TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Contributing writer

I can't stress enough that no matter why you are taking photos, you have to always look around you.

It's like hiking when I was in Arches National Park with my youngest grandkids. We walked up trails, we stopped every once in awhile to look above us, at the ground, behind us, and to the sides. You can always see from a different perspective.

The story changes depending upon how you view it.

So let's tell stories. These photos are all from our recent trip to China.

We were in our tour bus in Chongqing, waiting for members of our group. I looked out the door, saw this little girl squatting at a bus stop, grabbed my camera and shot without even thinking.

As it turned out, she stayed in that position for at least five minutes, but with people you often have to move quickly to capture the moment.

I took 10-plus photos of her, and that's what you have to do. Take lots, and if you are lucky, one will be good.

I love this picture because I want to know what the little girl is thinking.

Is she in a bad mood, bored, contemplative, sad?

I would have missed this girl if I hadn't been alert and looking around me. So if you see something that looks interesting, shoot! You can always delete.

White and red wedding

This is one of my absolute favorite photos. It was taken on May 1 -- May Day -- an auspicious day for weddings. We did see quite a few that day, but this one was very different.

My husband and I were walking down a street in Shanghai -- don't know which neighborhood because we were just blindly walking around to see what was out there.

I glanced into this alley, saw this forlorn-looking bride, and took a picture -- again, without thinking. It was instinct. No one noticed. I wonder why she was so unhappy?

This photo tells a cultural story also. In China, white is the color for funerals, the color of death. Red is the traditional wedding color. Many people are adopting Western traditions, however, and wear white wedding dresses.

Often the bride changes into a red dress for the reception. This bride, however, has solved that problem by pinning a red flower on her white dress.

Busy times in Xitang

This photo was taken in Xitang, a city of canals near Shanghai. Most of the action in Xitang was taking place on the sidewalk.

This woman was slicing vegetables, concentrating hard. I would bet that she isn't nearly as old as she looks.

The story in this photo, besides the activity and careworn appearance of the woman herself, is that people's lives vary profoundly, and this woman seems to accepted her lot.

It's a baby!

We were walking along a street in Yangshao, China -- hot, sweaty, and tired, when we came across this woman. Look in the basket on the left -- it's a baby!

The woman must have a hard life -- and no child care -- so the baby just comes along. Why do I say she probably has a hard life?

Although she is smiling, her teeth look like they could use dental care or at least orthodontia, and she looks a little bent from her load. It's a tough way to carry things -- and on foot.

In the background is a shiny new tourist bus -- obviously for people who have the money to travel, and most certainly don't carry loads across their shoulders like the "stick-stick men." A real contrast of life styles emerges if we look deeper into this photo. Look behind the smile.

There is a lot to think of at once -- how is the light, is there any texture or color that's interesting? Do I have a good perspective? What about movement -- is the photo static or does it suggest life, either interior (contemplation) or exterior? Is the subject placed well? Not always in the middle. And does the photo tell a story?

Susan Reep is an artist, photographer and former teacher. To read her complete blog about shooting images of flowers, go to at http://susanreep.com/blog or check out other photos at http://susanreep.com.