Tips from Bee photographer Ted Benson

Contrasting the new with the old is another way to add interest to landmark photography.

The view of the 1915-vintage Modesto Transportation Center in Photo 1, taken last week, offers a nice architectural contrast to the Double Tree hotel built in the late 1980s.

For those of us taking vacation over the holidays, sightseeing is always popular.

Many like to photograph landmarks along the way, often resorting to such tried and true straight-on compositions like this view last week of the Modesto Arch in Photo 2.

The approach to the first two shots is solid, but it's just a beginning if you really want to come back with eye-catching images.

You can add variety to your photographs with a simple change of perspective, using the same wide-angle lens utilized in Photo 2, I accentuated one of the ornate support columns for the arch in Photo 3. In the process, the arch also works as a frame for downtown buildings and passing vehicles. The light angle also changes, adding contrast and three-dimensionality to the framework and lettering.

Also, don't overlook the details. You can add variety to a selection of images with closeups like this study in Photo 4 of the wrought iron on the Modesto Arch. (Ted Benson/The Modesto Bee)

This story was originally published November 25, 2008 at 6:58 PM with the headline "Tips from Bee photographer Ted Benson."