Let's get back to the basics for this challenge.  Composition and focus are just two elements that can either make or break your shot.  Becoming the best photographer you can be takes work......and practice.......LOTS of it.

Visualize.        Shoot.        Review.

CRAP!!!!
Power lines; trash can; where'd that car come from?  Dang it!  It's blurred!  I'm too close/too far away.  This is NOT what I saw in my mind.......

Sound familiar?
This is where you change your position.  Move up; move back; bend down; lay down; stand on something; move to the right or left to get the "busy" stuff out of the shot.  This is how you improve your composition.  Make a "nothing" shot into a "something" shot.  Turn a snapshot into a photograph.  If you're going to go to this much trouble to get a good looking photo, you sure want it to be in focus.  Not steady?  Use a tripod.  Or a fence post.  Or your shoe.  Whatever's handy that's stable.  And, if you have one, use your timer if need be.  What good is a well composed image that's out of focus?  You don't have to have anything elaborate to make good photos.  Even everyday, "non interesting" things can be well done in a photograph.  The examples here prove that statement.  In all examples, the image on the left is the non-composed/out of focus one.  The one on the right is the well-done one.  The only thing I did was change my position; camera settings stayed the same.
1  2  3  4

These were all done in a hurry, just going around the house.  These next examples show what you can do when you really try at your photography. 5  6  7  8
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This challenge is for you to go out and see how you can improve yourself photographically.  Subject matter doesn't matter.  What I'm looking for is good composition and focus.

I'm leaving for Cabo San Lucas, Mexico today and won't be back until next Saturday.  While I'm gone, Penny will be my voice.  I will look at each post when I return.  I can't wait to see how well you all do!!

The next challenge will be Blizzard's Best of 2007 contest.  This will begin on Jan. 13 and stop on Jan. 27, when Lidljo has graciously accepted the position of the next "challenge master".  Thanks, Bear, for the Christmas challenge; there were some good entries in that.

Have fun, y'all!