This week I have a sense of relief with the launch of my latest book “Landscape Photography: Shoot Like a Pro”. It’s currently available on Lenscraft, Amazon and Google with Apple and others following in a few days.
I’ve invested so much time in writing and then rewriting it, that to have it finished feels like a great victory. Originally, I wanted to launch before Christmas, which slipped to January and then February. Well, the eBook version is now available, and the print edition will follow in a couple of weeks.
The reason for my delaying the launch is that I wasn’t entirely happy I was conveying my ideas well. I suspect this is something of a problem for me as a photographer because I sometimes struggle to create the image I want to.
The image I’m sharing this week is one that I liked initially. It’s shot on the same outing as last week’s image and initially I liked it. Now as I’ve become accustomed to it, I’m finding that I want to improve it. I don’t know how yet, but it needs to change. I usually find putting an image to one side for a few months helps in situations like this, but I still wanted to share it with you today.
For this image, I used the Fuji X-T3 with Fuji 10-24 lens at 11mm. Because the focal length I used was so wide, I closed all the sections of my tripod legs to get low. I then moved in close to the rocks so they would dominate the frame.
Shooting directly into a rising sun required I used a filter. For this shot I chose a 0.9 (3 stop) Kase Reverse ND Grad. The reverse grads have a stronger ND section on the horizon in the centre which I placed over the sun.
The camera was set to ISO160 which is base ISO for the Fuji X-T3. This helps keep the image relatively free from noise which is important when opening the deep shadows in post processing. It also helps maximise the dynamic range of the camera. I used an aperture of f/16.0. This wasn’t to extend the depth of field but rather create the starburst effect around the sun. These settings produced a shutter speed of 0.5 seconds.
I converted the RAW file using Capture One. I love the Highlight and Shadow recovery in the HDR sliders when processing the Fuji RAW files. I still find it hard to believe how much it’s possible to achieve with just these adjustments.
This Weeks YouTube Video
If you haven’t already seen it, my YouTube video this week covers using Lightroom’s Print module to prepare images for sending to a lab for printing. It’s in response to a problem one viewer was having when trying to generate files and upload them.
The video, “Printing Photos to a File with Lightroom Classic CC” is only short but I’ve packed quite a few Lightroom features into it. If you use Lightroom for printing, either to a printer of JPEG, you might find it useful.
Equally, if you have any photo editing problems that you’re struggling with, please let me know. If it’s something that could affect others, I may be able to produce a tutorial.
With that, I’ll stop writing, other than to say have a great weekend.
The Lightweight Photographer 
Hello Robin,
First, to congratulate you on this excellent Sunrise on Higger Tor image. I appreciate the details you provide about the capture & your success with it makes me happy that I own the X-T3 & 10-24mm lens. They are indeed a very great combination, probably my favorite for landscape work.
Second, your article really hit my right spots as I have become so involved with astro photography lately that my other landscape efforts have suffered. But now I will plan on getting your book to help re-vitalize this activity. And your article about the LR printing video is one I will watch because while I have shifted my editing work to Capture One, I really don’t care much for its printing features & continue to use LR for all of my printing.
Many thanks,
Jed
Many thanks Jed. I know what you mean about one type of photography suffering for another. I love street (but I’m not very good) and if I try my hand, my landscape suffers on the next outing. I hope you still enjoy the Lightroom tutorial even though you’ve switched to Capture One.
Many thanks, Robin, great image! I look forward to reading and using your new book.
Thank you very much.
Robin,
I just downloaded the PDF of your new Landscape book from your website and the text is unreadable. Letters will be dark on one side and then fade away or they may be very light and then fade to nothing. I have not had a problem with any of your previous books.
Frank
Frank Leith fleith@cox.net
Hi Frank, are you able to email me a screenshot so I can see the problem. This sounds very odd and the pdf looks fine when I download and view it.
Are you by any chance trying to read it in a Microsoft web browser? If you are, could you please try opening it in Adobe Reader.
Don’t worry, I’ll help you resolve this.
Hallo Robin, I have just downloaded your Photoshop Essentials book by mistake. I wanted to download the new Landscape book and pressed the wrong button. As they have the same price I did not notice the error until I opened the PDF. Is there any simple way to correct this? I promise to delete the Photoshop book if you can get me the Landscape book. Thanks Bob Harris
On Fri, 14 Feb 2020 at 20:01, The Lightweight Photographer wrote:
> rnwhalley posted: ” This week I have a sense of relief with the launch of > my latest book “Landscape Photography: Shoot Like a Pro”. It’s currently > available on Lenscraft, Amazon and Google with Apple and others following > in a few days. I’ve invested so much time in w” >
Hi Bob, thank for trying to purchase my book. I will be in touch by email to sort this out for you.