Use the flash

Even in daylight when shooting portraits, it is a good idea to focus on the background, then use the flash in the subject's face.  That way, the background and subject will be in focus.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013
Model: Shira Siegel; permisson granted by model

Contrast

It is important to have contrast in a photo.  Contrast in photography context is the difference between lights and darks.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Follow your subject

If you are trying to take a picture of an animal that is outside while you are inside, you will probably get a lesser quality picture that is tinted by the window screen.  Try to quietly go outside, if possible, and the picture will be much better.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Mt. Marcy, New York

Sometimes, a simple object like grass or a rock makes a good subject if you have an interesting background.

Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Fireworks

When photographing fireworks, use a slow shutter speed to capture the whole firework at its brightest.  This was taken with a 5 second shutter speed.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Reflections

Reflective objects can make interesting subjects for a picture.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Be patient

When taking a picture of something multiple people are trying to take a picture of, take the time to move around until you find a place where people's hands and cameras don't get in your picture.  Distractions like that would take away from the subject.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Detail

Sometimes, the details of something common and otherwise boring, can make an interesting picture.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Shutter speed

When taking pictures of wildlife in the dark that is sensitive to a flash, use a long shutter speed instead.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Subject Placement

There are a few good places to put the subject in a picture.  One is in the center, and the others use the rule of thirds.  The rule of thirds is that if you divided the picture into a grid of nine spaces with four lines, the subject would be on one of the corners of the line.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Background (San Jose, Costa Rica)

Sometimes in a picture, the background can stand on its own.  There is no clear subject in this picture, but it is still interesting to look at.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Perspective

This bridge looked boring from other angles, but when I went under it, I got a better picture.  If you can't get a good picture of a subject, try a different angle.

Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Sunlight

The amount of sunlight can completely change a scene.  For example, I took a picture exactly like this when it was cloudy, and it was boring.  I came back later and took this, and the amount of sunlight changed the color of the water so that it is a better picture.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Color Contrast

In a photograph, it is usually good to have color contrast.  For example, in this picture, the bird's legs, eyes, and beak stand out from the rest of the photo.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Time of the Day (Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica)

If you find a good subject, but can't get an interesting picture of it, try coming back at a different time of the day.  For example, I couldn't get an interesting picture of this volcano, but I came back when there were fewer clouds around it, so now it looks better.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Wildlife

When taking pictures of wildlife that moves around a lot, such as this monkey, set your camera to a fast shutter speed, then set your camera to drive mode (which takes many pictures quickly).  Look through the pictures later, and at least a few will be good.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Subjects

To get a good picture, you need something for the eye to focus on.  For example, this picture would be boring without the two people walking in the distance.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Apertures

If you want to focus the camera on one thing, and blur out everything else around it, you should use a larger aperture so that the camera only focuses on what you want.  For example, if your camera has a range of apertures from F3 to F9, using F9 will get the picture focused on something smaller.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Macro Focus

In this close up of a flower, I used Macro Focus mode on my camera.  It helps take better pictures of things that are very close up.

Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Eye level

In photos that are of things that are smaller than the photographer, such as children, plants, or pets,  sometimes the best ones are the photos taken at eye level of the subject because it shows a unique view.

Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Portraits

When shooting portraits, keep in mind that it is very important to have a good background for the picture.  A background should be interesting, but not so interesting that it draws attention away from the subject.

Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013
Model: Shira Siegal; permisson granted by model

Matching colors

This picture is interesting to look at, because the eyes of the cat are the same color as the blanket.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Zoom in lenses

It is useful to have a camera that can zoom very far.  I took this from about 20 feet away from the bird, so it would not fly away.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Text

Some photos that would normally be boring, such as this photo of a violin, can be made better by adding text and color filters.

Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Close up

 In this close up of a pinecone, I used a small aperture so that the pinecone is focused, but the background is not, which shows that the pinecone is a clear subject.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013

Kelly

In this picture, the background is interesting, but not enough to stand on its own, so the subject makes the picture look good.
Photo ©Kalyana Duggal 2013
Model: Kelly Brinkso; permisson granted by model