Putting Painful Photos in the Past - Day 15

Hi © Anita N Hogue Wow! Once again, I have to say that I am moved and inspired by the number of responses I've received, as well as what you had to say. I have whipped up a few pie charts, in case you want to see a snapshot of responses: How would you describe yourself? On a scale from total beginner to professional, how would you rate yourself? What do you like to do with your photos? Thanks again for sharing with me - I've learned a lot by reading your surveys and emailed questions. The main thing I see is this: even though photographers sometimes feel like "lone wolves", there are some universal issues we all face. In my travels around the globe, and my 14 years leading BetterPhoto, I've found that one thing is certain: we are all seeking solutions to our biggest problems - whether they have to do with photographic technique, marketing, confidence, finding the time or one of many other topics. Many of you said that you're disappointed with your results... you're having a hard time capturing what you see and conveying the beauty you experience first hand. For some of you, pushing away that inner doubting voice is a constant struggle, and you seek relief in the form of confidence building practices and motivation. You need tools to feel certain your photos will succeed and you will feel great. For those of you who feel confident taking beautiful images, (we'll get the rest of you there too!) you need help with "marketing" - both in the typical sense (making money) and in the sense of just getting viewers to comment, admire, appreciate, and critique your work. Many of you would like to be getting customers who will buy one of your photographs (who wouldn't want that, right?) Here's your photography tip for the day: Turn your camera. As you can see with the Iguana photo above, you can give your photography great variety by shooting in both the vertical (portrait) and horizontal (landscape) formats. It sounds simple, but most people continually shoot in the horizontal orientation because it feels more natural. Why not turn the camera and try shooting vertical, portrait-style images as well? Choose the format that best fits your subject - such as vertical for portraits and horizontal sweeping scenics. Don't stop there, though. Whenever possible, experiment with both orientations to see which you like better. You'll be surprised how a swift shift in orientation can add a creative jolt to your photos! Thanks, Jim Miotke Founder, BetterPhoto.com BetterPhoto.com is the worldwide leader in online photography education, offering an approachable resource for photographers who want to improve their skills, share their photos, and learn more about the art and technique of photography. Click here to opt-out of the email tip sequence from BetterPhoto.com. The sender of this email is the BetterPhoto.com, Inc., 16544 NE 79th St Redmond, WA 98052