By Repository photographer Bob Rossiter

Backyard ponds can provide a great opportunity for interesting photographs, from the wildlife they attract to the flowers that decorate the area. And since you have abundant light from the sun, you don’t have to have professional equipment to make dramatic photos. I made this photo with a Canon A620 PowerShot. The key is to turn auto exposure off and manually pick your settings. Pick the lowest ISO your camera offers. By exposing the brightest part of the flower petals, the water turns almost black, showing the detail in the water drops on the lily’s petals. You can use this technique away from the pond by composing a flower with deep shade in the background. It doesn’t cost anything to experiment with a digital camera. Have some fun by looking at the ordinary in a different light.