I was checking off my bucket list trip to France. You can imagine I was thrilled! On Day Three, I arrived at the legendary Versailles, the cozy home of Louis XIV.

Six hours and nineteen thousand steps later, at closing, when I exited to the grand courtyard, I saw this magnificent statue of Louis, the Sun King, gloriously silhouetted by the setting sun. The deep shadow of Louis blanketing all the lowly tourists around him made a stronger image than if I had photographed him in the harsh light of day. I was thrilled with the unexpected opportunity to capture the moment.

Look around you today for some dramatic shadows. Early morning and late afternoon will provide the strongest contrast. Or set up your subject indoors using artificial light. If you try hard enough, I’m sure you’ll be thrilled with the results.