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Have you ever wondered what it was like to attend a Leica Akademie workshop? What could you learn? What is it like for a spouse or partner to attend? My wife and I attended the Leica Akademie in Zion. We loved it. Read about our experience here. Here is some of what I leaned in those 4 days. A great photo tells a story about a subject and context. Which is to say, photography is about framing and perspective. Ansel Adams said, "A good photograph is knowing where to stand." By simply moving the camera a little to the left or right, or forward or backward, you modify the perspective. Choosing a 24mm or a 90mm lens changes the framing. A photographer makes simple choices. When these choices coalesce, the result is magical. At the Photographer's discretion Where you stand Direction of the camera Focus (both subject and depth of field) Exposure Framing Aren't these the same choices we make in life? Living well is often a matter of focus, framing and perspective. A simple experience like morning coffee or walking on the beach may be enjoyable. Sometimes including a friend or loved one in this action makes it better. Including others in an experience is like "zooming out" in a photograph. You can enhance the quality of the experience by including others. But if you include too many people that walk on the beach or the cup of coffee might not be as enjoyable. The noise of the scene drowns out the enjoyment of the experience. Pay attention to the edges of the photo. The center is easy since we have an idea of what we want to photograph. But it is the edges that really make the difference. I improved my abstract photo of the wavy rocks by excluding the scrap of vegetation. Putting thought into what to include and what to discard makes a big difference. And isn't the same in life? Aren't there people that creep onto the edges that we would be better off without? And likewise, doesn't investing a little extra effort to include friends make life richer? Adjusting our camera's perspective to intentionally include something is like putting forth effort to see an old friend. Photo's, like life, improve by paying attention to the edges.