In your quest for epic photographs, don’t ignore what’s directly in front of you. Even a pair of wet jeans drying on a porch beam can offer a chance at great expression. As photographers, we tend to ignore the everyday world and keep our attention on spectacular vistas, epic sunsets, and floral scenes. Rubbish! In this image, a strong perspective and good composition transform the everyday into something much more rich. The colors in the image are reduced to two: green and blue. The shadows on the jeans set up a strong diagonal line that gets reinforced by the puffy white clouds. Minding the negative space keeps the eye moving around the jeans much like the gentle breezes these pants flew in. The best ideas are sometimes right nearby

© Rick Wright, Digital Photo Academy

This landscape photograph was taken late in the day. I was driving to Vermont to visit friends and saw the sky becoming more and more colorful. I knew that their farm was picturesque and wanted to get there before the colors faded, so, without speeding, I made a beeline for their home. It helps to have a location in mind, and then wait for the right time of day.

Early in the morning and late day skies can be incredibly colorful and dramatic, but they don't last long, so make sure your camera is ready to go. Have an extra charged battery on hand. Choose an exposure ahead of time that is in the right range, since, when the light is right, you want to be concentrating on your composition, not trying to find the ISO button. A tripod is very handy in low light situations. Then, take the time

As a parent most people use their camera to record the history and memories of their children. "Sit still! I want to take your picture." How many times did we hear that when we were kinds? Now, how many times do we say it when we want that great portrait of our children? We need to take a tip from them. Watch them at play, constant motion, never still with both feet on the ground. They are flurries of activity, climbing, jumping, rolling on the ground. We must do the same! We get stuck so often in trying to stand still and hold the camera steady that we miss some great images. Or, they all look the same because they are all shot from the same level. The eye level of how tall we are.

This first image is of my daughter at Central Park in MN; right behind my house. To get it I had

An abstract shot of the ball can be a great way to metaphorically immortalize the event, even make a card that will mean something to the whole team.

Photo © Tony Schreck, Minneapolis Digital Photo Academy Instructor

The old Kodak box instructions that said to have the sun behind you should be discarded! Backlight gives definition, and you don't have Uncle Harry or Baby Mark squinting like crazy at you. But keep in mind that bright, specular reflections on the water will throw your in-camera metering system off-balance, and you will need to open up/increase exposure to compensate. And give your subject "room to look;" in the above there is more room in front of the child than behind. It also illustrates "the rule of thirds..."

© 2007 Michael Hart, Houston Digital Photo Academy Instructor