Reader photos: Patriotic bulldog, aerial fueling, more

Desair Brown

USAToday

Is the Washington Monument going to the dogs?

We have five fantastic photos and photography tips from Your Take contributors for today's Take 5, a roundup of the day's best reader photos. Have a great photo that you'd like to share with the nation? Submit your top shot(s) at yourtake.usatoday.com.

Joshua Crompton was at the Washington Monument taking some photos of t he city, when he spotted this little bulldog. When photographing animals like this, Crompton says he always prefers to use a fixed 50mm lens. "The depth of field and detail with th at lens is unreal, and it really makes your subject 'pop'," he adds.

A very patriotic bulldog takes in the D.C. sites.

A building in downtown Raleigh, N.C., during late September makes for a nice backdrop for a tiny cloud visible on the glass, according to Marty Joyner. Joyner loves to photograph high-rise buildings from different angles and perspectives. Joyner's biggest photo tip is to take lots and lots of pictures. "I also use Your Take for inspiration."

A downtown Raleigh, NC building comes to life.

Fall may be here, but there are some things about summer we already miss. One of Cat Harper's favorite things about the warmer season is the farmers markets. She likes to fill her house with the beautiful flowers, and eat the fresh fruits and vegetables. When it comes to snapping these finds, Harpert says she looks for stalls that place the food artistically or into more rustic containers.

"One of the things I love most about summer is the Farmers Markets that are in our area several times a week."

This photo of a cabin in the woods was taken last October in Cade's Cove in Great Smoky Mountain National Park by Scott Campbell. Campbell had this tip for other photographers: Have patience. "You never know when the perfect shot will present itself. Also, expect to take 500-1,000 photos for every one that you keep."

A cabin in Cade's Cove in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Airline pilot Nick Walker has been flying a long time and has never seen an aerial refueling before. When snapping such sights, the "amateur photographer" uses a multitude of equipment, but his go-to device is his Canon 7D. Walker says he finds it fascinating when beauty presents itself to him and he is constantly searching for it.

"Little did I know it was an aerial refueling taking place at a closure rate of over 1,000 miles per hour!"

To see more fabulous photos from folks like you, go to yourtake.usatoday.com . Have some great original photos you'd like to share with the nation? Sign up for Your Take using your Facebook or Google+ account. We look forward to your contributions!

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