Some provacative images from 2011.
Take a look and be inspired!
Oh Click anywhere on the type!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

I made an image that stirred me today.
Just a thought about a telephone pole that had hundreds of staples that are all that is left of the flyers and announcements that people have posted over the years.
One interesting mode of affixing flyers was a nail and a bottle cap.
Whatever works.
Yet, time as brought all of the flyers to the same end.
My apologies for the analogy that I’m about to make, but it reminded me of Shelley’s famous poem, “Ozymandias.”
How the great and might king, has now been brought low, by time and the elements.
How all these announcements, great and small, important and trite, have all been brought to the same end.
Now all that is left are the staples and nails that once affixed them for all to see.
Remember that we are all here but a short, short while.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

Art is such a subjective thing.
What some see as beautiful, others aren’t moved at all.
Photography has rules that help the beginner to the pro create art.
Some will call it beautiful, while others might not give it a second look.
Composition is one of those rules that can help bring harmony our of chaos for the viewer.
I noticed this flower blooming in my front yard and was stopped by it’s beauty.
I’d never seen or noticed this particular plant in flower before, but this single ornate bloom was so unique and different that I had to stop and document it.
As you can see, the center of the bloom is near the upper left area of convergence which creates a composition that allows the viewer to move into this image and the flower has its’ space, while the area around it supports that space.
That’s what correct composition allows, space for each element to exist that enables the viewer to see each piece in its’ perfect space.
Now composition is governed by rules, but rules are made to be broken.
Some of the best photos ever made follow no rules or break everyone known to man.
That’s art.
Make your decisions, make images that people want to look at and be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!

Walking to class, a bit behind schedule, I some colorful flowers in the quad area that had beads of water on them and they were shimmering in the morning light.
I’ve talked often about noticing things around us, but today I want to visit, slowing down.
Regardless of the time, I stopped and enjoyed the beauty of these small wonders and the way that the morning light danced on the beads of water.
It took all of 30 seconds, and then I pulled out my iPhone and made 2 frames.
Just this side of one minute spent looking at an incredible scene, and it cost me nothing!
My class didn’t miss that extra minute of me talking and I surely didn’t miss that minute being prompt.
Sometimes, it’s the better choice to take that extra moment, stop and enjoy.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!

My favorite hair dresser was able to see me right before Easter this week.
She asked me to come into her salon really early, and as we were walking to shampoo my hair, I saw something.
Green translucent glass with that was backlit!
I grabbed my iPhone and made a quick image.
See, even in the midst of something as mundane and normal as getting a haircut, I’m still looking for inspiration.
You might not have a fancy hair salon, but you have beautiful and inspirational images right under your nose, too.
Be aware, be looking and be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!

I was attending a conference at one of the mega churches in our area.
I went to the bathroom and when I came out, I saw this awesome wall with different fonts and words and some beautiful light.
It was truly inspiring and I could barely get my new iPhone 4s out to take a photo.
Fortunately, this new phone is fast and I was able to capture this sweet image for today’s post.
I had to wake up extra early, before the sunrise, to make it to this conference and I was pleasantly surprised by all the beautiful light and images that I was able to see.
Normally, the only early light I see is gone by the time I awake.
Getting up early has many advantages, beautiful light being just one of them.
Take a look at different times of the day and see how the light reacts to various objects that you see.
Light is amazing and learning to use it correctly is one of your greatest tools in becoming an effective photographer.
Be looking and be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!

Sometimes it’s the smallest things that matter.
For example, just a slight gesture turned this main image into a keeper for me, by a small detail.
Just the introduction of the subject’s hand grabbing her toe, made this an interesting image that is worth keeping, rather than throwing it on the trash heap.
It’s the tiny in congruencies that make things interesting.
WIthout that slight gesture, it’s just a photo of a pair of boots.
With it, it becomes a story telling element, that makes the viewer wonder what is going on and will make them stick around longer, too!
What makes for a good gesture?
That is the $64,000.00 question.
It’s like capturing lighting in a bottle, no one knows how, they just know when it happens, it’s great!
So, experiment.
Try different things and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
This is a process that allows for missteps, and rewards those that take chances.
Be free and be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!

In honor of Encyclopedia Britannica announcing they will stop printing the once ubiquitous info book, I found this old image that I made a few years back.
Paul Gaughen, 62, of Fountain Valley sold Encyclopedia Brittanicas, door-to-door, selling 4,088, for more than 30 years. His last sale was July 8, 1995 and he still has the log books that chronicle his years of selling. The company announced this past week they will only be producing electronic versions from now on.
This portrait helps to visually explain this announcement, or as we say in the business, to “put a face on the story.”
This type of prop photography is more accurately described as an environmental portrait.
One that explains visually what the person in the photo does.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

I spotted this going on during one of our church services, by one of the sound techs.
In fact, you can see the order of worship list just behind his hand.
I caught him just as he was finishing up his work of art.
It reminded me of a henna tattoo, but I also thought it matched the carpet on the sound booth, too!
A quiet moment that almost no one would ever see, but a chance for me to show a few this latent talent.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

One more look at the Little League Opening Day ceremonies.
I call this one, “The Boys of Summer.”
All the little boys want to be like the big boys.
Big boys scratch, the little boys scratch and so on and so on.
My job is to show that.
Sometimes, no make that, most of the time, it just doesn’t work out like we think it should.
So, I always try to remind myself to be open and keep looking past the ordinary or expected to the beautiful little surprises that await us.
If we are only patient enough to wait and watch.
I was envisioning a row of T-ballers standing in a row waiting for the first pitch.
What I got was this cute line of boys walking up to high five the board.
The smell of fresh cut grass and the newly raked clay of the infield hangs in the air.
I was happy that this group hadn’t received their hats, so I could see their faces.
I was also looking for a nice detail shot that would give a bit more information, yet would also give a different perspective.

This group of balls was perfect.
Just waiting by the pitcher’s mound, looking for someone to record them.
Pre-visualize what you are looking for, but don’t forget to be flexible and to keep your eyes open.
Be inspired!
Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS