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.
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!
This fall, I’m heading to Sedona, Arizona, and I’d love for you to join me! The canyons glow crimson in the mystical fall light, and the warm autumn colors bring the whole landscape to life. It’s one of my favorite places to photograph, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
We’ll spend our time exploring some incredible locations—those dramatic red rock formations, the beauty of Oak Creek Canyon, and the wide-open desert views that make Sedona so unforgettable. Each spot offers something unique, and together we’ll chase that golden autumn light.
As we photograph, I’ll walk you through my process that includes first deciding what to shoot, but just as important, I’ll help you tap into your own creative vision. My goal is for you to leave not only with great images but also with a deeper sense of confidence and artistry in your photography.
As a bonus for this workshop, we’ll have each participant choose the shot they are the most happy with and send you a 16″x20″ print of your shot using the same quality equipment and paper that my fine art prints are created on.
August is a month I always look forward to. The days are long and filled with golden light and the vibrancy of life. Meadows are in bloom, wildlife is restless and active, and summer storms can roll in to paint the skies with drama and intensity. When I head out in the early mornings or linger into the late evenings, I’m rewarded with soft pastel hues and gentle shadows. It can make for difficult shooting during the mid-day hours when the sun is high, bright, and casting harsh shadows but I simply see this as a time for experimentation and focusing on the details.
I’ve been fortunate to explore the month of August in many corners of the globe, each offering its own unique palette. In Washington state, wildflowers transform the alpine meadows into a painter’s canvas. In the Omo River Valley of Ethiopia or the vibrant cultures of Tanzania, festivals and daily life pulse with color and movement. In places like Botswana and South Africa, wildlife thrives around scarce waterholes, providing thrilling opportunities to witness animal interactions. Meanwhile, the Arctic light in Greenland or Svalbard creates otherworldly landscapes that feel both fragile and timeless.
Whether it’s the whales off the coast of Tonga, the bears of Katmai, or the desert tones of Namibia, I try to capture the energy and transitions happening all around. I’m currently down in South America – stay tuned as I hope to be back with something new and unique to share on the blog.
Leave a comment below if you have any secrets, insights or stories about shooting in August with both it’s fantastic qualities as well as it’s challenges!
One of the most powerful tools a photographer has isn’t just the camera—it’s the choice of lens. Focal length not only determines how much of the scene you capture, but it also shapes how subjects relate to each other in scale and space. By deliberately choosing different lenses, you can either magnify a subject or minimize it, creating vastly different stories within the same world.
In Ladakh, India, while tracking the elusive snow leopard, I turned my attention to other subjects while waiting out the evasive cats. Using a 1200mm lens with a 1.4x extender, the moon filled my frame—crisp, detailed, and dominant.
Compare this to my image of the moon over Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Italy, shot with a 17-40mm wide-angle lens. Here, the moon shrinks to a tiny accent while the towering spires command attention. Same moon, two worlds apart—thanks to lens choice.
The same principle applies when photographing the sun. At the Pushkar Camel Fair in Rajasthan, I used a 500mm lens to place the sun in near-equal prominence to the silhouetted subject, creating a striking balance.
In Goa, India, I photographed two girls’ ponytails with the sun in the background, using a 70-200mm lens at 165mm. The sun becomes a smaller, softer presence—still important, but secondary.
At the Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh, a 70mm lens rendered the sun as a tiny orb in a vast, dusty expanse, emphasizing the human pilgrimage over the celestial backdrop.
Longer lenses not only magnify distant objects—they compress space, making background elements appear closer to the foreground. Wide angles, on the other hand, exaggerate depth, pushing background elements farther away. Mastering this interplay between focal length, subject size, and background compression will give you the ability to control the viewer’s perception and craft stronger, more intentional images.
In 2026, I’ll be leading a small number of photography workshops to some of the most inspiring places on Earth, and I’d love for you to join me. These journeys are designed for photographers who are passionate about wildlife, nature, and expanding both their technical skills and creative vision. I’ve spent decades in the field, and it’s a privilege to share what I’ve learned with others who are eager to grow. We keep the groups manageable to ensure everyone gets personalized attention, and we’ve taken care to choose comfortable accommodations and smooth logistics so you can stay focused on photography. If you’re looking for an experience that blends learning, adventure, and unforgettable imagery, I hope you’ll consider traveling with us. Spots are limited, and I’d be honored to have you along!
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.
Photograph playful snow macaques in steaming hot springs west of Tokyo, then head north to Hokkaido to capture ethereal Japanese cranes, elusive foxes, and the awe-inspiring stellar sea eagles.
Witness the raw intensity of Alaskan brown bears fishing for salmon in wild rivers—a front-row seat to one of the most iconic wildlife spectacles on Earth.
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.
Venture deep into lush rainforests to photograph orangutans, proboscis monkeys, exotic birds, and rare jungle flora in one of the planet’s most biologically diverse ecosystems.
Why Travel with Us?
✔ Learn directly from a world-renowned photographer and fine art educator ✔ Develop both technical expertise and artistic vision ✔ Enjoy curated accommodations and seamless logistics ✔ Manageable group sizes ensure hands-on instruction and mentorship
Spaces are limited to preserve a high-quality experience. Secure your spot now and elevate your photography in some of the most spectacular destinations on Earth!
“What I see vs. what I take” is a trend online among photographers to show how they find interesting subjects in otherwise uninteresting busy shots that lack a focus. It just so happens that this very idea is the concept behind the opening discussion of the Pathways to Creativity series I released a few years ago when I was at home during the pandemic.
Happy 55th Earth Day, 2025. It’s also National Parks week, and while there has definitely been a lot going on politically as it pertains to the parks, they are still here for you to visit – all 400-plus of them! Find the parks nearest you, and if you have kids check out National Junior Ranger Day. If you’re looking to contribute at a time when it’s definitely needed, there are opportunities to do so as well.
If you’re looking for additional ways to celebrate Earth day, our national parks, and contribute to the well-being of our critical natural environment here are a few ideas:
1. Walk to a park and hang out with your tree friends. It can be easy to forget just how soothing and therapeutic a simple walk among nature can be. In an era of social media, incessant electronic notifications, and exhausting news cycles a trip to a park and remembering what truly matters can greatly improve mental health.
2. Plant native perennials and trees for pollinators! Hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and more are an important part of maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Consider them when planting this spring and plan accordingly to ensure healthy populations.
3. Conserve water. This one is pretty straight forward, but even beyond watching your usage, ensuring you’re properly watering your yards and gardens can also maximize the health of your plants, yielding more vegetables and more opportunities to entice those pollinators. Look up how to specifically water many of your plants, as improper watering techniques can do as much harm as good. Consider a water barrel if you live in an area with regular rainfall.
4. Hand-in-hand with those vegetable yields – eat more veggies! Not only do vegetables cost less carbon footprint than raising herds of animals, you’re also helping that water issue by ensuring less vegetables go to waste.
5. Reduce, reuse, recycle. If you are an avid garner, purchase things like topsoil and mulch in bulk versus several smaller bags that create more plastic waste. Many pots and trays are biodegradable these days and can be planted directly into the dirt.
6. Pick up trash when you see it.
“To leave the world better than you found it, sometimes you have to pick up other people’s trash.”– Bill Nye
7. Support our national parks “America’s Best Idea” by joining the National Parks Conservation Association https://www.npca.org/
10. Join an Art Wolfe workshop! Not only do may of my workshops get you out into the very nature we are striving to protect, it also helps bring valuable commerce into our parks and the surrounding areas, while also supporting the businesses that sustain healthy tourism in these areas.
We are on the verge of several workshops taking place on or around the West Coast! If you haven’t been shooting much over the winter this is the perfect opportunity to get out your gear and join me for a relaxing and productive opportunity.
Along with the gorgeous landscapes that the Pacific Coast has to offer from Washington down to California, we will also spend time finding unique abstract photographs. Aimed at expanding your visual vocabulary, such shots will also push your personal portfolio in a one-of-a-kind artistic direction.
When fall arrives and the leaves begin to turn to warm autumnal hues and temperatures are mild, the west coast becomes a beautiful tapestry of colors. The trees that do turn compliment the evergreens that do not, greatly increasing the number of interesting natural compositions.
I look forward to the fantastic company, sharing meals together, and exploring the west coast on a workshop with you!
OREGON COAST
Small-group Photography Retreat
March 15 – 18
There’s a lot going on in the world right now, so take a time out with a free episode of my streaming series Pathways to Creativity – Embracing the Abstract! Abstract photography is the perfect way to put your creativity and that fancy camera you’ve got to good use. The one on your phone is likely perfect for capturing abstract mages.
Experimentation can lead to happy accidents, unique techniques and more as you establish a visual language that speaks to you. Whether you’re hunting for visual metaphors, trying to capture a mood, or simply want to decorate with fascinating images that will raise questions and drive conversations, there is something very freeing about bucking convention and pushing the boundaries of what photography can be. Much like a sketchbook it’s less about the final image and heavily about the process.
If you’re feeling especially inspired, there are several opportunities on the upcoming calendar where I’ll be hosting photography retreats in Oregon and Washington, and although only a few such as Astoria, Port Townsend and Lake Quinault specifically mention abstracts in their titles, you can rest assured I’m always looking for such images myself wherever I am. You’re certainly not going to ruffle this artist’s feathers by seeking out MORE creative ways to express yourself through photography.
Tanzania – January 2026
Japan – February 2026
Borneo – September 2026
