CREATE BETTER IMAGES
RECONNECT WITH NATURE
Do you want to feel proud of your landscape and nature images, but instead feel overwhelmed by all you need to learn about your camera, composition, post-processing, other gear, etc.?
Or, perhaps you’ve mastered your photography but you could brush up on your outdoor skills a bit – like knowing what outdoor gear you need, how to pack, how to scout and plan shots, navigate the land, or importantly – how to be safe in nature?
Or, have you ever felt that spending more time in the great outdoors (with your camera) would be good for your health and well-being?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, WELCOME!
You are in the right place.
What’s Inside OPS:
Outdoor Skills + Safety
We provide practical and helpful information about the essential skills you need to do photography in the outdoors safely, respectfully, and with confidence.
Tools of the Trade
We can get pretty excited about all of the new gadgets that are out there for photography and outdoor adventuring. It’s not all about the gear, though. Check out our RESOURCES page to learn about recommended books, podcasts, apps, and yes – lotsa gear, too.
Connect With People + Nature
At OPS, you join like-minded photographers and outdoor enthusiasts who want to spend more time in nature with their cameras. We commit to putting nature first as we master our skills and encourage each other as we learn together. Check out our MANIFESTO to learn more.
Listen to the Outdoor Photography Podcast
Join Brenda Petrella, the creator of Outdoor Photography School, as she sits down with top landscape and nature photographers and leaders in the outdoor industry to unpack their approaches to creativity, composition, connecting with nature, and working safely and comfortably in the natural world.
This weekly podcast is a mix of interviews and quick tip episodes, called Tidbit Tuesdays. The Tidbit Tuesday episodes include nuggets of practical information and Brenda answers your submitted questions. Be sure to tune in!

Latest Episode:
What Our Listeners Say:
Latest Articles:

How to Photograph Waterfalls, Rivers, and Streams
In this complete guide, I share camera settings, recommended gear, and other important tips for creating beautiful images of moving water.

What is the Depth of Field Preview Button?
Depth of field preview is a handy, but often overlooked, camera function that can help you create sharp landscape and nature images.

Protect Your Photos With This Backup Strategy
Whether you are a beginner or professional photographer, it’s never too early to integrate a backup strategy into your photography workflow. Here’s a simple way to make sure you don’t lose your images.
About Outdoor Photography School
To be a successful outdoor photographer, your skills need to go beyond how to use a camera and compose an image. You also need to be proficient in navigating trails, water bodies, wildlife, and unexpected weather, to enjoy the outdoors safely and respectfully.
These outdoor skills are often overlooked when learning landscape or nature photography. We want to change that. At OPS, we provide practical information on BOTH topics so that you never have to feel unsure of your abilities to trek out into the woods or up a mountain pass with your camera.
Importantly, at OPS we commit to PUT NATURE FIRST. We respect our subjects (rivers, mountains, deserts, wildlife, etc.) and take proper care to ensure that the natural elements we photograph remain available for future generations. We encourage you to make this commitment too! Check out the OPS MANIFESTO to learn more.
So, are you ready to embrace your inner outdoorsman or outdoorswoman? Do you want to improve your landscape, nature, wildlife, or night sky images? Do you like our philosophy of putting nature first? If so, please join us!