The first thing I do every morning is get a cup of coffee and sit in my comfortable armchair to view The Daily Critique from the Radiant Vista site -- http://www.radiantvista.com . There is a new viewer-submitted image every morning, and Craig follows a simple formula in each under-5-minutes discussion. In his respectful, calm, professional way he always starts with, "The first thing I like about this image...," highlighting such features as the kind of light, the "story," or adherence to such principles as rule of thirds, power points, or the golden spiral. He follows up with suggestions for "improving this image in a perfect world," often by pointing out how another angle or time of day or interaction with the subject might have changed the picture. When he demonstrates how a simple crop, a change in saturation, or a slight cloning out of small distractions can elevate an image, I bet even the original photographer is pleased rather than insulted.

I hope that over time I can absorb and use all the tips and principles I've heard him discuss. There is just something about Craig's voice and his gentle teaching that gets my day off to a serene start.