🎉 Happy New Year!

There’s something about the first morning of a new year that invites a pause. Before the pace picks back up, it’s a chance to step back and think less about resolutions and more about direction. Where you want to go, what you want to create, and how photography fits into the year ahead.

I’ve been thinking a lot about that myself, which leads to a question I’d love your input on. You’ll see a quick poll below about an upcoming event I’m considering. Your response will help shape what I work toward next.

Thanks for starting the year here with me. I’m excited for what’s ahead. - Mark D.

📺 MY NEW VIDEOS

The Questions Every Landscape Photographer Should Ask

Landscape photography has a way of feeling simple on the surface, yet quietly complicated once you're in it. The longer you shoot, the more questions start to creep in. Questions about editing, creativity, gear, consistency, burnout, and whether you're even focusing on the right things in the first place. In this video, I'm answering the most common questions I get from landscape photographers at every stage. We talk honestly about post processing mistakes, how much of a photo is really created in the field versus in the digital darkroom, how to know when an edit is finished, and what actually helps you improve faster without chasing trends or gear.

The Best Photo Editing Advice You've Never Heard Of

Knowing how to edit a photo is important, but knowing when to stop editing is what separates a good photo from a great one. Most landscape photographers struggle with deciding when an image is actually finished, which often leads to overediting, flat contrast, or a loss of mood that was present in the original scene. In this video, I share the most valuable photo editing advice I was never taught, how to recognize when an image is truly complete, and the simple mindset shift that will help you avoid pushing your edits too far.

🔓 VAULT FAVORITES

Turn OFF These 7 Camera Settings for Landscape Photography

There are a ton of videos, articles, and podcasts dedicated to the best camera settings for certain genres of photography, but understanding which camera settings to turn off is just as important as understanding which ones to turn on. In this video, I'll review the 7 camera settings I always turn off for landscape photography and all but one of the settings covered here could potentially ruin your photos and the other one might not ruin your image, but it could drive you absolutely crazy!

📖 GOOD READS Understanding White Balance: A Comprehensive Guide for Photographers Are you finding it challenging to achieve the “perfect” white balance in your photographs? You're not alone. Even seasoned photographers often grapple with the complexities of white balance correction. In this guide, we'll delve deep into the nuances of white balance, offering valuable insights and practical tips to help you conquer this essential aspect of photography. The Significance of White Balance Before we dive into the intricacies of white balance correction, let's understand why it's so important. White balance refers to the adjustment of colors in an image to ensure that whites appear neutral and colors are accurately rendered. Different light sources emit varying color temperatures, leading to color casts that can distort the true colors of your subject. Consider this: sunlight bathes your scene in warm, orange tones, while shade lighting imparts a cool, bluish tint. As photographers, our objective is to neutralize these color casts, allowing us to faithfully represent the scene's true colors and capture its essence. Exploring White Balance Correction Methods 1. Leveraging the Eyedropper Tool One of the most commonly used methods for white balance correction involves utilizing the eyedropper tool in editing programs like Lightroom. By selecting a neutral area in your image - such as a white or light gray surface - you can effectively adjust the white balance. Experiment with different areas until you find the perfect balance that accurately represents the scene's colors. >> Read More​