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How to take the perfect photo

Taking the perfect photo - top tips for maximum impact!

Most amateur photographers have taken more than a handful of really good pictures in their lives. If they're lucky, they'll have taken a few that achieve greatness. So what is it about the great shots that set them apart from the others?

Try using these top tips... and the impact on your photographs will last a lifetime.

1. Hold your camera steady
   Holding your camera still whilst taking a picture is extremely important. Steady your upper body by tucking your elbows in close to your sides and hold your camera firmly against your face. Take a deep breath and squeeze the shutter gently.
   
   
2. When to flash
   Many cameras use auto-flash as the default setting. But pointing a flash straight at your subject can give your photos a flat quality because the flash minimises shadows. Experiment by pointing the flash away from the subject to bounce off a wall or ceiling. Flash photos are often afflicted with "red-eye." Minimising red-eye is as simple as choosing a red-eye-reduction setting on your camera.
   
   
3. Using natural light
   There are times when you should forget about using your automatic flash and instead use available or natural light, even in low-light situations.
   
   
4. Don't say cheese
   Sometimes you want a perfectly posed picture (perhaps the kids with their grandparents); but you don't need to pose subjects for every photo you take. So forget the cheese and say something to make 'em laugh!
   
   
5. The rule of thirds
   Here's a popular compositional technique. In your mind's eye, divide up the picture area into vertical and horizontal thirds. Rather than placing your subject smack bang, in the centre of the grid, try placing it on one of the four lines to create a more interesting picture.