panorama: an unobstructed or complete view of an area in every direction Welcome to Week 11! This week we are going to take a much wider view of things than we have in recent weeks. So wide in fact, that we are going to stitch photos together to create a very wide image. You might…

Let’s talk about shadows in our work. Newer photographers are often afraid of shadows, thinking they will detract from the subject of their photos. Often having bad experiences from on board flash and dappled light, many photographers seek out flat, even lighting. Flat lighting is safe, and it even has a very distinct role in…

It’s macro week! It is, as most of you know, one of my favorite subjects. It is definitely a challenging technique, but I find it very rewarding and peaceful. Macro work requires a fair amount of patience and steadiness. It also requires some specialized equipment, but if you do not own macro gear, don’t worry;…

This week we are going to focus on the opposite of our task from last week; rather than highlighting the subject by giving it breathing room, we are going to showcase the subject by filling the frame with it. Although this seems like an easy concept, there are some challenges that go along with composing…

Negative space is a powerful way to draw attention quickly to your subject. Surrounded by “emptiness” the subject’s lines, shape, and colors stand out quickly and focus the viewer’s attention. This concept gives the subject room to breathe and hold visual weight in an image.  Like most other photography techniques, there are multiple ways to…

Week 5: Layers This week we are going to focus on looking for layers within our compositions. Layers add depth and interest to a photo, and help direct our viewer’s eye. Layers also give viewers a reason to linger on a photo, holding our attention as we look through the different areas of the photo.…

This week is a bit more freeform; I would like to see you capture little bits of your everyday…things and places you might otherwise overlook for their mundane aspects. I admit I was better at this when my kids were small; and sometimes I get really inspired before we move (but we haven’t moved in…

Week 2: Shallow Depth of Field Being able to take photos with a “blurry background” draws a lot of people into photography; I know I definitely was drawn to it when I first started out, wanting to take portraits of my small children with the effect. Although there is a case to make for sharpness…