In my workshops I like to cover the basics of photography, such as how to frame your shot as you can see here:

Here you see the illustration of two masters: The Ansel Adams card for training your eye to frame and the quote on the screen from Cartier-Bresson:

[Frame] “…a precise organization of forms which give that event its proper expression.”

Learning to frame is one of the keys to getting a great shot. Here’s the way to do it: Cut out a 3×5 card with a rectangle like you see me holding. Then go out and look for your shots. I want you to really use this card: Move it close to your eye and farther away to get the effect of zooming. Once you have the “shot” the way you want it, look at the whole frame — especially each corner Do you have that shot the way you want it? If not move around until you do!

Hey, you should come to my next free workshop at SmugMug 1/23 at 7PM! Click here to get the scoop and to RSVP. Here’s a shot from one of my workshops:

Learning about geometry of a photo from this shot called “7th Grade Geometry”