101 pretty good ideas from HGTV

A continuing compendium of tips and tricks from Home & Garden Television:

Taking Great Vacation Photos:

“ Get closer: It’s almost impossible to get too close, if only because most lenses won’t focus closer than three feet. This is an immediate remedy to a lot of photo problems. The best photos are sharply focused on one subject or pattern. Also, getting close to your subject generally creates a more intimate and dynamic photo.

“ Shoot off center: Many people tend to photograph their subject square in the middle of the frame. Sometimes, that works to dramatic effect. Most of the time, it leads to a static, dull image. Move the frame around, see how the subject, whether it’s a person or a mountain, looks when it’s at the top, bottom or side of the frame.

“ Simplify: Focus on your subject, but pay attention to what also will be photographed in the background. A cluttered, unattractive or overly-bright background will take attention away from the main subject of your photo.

“ Lighting: Determine where the light is coming from and, if possible, position your subject so they are well-lit. Backlit subjects (with the sun or major light source behind) often produce photos that look flat, shadowy or simply like silhouettes. That can, however, be a great effect if it’s intentional.

“ Read the instructions: Even the most elementary point-and-shoot camera comes with an instruction manual. Always familiarize yourself with what your camera can do. Many point-and-shoots, for example, have a function called “fill-flash.” In bright sunlight, it fills in the shadows in people’s faces, eliminating problems with backlighting.