Are you a new Photoshop user who feels overwhelmed by the apparent complexity of everything this comprehensive software can do? This is a common occurrence for anyone starting out, and today we’ll simplify matters and eliminate much of the confusion so that you’ll be able to proceed with confidence.

This tutorial is the first installment of a new weekly series from Utah-based landscape photographer and image-editing expert Austin James Jackson. The ongoing videos are designed to represent an online Photoshop “crash course” for landscape photographers and others who regularly edit images captured outdoors.

Jackson explains today’s premiere lesson like this: “The first step before trying to learn Photoshop techniques is to properly set up your workspace.” And this is an idiosyncratic task because we all have a unique approach to capture and post-processing.

The first time you loaded Photoshop the screen probably looked like a bewildering array of hundreds of tools—most of which are beyond your needs. Jackson’s goal is to cure this headache by streamlining the workspace and “making room for only the necessary tools and getting rid of everything else”—at least for now.

This 10-minute episode is also designed with another audience in mind; namely, photographers who tried Photoshop in the past, were dissatisfied with their results, and switched over to Lightroom or another photo editor. Beginning today and throughout the remainder of the new series you’ll learn why Jackson recommends Facebook for a variety of editing tasks and why you might rethink your objections by following his advice.

By the time the lesson concludes you’ll a perfect blueprint for refining Photoshop’s workspace and your personal workflow so that you can make superior enhancements with a minimum of time and effort.

Be sure to visit Jackson’s instructional YouTube channel where you’ll find a wealth of shooting and post-processing techniques, including those in his upcoming Photoshop crash course.

We also recommend watching a tutorial we featured recently with another image-editing expert who discusses common landscape post-processing mistakes in Lightroom, along with the straightforward solutions for doing things right.

Friends or mentors have likely broached the concept of “low key photography,” but you’re uncertain what the term really means or how to capture images with a dramatic look that can be easily achieved if you know a few basic tricks. This straightforward primer discusses everything you need to know for getting the job done with simple gear.

The tutorial was created by the My Photo Journey YouTube channel— a popular how-to resource for shooters who want to step outside their comfort zone and try something new—and this 16-minute lesson surely fits the bill. You can make low key photographs indoors or out with gear you already own, so take a close and give this unique stye a try today.

This unique technique is demonstrated indoors with a makeshift setup that’s about as easy as it gets. There’s small candle atop a little table for illumination, a black cloth bag for the backdrop, and an entry-level Canon EOS Rebel XT as the weapon of choice.

Here’s how our unnamed instructor describes his goal for today: “This is my version of a basic tutorial tailored for both beginners and advanced photographers. I’ll share my tips, tricks and techniques to help you master the art of low key photography.” It will help to have a camera in your hand while learning the process involved.

The comprehensive video covers everything from setting up a scene to the necessary camera settings that will deliver attention-grabbing low key exposures without guesswork. The video concludes with a detailed step-by-step Lightroom workflow for making your dramatic images even better.

Once you’ve finished watching, be sure to check out the My Photo Journey YouTube channel for more outside-the-box lessons. You’ll even find a video dedicated to high key photography which, as the name suggests, is the opposite of what today’s tutorial is all about.

We also suggest watching a tutorial fe featured recently from another accomplished pro who demonstrates why a Circular Polarizing Filter is a MUST HAVE accessory for everyone who shoots photographs outdoors.