Pruning Fruit trees

Is there a site that can help me with pruning an apple tree? Not a sapling but a well established one that I've kind of let go.
Every demonstration I see is on a young tree, mine is about 15 years old and quite dense.
I prune every winter but I don't think I do enough.
Andy P

Andy,

Below is the Penn State site for apple care.

Basically on older trees, I open the center rather severely to let light and air into the center of the tree. I also cut the top back to about 12 feet. Most older apple trees bear fruit around the outer part for the most part. I thin the outer limbs some to let light in there also. Hey, my Golden Delicious full sized tree still set on about 2,000 apples...far too many.

http://tfpg.cas.psu.edu/part1/part13a.htm

Indy, Thanks There sure is a lot of info on that site, my head is spinning. LOL
Here is a pic of my 'MacFree' apple, a disease resistant variety of McIntosh.
It's on the south facing side of a slope. As you can see it's about 15 feet tall and fairly dense. I've topped it a couple of times and thinned it but it hardly shows.
It produced heavily last season but had 'sooty mold' on many fruit. I'm going to have to get serious with pruning this winter. Any advice?
Pic was taken this AM.
Andy P

Does this tree get enough hours of sunshine? Also, does it get good ventilation? I notice a large fir behind it.

Your tree is very twiggy looking compared to mine. I believe that your tree needs more air and light. I basically I like two layers of limbs. One about 5 or 6 foot up from the ground...then an open layer to let in air and light...then another horizonal branch layer of fruit limbs. above that.

Since you had some sooty mold, I suggest removing any center and inward branches at the top of the tree. Also those shoots that grow upward at the top gotta go. Also you might remove the lowest twiggy branches at the bottom to let in light to the lower layer of limbs I mentioned above.

Different varieties of trees have some different branching and fruiting habits, but it sums up.....let air and light in.

I hope this is helpful.

Indy, Thanks.
This is the year that I get serious with it. If I prune too much I guess it will grow in again.
I'll get rid of all the top watersprouts. and some other branches to open it up. I'll try the layer effect.
The pine trees behind do not shade it, but there are other trees to the left of this pic that shade it from mid afternoon, on. Sun from morning to then. This was not such a sheltered corner when it was planted. Hindsight is 20 - 20.
This will be done this weekend, I'll post another pic then for your opinion.
I really appreciate this guidance.
Andy P

OK Indy, Here is what it looks like now.
All the upright branches at the top are gone and a bunch of overlapping twiggy ones as well. Are there any others that should go?
Getting the layered effect is hard on this guy with the jumble of branches.
The interior is now open (I can stand in there now).
I'm reticent about removing the large horizontal limbs at the bottom, (in front and right).They produce lots of fruit.
I also removed a couple good sized branches on the deciduous trees in the background.
The lighting is different today so it looks different.
PS This is a Semi-dwarf.
Andy P

Andy, yours is a semi-dwarf and doesn't have as many large and long of limbs as my full sized ones do. Therefore you cannot prune as much. I don't cut back the ends much as they bear the best fruit for me.
Basically the framework is established in the early years. I like to see three or four strong limbs at the lower level and then another set up about three or four feet higher with each limb like a minature tree. ....with some air around each "treelet" I find that limbs need to be thinner on the north side of the tree and thicker on the sunny sides.
The top looks pretty good. It still looks a little thick in the middle height. I find the the small branches in the middle of the tree where it is shady do not ripen up well unless the center is sunny.

Regards, Wayne

Thanks again Wayne, I'll see what I can do.
A neighbor came by and remarked on how much I had removed, before I was done.
It sure looks different now, maybe a bit more.
The weather is closing in now so I'll hit again later.
Andy P