ESSENTIAL GEAR

Modern cameras are practically automatic and capable of making amazingly beautiful photographs. There are a few simple pieces of equipment that can compliment these cameras for creating even better photographs:
CAMERA STRAP
One of the best and least expensive pieces of equipment is a good camera strap. A strap can prevent you from needless damage to your camera. Spongy neoprene type straps and wide ones will absorb some of the weight of the camera and guard against neck strain.
LENS
Zoom lenses are the best choice for most people based on economy and convenience. Ideally, you will want lenses to cover a range from 28mm to 300mm. The wide- angle lenses are good for landscapes and the telephoto will come in handy for sports and wildlife photography.
FLASH
For portraits, an add- on flash will extend the range of your flash photography and help to eliminate red- eye. Built- in flash units are only useful for subjects within ten feet of the camera. Many add- on flash units will more than double that range.
FILTERS
An Ultra- Violet or Skylight filter is a good idea for most people. They will help to eliminate atmospheric haze and will protect the lens from dirt and scratches. A Polarizing filter will give your pictures brilliant blue skies. These filters are also good for removing glare from water. When using a polarizing filter, the sun must be at a 90 degree angle to the subject. In other words, the sun should be at your left or right shoulder when taking the picture.

COMPOSITION

An important consideration for improving your photos is photographic composition. An age old composition technique is known as the “rule of thirds”. The “rule of thirds” consists of visually dividing a picture into thirds, both vertically and horizontally. Once you envision these lines, place your subject on an intersection of those lines. Look at the example below, notice that the moose is positioned at the left third of the photo. Notice that the horizon (where the land meets water) is placed in the lower third and not in the center. When a subject is placed off center, the image has more visual impact than a stagnant centered subject. Surprisingly, one of the best things you can do to improve your composition is to use a tripod. A tripod will not only give you sharper images but it will force you to spend more time composing an image. Tweaking the knobs on a tripod while you look through the viewfinder will give you time to notice distracting elements such as branches protruding into the frame. Your photos will improve from the simple process of just slowing down and being deliberate about composition, both of which are inherent with tripod use.