Listen up landscape photographers, because were going to let you in on an oft-ignored secret: sometimes less is more. By taking a minimalist approach your images will really stand out from the crowd and you may even develop a new style in the process.
In today’s 11-minute tutorial from the PHLOG Photography YouTube channel you’ll learn several techniques for capturing these types of images and editing them in Photoshop. This is an easy goal for photographers of all skill levels, requiring nothing more than a different mindset and a few straightforward tricks.
We often feature instructional videos from German landscape pro Christian Mohrle whose lessons typically involve Lightroom and Photoshop editing tips. Today he does that, and also explains how he composes images to capture clean, compelling imagery with nothing more than the essentials.
Getting the shot on a cold, winter day is the first step in this behind-the-scenes episode as Mohrle trudges across a snow-covered landscape in search of an ideal composition. There’s a gray featureless sky overhead which is often a detriment when shooting in the field, but it’s just what the doctor ordered for the task at hand.
Mohrle finds just what he’s looking for as he approaches a small hill that’s topped with a few barren trees. His intent is to simplify the scene further by using the proper focal length and thoughtful composition to isolate a single tree is the correct spot within the frame. With this simple approach there’s no question as to where the viewer’s eye is going to go.
You’ll watch Mohrle select a perfect perspective and camera position that excludes all unwanted elements from the shot. By pointing the camera downwards while moving his vantage point, all but one of the trees disappear from view.
The editing process begins in Photoshop’s Raw editor and the first thing Mohrle does is change the profile from Adobe Color to Adobe Standard which immediately reduces contrast. He then makes a few basic adjustments to the overall scene to arrive at the best possible base image for the very impressive selective enhancements that follow.
With the image much improved Mohrle does a bit of simple masking to adjust exposure in the foreground for a slight vignetting effect, while enhancing the almost imperceptible color and detail in the sky. He also employs a Radial Gradient to make sure that these enhancements don’t affect the area surrounding the tree.
Mohrle completes the job with careful color grading, subtle sharpening, and a few quick final adjustments. After watching the video be sure to visit Mohrle’s instructional YouTube channel where there’s a wealth of information for making eye-catching landscape and nature images.
And don’t miss the earlier tutorial we posted with another accomplished pro who explains how to solve five common mistakes that can easily ruin your landscape photographs.
It’s a new year and time to take a fresh look at accessories that make photography more fun.
Lume Cube Edge LED Utility Lamp
Billed as a “dimmable home office desk light,” Lume Cube’s freestanding lamp is far more versatile than it appears at first glance. It offers USB-C and USB-A charging ports on its 29-inch rotating arm (great to keep your Apple Watch or cellphone fully charged while you work), fully adjustable color temperature (3200° to 5600°) and easy touch-control of the 7-inch LED panel.
The swingarm has five pivot points that make it simple to position just exactly right and the constant, tunable output never flickers or fades. The 112 LEDs deliver 700 Lumens, 95+ CRI rating and 1700 lux at .5 meters.
It’s the perfect desk lamp, but it’s also great for lighting small objects for impromptu product photography. Moreover, you can use two Lume Cube Edge LED lights to illuminate your video presence and give your Zoom calls a bright, colorful appearance. Order one Lume Cube Edge from Amazon for $129 or a pair for $239.
If you’re into Circadian Rhythm, do what I do: begin your day at the 5600° setting to emulate daylight and end the evening set at 3200° to simulate sunset. I don’t know if this is scientifically valid, but I often fall asleep at the keyboard so at least it works for me.
NANUK N-PVD Photo Backpacks and Bags
Revered for their versatile and extremely durable hard-shell cases, NANUK offers an innovative selection of photo backpacks, a messenger-style shoulder bag and a photo duffle bag. I have been using the NANUK N-PVD 30L for about two months now and I really appreciate the features. It weighs just 4.4 pounds empty (2 kilos) and measures 22.4 x 11.8 x 8.6 inches (57 x 30 x 22 cm) and holds more than I need for a day’s shooting, including a 16-inch laptop. You can order the NANUK N-PVD 30L Photo Backpack from NANUK for $299. Optionally, you can visit the NANUK Store on Amazon to peruse the full lineup of legendary NANUK carry solutions.
Although I haven’t used one, the NANUK Messenger Bag N-PVD 15L appears to be a terrific option when backpacks are inappropriate. It specs out at 17.7 x 13.8 x 6.3 inches (45 x 35 x 16 cm) and provides 15 liter capacity (hence the name 15L). The messenger bag is available directly from NANUK for $219 and from amazon.com.
3 Legged Thing LevelHed
Turn any standard tripod (i.e., that uses a 3/8-16 screw mount) into levelling base tripod to gain greater adjustability without diddling with the tripod’s legs. Widely known as a manufacture of premium tripods, L-brackets, bags and other photo accessories, 3LT has been offering a levelling head (the Levelling Base) since 2021. The new LevelHed improves on the previous design and incorporates several ergonomic refinements based on customer feedback. Watch the video here. It’s available in metallic slate grey with copper accents, and 3LT’s Darkness colorway, a stunning matte black. Cost is $139. Find your local 3 Legged Thing dealer by clicking here.
PGYTECH Mini Reverse Ball Head
A useful tool that solves several problems for tripod users, the omnidirectional PGYTECH Mini Reverse Ball Head offers 360° panorama sweep and the ability to switch quickly from landscape to portrait orientation. Their patented locking screw mechanism adds an extra measure of stability, and the Arca-Swiss compatible design makes attachment and removal fast and secure.
The PGYTECH Mini Reverse Ball Head costs $79 and can be ordered directly from the PGYTECH webstore. Alternatively, you can order from Amazon. Smartphone shooters, you are not left out. You can order the accessory Mini Phone Holder for $19.
—Jon Sienkiewicz
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