.... there are guests everywhere, people setting up and more. Whether you are capturing candid shots throughout the event, or have posed portraits of the bride and groom and their family and friends, you want to make sure you ALWAYS consider what is in the background of the photo. Angle your photos so they show off the beautiful wedding decor or make sure it is something that is not an eyesore that will take away from the shot. This is much easier to do when you are taking the portraits, because you can scout out the perfect location to take these photos, but you still need to keep the background in mind when you are snapping candid shots over the course of the wedding day just the same.

2. Squinting

Even though you want to capture many photos in the beautiful sunlight or in the gorgeous outdoor venue your couple has booked, you want to make sure you are not shooting in a spot where the sun is making everyone squint. Squinting does not look natural and the photos will show that so be sure to find outdoor locations that can showcase the sunlight but that is out of the direct sunlight. Perhaps under a nicely shaded tree or if you are in open space, be sure to face away from the sun. 

3. Not Having A Second Shooter

If you know ahead of time that the wedding is large and that you will be stretched thin to capture all the shots you will need to throughout the event, you want to make sure you are prepared with an assistant or second shooter to help you out. If you try and do the event on your own, there is chance you could miss some very important moments. Planning ahead when hiring a second shooter will make the process much easier. Here are 3 things you should think about when hiring a second shooter. 

4. Forgetting Those Little Details

A wedding day tells a wonderful story from the moment the bride wakes up and begins to prepare with her bridesmaids all the way to the moment the newlyweds leave together. Every single moment needs to be captured to make the photos tell the story of this special wedding day. Make sure you do not forget all the little details that make it as special as it is to the specific couple you are photographing. Perhaps their decor incorporates the military or other public service that one of them do for their career... be sure to capture that. Maybe the bride and her bridesmaids have a fun ritual they all do together because they have been best friends for years... try and get some great shots of them together. These little moments will be what make their wedding day special to them and should not be forgotten.

Do you not think you can capture every single moment on your own? Re-read number 3 and why it is important to have that second shooter to help you out! 

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If you shoot weddings or engagement photos and need some great new pose ideas, you must get the Posing Guide For Couple Portraits today! In this 209 page guide, you will get tons of pose ideas as well as tips on finding the perfect location, keeping the couple comfortable, pricing and even post processing.  For $249.99 you can get this awesome guide today! 

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE POSING GUIDE
FOR COUPLE PORTRAITS NOW! 

 

 

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Photo Of The Week

Today's photo of the week was submitted by Susan Chilkotowsky-Kain and is of this beautiful ruby-throated hummingbird. Susan is a photo enthusiast and she took this photo with her Nikon D810, 300mm, F11.

Be sure to see more from Susan on Facebook. 

We Want To Feature Your Work! 

Do you have some really amazing photos you have taken recently or some of your past work that you simply love? We want to see! Each Tuesday, we will be featuring a "photo of the week" right here on the Camera Giveaways blog. We are looking for anything from amazing landscape photos, a gorgeous wedding or engagement shot, sports or animal photography, an awesome fashion photo...whatever you want to share, we would love to see!

Email your photos to contact@cameragiveaways.com with the subject "CG Blog Photo Submission" for consideration. In your email be sure to include a description of your photo, your name and company name as well as website and social media links. Please... no watermarks! If this information is not included, your photo will not be included.

11 Awesome Beach Photos

The temperatures are getting toasty in many places around the world and with summer temperatures makes many people want to get to the beach. The beach brings a feeling of rest and relaxation... you can get away from it all, enjoy your toes in the sand and enjoy the beauty of the water in the distance. The beach is also a great place to take awesome photos! 

To help beat these warm temperatures, we wanted to share 11 awesome beach photos that we found on Photography Bay. 

"Grace Bay Beach Pier" by WiseDoc

"Rule of Thirds?" by Garry

"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Matt Hinsta

"Strange" by Chris Lofqvist

"Ford Mustang on Felixstowe Beach" by Steve Arnold

"Beach Sunset" by Chris Gin

"At The Beach" by Sundar Karthikeyan

"South Beach Sisters" by adwriter

"Stone Puzzle" by orvaratli

"Mirando atras" by Chodaboy

Untitled by Xava du

Here are a few other articles you may enjoy:

• 4 Great Photography Tips For Beginners
• How Much Should You Really Be Charging For Your Photography?
• 4 Things You Must Include On Your Photography Business Website

Are you visiting the beach this summer and have taken your own awesome beach photo? Be sure to share them with us below!

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If learning is something that you want to be sure to do this year, we have tons of great guides you can easily buy and download about so many aspects of photography. Are you a new photographer that is not sure if you want to actually start a business or not? Wondering what all it takes to start your own photography business? How To Start Your Photography Business would be the perfect guide for you. For $149.99, read this 133 page guide that will tell you everything you need to know about how to get your business started, marketing, getting a web presence, and business planning. 

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THIS GUIDE NOW!

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11 Epic Landscape Photos By Andrew Ling

Seattle-based photographer Andrew Ling, 22, loves to photograph sweeping landscapes that show the scale and beauty of the world. He captures everything from the vast desert landscapes of Death Valley to the glaciers of Patagonia... and his work shows just how beautiful the world around us is. 

Ling told Weather.com in their recent article, “When I travel, I look for a place that is trying to tell a story. Mountains and glaciers don’t tend to have voices, so I try to create one for them: Who has climbed them? How are we losing them?”

Ling does tons of travel each year to capture his photos. Last year, he drove 3,000 miles across the United States in six days in order to capture panoramic views of America’s landscapes. This year, he traveled to Chile to experience the breathtaking Torres del Paine National Park. As you can see from some of his photos below, he likes to photographs himself or other travelers against landscapes in order to give a sense of scale. He also likes to uses the weather to help enhance the feel of his photography.

“The weather is everything to my photography.” he said. “I love taking photos just an hour before the sun goes down - the golden hour - and also in good fog or some snow.”

We hope you enjoy these photos from Andrew Ling as much as we do! 

Big Sur, California

Death Valley National Park, California

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Palouse Falls State Park, Washington

Taft Point, Yosemite National Park, California

Death Valley National Park, California

Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, California

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Be sure to check out more of Andrew Ling's work on his Instagram.

Did you love these landscape photos? Here are a few others you may enjoy! 

• These Aerial Shots Of The Sea Are Stunning
• Magnificent Canadian Landscape Photos From Victor Aerden

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Photo Of The Week

Today's photo of the week was taken by Ibrahim Razzan and he calls it "Waves for your life."
 

See more work from Ibrahim Razzan on his website www.raxxanphoto.com. You can also follow him on Instagram. 

We Want To Feature Your Work! 

Do you have some really amazing photos you have taken recently or some of your past work that you simply love? We want to see! Each Tuesday, we will be featuring a "photo of the week" right here on the Camera Giveaways blog. We are looking for anything from amazing landscape photos, a gorgeous wedding or engagement shot, sports or animal photography, an awesome fashion photo...whatever you want to share, we would love to see!

Email your photos to contact@cameragiveaways.com with the subject "CG Blog Photo Submission" for consideration. In your email be sure to include a description of your photo, your name and company name as well as website and social media links. Please... no watermarks! If this information is not included, your photo will not be included.