Monochrome, motivation, minimalism and more…

Today our collection of interesting features from around the internet has, by chance, doubled-down on composition. Quick tips and inspiration, creative ways to stay motivated and Robert Irwin's beautifully composed landscape have made the cut.

Enjoy!

The Quick Guide to Family Photo Poses – The reality of family portrait photography is often far from serene. In this quick guide, you'll get some valuable pose tips that make photographing crazy kids, harassed parents and the nutty family dog that much easier.

10 Tips How to Give Birth to New Photos – Staying motivated in all you do is difficult, especially when that motivation needs to be turned to creative endeavours. Incremental improvements are the way to make positive change and hang on and build your motivation. Here are 10 tips to encourage you to stay true to your photography goals.

Gorgeous details of a Zen garden in minimalist monochrome – In this series, photographer Hashira Yamamoto, uses minimalist composition and ethereal monochrome to showcase the Zen aesthetic of traditional Japanese rock gardens.

Robert Irwin wins the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award – Robert Irwin makes great use of juxtaposition to capture the devastation that fires can bring to the landscape. Taken near the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in Cape York, Queensland, his thoughtful and thought-provoking piece has taken out the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award.

What Is Lens Flare And How To Use It Or Avoid It For Better Photos – Lens flare used to be actively avoided by photographers. Traditionally it was considered as something that ruined a photograph. However, a little lens flare might be just what you are looking for to add interest, poignancy .or pizzaz to your image

5 Creative Reasons to Convert to Black and White – If you are using a DSLR then converting to black and white is a conscious decision. There are times when black and white is the best choice to complement your composition. Here you'll see five reasons why you should make the change.

Many of the articles from today centre on composition and the creative choices you make as a photographer. If these stories have whet your appetite and you want to take your photography to the next level, then take a look at Understanding Composition by Kent DuFault.