PHOTOS THAT INSPIRE PHOTO WORKSHOP

Preface

At one time or another, most of us have probably looked at a wonderful photo in a magazine, on the Internet or on a gallery wall and wondered how the photographer came up with such a great idea. So what better way to learn photography than by studying inspiring images?

The photographs in this book represent some of the best work of Photoworkshop.com members in the Portfolios or Bio & Visual Exchange pages, as well as people who have entered contests on Double Exposure, the online publication for Photoworkshop.com, and others whose photography has caught our eye. Many of these people are amateurs and students, individuals like you who share a passion for photography. Others are working professionals who have chosen to make photography their life's work. They're from the United States as well as around the globe.

On these pages, you will look at a variety of situations — from landscape to scenic and travel, from flora and fauna to skin, from animals to people. Each photographer shares a story on how he or she arrived at an idea and shot that inspiring image. The photographer's camera gear and technical data are also included to help you understand why the image works.

How do inspiring photo ideas come about? As you'll see, these ideas are as varied as the photographers themselves. Sometimes an opportunity presents itself serendipitously to the photographer: In the dim light of dusk, a boatman turns to gaze at a famous monument, creating a fleeting photo opportunity for a passenger ...