Main Entry: dip·tychPronunciation: \?dip-(?)tik\Etymology: Late Latin diptycha, plural, from Greek, from neuter plural of diptychos folded in two, from di- + ptych? foldDate: 16221 : a 2-leaved hinged tablet folding together to protect writing on its waxed surfaces2 : a picture or series of pictures (as an altarpiece) painted or carved on two hinged tablets3 : a work made up of two matching parts

Diptychs and triptychs are a brilliant tool for photographic storytelling. They present two or three images which can be from the same session or they can be polar opposites to show opposition or contrasting ideas. Below are 5 such images and what we can get out of them to help us form our own effective diptychs and triptychs.

1. {Zoom} This beautiful diptych uses zoom to focus on the two main elements of the image and cuts out the space in between.

Courtesy of Carl Pendle – www.carlpendle.com -

Last month we asked readers a simple yes or no question in our site poll – do you have a PhotoBlog? Over 12,000 people responded.

Here are the results:

I was actually a little surprised by the numbers that did have a photoblog – I guess the many in the DPS audience have discovered the joys of sharing their best shots online!

A Guest Post by Robin Ryan

I’d like to talk today about the potential offered by Neutral Density filters, and how they can make your photos more unique.

Ruined Harbour II by Duncan_Smith (used with permission)

The smooth watercolour feel in the above photo is due to a Neutral Density 64 Filter. This filter has interested me lately and this photo demonstrates one of its primary uses: to smooth out water and skies without the use of post-processing. I think the results are perfect, and I’d love to have this on my wall.

A Neutral Density Filter is one designed to block out a substantial amount of light. This enables the photographer to slow down his shutter speed and/or shoot at a faster F-stop.

Most photographers will

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It was the first time she had done anything like this.

After all, fear of the unknown took her outside her comfort zone. Treading on new territory, pushing the boundaries of her photography, and allowing herself to be stretched would take all the courage she could muster. In her mind, there were a good many others more qualified. In the end, none of that mattered, she would do it anyway.

Tasra Dawson** climbed onto the bus with 33 other photographers. They had met for the Pictage PartnerCon (a photography conference) in New Orleans, taking 4 days to network, learn, and be inspired by massively successful pros in the industry. Tasra herself had spoken, and helped write and produce a film series for the event along with her husband Ron, but the experience she was about

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Weekly Assignment

We finished up a weekly assignment that took us back to the basics and looked at how different compositions can create an entirely different feel to a photo. We focused on photos with Centered Compositions. Having a centered composition can be dangerous because it can make your subject look very static, but used well, it can create a lot of interest in a shot as well. We actually had a 3 way tie this week! So, in no particular order, our winners. First up is inkiest’s Planet Lake Hodges. This is a great example of a “little planet” shot where a panoramic shot becomes a little planet. This kind of shot really takes centered composition to the next degree, and the …