Short and Sweet

1. When distant birds are photographed in the sky and they appear very small in the frame, they should be cloned out because they look like dust specks. Only the ones that are obviously birds in flight with some definition in their shape should be retained. Otherwise they will be mistaken for dust or dirt. 2. When shooting with a long lens, be aware of how little depth of field you have. For example, I used a 500mm lens for this shot of a giant river otter in the Pantanal region of Brazil, and even though I used f/11, the nose is sharp but the eyes are slightly soft. I should have used f/16 or even f/22 and raised the ISO.

3. Whenever possible, find elevated vantage points from which to shoot cities, landscapes, and oceanscapes. They provide commanding views that often offer best photographic compositions. This is Tallinn, Estonia. Observation decks, rooftop resaturants, mountain tops, etc., should always be checked out. 4. Photographing flowers behind shower door glass produces painting-like images worthy of framing. The same glass can be used very effectively for portraits. You can often buy remnants of this kind of textured glass in glass and mirror stores for just a few dollars. You’ll be surprised the great images you can make. §