Tips From National Geographic

I was in Washington DC last weekend and managed to see and do quite a bit in just a few days. My husband and I visited the beautiful Saint Mathews Church (said to be one of the most beautiful in the country), took a walk through the outdoor sculpture park on the Mall, stopped by a neat bead store, and fit in a lunch at Ben's Chili, where Obama is a customer! However, I think my favorite outing, was a trip to the National Geographic Museum. It's pretty small and doable if you have 1 or 2 hours, but well worth it! They currently have a collection of some of their favorite unpublished photos of 2010, as well as small hall of presidential photos. If you have ever seen a National Geographic magazine then I'm sure you know that they have amazing photographers - so, even though these photos didn't make it to print, you can be rest assured that they are beautiful, interesting, and thought-provoking. I highly recommend a visit!

My museum visit prompted me to check out National Geographic's website upon my return home (surprisingly, I had never done this before). Well, a "quick look" quickly turned into an hour...and then I stumbled upon their photo tips!!! - Brilliant! Check out this slideshow for a few tips on capturing "moments".... :)

Simply Beautiful Photographs, Tips on Capturing a Moment, Gallery – National Geographic

Here are a few pictures from my trip:

Peru Pics

So, I've never taken a photography class in my life, but I think it is incredibly fun to look out for neat "shots" and pretend like I know what I'm doing as I'm squatting, arched over, and balancing on one leg.... I am especially inspired by fall leaves, bold colors, streaming sunlight, and cool structures (bridges, stairs, etc). Of course, it doesn't hurt to just have amazingly beautiful sites, which you can find all over Peru!

Cuzco Lights

Morning sun at Machu Picchu

Tree at Machu Picchu

Dad taking pic

Red plant at Machu Picchu

Door at a mansion outside of Arequipa

Diving condor in Colca Canyon