Hello my friend,

This week’s edition is packed with practical photo editing ideas you can put to work right away, from small adjustments that create cleaner files to workflow decisions that can make a big difference in the final result. There is a lot to dig into below.

And before you get there, I also wanted to give you a quick heads up that something special is in the works. I'll be sharing more details soon about a brand new photography experience, and you will find a short teaser further down in this edition.

As always, thanks for being here. - Mark

📺 MY NEW VIDEOS

The Tool Lightroom Still Doesn't Have - Until Now

If you’ve ever used a sky mask in Adobe Lightroom and noticed that harsh halo or unrealistic edge where the sky meets the landscape, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most frustrating limitations in Lightroom, and surprisingly, there’s still no dedicated control to fix it directly. In this video, I’ll show you the exact workaround I use to create more natural sky adjustments, eliminate halos, and produce cleaner, more realistic edits without leaving Lightroom. These techniques are simple, repeatable, and work on any landscape photo where your sky mask just doesn’t look right.

Your Blown Highlights Are Not Ruined - Here's the Fix

Most photographers assume that once highlights are blown, the photo is finished and there’s no way to fix it. I used to believe the same thing. But over time, I realized there are actually some simple ways to recover detail from overexposed areas using both Lightroom and Photoshop, and in many cases you can save photos you might have otherwise deleted. In this video, I’ll walk you through the exact approach I use to fix blown highlights, how to tell when recovery is possible, and when it’s time to move into Photoshop for more advanced corrections. This is the same workflow I rely on when editing my own landscape photos, especially in high contrast situations with bright skies and difficult light.

🚀 COMING SOON

Something special is coming very soon, and it involves one of the most unforgettable wildlife experiences I have ever photographed. I'll share the details in the coming weeks, but if photographing wild brown bears in a truly remote setting has ever been on your radar, you will want to keep an eye on your inbox.

🔓 VAULT FAVORITES

99% Of Photographers Improve with this One Change

Have you ever heard of something called the "10,000 Hour Rule"? It basically states that the way to achieve true expertise in any skill, you must put in at least 10,000 hours of practice. And my hope is that by the time you finish this video, I will have moved you much closer to that magic ten grand figure of true expertise. So, one of the biggest hurdles to overcome with photography is that it's a two dimensional medium meant to be a graphical representation of the three dimensional world we live in. There are a few different ways we can solve for this, and the method I cover in this video is by far the approach that I've found works best!​​

📖 GOOD READS Live View vs View Finder: A Landscape Photographers Perspective This is a topic that's become increasingly relevant to me and might resonate with you as well: the choice between using live view or the viewfinder for landscape photography. My thoughts on this has changed over recent years as my style of photography and eyesight have shifted. Transitioning Vision: Recently, I found myself facing a new challenge – a decline in my eyesight. For over 30+ years, I took my perfect 20/20 vision for granted. However, as my nearsightedness has worsened, I’ve had to adapt, especially in my photography endeavors where precise vision is a major benefit. Pros of Live View: First off, the advantages of live view. With live view, you gain better situational awareness, allowing you to assess your surroundings more effectively. Additionally, you can easily review your entire image, ensuring that nothing unwanted sneaks into the frame. Plus, tap to focus functionality offers a convenient way to pinpoint focus areas, saving valuable time. Adapting to Unconventional Shooting Positions: Live view shines when shooting from unusual angles or heights. Its flexibility accommodates low-to-ground compositions or high-angle shots effortlessly, making it a versatile tool for landscape photographers. >> Read More​