My photography tip: I always try to shoot special subjects or landscapes at dusk. The lighting is always perfect and colors that you didn't even notice seem to materialize in the photo. Placing the focal point (like this lighthouse) off-center also forces the eye to move around the photo and take in all of the details.

My photography tip: Think about composition, and what it can say about your subject. Norwegians embrace the sea and the sky, even when they are unforgivingly harsh. In this shot of Trondheim's colorful wharf, I decided to align the buildings in the center of the frame to show how the elements define—but do not dominate—the Norwegian spirit.

My photography tip: No one can duplicate the genius of Ansel Adams, but he understood the drama of the black-and-white shot. After shooting in color with your digital camera, choose one to manipulate to black and white (or even sepia) on your home computer.

My photography tip: You don't always have to include the whole subject to get the best shot. In San Francisco last November I took a lot of pictures of the bridge—and as I was leaving, I turned around for one last shot close-up shot while the sun was setting. It wound up being the best.

My photography tip: I always try to frame my pictures with trees, leaves, arches, or whatever is available in the shot. Doing this draws the viewer's eye to what's inside the frame.

My photography tip: I find that creating eye-catching photos comes in the editing process. Digital photography makes this easy. I like to take a color photo, convert it to black-and-white, and then convert it back to color; this allows you to add colored accents to a largely black-and-white photo.

My photography tip: Be aware of the lighting, which can vary hugely depending on the time of day. On the autumn morning when I snapped this photo of boat traffic along Venice's Grand Canal, the early light reflected beautifully off the water and onto the buildings.

My photography tip: My husband and I always allow extra time to make unexpected stops. Driving on 101 South toward Ocean Shores, we decided to stop at Ruby Beach in the Olympic National Forest on a whim. This photo is the result.