1. Get Basic Composition Down
Composition is the heart of a photograph, and refers to the position of the different elements within a frame. The easiest rule of thumb to learn is the Rule of Thirds. Break your frame into nine roughly equal squares, then try to align the subject of your photo along the lines and intersections, imagining the main image divided across those nine boxes. This gives you a more dramatic, visually interesting shot than placing your subject in the centre. Many cameras have a rule of thirds grid overlay you can switch on while shooting.
2. Adjust Exposure Compensation
If you aren’t shooting in full manual mode, your digital camera will make the decisions that determine a photo’s exposure, in plain English, how light or dark the shot appears. The camera looks at a scene and tries to work out the right exposure by treating it as a grey card, which is why, in snow mode, it will try to make the white snow look grey.
If a shot comes out too light or too dark, you can work through the scene modes available on modern point-and-shoot cameras, or simply dial in a bit of exposure compensation. Plenty of cameras have a physical button or dial marked with a +/- symbol. If your photos are too dark, move the scale above zero, and if they’re too light, move it down a touch.
3. Think About Lighting
Pay attention to how much light you have and where it’s coming from when you take your photos. If you’re shooting outdoors, be careful not to photograph a person with the sun behind them. If you’re photographing a landmark and can’t change your position, you can use the camera flash to fill in shadows. You may need to activate the flash manually, as it might not fire on a bright day.