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Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
Photograph by Jim Richardson, National Geographic
The craggy Cliffs of Moher wrap around the western coast of County Clare, providing a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean. The rocky cliffs reach 702 feet (214) meters at their highest point and stretch nearly five miles (eight kilometers) across.
Photo Tip: When your subject is of indeterminate size—a mountain, a body of water, a snowscape—add a sense of scale by including something of known size, such as a person, a car, a tree, or an animal. This helps viewers understand what they’re looking at.
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Green Sea Turtle, Hawaii
Photograph by Lorenzo Menendez, My Shot
A Hawaiian green sea turtle swims in just a few feet of water.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Photo Tip: Avoid having to buy costly strobes by shooting underwater shots in shallow water under bright sun.
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Baobab Trees, Tanzania
Photograph by Tom Schwabel, My Shot
Baobab trees frame a serene view of night skies in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. Some species of baobab trees can live for a thousand years—potentially reaching a stunning height of 80 feet (25 meters) and a diameter of 40 feet (12 meters).
Photo Tip: Nighttime photographs almost always require long exposures. This means using a tripod to hold your camera perfectly still while the shutter is open, though you can sometimes find a solid surface to rest your camera on and trip the shutter with the camera’s self-timer.
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Mongolian Man
Photograph by Charles Meacham, My Shot
A man in western Mongolia wears a fur-trimmed hat as protection from the bitter cold of winter. Sprawled across mountains and plateaus, Mongolia has an average elevation of 5,180 feet (1,580 meters).
Photo Tip: Light coming through cloud cover is diffuse and useful for shooting portraits. So is the light in open shadows.
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Terraced Rice Field, China
Photograph by Thierry Bornier, My Shot
Yunnan, China, is a beautiful place for shooting rice field terraces.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Photo Tip: When shooting aerial photography, stay pretty low, usually at about 1,000 feet (300 meters) above the ground. High equals hazy in aerial photography.
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Scottish Sheep
Photograph by Marc Lanciaux, My Shot
Sheepherding in Scotland has a long history, not all of it pleasant. Many of the pastures in the Western Highlands—where these sheep peer through a fence—were created during the "clearances" of the late 1800s, when wealthy landowners seeking greater profits brutally evicted their tenants and converted their subsistence farmland to pasture.
Photo Tip: Photograph animals where they live. A favorite composition of photographer Michael Melford’s is an environmental shot showing the animal surrounded by its habitat—rather than the usual tight shot taken with a long lens.
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Boatman, Philippines
Photograph by Gerardo Sabado, My Shot
A boatman paddles his bamboo raft along the river at Wawa Dam, Philippines.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Photo Tip: Start simple. A central concept of photography is the arrangement of elements in the picture, called composition.
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Potato Field, India
Photograph by Johnny Haglund, My Shot
Women in the village of Mawsynram in the Indian state of Meghalaya (known as the wettest place on the planet), use homemade "umbrellas" when they work in the potato field.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Photo Tip: Rain can damage or ruin your camera, but it can also make for great pictures. Carry a good umbrella, a box of plastic bags, perhaps a small tarp (some are specially made for photography), and a towel with which to dab your equipment.
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Mambukal Mudpack Festival
Photograph by Alfonso Lizares, My Shot
Held at the height of monsoon season, the Mambukal Mudpack Festival in Murcia, Negros Occidental, celebrates the harmony of man and nature and encourages environmentalism among young people. To get in the spirit, participants cover themselves with the rich soil known as Mambukal clay.
Photo Tip: Take advantage of overcast conditions. Although it is less dramatic than late or early sunlight, cloudy weather offers soft, even lighting, free of harsh shadows, which can be ideal for portraits, rendering even skin tones, and can enhance saturation.
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Noodles, Thailand
Photograph by Dean McCartney, My Shot
A strainer full of noodles, fresh off an open fire, commands the total concentration of a cook in Bangkok's Chinatown. The skill of such street chefs, and the aroma of their creations, proves irresistible to many passersby.
Photo Tip: Dining is a big part of the travel experience. Cuisine and dining traditions are emblematic of local culture. They’re one of the most tangible ways that one destination is distinguishable from another.
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