Our world is filled with patterns. They’re everywhere when you start looking for them and they can be a powerful element to think about when out and about with your camera.

Below are 33 images that feature patterns of different kinds. Some are found in architecture and some in nature. Some of these patterns are exact geometric patterns, others are less so, but still feature repetition. Enjoy! (PS: click each image to be taken to the photographers flickr page where you can learn more about the image).

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It’s been a few years since I wrote 10 Ways to Top Your Best 2008 Photographs, and the tips are as relevant today as they were back then. In order to improve it is important to take stock of where you’ve been and where you are in terms of your individual development as a photographer. Whether you enjoy taking photos for fun or strive to be a professional its always a good idea around New Years to look back at your best photos of the year prior and evaluate how you’re progressing and where you need work. It is this core element that makes evaluating your best photos of the year such a valuable exercise as it provides you an opportunity to be honest with yourself about what you liked, didn’t …

At the conclusion of every year I’ve adopted the tradition of reviewing my year in photos, picking my 10 best photos and evaluating those that were near misses. This exercise is something I’ve written about on DPS in  How to Top Your Best 2008 Photos and Year In Review: 6 More Ways to Top Your Best Photos and is something I consider to be critical to my success and growth as a photographer. On my blog I encourage my readers to adopt this exercise and to share their results in my annual Best of …

Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Vincent Laforet may not need an introduction, but his first book does.

In case you’ve never heard of Vince Laforet, he is considered to be one of the most accomplished story telling photographers of his generation. Laforet was commissioned by international publications such as the New York Times Magazine, National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, Times, Newsweek and Life. He is an expert in aerial photography and was a pioneer in the use of HD-capable DSLRs.

In his book Visual Stories, he takes you through a very personal narrative illustrated with full-color spreads of big events such as Hurricane Katrina, Pakistan’s war zone and the Olympic games.

Be aware that this is not a book about gear or the technical aspect of photography. Although the exif data of each photo is …

While teaching photography I am often asked, “What do you think about when you take a picture?” This can be a hard question to answer. I’m not bragging when I say I’ve been shooting for 20 years and the art of creating images has become more reflex than quantifiable thought process. I don’t think a whole lot when shooting.

But one questions that does run through my mind, and is the closest I come to thinking before shooting, over and over again before pressing the shutter release is a question I deliver to those looking to improve their photography. That question is simply:

Why am I taking this picture?

The answer to this question often reveals a lot about not only what I’m looking at, but also whether or not I should take up the

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