This tutorial from German Landscape photographer Christian Mohrle is a rare departure from his usual fare because the episode is devoted to image capture rather than post-processing methods. You’ll see some of Mohrle’s amazing photos and learn a variety of shooting techniques that make his work so special.

Mohrle provides seven tips and tricks that are guaranteed to elevate your landscape imagery to the next level, whether you’re a beginner or more experienced photographer. In barely 10 minutes you’ll learn the gear Mohrle prefers for different situations, and several ways to compose a scene for maximum impact.

Knowing how to get the light right is also part of the equation, as is understanding how to employ the concept of scale to add attention-grabbing depth and dimension to every photo you make. Even though most photographers reach for a wide-angle lens when expansive scenes are the task at hand, “in the beginning everyone will struggle to find pleasing compositions with these wider views.”

Mohrle begins with what he considers the most important consideration; namely, the best focal length to use.

Whether you’re shooting with a prime lens or a wide-angle zoom, “there isn’t one magic focal length that can be used in every scenario.” In fact Mohrle explains several reasons why “wider isn’t always better.” In common parlance, a wide-angle lens is one with a focal length of 35mm or wider, and Mohrle discusses why he almost never shoots at 35mm.

Once you select the best lens for the job it’s time to build an eye-catching composition, and this topic represents the balance of today’s 10-minute lesson. In this regard, Mohrle’s refined eye is a one big reason for his success.

So pay close attention to the framing techniques Mohrle describes in detail, follow his advice, and start shooting landscape photos with more visual power than ever before. Then pay a visit to Mohrle’s instructional YouTube channel where there’s much more to learn.

And don’t miss the tutorial we featured recently with another great German outdoor photographer who explains why your autofocus acquisition may be slow or inaccurate and the solutions he recommends for getting things sharp.

If you’re under the impression that a high-end camera is required for fast and precise focus, well, think again, because we’re going to dispel that common excuse in the next 10 minutes. The good news is that you can achieve super sharp photos with whatever camera you own by using the pro techniques demonstrated below.

The bad news is the out-of-focus shots that disappointed you in the past can no longer be blamed on your camera because “operator failure” is likely the real culprit. Instructor Matthew Littlewood is an experienced adventure photographer who shares the powerful techniques he developed during countless photo excursions in the beautiful Canadian Rockies near his home.

Littlewood discusses his preferred focusing techniques that “will ensure you get perfectly sharp images in any conditions.” He also runs through the best way to configure the camera for various situations in the field. And there’s a discussion of how the appropriate aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings contribute to maximum image quality.

The lesson kicks off with an explanation of the different focus modes available in most cameras, how they work, and when to choose one over another. At the most basic level you’ll select either single-shot or continuous autofocus. But there are other options too, and you’re ultimate choice depends upon if you’re making static shots like landscape scenes or subjects in motion.

There are a variety of subtle tricks that can make a bit difference, like how to lock focus distance so the focus point doesn’t shift as you move the camera around to explore various compositions. The number of focus points you use also factors into the equation.

But what if your goal is to create images that are totally sharp—all the way from foreground to infinity? You’ll learn how to do that too by using a powerful technique known as “focus stacking.”

So watch how it’s done, stop making excuses, and capture tack-sharp photos from now on. Then head over to Littlewood’s popular YouTube channel where you’ll find many more shooting and post-processing techniques for improving your skills.

And on a related note, be sure to watch a tutorial we posted earlier, demonstrating how another experienced pro captures outstanding action photographs when shooting with slow shutter speeds.

If you’re looking for an easy way to transform ordinary photos into breathtaking HDR images in Lightroom, we’ve got you covered with today’s instructional video from the popular Adobe Live YouTube channel. This fast and effective workflow takes barely five minutes to explain and is perfect for inexperienced Lightroom users.

This episode is the latest installment of an eight-part Lightroom series featuring popular instructor Aaron Nace who you’ve seen on this page many times before. He’s a highly photographer, digital artist, and post-processing expert who specializes in simple Photoshop techniques.

Here’s how Nace describes the straightforward lesson: “We’ll guide you through the process of merging multiple exposures to create a high-dynamic-range (HDR) photo that captures all of the details in your image.” The process begins in the camera by shooting multiple images of the same scene—each at a different exposure, and usually three is all you need; one at the “correct” exposure, another one stop under, and a third that’s one stop over.

Nace takes the three-shot approach and explains how to use your camera’s Exposure-Bracketing feature to capture your trio of photos. In this case he starts off with a landscape image captured at sunset that needs a bit of work. He exposes the first shot for a rock formation in the foreground, the second for the sky, and a third that’s really bright.

The merging process begins by shift-clicking on all three images in the film strip at the bottom of the screen. Then he right-clicks to bring up a dropdown menu and selects the Photo Merge option. Lightroom creates a preview that you’ll use for the steps that follow. Be sure turn on a medium amount of deghost in case any movement occurred while capturing the sequence.

Nace explains why you should also enable the Auto Align and Apply Auto settings by checking two boxes in the top right corner of the workspace. The merged image that Lightroom provides looks pretty good, but Nace walks you through a few quick adjustments for perfecting the result.

You’ll marvel at the effectiveness of this quick technique, especially after comparing the original shot with the transformational file. There are many more instructional post-processing videos on the Adobe Live YouTube channel, so be sure to pay a visit when you have time to explore.

We also recommend watching an earlier tutorial we featured with another image-editing expert who demonstrates a quick Lightroom technique that delivers fast and precise White Balance in every photography you process.