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Last week I attended AWAI's Ultimate Travel Photographer's Workshop where I picked up innumerable tips to help me add photos to the articles I already publish.  My ten tips from last week were published in the June issue of Escape From America Magazine and you can see them by clicking here. Today, I'm offering up 15 more...  1. The best night shots are not taken at night at all. More often than not, they are taken at twilight (the 20 or so minutes after sunset before the sun is completely down). I got some great pictures of Union Station, the Capitol Building, and the Washington Memorial. Luckily the Iwo Jima Memorial was well lit, otherwise it would have been too dark when we got there. Scope out where you want to take your night shots and try, instead, shooting at twilight. 2. When using a higher film speed or ISO, you may encounter more digital "noise" in your photograph. Check out Neat Image, a Photoshop product that will help clean up that noise.  3. Tripods do not guarantee focused photographs. Just the wobble in your finger when depressing the shutter button can make your shot blurry. Consider putting your camera on a timer to ensure minimal camera shake.  4. Get people in your pictures. Not only are they easier to sell, but they spice up an otherwise average shot. One attendee took a picture of kids crossing the street with the Washington Memorial in the background. What a great shot!

6. Look for patterns. One of my fellow snappers shot all sorts of patterns - watches for sale at Eastern Market, the grates around the trees in Chinatown, Maryland blue crabs steamed and ready for sale. These all made great fine art shots. 

7. Look for patterns interrupted - at the Fish Wharf here in D.C. one of the attendees shot a display of gray scaled fish with one red fish thrown into the bunch. 

8. When shooting reflections, be sure not to get your own reflection in the picture! 

9. 100% of professional digital photographers use Photoshop. If you don't know how to use it, you should learn. It's worth the investment.

10. Be simple with what you do in Photoshop. It is easy to turn a pretty good shot into a disaster if you over manipulate the photograph. 

11. Don't rely on photo-editing software to fix all your photo problems. Try to get the best picture possible with your camera first. Cropping and adjusting can cost you picture quality and time. 

12. Your best way into the photography market is your local newspaper, even if you have to offer your photos there for free. It helps you establish your track record for getting more of your photographs published. 

13. The best way to package great photographs is in a Photo Essay (also known as a round-up article). There isn't a whole lot of writing involved, and this is a sure-fire way to get your foot in the door as editors love round-ups. 

14. Look for the Editorial Calendars of a variety of publications. These will give you plenty of advance warning about what pictures editors want and when. 

15. Most importantly, CREATE THE NEED! It does you no good to have a beautiful photo that no one needs. Research photography guidelines, dialogue with editors, offer ideas, listen and ask questions. If you know what pictures people want to pay for, you're more than halfway to turning your pictures into cash! 

[EDITORS NOTE: For details about how you can join professional photographers like Rich Wagner and learn how you can add professional-quality photography to your bag of travel-writer tricks simply click here: 
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The Ultimate Travel Writers Course . The Ultimate Travel Writers Workshop Starting out as a Travel Writer can earn you money and allow you to travel, but developing a strategy is a prerequisite to making a full income as a writer.  It is crucial that every assignment, and every location be turned into a number of spin-offs; which means other articles on other subjects for other periodicals derived from the same trip.  There is a market for good articles, and once you've convinced one newspaper to take an article in their Sunday section the next magazine or newspaper becomes easier as you develop a list of periodicals in which your by-line appears. . Travel Writing and Photography Workshops  Next Live Event - Denver CO - July 20 - 23 2006 Spend Four Days at the Foot of the Rockies, and Discover the Secrets to Traveling the World for Free and Getting Paid as a Travel Writer - Our Last Travel Writing Workshop of 2006 - Don't miss it Note: If the workshop date posted above has passed - click here for next workshop date Next Live Event - Denver CO - July 20 - 23 2006 Fact: Top Magazines and Newspapers Will Pay Cash for Your Vacation Snapshots Could you really get paid up to $6,000 for pictures you took on your last vacation? Yes, absolutely. Join us in Denver July 20-23 2006 to find out how to turn simple snapshots into cash. And even into free hotel rooms and travel perks! See here for the whole story - or call (866)279-2924 or local at (561)278-5557.  Space is limited. . "International Living understands what we want when it comes to real estate articles for EscapeArtist.com; there is no extra charge; the real estate writing section will be added into the course without additional cost to you.  Nice of International Living, you say?  Yes, nice; of course in exchange we are telling our visitors about the Travel Writers course, so it balances out, we get what we want if graduates of the course submit articles to EscapeArtist.com on living abroad or on international real estate." - EscapeArtist.com -

The International Living Travel Writers Course & Workshop *** The Ultimate Travel Writer's Course - You don't need a million-dollar nest egg to enjoy your retirement. Have a passion for travel? Well take a trip... and take good notes about what you did and where you went. Recommend -- or discourage -- others from following in your footsteps. For simple commentary, you can earn a few hundred... maybe even a few thousand... dollars for your trouble. This self-paced program shows you exactly how it's done -- and anybody can do it. Whether you're looking for a sideline or a full-time career, this great-value course will teach you all the techniques you need, in the comfort of your own home. *** The Ultimate Travel Writers Workshop - The Ultimate Travel Writer's and Photographer's Workshop - Hosted in enticing destinations the world over, you gain an entire course worth of knowledge in just four days. Devoted to either travel writing or travel photography (and, occasionally, to both) these programs always provide fast-paced, concentrated learning from expert instructors ready to share their hard-won secrets. You'll come away with publishable articles and/or photos in hand, learn the insider's tricks for turning your observations and snapshots into cash, landing travel perks, and enjoying the freedom, independence, and travel that freelancing delivers...   WORKSHOP IN NEW YORK CITY