Shaw teaches that producing good photographs means knowing how to control the tools of photography; camera equipment, lenses, film, light, and exposure. The first half of the book covers all these basics as they relate to landscape work, with lessons illustrated with before-and-after photographs. Special attention is given to sunrises, sunsets, and moonlit exposures. The book ends with several breathtaking photo essays that present various approaches to location work, from geographic and seasonal perspectives, to including wildlife in landscapes.