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Sea cliffs and breaking surf at sunset, a picture from the book

My Free Landscape Photography Book

Tips and tricks on landscape photography, 133 pages in eight chapters, in English and free to download.

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The book

What is in volume 1, and three more free books.

What is inside

133 pages in eight chapters, written from practice and illustrated throughout. Every photograph carries its settings — focal length, aperture, shutter speed, ISO — and the place it was made; there are some fifty of them, from the Cliffs of Moher through Neuschwanstein to Dubrovnik.

  1. 01Following my Photography Tips
  2. 02Appropriate Equipment
  3. 03Photo parameters and Camera Settings
  4. 04Find Motive and Plan
  5. 05Image Composition
  6. 06Work with Natural Light
  7. 07Control Sharpness
  8. 08Image Editing

It is written for anyone who enjoys landscape photography and is not satisfied with their pictures — or does not know where to begin. The foreword puts it plainly: this needs neither expensive equipment nor a degree in photography. The book is free and stays free.

More e-books

Three more books, also free

The sequel on editing, and two guides for anyone planning a shoot or a film: for hotels and restaurants, and for companies. Each comes in English and in German.

Cover: From RAW to Fine Art

From RAW to Fine Art

Editing landscape photographs in Lightroom and Photoshop

Who it is for: For keen amateur photographers who have already opened Lightroom.

The sequel to my landscape book: from the RAW file to the finished print, in Lightroom and Photoshop.

  • 54 pages
  • PDF
  • 5.3 MB
  • In English
  • free
Cover: Pictures That Get Booked

Pictures That Get Booked

Photo & video for hotels and restaurants

Who it is for: For hoteliers, restaurateurs and whoever does the marketing for a house.

Planning the shoot, preparing rooms and team, and using the pictures so that they bring in bookings.

  • 55 pages
  • PDF
  • 6.5 MB
  • In English
  • free
Cover: The Corporate Shoot Guide

The Corporate Shoot Guide

Events, employee portraits and image film

Who it is for: For marketing and communications, HR and employer branding, event agencies and management.

From briefing to delivery: events, employee portraits and image films, with a sample briefing and checklists.

  • 53 pages
  • PDF
  • 5.6 MB
  • In English
  • free
The author

Who wrote the book, and ten pictures from the journeys behind it.

Patrick Schmetzer – about the author
Biography

About the Author

I taught myself photography. I was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama. Ireland’s landscapes brought me to it, and when I picked up a camera during a gap year, I never put it down again.

Scenery that is everywhere and still mysterious fascinates me, and the journey matters more to me than the destination. Being on the road mostly means waiting where the light is still to come.

Dramatic light and a style of my own are what I work towards in a landscape. Drawing and music, which came first for me, made the way into landscape photography an easy one.

I photograph nature in an atmospheric but lively style. The final picture comes as much from the editing as from the exposure — in a landscape, the tones decide whether it gains depth.

I have been to many places: the United Arab Emirates, nearly all of Europe, Africa. The pictures come from several of those journeys, from the Swiss Alps to the deserts of Oman.

Landschaftsfotografie 1
Landschaftsfotografie 2
Landschaftsfotografie 3
Landschaftsfotografie 4
Landschaftsfotografie 5
Landschaftsfotografie 6
Landschaftsfotografie 7
Landschaftsfotografie 8
Landschaftsfotografie 9
Landschaftsfotografie 10
Coaching

Personal online sessions on your pictures and on editing.

One-to-one landscape photography sessions

Personal Landscape Photography Coaching

I offer private online learning sessions where I analyze your images, give honest and well-founded feedback, and provide helpful tips to improve your photography both on site and during editing.

You will gain insights into my workflow and receive guidance on improving your images as well as editing tips and tricks to optimize your landscape photography.

We will cover the following:

  • Image analysis & critique + improvement tips
  • Editing landscape photos with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop
  • Tips and tricks to improve landscape composition
  • Help & purchase recommendations for photography gear
  • Using external plug-ins for landscape photography
  • Your personal questions
Pier Landscape Photography Slide 37
Prints & licensing

The landscapes as a print on the wall or under license.

Images come to life in print. Bring something special and unique into your home

Landscape prints for your home

Would you like to purchase my landscape prints for your home?

— Print
Licensing images for your medium

Would you like to license my images for your medium?

— Licensing