Do you want to stop taking average photos and learn how to create something eye-catching, instead? Some people get these concepts right away, and others go for years wondering why their photos just never rise to the top.

In this episode of The Photo Flunky Show, we're going to share 5 tips to help you understand where you can improve your results and stop taking average photos.

You Need Beautiful Light

Perhaps you've heard this tip until you're sick in the head, but you still don't truly know what it means. After all, what do you do if the light just isn't beautiful when you want to take photos?

For starters, you accept the notion that you may have to adjust your photo schedule to the time when the light is at its best. Outdoor lighting is generally best at sunrise and sunset.

Be patient. Get there before sunrise. Wait until after sunset. The best light doesn't always happen at the specific time each day for the sun to rise or set. That glow you get before the sun rises or after it sets may be what you need.

The Problem with Overhead Lighting

You're dealing with a few factors during these times. The first is sidelight. We're used to the notion that light comes from above. Our building interiors usually have lighting on the ceiling. Most of our daytime hours features the sun above us.

What do we get from the majority of that light?

Hard shadows. Boring light. We're used to light coming from above, so there isn't anything special about it. That means taking your photos with light from above isn't special, either.

Light has direction. Use it to impress your viewers. Make the light come from an interesting angle. If you can't do that by waiting for it to appear naturally, use your flash to create the light you need.

Daylight Balanced Light is Everywhere

Light has color.

Daylight balanced light is perfect for documenting someone. Nice headshots have daylight balanced lighting. They aren't very exciting, though.

Color excites the eye.

That doesn't mean you have to turn your subject into the Green Goblin, but you can add mood or feeling to a photo with a subtle change in the color of light. Using a color gel on the background could add excitement or interest to an otherwise drab photo.

Warm colors generally flatter portrait subjects. Cool colors drain the life out of your subjects. That may be OK if you need to show a bleary world, something sinister or generally unhappy.

Choose the Quality of Your Light

Typically, we believe that soft light is more flattering to our portrait subjects, and general photo subjects. That doesn't mean that hard light is bad light, though.

The fighter above works outdoors in midday light. You can see harsh shadows and specular highlights that tell you this light is beating down on him. That's part of his story. Hard light reveals his muscles and the fact that he's a pretty tough guy.

If I waited to get a shot of him in the shade next to that punching bag, you wouldn't get the same view of who he is.

The quality of light isn't good or bad. It's situational. Good light for this subject may be inappropriate for another.

In general, I prefer soft light. I like to see a subtle gradation of shadows rather than a harsh line.

It's a bit more flattering.

You Need the Right Angle of View

Rules are made to be broken. Just not all the time. Here's a list of things that you shouldn't do with your photo angles.

* Shoot at eye level

* Center your subject

Why We Avoid Eye Level Photos

What does everyone see every day?

Life at eye level. It's normal. It isn't unique or interesting. It's what we expect, which makes it mundane.

Let me clarify something about eye level, though. I'm specifically talking about shooting at your eye level. If you're taking a portrait of a person or an animal,