Photography Tutorials — Shut Your Aperture School

Photography Learning Hub

Shut Your Aperture /learn/ section is a library of photography tutorials organized into 14 core topics. Whether you’re learning camera fundamentals, Lightroom editing, or building a photography business, pick a topic below to get started.

Each section contains sub-topic hubs with 20 in-depth articles each. All guides are written by Edin Chavez, 15+ years as a professional photographer.

A forest light scene with shallow depth of field as photographic context for the Photography Tutorials — Shut Your Apertur...Save
A forest light scene with shallow depth of field as photographic context for the Photography Tutorials — Shut Your Apertur...Save

The Working Photographer's Kit

What to Pack

A focused landscape kit handles every shot at Photography Tutorials without breaking your back. Here is the working photographer's pack list — every link goes to B&H Photo Video (our primary supplier) or Amazon (for accessories and same-day delivery in the US).

What & WhyB&HAmazon
Wide-angle zoom (14-35mm range)
The single most important lens for sweeping vistas. Pair with a circular polarizer for skies and water.
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Sturdy travel tripod
Carbon fiber, packs to 15 inches, holds steady in wind off the coast. Essential for blue-hour and long-exposure work.
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Circular polarizer (77mm or 82mm)
Cuts haze, deepens sky, reveals texture in water. Non-negotiable for landscape work.
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10-stop ND filter
For 30-second exposures that turn moving water and clouds into silk.
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Extra batteries (3 minimum)
Cold weather and long exposures eat batteries. Carry triple what you think you need.
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Fast SD/CFexpress cards
V90 or CFexpress depending on your body. Two cards minimum so a failure mid-trip is recoverable.
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Microfiber lens cloths
Salt spray, mist, and dust will ruin every shot if you don't carry a cloth.
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B&H and Amazon links are affiliate links. We earn a small commission on purchases at no extra cost to you. We only recommend gear we use or would buy ourselves.