One thing that anyone must do when trying to improve their photography is practice, practice, practice! This can be done in a number of different ways. Bringing your camera with you wherever you go and making it point to shoot pictures or by taking some time to go on excursion. However, there is one thing that will challenge every photographer: the Photo Challenge.

The photo challenge is very simple. It can be a single challenge or, more commonly, a 30-day photo challenge where every day is dedicated to taking a particular type of picture (look up photo challenges on Pinterest or on google).

For the everyday photographer though, this could be hard to do. What you need is something to help hone the skill and thought process in creating an image. So, I have a simple photo challenge for you that only takes 20 minutes and is easy for ANYONE to do.

Step One: Find a Location

Take some time and think of a location where you can sit for a while. This could be a living room, a park bench, a bus stop, whatever. The key here is to pick somewhere that you can be in the same spot for 20 minutes where you will not to be interrupted. You want the ability to focus on the project at hand without distraction.

Step 2: Sit and Wait...Your Patience Will Be Rewarded

Once you have chosen a location, sit in one spot. This is the time for you to NOT TOUCH YOUR CAMERA!!! The point here is to look around you and see the potential of the scene. Look at object, people, landscapes, etc. Try to imagine yourself taking the shot. How will you take the picture? What angle will you use? Will you use a flash or natural light? Think about the overall composition of the shot. During this time, you should be your own "director" where you guide yourself from shot to shot. Do this for 10 minutes.

Step 3: Ready...Aim...FIRE!!!

After the first 10 minutes has elapsed, then it is time to pick up the camera and begin putting your ideas into action. Begin taking the pictures that you thought up. This is your opportunity to shine.

Two important notes here:

Don't burst out the images!!! In other words, take one shot at a time. Don't just hold the shutter down. This process will allow you to plan and execute every shot with meticulous precision!
Do not preview the images!!! This can be a very difficult thing to do, but this will force you to check your camera settings and your overall composition.

Do this for 10 minutes.

Step 4: Review

As a photographer, this can be one of the hardest tasks: Critiquing ourselves. As humans, we tend to be our own worst critics. However, the key here is to be constructive in the criticism. Take the images and really look at them closely. What do you like about the image? What do you not like about the image? How would you have changed the shot? This is where you begin to find your style and begin learning from your mistakes. Don't get disappointed. Every shot is an experiment in finding your style. Even the professional photographers have images they take that they do not like.

Final Thoughts

The goal of this exercise is to help focus your thoughts on composing the image. Taking the time to think about how you want to shoot the image will help you grow as a photographer and improve your abilities. Remember that to improve, we need to practice. Practice makes perfect. Stay focused, think before you shoot and most of all, enjoy the process.