Photographing smoke can often be a tricky endeavor as it can throw up all sorts of weird exposure problems. On the upside, however, it can really be used nicely to enhance the composition of a photograph.These photos all use smoke in some way to enhance the composition of the image. Whether it is to provide a sense of movement, to guide the eye with lines or to provide a atmospheric layering effect, they all effectively use smoke to create a more interesting photo.Photo by EggmanPhoto by Fabiana ZoncaPhoto by Hamed MasoumiPhoto by ShutupyourfacePhoto by www.ericcastro.bizPhoto by Thomas MiorinPhoto by Fanboy30Photo by RammorrisonPhoto by RobbiePhoto by Xava duPhoto by KickiPhoto by Looking4PoetryPhoto by Locator

This is a guest post by New Zealand landscape photographer, Chris Gin. Some of you might recognise images from Chris' Flickr stream that we have used in our collections before.I've been into landscape photography for a couple of years now. It's a fantastic hobby and hugely rewarding, but also has a bit of a learning curve. While I would not consider myself anywhere near a pro at this stage, I've picked up on a few useful things here and there. Below are some tips which I hope others who are just starting out in the world of landscape photography will find useful. Why You Should Research Your LocationsIf you are planning a photography trip then it’s important to do some research beforehand. Use the internet to find as much information as you can about your destination. Try to identify potential places of interest and find out the best times of the year to go – some places are much more photogenic in certain seasons while others look great all year round. Try to avoid peak tourist seasons though, as busy places mean more people to get in the way of your shots. There are some great tools to help you prepare for ...

If you've ever sat outside on a porch at night in the summer, you've no doubt seen moths come fluttering to the light.  Similar to, but not part of the butterfly family, there are thought to be over 250,000 different types of moths.  From a photography standpoint, moths can be one of the hardest insects to shoot because they are nocturnal.  Shooting time is very limited and either requires the use of a flash or very high ISO.  Because of shooting situations, it's not overly common to see high quality macro shots, so enjoy these macro moth photos.Photo By Martin_HeiganPhoto By Teddy-risedPhoto By Stephen BeginPhoto By David ReecePhoto By play4smeePhoto By TlindenbaumPhoto By Richard.FisherPhoto By PomaxPhoto By AtomicsharkPhoto By blmurchPhoto By FrAnthonyPhoto By Martin_HeiganPhoto By TibchrisPhoto By .Mushi_King

For some of us, travel photography is the pinnacle of what we hope to do. The sheer amount of photographic opportunities that present themselves when you see a new culture or place for the first time make travel to far flung destinations a snapper's dream. These photos got us thinking about another trip overseas and we think they might do the same for you.Photo by linh.ngânPhoto by AmmitPhoto by Christian BachellierPhoto by AlschimPhoto by Martin SojkaPhoto by Christian BachellierPhoto by ShapeshiftPhoto by Christian BachellierPhoto by Christian BachellierPhoto by Stuck in CustomsPhoto by Gueorgui TcherednitchenkoPhoto by LatigiPhoto by Stuck in CustomsPhoto by Alex 77Photo by Alain BachellierPhoto by Enrique

Many countries are on the bucket list of many photographers, but one of the most recurring nominees for a dream photography travel destination is Italy. As part of our series highlighting some great photography destinations, this collection of photographs of Italy should get you in the mood to pack your bags and your camera gear.Photo by RickyDavidPhoto by Panorams>Photo by Gon to EirePhoto by jjjohnPhoto by RickyDavidPhoto by MorBCNPhoto by Gigi 62Photo by Gigi 62Photo by fabiogis50Photo by Francesco SgroiPhoto by Juan RubianoPhoto by p*pPhoto by Gigi 62Photo by Wagman 30Photo by BlasterPhoto by Blaster

We have covered before some important elements of landscape composition such as the s curve and rule of thirds and how sometimes it's even ok to go outside these "rules." Well, we thought you might also like to look at some great shots that take some of these guidelines into account by using rivers to enhance the composition or draw the eye. Plus, they're just damn nice photos!Photo by Kaneda99Photo by SergioTudelaPhoto by MargottaPhoto by Nicholas TPhoto by Dicktay2000Photo by law_kevinPhoto by BulliverPhoto by Hari_krPhoto by law_kevinPhoto by Paolo MargariPhoto by Nicholas TPhoto by JTravism

If you ever get to Japan and you like taking photos of people, then Harajuku in Tokyo is an absolute must see. The cosplay, gothic lolita, visual kei and decora fashion sub-cultures of Japan gather there every Sunday (and quite a lot during other times) in a bid to out-do each other in the freaky fashion stakes. And it's a photographer's dream!Photo by Mushi KingPhoto by ColodioPhoto by ThisParticularGregPhoto by BeggsPhoto by Mushi KingPhoto by KiainetPhoto by ColodicPhoto by Jesslee CuizonPhoto by Bass_nrollPhoto by SushicamPhoto by Jesslee CuizonPhoto by Lee LeFeverPhoto by ColodioPhoto by Mushi KingPhoto by ColodioPhoto by Mushi King

Getting interesting foregrounds into landscapes is not always easy. One of the ways to make a foreground look great, however, is to look for dried out riverbeds or lakes. As you can see from this collection, dried mud can make for some awesome shots, whether as part of a wider landscape picture or as the primary subject.Photo by Josh SommersPhoto by Code PoetPhoto by Ostrosky PhotosPhoto by Arno GourdolPhoto by Beni Ishaque LuthorPhoto by DanielJamesPhoto by Uriel AkiraPhoto by DazMSmithPhoto by woowoowooPhoto by Mr Phil PricePhoto by AnuradhaPhoto by Danny McLPhoto by ZealusPhoto by Paul WilliamsPhoto by Travis S.Photo by Timmy ToucanPhoto by Kitapix

Landscape photography is very subjective, but most will agree that, to some form or another, following the rule of thirds will help achieve a great looking photo.  One way to do this is incorporating roads and paths into your frame that will enhance the overall composition of the photograph.  We've already showed you how to utilize the S-Curve in photography and many of these examples show you just how it's done.Breaking up the frame with properly placed lines from roads, paths and trails can really help bring your photograph to the next level.Photo by NrbelexPhoto by cindy47452Photo by Chuck “Caveman” CokerPhoto by conner395Photo by Kat...Photo by PörröPhoto by Shahram SharifPhoto by ecstaticistPhoto by Tambako the JaguarPhoto by Aitor EscauriazaPhoto by AuraeliusPhoto by telmo32Photo by /\/\ichael Patric|{Photo by caesePhoto by fdPhoto by Tony the MisfitPhoto by **Mary**Photo by GilmothPhoto by jenny downingPhoto by geoftherefPhoto by Amy V. MillerPhoto by rogilde - roberto la forgiaPhoto by Thomas HawkPhoto by MaxChuPhoto by m o d e

Burning Man is the annual festival of "radical self-expression" where 50,000 revelers gather in the Nevada desert for a week of art, anarchy, and community. Not for the faint of heart, Burning Man is a photographer's dream -- a surreal landscape populated by outlandish beings and incredible machines, all throbbing to a techno beat under the blistering desert sun. Here photographer Phil Steele shares 15 of his favorites from nearly a decade of documenting this American counter-culture phenomenon.Phil Steele is the founder of SteeleTraining.com, a photography training site where you can find free photo tutorials, including "How to Take Better Photos at Burning Man (and Beyond!).