Start shooting your shoes

(Model: nephew Jacob in 1999)

About.Com: Photography has a nice site and they have been having a sort of mini course and contest. I just discovered it and they are already on assignment 34, but it looks like fun. This month's assignment is to take photographs of shoes and submit your best photos (no more than 5) to the contest.

Sounds like fun and I think it will be fun to participate in a new contest each month. If you are interested, here is the link: http://photography.about.com/b/2008/10/01/assignment-34-shoes.htm

How to photograph sunsets

I am often frustrated when trying to take photographs of sunsets. They are never even close to what I was seeing in real life. Today I read a hint that I hope to try someday soon.

The simple trick is to start by aiming above the sun. Aim high enough so that you can't see the sun through the viewfinder and then hold the shutter button down halfway to set the focus. Now you can lower the viewfinder and compose your picture exactly how you want it. Don't let up on the shutter button though. When you have the shot you want, push the shutter button the rest of the way to take the shot.

As you can see in this photo, we didn't know this trick yet. We were actually trying another trick to make it look like I was holding the sun. Perhaps this new trick will help with that trick also.