Woman, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Just before sunrise and just after sunset are when the light is often ideal for dramatic photography, because that is when colors are vibrant and shadows are deeper. Here, hints of sunup slip through this temple's entryway early in the morning, lending a golden sheen to the woman's face and to the dancers chiseled on the temple wall.

Muslim couple, Kuching, Malaysia

Using a fill-in flash may help distinguish the storytelling elements of an image. Here, the flash illuminates only the subjects and sharpens the outline of the mosque, dramatically heightening the contrast.