Make images with intent
Before pressing the shutter, form a mental note of what the finished image will look like, then adjust to reach it. Decide up front on exposure, composition, timing and depth of field. Shooting at night naturally slows you down and sharpens this discipline.
Expose with the result in mind
- Learn how your camera renders light and adjust exposure to it — this lifts your keeper rate and avoids lost detail.
- Know your camera's dynamic range and shoot to its limits to avoid blown highlights and noisy shadows.
- Take test frames to check settings against your vision; use a tripod to slow down.
- Shoot panoramas with a longer lens (~70mm) rather than a wide — mind field of view and compression.
Colour & light
- Shoot RAW with Auto White Balance so colour isn't baked in and can be tuned later.
- For tricky colour, push saturation to 100% temporarily to judge, then set temperature/tint and pull saturation back.
- Work on colour soon after the shoot while the scene is fresh (a colour chart in a test frame helps).
- Show where the light comes from — subtly exaggerate it (e.g. a radial adjustment to brighten/haze the light source) to make the image read.
- Mask local adjustments with a large soft brush and subtle changes to keep it natural.
Remote-Australia planning
For remote trips: share a clear schedule and check-in times with someone not travelling; plan fuel stops (carry ~1.5× what you expect) and 5–7 L water per person per day; don't rely on mobile coverage; pack a comprehensive first-aid kit, spare tyre(s) and tools, multiple comms (PLB, UHF, phone), cash, sun protection and warm clothes for cold desert nights.
Consolidated from notes: 2 Oct 2024 - Adam Edwards - Landscape