Essential Landscape Photography Skills Volume I & II

If you're passionate about capturing breathtaking landscapes, Essential Landscape Photography Skills, Volumes 1 and 2 are your go-to guides. These comprehensive books cover everything from the fundamental techniques of composition and exposure to advanced concepts like long exposure photography and building a strong photographic community. Whether you're just starting your journey or looking to refine your existing skills, these volumes offer practical advice, real-world examples, and stunning visuals designed to help you elevate your craft. And the best part? They're completely free for my newsletter subscribers.

Why Give Away Two Volumes for Free?

Giving away not just one, but two volumes for free might seem like a strange decision. After all, creating these books takes months of dedicated work—planning, researching, writing, editing, and refining. Then there's the significant effort that goes into designing the layouts, selecting countless images, and ensuring the final products are something truly worth reading. So, why give them away when I could sell them?

Well, I've been asked this question a lot since launching Essential Landscape Photography Skills, Volume 1 as a free resource, and the answer remains pretty simple: I wanted to give back. Plus, the initial inspiration for these books was born out of my articles and videos that I wrote for Fstoppers and published on YouTube, so making them accessible to everyone felt like a natural extension of that philosophy.

Books Born from Experience

Essential Landscape Photography Skills, Volume 1 was born from years of exploring incredible landscapes, making mistakes, and celebrating successes. It was about sharing that hands-on learning, emphasizing that while fieldwork is key, a structured approach can make all the difference. That first volume, inspired by my video series, aimed to break down fundamentals and offer practical, easy-to-follow lessons for photographers at all levels. The reception was fantastic, confirming the need for a comprehensive resource.

Now, with Essential Landscape Photography Skills, Volume 2, we continue that journey. This book builds directly on the foundations laid in Volume 1, taking you deeper into the art and craft of landscape photography. It's a natural progression, born from continued experience in the field and the desire to share more advanced insights and tackle new challenges.

In this volume, I've poured even more of what I've learned from countless hours behind the lens and engaging with the photographic community. We'll explore new techniques, expand on complex topics, and address common misconceptions, all while maintaining that accessible, practical approach you found in the first book. Just like Volume 1, this is packed with knowledge, tips, and insights, designed to be useful for anyone eager to further enhance their landscape photography skills. It's about continuing to learn by doing, but with a refined roadmap to guide your way.

Why Free?

Giving Back to the Photography Community

Photography has given me so much: amazing experiences, a career I love, and a fantastic community of people who share my passion. Over the years, I've learned a lot from others, whether through workshops, online content, or simply chatting with fellow photographers in the field. Not to mention the many belly laughs, mishaps, phenomenal conditions, and locations we've shared. I wanted to do something that contributed to that community in a meaningful way.

By making these volumes free, I'm hoping to help as many people as possible improve their skills and enjoy photography even more. Whether you're just starting out or have been shooting for years, I want these books to be something that makes a difference in your journey.

Removing Barriers to Learning

There's a lot of great educational content out there, but I know that not everyone can afford to invest in courses, workshops, or books. I didn't want cost to be a barrier for anyone who genuinely wants to learn. By offering Volumes 1 and 2 for free, I can ensure that anyone interested in improving their landscape photography has access to valuable information without worrying about price tags.

Helping Photographers Capture Better Shots

At the end of the day, my goal has always been to help photographers get better shots. I know how frustrating it can be to feel stuck in your photography—to struggle with composition, light, or finding the right locations. These books are designed to break down those challenges and provide practical, actionable solutions.

From understanding the importance of light and weather to mastering composition and scouting locations, every chapter in both volumes is built to help photographers take their work to the next level. And the best part? They're filled with real-world examples and stunning images to illustrate the concepts, making them a rich media experience rather than just textbook-style guides.

What’s Inside the Books?

Essential Landscape Photography Skills is structured across two volumes to provide a comprehensive and practical guide to mastering landscape photography. Together, they ensure readers walk away with a solid foundation and advanced insights to elevate their craft.

Volume 1: Building Your Foundation

Volume 1 is designed to lay the groundwork, covering the core aspects of landscape photography:

• Location Mastery: Discovering great photography spots, avoiding overcrowding, and making the most of what’s around you.

• Light & Weather: Understanding different types of natural light and how to use them to create stunning images regardless of the weather – while, of course, having the skills to read weather patterns, predict conditions, and adapt your shooting accordingly.

• Technical Hurdles: A mix of tackling exposure, dynamic range, and other common hurdles.

• The Art of Patience: Learning why waiting for the right moment can make all the difference.

• Compelling Composition: Practical ways to frame your shots and create more compelling images.

• Specialised Techniques: Essential methods for capturing seascapes and waterfalls.

• Seasonal Impact & Learning from Mistakes: Exploring how different times of the year affect the landscapes you shoot, and how to learn from your mistakes to continuously improve.

We truly wanted to cover all of this—plus more—in Volume 1, and also hope that it might inspire others to get out and shoot. By covering all of these topics in a clear, structured way, this first volume acts as both a guide for beginners and a refresher for more experienced photographers.

Volume 2: Expanding Your Horizons

Building directly on the knowledge from Volume 1, Volume 2 delves into more advanced topics and broader perspectives to further refine your skills:

• The Power of Community: Explore how connecting with other photographers can inspire creativity, foster learning, and provide invaluable support in your photographic journey.

• Mastering Long Exposure: Dive deep into the techniques for creating breathtaking long exposure images, from selecting the right gear to understanding the science and art behind capturing motion and ethereal scenes.

• Dispelling Myths: We'll tackle and debunk common misconceptions and folklore in landscape photography, providing clarity and practical truths that will improve your approach and results.

Together, both volumes offer a rich media experience packed with real-world examples and stunning images to illustrate every concept. They are designed to empower you to capture the landscapes around you with confidence, creativity, and purpose.

My primary goal in creating these Essential Landscape Photography Skills volumes was to share my learning freely with the community. However, if you find value in the books and wish to contribute to the effort, you're welcome to purchase a copy for $4.99—a small 'high-five' that goes a long way in supporting future projects.

Of course, the free option is always there for my newsletter subscribers, and I'm simply grateful for your engagement.