Searching the internet for photography websites can be a real eye opener to all of the things that can turn into a prized picture.  You don't even have to leave your living room anymore to capture a beautiful shot.  With a little practice and a lot of digital shots, you can be amazed when you find that you have created some award winning photos of your own!

You don't actually need a digital camera, but because most of them have a screen to show you the pictures you have taken, it is quicker, much more convenient, and cheaper than using a 35 mm camera that holds film.  It is much easier to practice as well, since you can see right away if the techniques you are trying to use are working or not.

A sink full of dirty dishes can almost be turned into a beautiful framed print!  Maybe not quite, but look at pictures that professional photographers consider art, and notice how intriguing the most common items and settings can be!  Beautiful prints on the walls of a home are no longer just of families sitting in studios, or vases of flowers in full bloom.  

Wilted flowers in a woven basket, a pair of worn in baby shoes, a bench with a cat sitting on it, and the shadow of two children holding hands can bring out emotions and imaginations that we didn't know were there.  Even the family photo session has changed!  Pictures of laughing children and not-so-perfect hair are just priceless!

Take your camera outdoors and just look around!  The more you practice, the more you will discover what becomes an appealing picture.  Take pictures of the untouched blanket of snow in winter, or a close-up of a bee in a flower in summer.  Catch a few shots of a child running with the pet dog.  Take your children to a gazebo at the park and have them sit on the steps.  I have one of my own pieces of art that a friend took.  It was our two daughters, with two other teenage girls, all dressed in their church outfits with their flowing skirts, walking down a dirt path with the trees all around.  It was a view from the back, and it is just beautiful and warm.  And the next was of these four girls, turning around and blowing a kiss at the camera.  It's amazing what you can see if you believe that the ordinary things in life can become something special.

While snapping your prints of people, animals, or certain objects, also keep in mind to zoom right in on the subject.  Pictures where the person you are taking photos of is close up, is much more appealing than one that has their tiny head and face showing, with nothing special in the background.  Allow that extra space around your subject if the background is beautiful or unique, and deserves to be part of the one-of-a-kind snapshots you are taking.  But be sure to get a few close ups in those settings as well.

Try out the black and white, sepia, and negative settings on your camera. Dress your children up in too big play clothes, or their Sunday best for black and white shots. Try shooting a flower in the negative.

Experiment with different poses and props. Take a picture of your daughter or friend looking in a mirror, your focus being on her reflection in the mirror. Have your kids lay on their stomachs on the floor and look at each other. Get a close up of a beautiful set of eyes-on a person or a pet. The possibilities of what you can do are endless. Look at photography sites for more ideas.

Grab your camera and set out to discover a whole new world of beauty!  And don't forget to buy some special frames so that your best shots don't get tucked away in a box.