Learn & Explore Tip of the Day

May 24, 2013

Ask people to write down their e-mail address on a piece of paper and take a photo of that paper along with their photos. That way you’ll always have their e-mail address on file. Send them a copy of the photo as a thank-you for their time.

May 23, 2013

Keep an eye on your LCD after you take photos of people, and when you find a particularly flattering shot, show it to them. Nothing makes a person relax like knowing that the photos you’re taking make them look good.

May 22, 2013

Planning to take a vacation by the beach? Look for a compact digital camera that’s waterproof, such as the Nikon COOLPIX AW100, AW110, S30, S31 or get an underwater housing for your camera. You’ll be able to take your camera under water and capture what goes on below the surface.

May 21, 2013

When shooting nighttime landscapes, use a low ISO (400 or below if possible) while working from a tripod. Open your aperture to F/4 or F/5.6. This will allow you to have a shot full of detail and of good quality. Remember that night shots need a subject, just like day shots.

May 20, 2013

Don’t forget to bring your camera to holiday barbeques so you can capture all of the fun. Take pictures of the food being grilled, games being played, as well as groupings of friends and family.

May 19, 2013

Wait until the camera has finished writing the photo(s) to the memory card (green light is off) before turning off the camera or removing the card. You can lose pictures if you do either before the camera has had time to download the file(s) from its internal memory to the card.

May 18, 2013

You should format the memory card in your camera on a regular basis. By using the camera’s built-in “Format” function, found in the menus, you lessen the chance of having card problems in the future. Doing so is better than just deleting the images using the camera or the computer.

May 17, 2013

When you’re at a parade take photos of the parade goers, especially your children and the looks on their faces. You’ll see a lot of smiles and excitement.

May 16, 2013

Take a self-portrait each day for a week or month (or a year). It’s harder than you think to take an attractive photo of yourself, and if you do it for long enough you’ll have an interesting series that shows how you’ve changed over time.

May 15, 2013

Everyone loves a parade. For more interesting photos, look for details like the band’s uniforms, a cheerleader’s colorful pom-poms or a bright red fire engine.

May 14, 2013

When shooting groups of five or more people, make sure you stagger them. Put tall folks in the back and the shortest ones in front. It may seem simple, but blocking out just one face can ruin a group portrait. Always tell them, “If you don’t have a clear view of me, the camera can’t see you.”

May 13, 2013

Posing a bride and groom for photos is sometimes difficult. Concentrate on close shots of just the two of them, with clean backgrounds. Then create a fun group shot having them in the center, with others gathered around them. Just make sure no one gets in front of them. After all, it’s their day.

May 12, 2013

Take plenty of photos during your Mother’s Day celebrations. Remember to print multiple copies, so everyone can have their own photographs of mom to cherish.

May 11, 2013

Use a polarizing filter to lessen or eliminate reflections from glass. This works really well on windows of stores or cars. But the trade-off is that your exposure will be a bit longer, as the light is cut down by almost two stops.

May 10, 2013

Capture the hustle and bustle of the city at night. Place your camera on a tripod and use a long exposure (slow shutter speed) to blur the movement of cars and people. Try shooting for about 10 seconds first, and then adjust creatively to catch the motion of the lights and the feel of the city.

May 9, 2013

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.

May 8, 2013

Try shooting panoramas if you’re at a sport stadium, beach or park, for more interesting images. Some Nikon Digital Cameras have an Easy Panorama mode or a Panorama Assist mode, which make these photos easy to shoot.

May 7, 2013

When photographing animals of any kind—pets, birds in flight, animals at the zoo—try to zoom in as close as you can or use a longer lens to isolate the animal from its background. By getting a close-up view you have a greater chance of capturing a wonderful expression on the face of the animal, which will give you a more interesting photograph.

May 6, 2013

Want a unique video of sports action? Use the slow-motion mode that many Nikon digital cameras offer. By shooting the action faster than normal and played back at normal speed, your subject’s movements are slowed down and look more deliberate.

May 5, 2013

When celebrating Cinco de Mayo, take plenty of photos of the colorful decorations in addition to candid photos of everyone having a great time.

May 4, 2013

Change your white balance during a sunrise or sunset. Take your camera off auto white balance and switch to Cloudy or Shady white balance. This will add more strength to the reds, oranges and yellows. Auto White Balance tries to keep colors neutral.

May 3, 2013

To get a shot of someone at sunset, turn on your flash and place the person with the beautiful sunset behind them. With the flash on, they will be illuminated. With the flash off, they will be silhouetted.

May 2, 2013

Spend a day capturing images only in black and white. You have to look at the world differently to take a good-looking photo in black and white, and that will help sharpen your artistic skills.

May 1, 2013

May is National Photo Month! Celebrate by taking photos every day. Give yourself an assignment such as taking a self-portrait each day of the month, or photographing an object every day.

April 30, 2013

If your camera can capture images in both RAW and JPEG format, do so even if you don’t work with RAW images now. These RAW files have the highest image quality possible, so you can edit them years from now and be sure you’re getting the best looking image possible.

April 29, 2013

Set your Speedlight to Rear Curtain Sync. This fires the flash at the end of the exposure, not the beginning, and can create interesting streaks and effects in moving subjects. Experiment with the different flash modes your camera and Speedlight offers.

April 28, 2013

Pick a day and use a fixed focal length lens instead of a zoom (or only one focal length on your zoom, like 35mm). By practicing moving you and the camera to re-frame your images you’ll become more engaged with your subject.

April 27, 2013

If you are photographing out of the window of a plane be sure to keep from touching the window, walls, armrests or other parts of the plane. The vibrations caused by the engines are transmitted through the fuselage and can make your photos blurry. Instead, sit up in the seat and hold the camera as still as you can, close to the window.

April 26, 2013

Arbor Day, which celebrates the planting and caring for trees is celebrated across the USA at different times of the year. Some states celebrate in February while others celebrate the holiday in April, so we decided to celebrate it twice! Use this holiday to take some cool photographs of trees.

April 25, 2013

Frame your storm photograph before it happens. Remember that the sky is your subject, so dramatic clouds are what you’re framing for, and then you hope that lightning will happen in that space. Keep the horizon in the lower third of the frame with the sky the top two-thirds.

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 professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights…

Be the first to rate

Hands On

Lindsay Silverman discusses autofocusing when using teleconverters

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

Using Teleconverters

Teleconverters let you extend your photographic reach

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

A Light in the Forest

Rod Planck on photographing critters in the field with a Speedlight

Advanced

NEW

Read

Viewing

The Long Reacher

The new NIKKOR 200-400mm is at home on, and in, the field.

NEW

Read

Viewing

51-Point Autofocus System

The 51-point AF system positions 51 points of focus within the frame to allow photographers to…

NEW

Read

Viewing

Zoo and Wildlife Photography

Spend a day at the zoo with wildlife photographer Julie Larsen Maher

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

Empowering Conservation Through Photography

Experienced landscape photographer Jack Dykinga captures his photographs to…

NEW

Read

Viewing

The Challenge of Bird Photography

B. Moose Peterson tells why photographing birds in the field is well worth the…

Advanced

NEW

Read

Viewing

NIKON WORLD ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: These Just In: D3S Images From Space

Extraordinary photography from the world's greatest…

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

Composing Photographs

Tips for making better compositions when photographing in the field

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

Photographing the Elusive Alaskan Marmot

Moose does what it takes to document the habits of an endangered species.

NEW

Read

Viewing

Tips for Photographing Birds

Birds make great subjects for photographs; tips for capturing them with your camera.

Beginner

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

The Edge: On The Scene

Mike Corrado shoots the photographers shooting the D4 & D800 ad campaigns

NEW

Read

Viewing

Photographing Water Using the Multiplication Factor Technique

Ever wonder how the water in those photos looks so smooth?…

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

The Versatile Appeal of the D600

See what makes the D600 an appealing camera

NEW

Read

Viewing

Be the first to rate

The Edge: Drum Circle

Mike Corrado on shooting concert photography using remote cameras

NEW

Read

Viewing

Shooting Wirelessly with Nikon Digital Cameras and Wi-Fi Adapters

Enjoy wireless transfer of images with Wi-Fi compatible…

Beginner

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

Be the first to rate

Superstar: D4 Delivers High Speed Performance

Learn about the features of Nikon's new flagship D-SLR

NEW

Read

Viewing

Moose Peterson: Light Lessons

Seeing light opens up your photographic creativity

NEW

Read

Viewing

Take Control of Color using Picture Controls

Diana Robinson gets the color she wants with Picture Controls in-camera and…

NEW

Read

Viewing

Photographing the Night Sky

Astrophotography: tips for making great images of the stars, moon and night sky time-lapse

Advanced

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

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

Buy direct and save

Save on refurbished products

View special offers

Hands On

Using Teleconverters

A Light in the Forest

The Long Reacher

51-Point Autofocus System

Zoo and Wildlife Photography

Empowering Conservation Through Photography

The Challenge of Bird Photography

NIKON WORLD ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: These Just In: D3S Images From Space

Composing Photographs

Photographing the Elusive Alaskan Marmot

Tips for Photographing Birds

The Edge: On The Scene

Photographing Water Using the Multiplication Factor Technique

The Versatile Appeal of the D600

The Edge: Drum Circle

Shooting Wirelessly with Nikon Digital Cameras and Wi-Fi Adapters

Top Ten Trek Tips from the Trail with Mark Alberhasky

How to Photograph a Lunar Eclipse

Superstar: D4 Delivers High Speed Performance

Moose Peterson: Light Lessons

Take Control of Color using Picture Controls

Photographing the Night Sky

How to Photograph a Solar Eclipse

Welcome to the NEW Nikon Learn & Explore

Take Today's Poll

Welcome to the NEW
Nikon Learn & Explore