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Full camera settings
Each final photograph includes its ISO, focal length, aperture, shutter speed and exposure compensation where used.
64-page guide · 12 complete shoots · 7 bonus Field Notes
See how professional adventure photographer Dan Bailey thinks behind the camera
Dan takes you through 12 outdoor shoots from the first idea to the final edit. You will see his settings, lighting choices, missed frames and changes of plan, then you can try the same approach on your own shoots.
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Includes 7 Natural Light Field Notes free , $27 bonus value.
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- Follow every shoot from the original idea to the final edit
- See the rejected frames and decisions that led to the keeper
- Learn how to respond when the light, weather or subject changes
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Regularly $24.95
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A practical companion for reading and improving the light in front of you.
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12 shoots explained
Dan Bailey’s photography has appeared in publications and campaigns for
The missing ingredient
Settings Tell You What Was Used. They Don’t Tell You Why the Photograph Worked.
A final image and a line of EXIF data leave out most of the useful part. What was the photographer trying to make? How did the light change? Why did one frame work when the others did not?
A genuine contents preview showing the range of shoots covered in the guide.
Inside the 64-page guide
See what’s inside the 64-page guide
The same eight headings appear throughout the book, so you can compare how Dan solves very different photographic problems with the same underlying process.
- Concept: the idea behind the photograph and the result Dan hoped to achieve.
- Gear: an exact inventory of what was carried and what was ultimately used.
- Light: an assessment of the conditions and the challenges they created.
- Approach: the creative and technical method Dan chose for the situation.
- Execution: what actually happened once the planning met real-world conditions.
- Final thoughts: an honest reflection on what went right and what could have gone better.
- Post-processing: the digital adjustments used to create the finished result.
- Quick tips: practical advice for adapting the lesson to your own photography.
A more deliberate way to shoot
What you’ll do differently on your next shoot
- Make more deliberate decisions before pressing the shutter
- Recognize when changing weather or light creates a better opportunity
- Diagnose why an early frame is not working and know what to change
- Stop relying on settings copied from photographs made in different conditions
- Develop a repeatable process for planning, shooting and reviewing images
- Learn from unsuccessful frames instead of judging only the finished photograph
- Apply restrained post-processing that supports the light already present
The most useful photography books show you how the photographer thought, including the frames that did not work.
Behind the Action shows the method
More than camera settings
Read the whole shoot, not only the settings
Dan includes the aperture, shutter speed, ISO and lens for each finished photograph. He also explains the parts that EXIF data cannot record.
Every shoot follows the same practical framework. Dan covers concept, gear, light, approach and execution. He then reviews the result, explains his post-processing and leaves you with short tips to try on your own shoots.
Some photographs began with a firm idea. Others were made on the fly as weather, light or the subject changed. The outtakes let you follow those changes instead of jumping straight to the answer.
What is actually inside
Twelve very different outdoor shoots
Skate skiing, trail running, backcountry skiing, alpine climbing, portraits, landscapes, hiking and mountain biking all appear in the guide.
02
The gear Dan carried
Dan lists the camera, lenses, lighting and carrying system used on each shoot, including the compromises he made to travel light.
03
Lighting analysis
See how he handled flat overcast, harsh midday sun, snow, forest shade and weather that changed halfway through a climb.
04
Approach and execution
Follow the starting plan, the choice of viewpoint and lens, then the changes Dan made once the shoot was underway.
05
Rejected photographs
Follow the sequence leading to the keeper. Several chapters show numbered outtakes beside Dan’s explanation of what changed.
06
Post-processing steps
See the restrained RAW adjustments Dan made, usually in Lightroom’s Basic panel, rather than a heavily manufactured result.
Real pages, real photographs
A few of the images you’ll study
These are four examples from the 12 shoots in the book. In each chapter, Dan shows the settings, the attempts that missed and the choices that produced the final frame.
See how Dan gets from an idea to the finished frame
What happened on each shoot
A good photograph usually takes more than one try
Each case study shows the plan, the work on location and the editing choices behind the frame Dan kept.
Concept
The intended story, mood, visual idea and purpose behind the image.
Gear
The cameras, lenses and supporting equipment selected for the shoot.
Light
An assessment of direction, quality, contrast and changing conditions.
Approach
The composition, timing and visual strategy chosen for the subject.
Execution
What happened in the field and how Dan responded in the moment.
Final thoughts
A candid review of successful decisions, mistakes and compromises.
Processing
The adjustments used to transform the selected frame into the final image.
Quick tips
Clear ideas you can take away and use in your own outdoor photography.
Free bonus with the main guide
Buy Behind the Action and get the Natural Light Field Notes free
Behind the Action is the guide you are buying. Order before the timer runs out and we will include seven one-page Field Notes on working with natural light.
Keep them on your phone or computer for a quick refresher before a shoot or while editing your photographs.
Your seven Field Notes cover:
- Using natural light at any time of day
- Reading your histogram in natural light
- Responding when the light changes
- How natural light affects colour
- Improving light during post-processing
- Working with natural light indoors
- Managing multiple natural-light sources
The main guide shows you how a professional photographer makes decisions. The Field Notes help you apply that thinking to the light in front of you.
Natural Light Field Notes , $27 bonus value
Get the Guide + Free Bonus for $9.99
Follow 15 genuine frames as Dan responds to worsening weather on Alaska’s Pika Glacier.
One shoot, frame by frame
When the Weather Changed, the Photograph Changed With It
Dan flew into Alaska’s Pika Glacier for a climbing trip. Bright sun and cloud turned into fog, rain and snow, and the original climb had to be abandoned after only a few pitches.
Instead of packing the camera away, he looked for a different photograph. The chapter follows 15 numbered frames as he worked toward the final image while descending from the route.
He also explains how he carried the camera while climbing, why soft bad-weather light helped, and the small RAW adjustments he made afterward.
Dan’s settings provide context. The useful part is seeing when the conditions changed and why he changed the photograph with them.
Professional recommendations
What photographers are saying about Behind the Action
“Well worth a read if you’re into action and environmental portrait photography.”Jim Goldstein Internationally published professional photographer and author
“If you are interested in learning outdoor adventure photography, this eBook will show you some time tested techniques and methods that you can use to create your own dynamic and exciting images.”Anne McKinnell Author and professional photographer
Is Behind the Action Right for You?
This guide is for you if:
- You understand basic exposure but want to make more intentional photographs
- You enjoy outdoor, action, travel, landscape or environmental portrait photography
- You want to see what happens between the first idea and the final frame
- You want to make better decisions when conditions change
- You learn more from real shoots than abstract rules
- You want to understand why a photograph worked, not merely copy its settings
Will this still apply to a modern camera?
Yes. The guide names the equipment Dan used, and some of the camera bodies are older. His decisions about light, timing, camera position and preparation still apply, whatever camera you carry.
The gear is included as practical context, not as a shopping list.
The guide uses terms such as aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Beginners can follow it, but readers who understand the exposure basics will get the most from it.
Questions before you buy
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this suitable for beginners?
Yes, provided you understand the basics of aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Dan explains his decisions in plain language and shows how each shoot developed, so you can follow the reasoning instead of memorizing settings. Amateur and intermediate photographers will get the most from it, but an enthusiastic beginner can use it to build stronger habits from the start.
Is it only for adventure photographers?
No. The photographs come from outdoor and adventure assignments, but the lessons apply far beyond those subjects. Reading light, choosing a viewpoint, preparing for changing conditions and recognizing the strongest frame are useful skills in portrait, travel, landscape and many other kinds of photography.
Are the techniques still relevant with current cameras?
Yes. Some of the camera bodies shown are older, but the guide is about photographic judgment rather than buying particular equipment. Light, timing, composition, preparation and problem-solving remain essential with any modern camera, so you can apply Dan’s process to the equipment you already own.
Does the guide cover post-processing?
Yes. Dan explains the restrained RAW and Lightroom adjustments used to finish the photographs. You will see how editing supports choices made in the field, giving you a practical approach that improves the image without making it look overworked. This makes the post-processing advice approachable even if you prefer a simple, natural editing style.
What format will I receive?
You will receive a 64-page downloadable PDF. It can be read on a computer, tablet or phone, making it easy to study at home or revisit before a shoot. Because it is digital, you can keep it available whenever you want a quick reminder of Dan’s process.
How will I receive it?
You receive immediate digital access after completing the secure checkout. There is no shipping delay and nothing physical to wait for. You can open the guide and begin studying the shoots straight away.
Is this a subscription?
No. During the promotion, you pay $9.99 USD once. There are no recurring charges, and the guide is yours to keep.
What is included in the bonus?
You will receive seven one-page Natural Light Field Notes alongside the main Behind the Action guide. They cover daylight, histograms, changing light, colour, post-processing, indoor light and mixed-light situations. Keep them nearby when you want a quick reminder before a shoot or while editing.
When does the bonus expire?
The bonus and the $9.99 promotional price end together on Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. New York time. The countdown on this page shows the time remaining, so you can see the genuine deadline before ordering. Complete your purchase before it reaches zero to receive the Field Notes with the main guide.
What if the guide is not useful to me?
Your purchase is protected by Light Stalking’s existing lifetime money-back guarantee. You can explore the guide, study the examples and decide whether it helps your photography. If it does not meet your needs, contact Light Stalking and request a refund under the guarantee terms.
Get the complete guide and all seven Field Notes for $9.99
Your discount is automatically applied. The $9.99 price and bonus end together when the countdown reaches zero.
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Field-tested technique · instant digital download
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Get Behind the Action Today
This guide was published in 2013, so the Nikon bodies in the equipment lists are not new. Dan says in the book that the gear is listed only as a guide. The useful part is how he reads the light, plans a frame, reacts on location and reviews the result.
- 64-page downloadable guide
- 12 outdoor and adventure shoots
- Exact settings and the gear carried on each shoot
- Concept, light, approach and execution notes
- Numbered outtakes leading to the keeper
- Lightroom adjustments, final thoughts and practical tips
- 100% lifetime money-back guarantee
Your price today
$9.99 USD
Regularly $24.95 · No subscription · Instant digital delivery
Main Product: Behind the Action
64-page downloadable guide with 12 complete shoots, exact settings, equipment, rejected frames and post-processing notes.
Free Limited-Time Bonus
Natural Light Field Notes , $27 bonus value
Seven one-page reference guides included free before the deadline.
The $9.99 price and free bonus end when the timer reaches zero
Today: $9.99 · Regularly $24.95
Includes 7 Natural Light Field Notes free , $27 bonus value.
00Days
00Hours
00Minutes
00Seconds
Offer ends Sunday, July 26 at 11:59 p.m. New York time.
This limited-time discount has ended.
Discount code BTA9 is automatically applied at checkout
Secure checkout
Instant digital delivery
100% lifetime money-back guarantee
Try the guide without worrying about the purchase
Behind the Action has a lifetime money-back guarantee. If it is not useful to you, contact Light Stalking for a full refund.