Climbing in Shadows, originally uploaded by Sheba Wheeler.

Since joining Flickr, I knew I would get a great deal out of it — from networking to discovering new ways to capture images. What I didn’t realize is that posting my pictures on Flickr would also teach me how to take criticism and learn how to give it.

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PA310014, originally uploaded by Bullock Family.

Taking a picture of a popular landmark is always a challenge. You want it to look like a “postcard” shot, but only in the sense you want it to be perfect. You don’t want it to look like every other picture that has ever been taken. That can be very, very difficult for a lot of objects. Fortunately, the Golden Gate offers several vantage points, so you can get creative.

I had a good deal of time on my hands (I try to build in at least one extra day when I go somewhere I haven’t been before), so I took a leisurely drive through the Presidio and wound up UNDER the Golden Gate. The fort that is under there had it’s own cool stuff to see. But this view of the structure of the bridge was probably the best part of it for me.

I know it should be cropped, etc., but don’t focus on that. Just learn to look at things differently, so that you can get a unique picture that suits you.

Motion: Panning, originally uploaded by Sheba Wheeler.

Panning is another great motion technique photographers can use to imply action or movement, but it may require several attempts to master it.

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Winning, originally uploaded by Sheba Wheeler.

A few weeks ago, I posted about how using a slower shutter speed can create wonderful technical effects in your photography. This week, I tried my hand at cranking up the shutter speed to freeze action.

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Wetterhorn Wonder, originally uploaded by bubba911t.

What is it about black and white photos? Do they remind us of the quintessential images of Yosemite by Ansel Adams? For a lot of us, probably. I think I have finally figured out why I love them so much. Often times, a color image and the subjects contained within can be distracting to the eye. I find that when I convert an image to black and white, I am able to focus on the one or two subjects that, in my opinion, make the image. Take for example this shot…I love how my friend is staring off into the seemingly endless San Juan Mountains, in awe of their beauty. He and the position of his body are what I wanted to capture. I didn’t want his teal-colored gaiters, his red backpack, or the brown protruding rocks to distract from him and the mood the landscape is creating. Hopefully it works for you.

Fresh Ski Tracks, originally uploaded by bubba911t.

This photo isn’t mine, but I think it is fantastic. I don’t convert enough of my photos to black and white. Some of my landscapes would look really good this way I think. But if you know me, you know why I really love this picture - the ski tracks are a good clue.

Cheesman Memorial Pavilion, originally uploaded by Chester Bullock.

Went out shooting yesterday and got some places I have been meaning to visit for a while. It was cold (26F) and the lighting sucked, so it was good for scouting if nothing else.

I have lived here a long time and never knew the history of the park until now. It’s pretty interesting. Check it out at www.denvergov.org/CheesmanPark/tabid/380771/Default.aspx

Dawn of a New Day, originally uploaded by Chester Bullock.

Look familiar? I waited a few minutes, changed my angle, and this picture turned into this one. Light is always changing, and the resulting mood change can be pretty remarkable.

goldschlager-red-orig, originally uploaded by ~Tiffany Nicole Photography~.

Simple objects can easily take on an artistic look. This picture of my bottle of Goldschlager was taken with nothing more then the foil paper that was in a Christmas present gift bag.

The gold flakes in the bottle were caught suspended in air with a 1/60 shutter speed to add just a tiny bit of blur to evoke the movement inside the bottle.

Look around you and see where you can find art in simple objects and take a minute to experiment.

Clear Creek, originally uploaded by Sheba Wheeler.

One of the coolest camera techniques a photographer can play around with is “freezing” an object in motion to bring about a different perspective. To test out this concept, I took my camera to a still heavy and fast running Clear Creek in early Autumn and used a manually slowed down shutter speed to capture this mystical water transformation.

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