Current Challenge: Feel Good

For this challenge, I want you to create the best, most engaging photograph you can of something in your life that makes you feel good. It could be a person, pet, place, hobby, activity, treasured possession or simply a moment that brings you happiness, peace or excitement. The choice is entirely yours.

Sounds simple, doesn't it? But remember, a subject that makes you feel good doesn't automatically make a great photograph. It's how you use composition, appropriate light, focal length, depth of field, timing and control of movement that can transform something personally meaningful into an image that engages others.

I want you to put some thought and effort into this. Don't just take a quick snapshot of something you love. Think about how to make us appreciate what makes it special to you. Ask yourself: Would I be proud to see this photograph published with my name beside it? Would I want it framed and hanging prominently on my wall?

• Choose something meaningful. Think about what genuinely brings you happiness, not simply what you think will make a popular photograph. Your enthusiasm for the subject is a great starting point.
• Find the right light. Light can completely transform a subject. Consider its direction, softness, colour and contrast. What qualities of light best communicate how your subject makes you feel?
• Compose with purpose. Pay attention to everything within the frame. Choose a viewpoint and composition that emphasise what matters, while removing distractions that weaken the image.
• Make deliberate camera choices. Think about focal length, depth of field, shutter speed and timing. Would a blurred background, a wider view or a carefully captured moment make the photograph more engaging?
• Take your time. Explore different approaches, experiment and review your results. If the photograph doesn't communicate what you intended, work out why and try again.

Opposite are some of my 'Feel Good' things. Study their light, composition etc to help you get the best from your own. Remember, the challenge isn't simply to show us something that makes you feel good. It's to use your skills as a photographer to help us feel some of that joy too.

You have 2 months for this one. I'll be leading workshops in Lanzarote and Madeira then it's Christmas and New Year breaks. Use the time wisely...

Dates and info below ⬇️