So, you've made the plunge into the world of digital photography. Pictures not coming out the way you want them to? Our Tech Guide will take you through what you need to know for perfect photos every time.

The word "photography" has its roots in the Greek language. It literally means: "light writing" or "light painting". Make no mistake, photography is all about light--capturing the path and color of lights as they radiate or reflect from all around us, onto a film or digital palette.

Regardless whether it's digital or traditional film-based photography, the rules and guidelines are basically the same; only the recording medium has changed. However, the advent and growing popularity of digital cameras are making it easier than ever for the average Joe to shoot and print great pictures--all in the comfort of home. Here are 10 tips on how to make the most of your digital camera.

1. Paint the mental image first
The trick to a great picture lies more often than not in the composition. Composition is the act of visually organizing the elements and details of a scene into the desired arrangement, by looking through the viewfinder or LCD display. The act of composition itself is what separates the good photographer from the merely mediocre. Learn to look at your subjects and surroundings with a critical eye and build a mental image first of the effect you want to achieve. In other words, develop your "photographer's eye" and identify the center of interest for each picture. One good way to get started is to carry around a cheap plastic mount (obtainable at any good photo-developing lab) and use it to "frame" your mental image.

It's a common mistake to stand at a comfortable spot and wait for a great photo opportunity to surface--it almost never does. With your eye through the viewfinder, move around or manipulate your subjects, if possible, until these are as close to your mental picture as they can be. For example, if you spy a flower in full bloom, don't stand at a distance and make do with a wide- angle shot. Get up close to bring out the details of the flower in its full glory, or even try a macro shot if your camera and equipment allow. At parties and gatherings, don´t make do with static posed group shots. Try roaming around to capture interesting moments and facial expressions such as laughing and cheering. It makes for more visual appeal, and you definitely won't end up with an album of people all smiling at the camera.

A typical shot of a flower from a distance	Close-up shot of the flower. (Notice how this image brings out the details of the flower.)

2. Rules are meant to be broken… sometimes
Experts and many professional photographers will usually tell you that they subscribe to a set of composition rules. That's a fallacy--there is no right or wrong composition in photography, and there are no rules, only guidelines.

These "rules" are based on recreating similarities in the make-up of numerous different images that many people have found to be aesthetically pleasing. However, they should not be taken as hard-and-fast rules that must be observed regardless of the situation. Many renowned photographs violate all the rules of composition and are still masterpieces in their own right. This does not mean the rules are without value--they are time-proven and provide great guidelines for photographers at any level.

For beginners, the best advice is to follow the rules until you know when to break them. Develop an understanding of the elements of composition and familiarize yourself with them until they become second nature. You´ll be surprised at the marked improvement in your pictures when the rules are applied correctly. Once you've reached that stage, experiment and break a rule when you feel the image will work better without it, to develop your own style. Without that understanding of basic composition, bending the rules usually just results in amateurish pictures, or worse, something that looks like a mistake.

3. The golden Rule of Thirds

An image with the Rule of Thirds being applied. (See how the bicycle and the man is positioned on the intersection points.)

As mentioned earlier, the "Rule of Thirds" is not a rule at all; it's a guideline, intended to help you when you are uncertain as to the placement of elements in a scene when you are framing the picture. By ignoring the rule, you may still have a great picture, depending on the content of the image and how well its elements are balanced. For example, if you want your viewer to ignore all other parts of your composition, then place your center of interest smack in the middle, like a bull's eye. The important thing is to note the reasons for object placement in your images. Knowing why you do something and what effect it will have leads to good composition.

4. Foreground, background, foreground, background…

Here, the flower is focused but not the background because of the small depth of field.

The foreground/background technique serves a few purposes as well. By including an object of a known size in the foreground of a scene, this provides the viewer with information regarding the size of the subject. For example, a lone tree in a featureless expanse of desert may not impart any sense of size, but if a man in the foreground was planted in the picture, it becomes instantly clear if the tree is enormous or tiny. Another useful purpose is to create depth in a two-dimensional image by including people or other matching objects in the foreground, middle ground and background. Optical illusions can often be created this way. If a picture were to contain a large foreground subject, a medium- sized middle ground object, and a small-sized subject in the background, an illusion or sense of greater depth can be imparted.

5. Exposure bracketing as insurance
Bracketing is a photographic term often used but seldom practiced by beginners. However, if used properly, it may mean the difference between a good shot and a great one. In general, the metering functions of most digital cameras are based on an average reading from the central portion of the image (i.e. "center-weighted" metering). However, this means if the subject is off to one side, the exposure is read off the background instead. In addition, while many newer models feature "matrix metering" or "multi-segment metering", the meters are not intelligent enough for all situations. Here, bracketing provides some insurance at getting a properly exposed picture.

The is how a sunset scenery will appear if the correct exposure is used	With under-exposure, the same sunset scene will appear like this.

This means taking more than one shot of the same scene, using different exposure settings. When you bracket, you take a photograph at the exposure setting you think is correct. You then photograph the same subject again while slightly changing either the shutter speed setting or the aperture, usually by half or one stop less exposure, and then a half or one-stop more exposure. Digital cameras usually allow some bracketing function, allowing you to modify camera settings plus or minus 2.0EV in 0.3 or 0.5 steps, so a variety of exposures can be taken quickly. Bracketing is especially useful in landscape photographs like sunset or sunrise scenes, as these often vary greatly in areas of brightness and shadow. The changing lighting conditions and color temperature will often make metering a tricky affair.

Hong Kong cityscape taken with outdoor white balance.	Hong Kong cityscape taken with automatic white balance. (Notice how the camera inaccurately estimates the white balance, resulting in a blue tinge on the captured image.)

Generally, white balance is already preset for normal daylight photography. If you plan on shooting indoors where your subjects will be illuminated by household bulbs or fluorescent lights, or if you aim to use flash or shoot in shade, refer to your camera's manual for instructions on changing the white balance to suit the type of lighting. If you have a mix of light sources, such as a room with fluorescent lights but with windows allowing in bright sunlight, be extra mindful of the white balance settings. Most advanced cameras allow for customized settings and fine-tuning, giving the photographer greater control over white balance.

7. Photography in motion
In any situation, the correct stance and camera holding technique are essential. Even if the lens is adjusted correctly with all the appropriate controls selected, a slight shift of your hands can render a blurry, unusable image. This becomes more crucial when you're shooting with natural light and in darkening conditions with longer shutter speeds. Always grip your camera in a firm manner, with the other hand supporting and adjusting any controls, and maintain a steady breathing pattern. If you're panting after a quick run to catch up with the subject, for example, take a few deep breaths before composing and snapping your shot.

One recommended stance to adopt is to hold your arms close, tucking elbows close to the body so the camera is braced, and to take shallow, long breaths. Try leaning against an available support, sitting or squatting down if possible, as these help to curb body movement like swaying. A simple rule of thumb is to have a shutter speed of at least 1/60th of a second when handholding without using a flash, for acceptable results. However, in general, the longer the focal length and lens used, the faster the shutter speed should be. A tripod is still the best method of avoiding camera shake, so keep it in the car or carry around a light model if available. The tripod becomes particularly useful when dealing with night photography and landscapes in the evenings.

A Disney night parade shot without a tripod. (Notice the blur image due to camera shake.)	A Disney night parade shot using tripod. (The captured image here is sharp, compared to the image on the left.)

8. One picture, one color

Notice how an image can have a different effect when it is captured in normal, black and white, and sepia tones.

If your camera doesn't offer these modes, the effect can be easily replicated with available software. If your image is in color, convert it to black and white. Then select and cover your image with a brownish tint. To make it even more old-fashioned-looking, try blurring the image a little.

9. When more is better than less

For cost-savings in the long run, try investing in an extra set of rechargeable batteries.

Batteries and power are another main mood-killer. Always remember to charge up the battery and pack an extra set of fresh cells. This may mean buying an extra rechargeable battery, depending on the type used by your digicam. It always pays to keep a fresh pack in your camera bag just in case. Cameras that use common AA batteries are also a boon as replacements are usually readily available.

10: Practice makes perfect
It's an age-old adage but one that is particularly significant in photography. Nothing beats the experience of actually going out there and taking photos, and putting all the knowledge and tips learned to good use. Although the techniques may seem difficult to adopt at first, with time and effort, these will soon become second nature. As with many other sciences, the theory is more daunting than actual practice. One of the major advantages of a digital camera is minimum wastage as you practice, as unwanted images can be deleted at the click of a button.

Another important aspect is to get familiar with the functions and controls of your camera. As you practice and get used to these, the features will become second nature. You will find yourself almost automatically and quickly identifying the center of interest, locating it properly in the frame, composing for balance through the viewfinder, and taking an effective and well- composed picture that provides the emphasis you want--all without even thinking about it. The key word is practice. When you practice doing something right often enough, then you begin to do it right all the time without having to think about it.

Photography by Larry Loh and Reuben Lee