Taking photographs - composition

Think about the angle

Taking the shot from above if you are photographing children, pets or an object on the ground significantly reduces the subject in your scene. Get down to the level of the subject. If this is a child or a pet, you will be able to capture the expression of their face and the subject will fill the frame.

Plain backgrounds

Choose an uncluttered background for your subject. The photograph will have more impact if the scenery is plain. Also, make sure there are no unsightly objects within the frame. 

An off-centre subject

Placing your subject towards the right or left of the frame will give the shot more impact. You can position the subject to the top or bottom of the frame for additional impact. Remember to lock the focus on your subject before you re-position. To do this, put the subject in the centre, press the shutter button half way, re-frame the picture while still holding the shutter button and then press fully to take the shot.

Shutter delay

This refers to the time it takes between pressing the shutter button and taking the photograph. With some digital cameras there can be a slight delay. Make sure you get to know your camera and keep the camera still with the shutter button pressed down until the camera has fully taken the shot. If you don’t, your photographs may be blurred.

Other useful tips

Buy a large media card

Often, the card included with your camera will not hold many images. It is well worth investing in a larger memory card. 256MB would be a good starting point. You can also buy 512MB and 1GB cards. A larger card will make sure you don’t miss out on the perfect shot because your memory card is full. You will also be able to set the image recording quality higher which means that you will be able to enlarge your favourite prints without losing any of the quality.

Use preview

A key advantage of a digital camera is being able to look at the images after you’ve taken them. If you are trying to capture a specific scene, you can preview the shot and see if it looks the way you wanted. If you are not happy, you can delete and retake until satisfied (with a moving subject, as long as it allows!). Why keep a picture if it’s not in focus, or somebody’s eyes are closed, or a person is obstructing part of the view?

Archiving

Make sure you take the time to download your images on a frequent basis. That way, should something happen to your camera or memory card, you will already have the images on your pc.

Printing

Even if you have all your photographs on your pc, there is no reason why you can’t print out your favourite ones and keep an album. Photographs can be printed cheaply.