Top Ten Tips to Make Better Photographs

If you can't look at an image and immediately tell what the subject is, there isn't one. The subject can be something within the photo, like a person or car, or it can be something abstract, like colors or a pattern of lines.

The important thing to note is that if you, as the photographer, can't pick out the specific subject of your photo, nobody else will either.

Without a clear subject, your photos will be boring.

Depth of field (the amount of blur to the part of the image not in focus) plays a major role in determining the subject of the photograph. For portraits, you'll generally want a high aperture (low f-stop number) so the background is blurred and the person stands out. For landscapes, go the other way (f-stop of 8 or higher).

Imagine a grid over your image (most cameras have something like this built into the viewfinder) that divides your photo into 3 rows and 3 columns (9 total squares). Try to place your point of interest at the intersection of 2 of these lines. Don't always put your subject dead center.

Thinking of taking a photo of the old man sitting on a park bench feeding the birds? Instead of popping on your telephoto lens and snagging a shot from across the park, try going to talk to the man first. Get to know why he sits and feeds the birds and what his name is.

This not only removes the awkwardness of "being caught" drive-by shooting but also gives you some insight into the scene. Maybe a 50-yard photo wouldn't be as good as a close-up from the bench next to him.

You know how boring someone else's vacation photos can be? It's because they're taken from eye-level at the same scenic viewpoint as everyone else who has ever visited that spot. They look too normal.

Try taking a picture of a tree from the ground as if you were an ant. Try moving off the beaten path and capturing that waterfall from above instead of the highway pull-out.

Ever seen a scene that looked perfect only to miss it due to fumbling with your equipment? How about those forced smiles you get when people have been posing for too long?

If you are dealing with an unpredictable and dynamic subject (pretty much all people), try having your camera out and ready long before you plan on snapping a photo. Then engage in conversation or other regular behaviors while holding the camera to your eye. That way, you'll be ready the second your subject laughs at the punchline.

Anyone can be shown how to push a shutter button, but not everyone can take the same photo as you. Take some time to go back over your history of photos and see what themes you can find. Look for the types of stories you typically tell through your photos.

Some photos can stand alone as beautiful art, but the truly remarkable photographs evoke feeling, tell a story, and make you feel like you were there. Think of why you want the photo. What do you want to tell the viewer that nobody else but you can say?

You don't have to invest hundreds or thousands of dollars in software, but you do need to consider the fact that very few masterpieces start and end in the camera. Even Ansel Adams spent hours and sometimes days in the darkroom making the perfect print of his images.

Do everything you can in-camera, but recognize that the final image might take form on the computer screen.

If you love every shot you take, then you haven't taken enough. Try taking 5 slightly different photos of every scene. Chances are, you won't end up liking the first photo every time. If you snap and run, you'll miss out on all the options you might have liked better.

I know that modern cameras have inbuilt programs and light-correction meters, but nothing beats the use of a separate light meter. Understanding light is very important before you can use or at least try to use a light meter. Even if you don't understand light 100%, the use of a light meter will give you better photos.