Free resources from “Cambridge in Colour”

Cambridge in Colour by Sean McHugh is an online learning environment where photographers can come to improve their skills. After its founding in 2005, it has grown substantially both in content and in the number of visitors it attracts. On any given day, over 20,000 different people are learning about photography and contributing in the forums community.

Photography has become incredibly popular on the internet, and for good reason: it's a fast-growing and accessible hobby whose results can be enjoyed by anyone. Most sites focus on blog-style content that gets broadcast frequently, which is an important role that is well-suited for the internet. However, this website believes that there is also a strong need for more permanent, reference-style content that readers can continue to benefit from time and again. Toward this end, our tutorials typically focus more on concept than procedure, are highly visual and often interactive, and cover each topic thoroughly but concisely.

Concepts and Terminology

How Your Camera Works
Understanding Digital Camera Sensors
Understanding Camera Exposure: Aperture, ISO and Shutter Speed
Understanding Camera Metering
Understanding Depth of Field
Understanding Camera Lenses: Focal Length and Aperture
Understanding White Balance
Understanding Camera Autofocus
Qualities of Digital Photos
Understanding Bit Depth
Understanding Sharpness
Understanding Image Noise
Understanding Dynamic Range
Advanced Concepts
Digital Camera Sensor Sizes: How Do These Influence Photography?
Understanding Diffraction: Pixel Size, Aperture and Airy Disks
Digital Cameras vs. The Human Eye (NEW)
Understanding the Hyperfocal Distance

Using Camera Equipment

Camera Types and Accessories
Compact vs. Digital SLR Cameras
Selecting and Using a Camera Tripod
Camera Flash, Part 1: Light Quality and Appearance
Camera Flash, Part 2: Flash Ratios and Exposure
Camera Lenses
Understanding Camera Lenses: Focal Length and Aperture
Using Wide Angle Lenses
Using Telephoto Lenses
Tilt/Shift Lenses: Using Shift Movements to Control Perspective
Tilt/Shift Lenses: Using Tilt Movements to Control Depth of Field
Macro Lenses: Magnification, Depth of Field and Effective F-Stop
Macro Extension Tubes and Close-up Lenses
Lens Characteristics
Camera Lens Flare: What It Is and How to Reduce It
Camera Lens Quality: MTF, Resolution and Contrast
Camera Lens Filters
Choosing a Camera Lens Filter: Polarizers, UV, ND and GND
Understanding and Using Polarizing Filters
Using Graduated Neutral Density (GND) Filters
Using Neutral Density (ND) Filters
Caring for Your Camera and Photos
Digital Camera Sensor Cleaning: Tools and Techniques
How to Make Archival Digital Photo Backups
How to Protect Online Photos: Copying, Watermarks and Copyright

Photo Editing and Post-Processing

Overview: Digital Photo Editing Workflow (NEW)
Image Files
Understanding Bit Depth
Understanding Image Types: JPEG and TIFF
Understanding RAW Files: Why Should I Use RAW?
Tones and Contrast
Understanding Histograms, Part 1: Tones and Contrast
Understanding Histograms, Part 2: Luminosity and Color
Using the "Levels" Tool in Photoshop
Using the "Curves" Tool in Photoshop
Understanding Image Posterization
Sharpening and Detail
Understanding Sharpness
Guide to Image Sharpening
Sharpening Using the "Unsharp Mask" Tool
Using Local Contrast Enhancement
Image Resizing
Understanding Digital Image Interpolation
A Closer Look at Resizing an Image for the Web and Email
Optimizing Digital Photo Enlargement
Image Stacking and Multiple Exposures
Using the High Dynamic Range (HDR) Feature in Photoshop
Averaging Images to Reduce Noise
Extending Depth of Field Using Focus Stacking
F-Stop Stacking: Depth of Field and Corner Sharpness
Photo Stitching and Digital Panoramas
Photo Stitching Digital Panoramas, Part 1: Overview and Capture
Photo Stitching Digital Panoramas, Part 2: Using Stitching Software
Photo Stitching Digital Panoramas: Image Projections
Specialty Techniques
Using Lens Corrections to Improve Image Quality
Digital Photo Restoration: Bring Old Photos Back to Life
Converting a Color Photo Into Black and White
How to Create Animated 3D Stereo Photos

Color Management and Printing

Concepts
A Background on Color Perception
Understanding Digital Pixels: PPI, Dithering and Print Size
Understanding the Process
Color Management, Part 1: Concept and Overview
Color Management, Part 2: Color Spaces
Color Management, Part 3: Color Space Conversion
Understanding Gamma Correction and Digital Tones
In Practice
How to Calibrate Your Monitor for Photography
Soft Proofing: Matching On-Screen Photos with Prints
Working Space Comparison: sRGB vs. Adobe RGB 1998

Photography Techniques and Styles

Camera Usage
Using Camera Shutter Speed Creatively
Reducing Camera Shake with Hand-Held Photos
Digital Exposure Techniques: Expose to the Right, Clipping and Noise
Subjects
Photography in Fog, Mist or Haze
Introduction to Macro Photography
Intro and Common Obstacles in Night Photography
Photo Lighting
Making the Most of Natural Light in Photography (NEW)
Portrait Lighting with One Light: Introduction
Portrait Lighting with Two Lights: Fill Light
Specialty Lights: Background, kickers, hair, rim, etc.
Overall: Studio Portrait Lighting Styles and Diagrams
Composition
The Rule of Thirds
Using Diagonals for Dynamic Photos
Negative Space - Sometimes Less is More

Photography Tools

Use these to better understand how various camera settings will impact your photos. To provide context, many of the links lead to calculators embedded within the tutorials pages.

Timing and Location
Sunrise and Sunset Calculator for Photography
Moon and Night Calculator for Photography
Depth of Field and Resolution
Depth of Field Calculator
Tilt/Shift Lens Depth of Field Calculator
Hyperfocal Distance Calculator
Diffraction Limit Calculator
Photo Enlargement Calculator: Resolution and Sharpening Radius
Subject Size and Speed
Focal Length Calculator: Subject Size and Distance
Shutter Speed Calculator: Subject Speed and Distance
Macro and Close-Up
Subject Size and Magnification
Effect of Extension Tubes
Effect of Close-Up Filters
Photo Stitching and Panoramas
Photo Mosaic Calculator
Field of View and 360° Panorama Requirements
Tilt/Shift Lens Panorama Calculator