It’s that time of year when everyone begins to start scheduling their photographic adventures. Our phones and email connections seem to explode after a long holiday snooze! But something seems a bit different here at Jansen Photo [...]

Finding your own creative angle getting through creative blocks in landscape photography can be challenging. Many, including myself find it hard to find  something uniquely different in any natural landscape. Especially, if it’s an overly traveled tourist ocation. [...]

There are many ways to approach an iconic location when shooting landscape photography. You could just shoot it the way 1,000's of other photographers have, or come up with your own creative ideas. It helps to a [...]

I’m sure you’ve heard this before several times... Landscape photography is all about the light. And when is that light the best? In my opinion, I love the light 1/2 hour before and after sunrise, and 1/2 before [...]

One of our favorite workshops is the night photography workshop in the Eastern Sierra. There are many things to think about when shooting the stars, and post processing is one of them. Some of the things [...]

It’s important to know the distinctions between the different organizational tools in Lightroom. These tools include the catalog, your files, and your collections. Lightroom is my favorite photo editor because of its power of organization. There [...]

Yosemite Falls ©MarkJansenPhotography.com I really had time to think after returning from Yosemite Valley recently. I was struck by the similarities and quality in light of Yosemite Valley and Iceland. They both have [...]

Have you wondered how the pros create beautifully edited pictures? Here’s one of the secrets to editing in Adobe Lightroom CC. It’s not only about having the exposure, contrast, white balance, and saturation globally adjusted, it is also [...]

Creating sharp images is a goal for most avid photographers. As an instructor for landscape photography, there are many tools that I teach to create the sharpest images possible. Here are some of the tactics I use when [...]

Many people have asked me how to continue editing and cataloging their images with Adobe’s Lightroom program when traveling. There are many things to consider when you are planning a photography trip and the ability to store [...]

We normally don’t talk about camera brands and specifications that much here at Jansen Photo Expeditions. Mainly because we have always focused on the creative end of landscape photography and how to get the best out of [...]

I'm a stickler when it comes to horizon lines in landscape photography. Where do you place the horizon line for the most emphasis and drama? Beginner photographers will almost always place their horizon lines dead center of [...]

Landscapes photography is the single most pursued form of photography for many. It seems simple at first, especially if you're an introvert. You don’t need to interact with another person or a model, and you don’t need [...]

With the new changes that have recently come out with the Adobe subscription plan, there are even more reasons to take a good look at your Lightroom plan and be familiar with all the features [...]

Photographing the Aurora Borealis in Iceland can be an exciting and challenging experience for beginner and advanced photographers alike. Everyone has their own way of accomplishing this. The following steps reflect what you might already [...]

Excelling in landscape photography takes some thought and preparation. It's not a drive-by shooting out the car window and it's not a mid-day shot when you're having a picnic with your family. In my new series of articles, [...]

We are constantly having this conversation about upgrading cameras. What is the newest neatest thing and how much is going to set me back? I don't know about you, but a camera is a major investment and I don't [...]

We live in a time of rapidly advancing technology everywhere, especially when it comes to digital cameras. Long gone are the days of that infrequent film camera purchase, where the type of film you used determined so much. [...]

Yosemite National Park is one our favorite places to hold our photography workshops and we offer both group and private workshops there. One of our most popular offerings is our private photography workshops in [...]

Mark Jansen working with a client Beyond everything else, and I think you’ll agree, the greatest thing about landscape photography is that it is a passport to adventure. The camera has always been an excuse [...]

Have you considered a private photography workshop? Are you considering a private photography workshop? Here are some reasons to consider this option with Jansen Photo Expeditions. Private photography workshops give you flexibility and the ability to shoot where you [...]

Since winter is at our door, I’m sure you have been gearing up for the season and perhaps you’re even thinking about joining us for our upcoming Iceland photography workshop. I thought I would address how [...]

Yosemite National Park is one our favorite places to hold our photography workshops and we offer both group and private workshops there. One of our most popular offerings is our private photography workshops in Yosemite. Here are some of the reasons why: [...]

Anyone that lives in California knows that November is the prime month for great sunsets on the Central Coast. The sun is in just the right place in these rugged locations. It reflects on the beaches, as it dances off [...]

"L" brackets for your camera are the cool cousin to the "always loosening up on you" single bottom plates.      View Mark's L Bracket Video The simple "L" bracket is for your camera's body and you need [...]

On almost every digital photography workshop we have held, one problem our clients seem to stress about is sensor dust cleaning. Many take their cameras to the local camera store if they can find one these [...]

  What are the best wildlife photography lenses and cameras that will work for you? We all like to travel, explore and record our world through the lens, but SmartPhones leave many wanting more when [...]

With all the new and improved digital and mirrorless camera gear available these days everybody’s out there shooting. That’s mostly what we see in the field, a lot of shooting going on. High capacity memory [...]

Being primarily a landscape photographer, I am always trying to push my images to the next level of attention to create dynamic photography landscapes. Like most, I have this thought in the back of my [...]

We are really excited about heading out on this season’s first astrophotography event in the Alabama Hills in the Eastern Sierra. Timing, location, and clear skies are what it’s all about when you plan one of [...]

Preparation, observation, persistence and patience and getting beyond the program modes are the key factors for getting your landscape photography on track! These are the 5 secrets for successful landscape photography. Getting great photos these [...]

Yosemite Photography is in my blood.  I’ve been there too many times to count, but my favorite time is winter. Yosemite in winter is the best time of year because it’s quiet. The crowds of summer [...]

The most common question asked by many people is “How come my photos are never sharp?” Their big concern is that the lens or lenses they already own are not good enough and they need [...]

Last weekend I attended a local art show here in beautiful Camarillo, California. Having spent quite a few years working the Fine Art circuit from Malibu to Santa Barbara, (now guiding workshops and teaching photography [...]

Now that summer has officially kicked in, you are most likely considering quite a few locations for capturing some great imagery. One can certainly cruise the web, or flip through that stack of landscape magazines you’ve been collecting all year to [...]

Photography has been going through a rapid transformation. With the internet, it’s no longer resigned to the skilled professional. Democracy rules this craft more than ever. This statement has been bounced around for years. While [...]

Are you spending a lot of time learning how to use your digital camera and getting the results you hoped for? Learning effective photo editing is easily the other half of creating amazing images with your [...]

I’ve been in the business of teaching landscape and street photography for the last 15 years.  In the early days, the lion’s share of our business was fine art and commercial photography. But after countless requests, [...]

After arriving in Big Sur at 10 pm, it was a bit of a challenge getting a place to park our camper for four days. You see most of Big Sur is only available to [...]

I’ve been gearing up and preparing for our upcoming Big Sur and Iceland winter landscape expeditions. The following tips will help you avoid some unpleasant surprises next time you venture into the cold and wet. If you’d [...]

There are so many reasons to photograph Iceland in Winter. The stark contrast between the volcanic black sand and the snow, the ice caves, the glaciers, and the aurora borealis to name just a few. [...]

This amazing stretch of land along California’s central coast has been strangely hidden from view from so many driving up and down it for years. Except for of its widely published Bixby bridge and a few known [...]

. If you’re a native Californian, it’s rare that this fabled coastline has never crossed your mind at one time or another. As a young kid, born in Southern California, I always dreaded car sickness each [...]

Lobby in Sysco Foods This is a story of the photographic arts and where it could lead to anyone who follows their bliss as a landscape photographer. I used to say, all the [...]

Hero: Waypoint Cafe, Camarillo, CA I’m sure many people have heard this phrase before, especially when it comes to photography: “The Personal Photography Project”. When you’ve been in the photographic field for a number [...]

Light in the late afternoon and morning often provides the sweetest glow in Yosemite, as it bounces off the towering granite spires at every turn. My wife and I have been traveling to Yosemite all [...]

How do you know if you're making good photographs? How is it possible to gauge your progress as a photographer without unbiased criticism from family and friends? I'm sure everyone's heard: " I love your pictures, you're such a [...]

  We arrived at our morning shooting location in Big Sur just as the first color of the morning light was disappearing. As the red light began to fade, the clouds in the distance started [...]

Finding your photographic vision is a great challenge for many photographers. Many people spend years honing their craft to understand the mechanics of aperture, exposure, and ISO, in addition to understanding their chosen camera’s form and [...]

Are you looking to book a photography workshop or photography expedition?   You love to travel and you’re excited about your new camera and you want to learn to create some amazing landscape images. What a perfect opportunity to [...]

When I approach an iconic landscape photographic location on our photography expeditions these days, I often see other photographers jockeying for position. Some have traveled great distances and most certainly planned for a particular composition. [...]

Captured on Ilford XP2 Super 400 The early dawn of digital photography promised endless quantities of free high resolution, simple to create images. That high tide has certainly been achieved, with the world’s [...]

Do you know what it means to create depth in your landscape photography? Do your images carry the viewer into the scene and move you from one corner of the image to the other? Are there compelling [...]

Astrophotography is emerging as a new experience for many photographers. The Milky Way is now open territory for all. Imagery with good stories is now being produced using it, pushing night photography to new heights! Camera sensors have become so [...]

Culling through an amazing amount of imagery after a long day of shooting can be a daunting task. Whether on a long weekend or on an extended trip, we all go through this in one [...]

When using a DSLR on the streets and your subjects are human (not architecture), leave those multi-focus long telephoto lenses at home. Prime, single focus lenses 35 to 50 mm, 1.2, 1.4 or 1.8's rule on the streets! They're small and unobtrusive and [...]

Great landscape photos are captured when the light is optimum. This could be early morning or just as the sun sets and a bit after. Captures are also great on the edge of storms or immersed in them. Dramatic [...]

Pre-Visualize your photo. Build an image in your mind, much like a fine art painter would do before putting paint on canvas. Then, think about the time of day, light, and composition for your image. Attempt to match it [...]

Iceland is an impressive and beyond beautiful country. It’s nestled far out in the North Atlantic, 700 miles east of Greenland. It’s located directly where the North American and European tectonic plates collide, boasting one of the most active [...]

San Francisco's Chinatown is an amazing place to explore and photograph. Chinatown is nestled on Grant Street and Stockton Street in San Francisco. As as you explore the streets of San Francisco and approach this area, you're instantly transported into [...]

When hitting the city streets for the first time, many newcomers to street photography feel a certain anxiety about photographing people on the streets.  There’s something they should know up front, that might help a bit. Anyone [...]

The next time you’re planning to go on a shooting trip or you’re heading out on a photography workshop with one great shot in mind, you might also attempt to create a visual story through a [...]

            Diamond Beach: 2016 Icelandic Tour Details Contrary to popular belief, Iceland is a very developed country at its core. Small and compact, with only 300,000 people. 200,000 of them [...]

With so many images being produced these days, it becomes more important than ever to lock in an eye-catching story. Storytelling and purpose is the cornerstone of photography once you've mastered the fundamentals. Telling a good story is a [...]

Do you ever wonder how those amazing landscape shots are pulled off? Most likely, they're not created by the lucky opportunist, pulling off the highway during a mid-day road trip. They come about by someone who does careful research [...]

Whether you’re shooting a DSLR, mirrorless, or even film, all cameras do the same thing once you dig through the array of options packed within. They capture light onto a light-sensitive emulsion or sensor. Each camera [...]

We live in a world of amazing technology, everything is at your fingertips. iPhones are so simple to use and take great shots right of the box. Many are seduced by the quality of smartphone [...]

We live in the days of constantly evolving technology. New techniques of photo enrichment, manipulation, and photographic stylings are flowing like water with every software developer screaming for our attention. When something new hits the [...]