Guest Authors
Articles by acclaimed landscape photographers to help you take your photography to the next level.
What Readers Are Saying
Great course! I am loving the narrower scope but more in-depth approach and both the “in the field” workflow and “the photo I didn’t take” explanations. Every single case study was excellent. (Behind the Lens Course)
Regina Velasquez
PERFECT FOR THE BEGINNER AND BEYOND – Brilliant! Your course is perfect for the beginner and beyond. I have used Lightroom for 2-3 years now and this course was a perfect way to reinforce what I already know and to add to my knowledge base. Your teaching manner is clear and enjoyable. Being a former teacher I value those skills – which are not necessarily found in many online courses! I’m looking forward to more that you might offer in the future.
Jean DePue Paschke
Your head is blown away by the amount of things you finally start to understand.
Anton Averin
I love the relaxed way you tell your stories in InFocus Newsletter, and your wonderful pictures.
GertDenmark
I advanced by leaps and bounds in both my photography skills and Photoshop skills. Varina and Jay are great teachers!
Ken Kurzweil
InFocus Nature Photography Newsletter is a wonderful inspiration and resource for me, I’m on a limited budget live away from large towns, I am a carer and thoroughly enjoy photography. It is truly a fantastic thing to be able to learn and be inspired by your InFocus Nature Photography Newsletter. All I can say is I love it and thank you.
MarnieVictoria, Australia
I have been using filters for many years and still learned a number of helpful tidbits of information I didn’t already know or hadn’t thought about from the Essential Filters Course. The material is presented in easy-to-digest segments of video that you can sit down and watch all of back-to-back, or if you only have a few minutes you can watch them one at a time. The way the segments are divided makes it easy to go back and find specifics you want to review.
Jennifer WolfCardiff, California
Where have you been, Joshua? I’ve spent thousands of dollars in video tutorials like this one. Your video tutorials are the best I’ve ever purchased. It is very easy to absorb and understand. Keep up the good work! I will definitely recommend your video tutorials to all my friends who are learning Photoshop.
Freddy NgSingapore
InFocus Newsletter is one of the best photography magazines out there. I really get a lot out of it and enjoy reading from beginning to end.
MaryBroke, NSW. Australia
Everything you have taught in your video series has made me a better photographer, editor, and a photo printer. I still have a lot more to learn, but you really helped to set a good beginning foundation for me.
Darrell UruskiBritish Columbia, Canada
Essential Filters Course would have saved me from frustrating photos that were a result of using filters wrong or not understanding when and how to use them. Another great tutorial series from Jay & Varina.
Tom HealyPortland, Oregon
I bought several of your Video Courses and I just love them. They are enthusiastic, the information is easy to understand and to the point.It makes me want to run out and try all your tips . Best of all the photography from all over the world is just fantastic! Great work! Will be watching for more!
MarieUpper Michigan, USA
You guys did a fabulous job teaching the Essential Filters Course in a fairly easy and straightforward manner that we can comprehend quickly. I have already learned a lot about different tips and tricks just by watching some of your video courses. Kudos to both of you and I deeply appreciate it.
Jeffery WongCalifornia
InFocus Newsletter is the best source on the web for concise, well delivered and meaningful information on landscape and nature photography. The blog has an amazing wealth of information photographers can use at no cost and the ebooks are a tremendous value; the best I have been able to find. If you are looking for a place to find what you need to become a stronger photographer, InFocus Newsletter is the place. Very well done Varina and Jay.”
MikeAuburn, CA - USA
I have been following InFocus Nature Photography Newsletter for about five years and have learned many great tips and tricks and have been inspired by many of your images. You have always been an very good instructors when I attended your seminars.
PatrickWest Seneca, NY, USA
I am looking forward to completing the Creating Impact Course. You and Varina do an excellent job of teaching key photographing techniques. Watching your video’s is like having my own personal instructor!
Bill HigginsMichigan, USA
I thoroughly enjoy each Newsletter (InFocus Nature Photography Newsletter). They have all been interesting and informative. I love the photos I’ve seen and the text describing how the shot was made. I’ve especially enjoyed seeing and reading how the light has changed the photo, or how the different approach of Jay and Varina to the same location will result in photos that can be dramatically different.
DesiPort Owen, South Africa
The site is a pleasure to view and read, and it’s full of useful and well-presented info. The photos, of course, are a great source of inspiration. We always look forward to receiving our InFocus Nature Photograph Newsletter updates, and we saved each one for future reference.
Tom & SanneNew Smyrna Beach, FL
InFocus Newsletter helps me to continually learn from the experts in field of Nature Photography.
PrabuSan Carlos , USA
I love InFocus Newsletter. You really inspire me to take better pictures. Continue the great work. Thanks
John FrancisBelgium
Varina – this is EXACTLY what I have been studying these days and you have solved a huge mystery for me with this explanation of hyperfocal distance. I’m going to put your chart in my iPhone so I have it with me when I’m out in the field.
Catherine MartinPalm Desert, California
Jay and Varina Patel’s Ultimate Landscape Photography Course has been a great resource to help me in my journey towards taking great photos. Their presentations are in the terrific clear, simple, engaging style that they use in their workshops. Their content is comprehensive and includes handy tips and information that I haven’t seen elsewhere on the net.
Simon PattersonWestern Australia
The Hyperfocal Distance Course is excellent and enlightening. It will definitely come in useful when I go to the Yading Nature Reserve in China next week on a photography trip.
Claire TanSingapore
All-in-all, The Essential Filters Course along with the others in this series, are the most informative and easy to learn instruction I have taken. I am a complete fan of Jay and Varina and love their instructions.
Joe HudspethPrineville, Oregon
Josh Cripps is hands down one of the leading video tutorial instructors I have come across. For many months I have scoured the internet trying to find someone who could teach me basic, intermediate and advanced techniques in Photoshop. Well spoken, clear and concise instruction, easy to understand and a great sense of humour. Thanks for all your effort in putting these tutorials together Josh, I look forward to all the ones I don’t yet own!
Michelle BarclayCanada
It’s difficult to find the words to express how impressed I was with your Photoshop & photography knowledge and your body of work!
Shawn Vogt
I have only recently started reading your InFocus Nature Photography Newsletter and looking at your Youtube Videos and I am really enjoying them and find them very helpful. Many Thanks!
MargaretIreland
I have been trying to understand Hyperfocal Distance since I first picked up a camera about a year ago. I have had several people explain it to me, but I never understood it as well as I do after watching your tutorials. They are so clear and easy to understand.
Sue AtkinsonWestern Australia
You have both brought my learning forward big time with your Histogram Exposed Course. I only got my first dslr 2 weeks ago. You have given me the skills to get results straight away. I am having so much fun experimenting in manual mode. Something i didn’t think was possible so early in my journey.
Simon PageNew South Wales, Australia
There’s always something included in InFocus Nature Photography Newsletter that I can use to improve my photographic creativity. There’s a lot to learn from reading your experiences, both good and bad. This magazine comes to me in an ‘awkward’ format, but I still love the sharing which is written like as though it was made within a family structure.
JackNew Zealand
For me the best parts are the InFocus Nature Photography Newsletter and the Video Tutorials. The article on how to take pictures of the stars motivated me to get out there and try it. I bought the video series on Essential Photographic Filters which I found informative. That led me to try out your new video series on the Histogram Exposed Tutorial. InFocus Nature Photography Newsletter has been part of my educational process in my quest to improve my photography.
KarenCalifornia, USA
I thoroughly enjoyed the video courses by Varina and Jay Patel. Their clear presentation style and real life examples of their teaching enabled me to rapidly understand and put into practice what they were teaching. Their style is quite personal as if you were on site with them. Excellent photography in the examples supports the learning experience. Histograms were always a bit of a mystery. Seeing how to use them to improve my “in-camera” results will enable me to get the results I see in the field.
Michael FranklinOttawa, Canada
And thanks for making such awesome Videos Courses! These have been a huge help in my photography development. 😉
Jim SchubertGeorgia, USA
I really like the interesting articles in the InFocus Newsletter and the variety of tutorials in small bites which have helped me improve my photography.
VeronicaGuildford, UK
InFocus Newsletter provides great inspiration, help and source of information in easy-to-understand language for beginners like me. You gave me that little push to always have my camera with me when I’m out and about. Keep up the great work!
JanHoogstraten, Belgium
I’d like to take the opportunity to congratulate with you for your Video Courses, I find them very useful and helpful in order to improve in my favourite hobby.
Tiziano TronoCremona, Italy
I am an avid follower of Jay and Varina’s work. Their work really is superb. Their knowledge in the field of landscape photography is impeccable.
DerekSan Francisco Bay Area, CA
I used both Hyperlocal Distance techniques (for playa shots) and fast shutter techniques (for crashing surf) that I learned from The Ultimate Landscape Course. It was very helpful.
Tom HealyPortland, Oregon
I really enjoyed the Behind the Lens course. It is the best of all the courses you’ve made. I own every one of your webinars and courses and this one was as intuitive as any of them.
Frankie LeyroFort Belvoir, VA, USA
I have to say, you both are great teachers. I’ve learned so much from The Ultimate Landscape Photography & Focus courses I’ve purchased.
Lorian KeramarisToronto, Canada
I’m enjoying your Creating Impact Course video tutorials and case studies. They’ve really helped clarify a number of areas that have always been a big vague for me – like hyperfocal distance! I’ve also really appreciated seeing your thought process when deciding how to photograph a location and the steps you work through in post processing. Great stuff! 🙂
Ruth SmithTasmania, Australia
There’s so many free videos out there it’s easy to be overwhelmed. The Ultimate Landscape Photography Course breaks down the fundamental knowledge you need for landscape photography and shows you how to use that knowledge in an actual photo shoot. That makes it a lot easier to figure out where you’re going wrong when you’re not getting the result you’re after. It’s worth every cent!
Tania CourtArmidale, NSW, Australia
Hi Josh, being able to pause and re-run sections was invaluable.. Also, the pace of the tutorials seems to suit me and I liked the way you didn’t edit word slips – I felt like I was listening to a live course with the benefit of being able to go back and review. Two or three hours spent following your course has left me comfortable in the Photoshop environment, which I have never been before despite many hours of reading or watching other tutorials. You do a very fine job.
Tim BlackmoreNew Zealand
I am thrilled that this weekend I got to put to use what I have learned so far. Thanks Varina for explaining hyper focal distance, it even worked with my little Olympus OMD M5 with the kit 12-50mm lens. Thank you both for explaining how to use layers.
Robert ForristerMakanda, Illinois
My landscape photos have improved greatly from the help from InFocus Newsletter and this Visual Wilderness.
EarlMontgomery, Alabama
I finally felt brave enough to tackle processing an album of photos that I had from a workshop I attended. I was astounded by how much I had learned from your videos!!!! I turned out some fantastic images, beyond my expectations! I didn’t think I knew what I was doing but I have learned a lot.
Lynne SaundersCanada
Varina is an exceptional teacher (I’ve experienced hundreds over the years and she is among the very best, if not at the top). These case studies are an exceptional complement to the fieldwork teachings where both Varina and Jay excel with their skills and explanations. The Ultimate Landscape Photography Course is a MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE for anyone wanting to get into or improve their skills in this field.
Ron BritManitoba, Canada
I LEARNED MORE THAN ANY OTHER LIGHTROOM TRAINING I HAVE TAKEN – This course has been SO MUCH help! I learned more from your lessons than I had learned from any other Lightroom training I have taken. I like the short, targeted lessons, which allow me to practice each skill right away. The short lessons are also great for me, because my brain can only hold so much new information at one time. AND I can easily find any topic, if I need a “refresher.”
Nancy Hunt
What I really like is the fact that you not only explain haw to do it but also why. Congratulations, this was a real pleasure for me and I have learnt an awful lot. Regards.
Geoff Dawes
Varina and Jay will go the extra mile in making sure you understand the concepts.
Stephanie
