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A man dusts a display at a Cabela's store in Nebraska.

Use Available Light

You've probably never noticed, but light is changing around you all the time. Learning to see that change is the secret to taking outstanding photographs.

If you are outside at midday, the sun is at its peak and won't make for particularly interesting photos. If you can come back to the same spot later in the day, the sun will be closer to the horizon and you'll get warmer light from the sky. If you come back after sunset, you might find beautiful artificial light.

Looking for a quick tip? Take polarized sunglasses and hold them over your camera's lens. This will act as a filter, making the sky appear darker and creating greater contrast with the object you are shooting—and a more dramatic photo.

About the photo: Your eyes are not deceiving you. In this November 1998 photo, Joel Sartore capture an employee of a Cabela's store in Sidney, Nebraska, dusting off a display.

Photo: © Joel Sartore/National Geographic
Published on December 04, 2009
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