I was actually signing up for the LiHD contest from an external link.

Every photo is linked with a memory, so it's very hard to pick only one. For example, my wife and her birds as we spent a rare day playing at the lake where we live and work. The raincoat girl was taken on our 2 year anniversary, the closest thing we had to a honeymoon. Great 'moments' of activities with family and friends, favorite places - they are all favorites! I guess if I was an outsider looking in, I like my 'Braving the Storm' Blurb 2 entry. I went walking one night during a snowstorm and shot the photo from our small town bridge towards 'Campbells Lodge'. After a little tweaking in Photoshop, I think it looks like art.

Most importantly, keep shooting. With digital photography, when it's possible, it NEVER hurts to take multiple shots at multiple settings or different angles. Later, you can always pick and choose the ones you want to keep. And ALWAYS look at what is behind/around your subject. Don't be afraid to move around. If you can, get low, move to the side or change your angle in some way to get that telephone pole/wires, the neighbors car, etc. out of the background. Your photos will improve greatly.

Capturing memories is first and foremost...and sharing those moments with others. And the dreamer inside would love to be published, or to win some new equipment I might not otherwise be able to afford.

I love to get ideas on how other people view things. A different perspective, angle, tone. It doesn't take much to change a blah photo into something great.