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* You spend hours in a hide, unable to move, in pursuit of THE photograph of that very rare lesser-spotted oozlem bird, when you get terrible cramp just as you are about to press the Shutterbutton

* You walk miles (without encountering another human being ) to a remote beauty spot and, when the light is finally right to take that definitive shot, a hoard of happy hikers appear from nowhere

* You take that once-in-a-lifetime boat trip only to discover you’ve left your film at home.

* The ‘candid shot’ that could make you a millionaire is ruined when your viewfinder is blacked out by a passing truck

The list is endless but you WILL get the pictures you’re after (although not always) if you follow a few simple rules:-

* Respect your subject, be it human or animal

* Use the correct lens and film for the occasion

* Move closer - don’t leave acres of space around your subject

* Always check your viewfinder - view the whole scene for hidden pitfalls- such as unwanted distractions or for objects ‘growing’ out of your subject’s head (commonly known as False Attachments)

* Avoid ‘camera shake’ at all costs, use a camera support - a beanbag , monopod or tripod - or brace yourself against something . Hold the camera steady and above all else squeeze the Shutterbutton v-e-r-y g-e-n-t-l-y

* View the scene from all angles before committing yourself to taking the picture

* Ensure the horizon remains where is should be - that is Horizontal!

* There is something called the Rule of Thirds where you mentally divide your picture (both horizontally and vertically) into thirds and place your subject at any of the intersections - good in theory but this is a rule that can be broken in practice with equally good results

Remember - photography should be fun and if you feel you are being overwhelmed with information, put your manual down, choose a ‘Mode’ for the day and just go and take pictures …………..and ENJOY yourself!
The reward for all your efforts is photographs to be proud of.

Composition: Structuring the photographic image

• Common compositional
  Understanding the most common photographic shortcomings is a good starting place to begin learning composition. The five most common photographic clichés are halves imagery, over-centering, overuse of horizontal format, and working too far from your subject.


• Halved imagery
  Halved imagery or breaking image into halves, one-half foreground/one-half background, makes for a static spatial dynamic. Nothing is emphasized or featured. Nothing dominates. Solution? Ground Thirds. This concept is also known as golden mean or golden oblong. It suggests braking images up into one-thirds-two-thirds divisions to provide emphasis and a better sequencing to the image. That the space is precisely broken off into pieces of one-third to two-thirds proportions is not imperative. You might employ ground fifths, or eights or tenths. What important that you emphasize something and break the space within the frame in an interesting and meaningful manner.


• Over-centering
  Over-centering of the subject is often due to the photographer’s reliance on the center-weighted metering and focusing system. Solution? Rule of thirds, also known as strategic placement or off centering. Basically, this strategy divides the images into thirds, both vertically and horizontally. The optimum points of placement are situated at or around those intersecting points. Those spots are considered ideal locations for placement of subject and main elements.


• Overuse of horizontal format
  Linear thought. This strategy simply suggests that the shooter note the basic flow of the lines within the frame. If they are predominantly horizontal, make a horizontal image. If the lines are predominantly vertical, move the camera a quarter turn and accommodate the image vertically.


• Working too far from the subject.
  Solution? Get used to getting up close to your subjects and the action. A good rule of thumb for any assignment that involves a portrait is to make several very tight images. It isn’t by accident that magazines and other publications run tight portrait shot the covers. They can be compelling and capture the soul of the subject, and we’re all interested in people. In any event, if a photograph of the subject is what’s going to drive the story- and often is- make sure you get a variety of good shots. That includes tight shots (filling the frame with the person’s face, environmental images (showing subjects in their surroundings or engaged in the activities that say something about who they are), and other shots and angles that help reveal personality of the subject being photographed.