A big challenge for photographers is that the camera simply cannot capture the range of brightness in the world that we can see. When we look at a subject with our own eyes, we can see all sorts of detail, from the brightest areas to the darkest areas. Unfortunately, the camera cannot. And when there is strong contrast between bright and dark areas, the camera will emphasize, even overemphasize, that contrast.
This can be especially problematic with bright skies and dark landscapes. It can be impossible to get a single exposure directly from your camera that captures both a good sky and good ground at the same time. Another problem can occur when you are photographing a subject in the shade against a bright, sunny background; the exposure range can be so extreme that, once again, there is no correct exposure to get a good image.
The first thing to do is accept that sometimes you just have to say no to a particular picture, recognizing that it may be impossible to get a good image given the lighting conditions since no exposure will be correct. If you can recognize this, you will start looking around for images that you can say yes to. That’s an important decision to be able to make.
To get a better photograph, in certain situations, there are things you can do to control the way light comes into your camera. A traditional way for landscape photographers to deal with a bright sky is to use a graduated neutral density filter.
This filter is half clear and half gray with a blend, or gradient, through the middle. By placing the dark part of the filter over the bright part of the scene, such as the sky, and the clear part of the filter over the darker part of the scene, such as the ground, you can balance the light coming through your lens so the camera can get a good exposure.
The challenge with a graduated neutral density filter is that it creates a line through the image. If you have a mountain or tree going into the sky, it will be darkened as well as the sky, for example. Unfortunately, this is starting to be a very dated look for photography. A graduated neutral density filter can still be helpful in knocking down bright light or brightly lit areas in the picture to balance them with the rest of the image, but you just have to use it carefully so the effect is not obvious.
Another way to work with multiple image exposures is to shoot an exposure for the bright areas, then an exposure for the dark areas. These two images are then combined in the computer by using the best of each. Shooting two images like this is actually quite easy to do.
Exposure created for bright areas.Exposure Created for Dark Areas
Start by locking your camera onto a tripod. Shoot one exposure that makes your sky look good, then shoot a second exposure that makes your ground look good. Bring the two images into Lightroom, where you can adjust the sky picture to make the sky look its best, and the ground picture to make the ground look its best.
Then you send the two pictures over to Photoshop as layers. Put the two pictures on top of each other as layers and make sure they are lined up. Then simply remove the bad part of the top picture, revealing the good area of the bottom picture in that section of the image. You can do this in two ways. The down and dirty way is to simply use the Eraser tool by setting it to a large size and 0 hardness (a very soft brush). You then erase the bad part of the picture.
Combined Result
The second way to do this is to use a layer mask. Add a layer mask to the top picture/layer and use a large, soft-edged (0 hardness) brush to paint black onto that layer mask and block the bad part of the top picture.
If you’d like to see the masking process in action as a future lesson for the blog, leave a comment below. Although there are a lot of helpful tools these days to help you auto-mask and adjust exposures, nothing beats knowing how to manually edit your photos without relying on automated tools that might not always give you the best results. A fundamental understanding of masking is an incredible tool for any photographer to have available to them.
Condé Nast Traveler just named Tanzania, Morocco, and Namibia some of the top places to go in 2026 and I’m thrilled to be heading to all three, with room for you to come along. We’ve put together photo tours that dive right into what makes each place so special, whether it’s Tanzania’s quiet corners of the Serengeti, Morocco’s mix of cultures and dazzling landscapes, or Namibia’s wild stretches of desert and coastline. These aren’t your standard trips; they’re uplifting, immersive adventures built for people who want to really experience a place and come home with one-of-a-kind images they’re proud of.
I like to keep these groups small so we can slow down, follow the good light, and make the most of every moment. These tours offer a unique opportunity to see and photograph some of my favorite parts of the world at their best.
🌍 Tanzania – January 2026 Step into the heart of the Serengeti. Capture dramatic scenes of wildebeest families in motion, apex predators on the hunt, and the untamed rhythms of African wildlife in its natural habitat.
🌍Morocco – March 2026 A vibrant photographic journey through Morocco’s mountains, deserts, coastlines, and richly layered cultures; an inviting kingdom where travelers feel at home while discovering endless inspiration.
🌍 Namibia – August 2026 Explore surreal desert landscapes in Swakopmund, rugged wildlife regions in Damaraland and Etosha, and the cultural richness of Windhoek while photographing Namibia’s striking contrasts.
Looking for something more local to fit into your busy schedule? I’ll be leading several no-fuss workshops in the Pacific Northwest this year, including the Olympic Peninsula, Mount Rainier, the Columbia River Gorge, Abstract Astoria (just two spots left for that one) and more!
As this year winds down, I want to take a moment to thank you for being part of my extended photographic family. Whether you’ve joined me in the field, collected a book or print, or simply followed along online, it’s our customers, clients and friends that allow me to spend my life doing what I love most: exploring the world, telling stories with a camera, and sharing the beauty of this planet with others. I’m incredibly grateful, and I wish you and your loved ones a warm and peaceful holiday season, and an inspiring year ahead filled with new images, ideas, and creative endeavors.
I’ll be skipping the traditional turkey this year in favor of salmon at a small family gathering here at home; it seemed fitting for a nature enthusiast from the Pacific Northwest. As I look ahead, I’m already excited for the journeys to come, including returning to Katmai, Alaska in 2026 to spend time with the bears like the one featured in the photo for this post. I am happy to have a small break to reflect on everything that I’ve experienced so far this year but I’m also looking forward to one of my busiest years of international travel.
Until then, thank you again from myself and my staff for your support, and here’s to another year of photography, exploration, and creativity!
If you’re looking to cross someone special off your holiday list, consider gifting them my wildlife magnum opus – Wild Lives! This “Big, Beautiful Book” is just that—full of the most iconic images I’ve captured over the years, from dozens of countries and insightful text by my good friend Greg Green.
Order before the end of November and get a free calendar – choose from Big Cats and Baby Animals. Choose the standard edition of Wild Lives or the Collector’s edition that comes in a gorgeous clamshell case with a signed print and more.
What a whirlwind the third quarter of 2025 has been! September found me in the Durango region of Colorado, where the aspens were at their golden best and every mountainside seemed to shimmer with fall color. There’s something magical about photographing autumn light in the Rockies. The challenge is keeping up with it. Prior to that, I was immersed in the salty breeze of the California coast, where we spent time exploring the wildlife-rich waters of Elkhorn Slough. Sea otters floated by with effortless charm, pelicans skimmed low over the waves, and harbor seals lazed in the sun. Each encounter was a reminder of the diversity that thrives along this stretch of coastline.
Back in August, along with my annual pilgrimage to Katmai to photograph the bears there, I visited Peru, a place that never fails to inspire. In Lima, I turned my lens toward the city’s textures, colors, and the patterns of daily life in the form of abstracts. Then it was into the wild heart of the country, photographing tamarins leaping through the canopy, macaws painting the sky in bursts of color, and the deep, resonant calls of howler monkeys echoing through the rainforest.
Each stop offered something different. A study in light, life, and the beautiful unpredictability of nature. Enjoy the photos, and have a fantastic holiday season! Keep an eye on the blog and subscribe to my newsletter for some upcoming unique holiday offerings for folks who find joy in giving the perfect gift!
is November, my friends at the International League of Conservation Photographers are celebrating twenty years of using photography to protect the planet with a special anniversary print sale called Prints for the Planet. From November 6 through the 27th, you’ll be able to choose from 113 fine art prints by some of the world’s leading conservation photographers. It’s a great chance to own a meaningful piece of art while supporting the future of conservation storytelling.
For two decades, iLCP photographers have been out in the field capturing the beauty and urgency of our natural world, from endangered species and wild places to the people working hard to protect them. This collection brings together more than a hundred of those powerful images, and I’m honored that a few of my own photographs will be part of it.
iLCP was founded on the idea that photography can make a difference, and it’s amazing to see how that vision continues to grow. If you’re looking for a holiday gift that supports a good cause and celebrates the beauty of our planet, take a look at Prints for the Planet and help keep this important work moving forward.
Happy spooky season to everyone who celebrates! The grey skies have returned to Seattle just in time for me to be off on another adventure. By the time this post hits the blog, I’ll likely be in Thailand and then Bangladesh grabbing some last minute photos for my upcoming book on international faith and spirituality. Act of Faith will explore people of all different religions and walks of life engaging in personal and communal acts as part of their belief system, from the Shamans of Mongolia to Jewish traditions in Israel.
Now that you might be indoors just a bit more due to to waning daylight and damp weather, I wanted to remind everyone that there are a few free episodes of Travels to the Edge and Pathways to Creativity online:
Art Wolfe’s Pathways to Creativity: Embracing the Abstract Youtube | Vimeo
Art Wolfe’s Travels to the Edge: Bhutan
Art Wolfe’s Travels to the Edge: New Zealand
My staff is also ready to print up unique holiday gifts if you want to get a jump on your shopping. In the spirit of the season, use code BOOPRINTS through October 31st and save 31% on prints!
Lastly, I would be remiss to not highlight a few upcoming trips for anyone who might be interested. Also expiring on the 31st is the early bird discount on a trip to Borneo next September—with an emphasis on wildlife. Also in terms of wildlife, the next big trip with space yet available are for a premium tour in Tanzania in January for the calving season, with an emphasis on the region’s active predators.
Lastly, I’ll be leading a tour in Morocco in March. Given past interest in this trip, I don’t imagine it will take long to fill up! If you’re looking to experience the convergence of culture where Europe, Arabia and Africa overlap, it will be an experience to remember!
Enjoy your weekend—I’ll be looking forward to sharing photos when I return!
New Zealand’s extreme beauty is central to its identity. Here, indigenous Maori people see themselves as guardians of the land. In episode seven, Art captures portraits of contemporary Maori artists who wear their stories on their faces in the form of sacred tattoos, and convey their sense of stewardship through their art. Then he heads off to the wild South Island to explore the natural history of this pristine and beautifully preserved island nation.
Enjoy this free episode for a limited time! All episodes of Travels to the Edge are available to stream on my on demand page.
I’ll be heading back to New Zealand this April to explore their local fall season. Limited spaces remain, reserve your spot today!
The Peruvian Amazon is one of those places that leaves me in awe every time I return. In Madre de Dios, mornings began with the booming calls of red howler monkeys as macaws streaked overhead in brilliant flashes of red and green. I’d line up a shot of a hoatzin wobbling on a branch or a rufescent tiger heron poised by the water, but more often than not, I caught myself just watching—completely absorbed in the energy of the forest.
The rivers carried their own magic. One morning, a pair of giant otters surfaced so close I could hear them breathing before they slipped beneath the water. Spectacled caimans sunned themselves on muddy banks, while kingfishers and terns darted and dived with incredible speed. Even the butterflies demanded attention, and short-lined kite swallowtail offered up an opportunity for abstraction.
Photographing in Madre de Dios isn’t about one perfect image—it’s about honoring a place where nature still thrives in abundance! Enjoy the photos – and while I don’t currently have a trip to South America on the calendar, I am leading a tour in Tanzania this coming January and have a few spots remaining to join us for the Wildebeest calving season!
We’re thrilled to share two extraordinary photography journeys with Art Wolfe—and we’d love your help deciding which one to bring to life.
One option takes you to Baja California Sur during the gray whale calving season, where you’ll enjoy rare, up-close encounters with these gentle giants alongside stunning desert-meets-ocean scenery. The other transports you to Guatemala during Semana Santa, with vibrant Easter processions, intricate alfombra carpets, Mayan ruins, and volcanic landscapes rich in culture and tradition.
Both are small-group experiences designed with Art’s expert guidance, high-end accommodations, and unforgettable opportunities to elevate your craft. Which adventure inspires you most—Baja’s wild whales or Guatemala’s Easter splendor?
Leave a comment below if you have any additional feedback. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and helping us decide between two extraordinary photography journeys. Art is forever grateful to have such a passionate community of travelers and photographers who inspire the direction of many of his workshops.
Note that showing your interest in one of these trips does not commit you to anything – we simply have the opportunity to offer a choice in Art’s busy schedule, and your input is incredibly valuable to us!
Stay tuned, and thank you again for being part of this exciting decision!
Condé Nast Traveler just named Tanzania, Morocco, and Namibia some of the top places to go in 2026 and I’m thrilled to be heading to all three, with room for you to come along. We’ve put together photo tours that dive right into what makes each place so special, whether it’s Tanzania’s quiet corners of the Serengeti, Morocco’s mix of cultures and dazzling landscapes, or Namibia’s wild stretches of desert and coastline. These aren’t your standard trips; they’re uplifting, immersive adventures built for people who want to really experience a place and come home with one-of-a-kind images they’re proud of.
