Where would you like your subject in the frame? What kind of background do you want? A little care in composing goes a long way to creating a great photograph. Vertical orientation By including everything from close foreground to distant background, a vertical frame brings a sense of depth to the scene. Horizontal orientation A horizontal frame captures the world more as our eyes see it, with balanced, pleasing proportions. Low angle Pointing the camera upwards creates a dynamic, powerful effect. High angle Shooting from above can emphasize the smallness or cuteness of your subject. See how they've grown Shooting the same scene every year is a fascinating way to show the passage of time — particularly with young children. Photograph them standing in the same place each year and you'll have a unique record of their growth. Keeping horizontals level When shooting landscapes, try to keep the horizon level. This produces a more pleasing, balanced picture. The image you see in the viewfinder of your compact camera doesn't quite correspond to the image that actually goes on the film — and the closer the subject, the greater the difference. So when shooting close, use the parallax marks in the viewfinder for more accurate framing. Viewfinder image Actual print Example of parallax with a compact camera