This article was written by Mike Panic and is about: Photography

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Here are five simple tips to help you get better photographs, no matter the camera you are using.

1. Try vertical composition. Point and shoot cameras rarely come with viewfinders in them anymore and the way the controls are setup, shooting horizontally feels right in your hands. Often times though, a vertical shot will yield a better result, so give the camera turn and try shooting some vertical images
2. Shoot from waist level. Many photographs from people to buildings simply look better when shot from waist level. Perspective is something that needs to be considered when shooting. If you use the first suggestion of shooting vertically to compose a portrait of less then 5 or 6 people, try shooting it down on one knee. You may find that this method yields to more flattering photographs across the board.
3. Use the rule of thirds. The Wikepdia link gives a very technical answer to what the rule of thirds is, but I’ll sum it up for you in some more simple terms. When you shoot a sunset / sunrise, don’t put the horizon dead center in the frame, position it in the top third or bottom third of your frame. Same thing goes for shots of people. Whether you choose to shoot horizontally or vertically, don’t put someone’s face dead center in the frame, you’ll only get dead wasted space above it. Position their face to the top third of the frame.
4. Always carry a camera. You can’t get a shot if you don’t have a camera with you. Years ago, insurance agents would suggest keeping a disposable camera in the glove box of your car in case you are in an accident. Today though, prices of digital cameras are so low that you should be able to find a carry everywhere camera. Sometimes the most amazing cloud formations happen during the boring drive to work, you’ll want to be able to capture them, so be prepared.
5. Turn your flash on for outdoor portraits. If you are taking photographs of people outside on a nice day, more then likely the auto-flash function on your camera will not fire because the camera thinks it is bright enough and not needed. In reality, you do. Shooting people, whether formal portraits or just a friends and family get-togethers outside on a sunny day is shadow hell. By using a flash you can help fill in some of the shadowed areas in a person�s face from their eyebrow ridge and nose, thus creating a more flattering image. The flash from the camera will more then likely also cause another desirable feature in portrait photography called a catch light, that little twinkle in the subject’s eye.

Next time you are out shooting, give these tips a try, see how they work. I’m also very interested in hearing what tips you may have to share to get better photographs!

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