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📸 The Long Exposure Trick Nobody Teaches You!
Published 9 days ago • 3 min read
Hello, my friend!
I’ve been having an incredible time in the Smokies, capturing mountain streams & sweeping vistas during my two spring workshops. These events sold out fast last year, and I wanted you to be the first to know—we’re bringing them back in 2026!
I hope you find some useful information in this edition of The Morning Blaze and as always thanks so much for reading & sharing. Have a great weekend! - Mark D.
Great Smoky Mountains
📺 MY NEW VIDEOS
The Long Exposure Trick Nobody Teaches You (No Filters Needed)
You don’t need expensive ND filters to shoot beautiful long exposure photographs. In this video, I’ll show you how I capture smooth, dreamy landscapes using nothing but my camera, the right light, and a few simple settings. I’ll walk you through exactly how I set up my shots, the best times and conditions for filter-free long exposures, and why a polarizer is the only filter I still consistently use. If you’re looking for an easier, lighter way to create stunning long exposure images without spending a fortune on new gear, you’re going to love this one.
Presets are No Match For This New Lightroom Tool (You'll See Why)
Lightroom’s Adaptive Profiles just changed the game, and in this video, I’ll show you why I believe they’re better than most presets. I’ll walk you through a full landscape photo edit using the Adaptive Color profile and compare it directly to Adobe Color and other popular options. If you’ve ever relied on presets to speed up your workflow or to achieve a consistent look, this hidden tool might completely change the way you edit.
Ready to photograph the Smokies like never before? Our sold-out spring workshops return in 2026 with two chances to join a small group of passionate photographers for an unforgettable mountain adventure! Be sure to check out these links for all the workshop details 👉 Workshop 1 and Workshop 2
There are a ton of skills, techniques, and best practices one can embrace in order to improve their photography, but there is one skill in particular that I've found difficult to master yet produces the greatest results. I guess the saying "nothing great comes easy" is perfect for this photography skill because it won't contribute to an overnight improvement in your photography, but if you put in the effort over time this will eventually be a game changer for anybody - I know it has for me.
Mastering Sharpness: Essential Tips for Crisp Landscape Photography
Have you ever returned from an incredible adventure, bursting with excitement to see the stunning images you captured, only to find them disappointingly soft and out of focus? If so, you're not alone. In this article, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of achieving razor-sharp landscape photos.
Focus Mode: The Foundation of Sharpness
First off, one of the fundamental aspects of achieving sharp images: focus modes. It's crucial to select the right focus mode for the job. While autofocus continuous may be ideal for fast-moving subjects like wildlife or sports, for landscape photography, autofocus single could be your best bet. Avoid the frustration of missed focus by ensuring your camera is set to the appropriate mode for static subjects - like mountains & trees.
The Impact of ISO on Image Quality
While it’s tempting to crank up the ISO in low-light situations, excessively high ISO levels can introduce unwanted noise and worst of all soften the details in your images. Keep your ISO in check, understand the limitations of your camera, especially when shooting landscapes where every detail matters.
Embrace the One Over Focal Length Rule
Now comes the biggie, shutter speed—the unsung hero of sharp photography. Adhering to the one over focal length rule can work wonders for handheld shooting. Whether you're wielding a wide-angle or telephoto lens, matching your shutter speed to your focal length helps minimize camera shake and ensures crisp, blur-free images. Example of this in action - using a 50mm lens, set your shutter speed to at least 1/50th of a sec >> Read More
🤓 PHOTO NERDS
📸 The 1st photo took 8 hours to expose!
👁️ The human eye equivalent f-stop is f/8.3 in bright conditions and f/2 in darker conditions.
✨ INSPO
"If you can't feel what you're looking at, then you're never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures." Don McCullin
"Don’t shoot what it looks like. Shoot what it feels like." David Alan Harvey
🌳 FINAL WORD
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📨 Join 56,000+ Photographers enjoying The Morning Blaze - my free, online photography publication where I share photo tips, tutorials, & inspiration I’ve gained throughout my journey from beginner to professional Landscape Photographer.
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