Description
You arrive at a scene that stops you in your tracks. The light is doing something you won't see again. You lift the camera, and then the second-guessing starts. Which aperture. Which shutter speed. Whether to raise the ISO or brace against something solid instead. By the time you've settled on a setting, or just guessed and hoped, the moment has already started to change.
This isn't usually a knowledge problem. Most photographers at this stage can define ISO, aperture, and shutter speed one at a time. What's missing is how those pieces work together, how to read a scene quickly, and how to make a confident decision instead of questioning every setting after you've already pressed the shutter.
The Foundations of Landscape Photography was written to close that gap. It isn't a list of camera settings to memorize. It's a 177-page foundation you can rely on in the field, built chapter by chapter, from understanding your equipment through to a finished, processed image.
What's Inside
The guide is organized into nine chapters, building from the fundamentals of your camera through to a finished image.
01 Equipment
What you actually need to get started, and what you can safely ignore. A clear look at cameras, lenses, tripods, filters, and the accessories worth carrying, so you can stop researching gear and start using it.02 Camera Setup
How to set up your camera once, properly, so you're not fighting menus in the field. Covers file formats, focus modes, and the settings worth locking in before you leave the house.03 Exposure Triangle
How ISO, aperture, and shutter speed actually work together, not as three separate settings but as one decision. This is the chapter that makes the rest of the guide click into place.04 Choosing the Settings
A practical framework for deciding on your settings in any scenario, moving water, low light, harsh contrast, or a still landscape, without hesitating or defaulting back to auto.05 Composition
How to build an image that holds together, using the tools that actually matter: the rule of thirds, leading lines, and perspective, and knowing when to break them on purpose.06 Framing the Image
Translating what you see and feel standing in a scene into what your camera can actually capture. This is where a lot of otherwise technically correct images fall flat, and how to fix it before you press the shutter.07 Post-Processing
A grounded introduction to turning a RAW file into a finished image in Lightroom. Enough to process your photos with intention. If you want to go further, Edit With Intent picks up exactly where this chapter leaves off.08 Case Studies Bonus
Two complete field-to-edit breakdowns. You'll follow each image from arriving at the scene, through the decisions made in the field, to the finished, processed photograph.09 Summary
Everything from the guide pulled into one process you can actually use, so you leave with a repeatable approach rather than a list of unconnected tips.Is This Guide Right for You?
This guide is for photographers who are new to landscape photography, or who have been shooting for a while but still feel like their images don't match what they saw standing in front of the scene.
It's for you if you're not fully confident switching off auto mode, if you've never had a clear framework for choosing your settings, or if your compositions feel like guesswork rather than decisions.
It's not written for photographers who are already comfortable with their camera and are mainly looking to refine a post-processing workflow. If that's where you are, Edit With Intent is a better starting point.
There's no assumed experience level to get started. The guide moves from the basics of your camera through to a finished image, so you can pick it up wherever you are and follow it through in order.
Questions
What format is the guide delivered in?
It's a PDF you can download immediately after purchase, so you can read it on any device or print sections you want to keep with you.Do I need a specific camera brand or editing software?
No. The camera and field chapters apply regardless of brand. Chapter 7 uses Lightroom to demonstrate a basic post-processing workflow, but the principles carry over to any editing software.I already own Edit With Intent. Is this guide still useful?
Fundamentals covers the stage before Edit With Intent: understanding your camera, reading a scene, and composing an image. If you're already confident with those, Edit With Intent will likely be the more useful guide on its own, and this one may cover ground you've already got.Is there a refund policy?
Yes. If the guide isn't useful to you, get in touch within 30 days of your purchase and you'll get a full refund, no questions asked.Foundations of Landscape Photography is written by Christian Hoiberg, a landscape photographer based in the Lofoten Islands of Northern Norway who has been photographing and teaching landscape photography for more than ten years.
Read more about his background on the About page.
Brian Peasnall (verified owner) –
Got the chance to look through the book. I have always enjoyed photography and always look for ways to improve. Can’t wait to put some of these principles into use. There was a glitch with the download, but Christian responded quickly and put things right!
Marie (verified owner) –
Very useful, practical. I’m not photographing as much as I’d like at the moment because of family health constraints, but will be using this guide for a long time to come.
Jessica Miller (verified owner) –
This was a great in-depth guide to landscape photography. I was extremely impressed with this ebook and it is packed with a lot of useful information! It’s easy to follow and has great examples/images that helped to really understand and grasp the concepts. Lots of tips and tools of how to tackle a scene and so much more!
lauwm (verified owner) –
I was searching for a good practical guide. This was a great primer for the critical important concepts to consider I’m using your photographic tools, and how to look at a scene to help capture the best image. Great examples helped me to keep the concepts straight.