Background, background, background... When framing a shot, pay as much attention to the background as you do to your subject. A complimentary background can enhance a mundane subject; a poor choice of background will make a great subject fall flat.
Keep it simple The strongest compositions are ones that get their message across quickly. Look for the building blocks of a great photograph in lines and shapes.
Make it personal Ask yourself what you're drawn to in a scene ─ the height of a building, the patterns in a field, the shape of a flower ─ and bring that element out.
Watch the cropping When you're framing people, avoid chopping them off at the knees or ankles.
Think about numbers Odd numbers of things tend to be visually more exciting than even amounts. Triangles are more dynamic than squares or rectangles, which echo the boundaries of the frame. Three's the magic number?
Raise your aspirations Tell yourself that you're going to take the best photograph you've ever taken when you get up in the morning. This can lead to disappointment in the short term, but in the long term you'll definitely raise your game.
Study the masters Take time to search out the cream of contemporary and classic photography and work out what it is about their composition that makes all the elements click into place.
Avoid cliche Don't be happy with simply imitating other photos that you've seen. Think about using different lenses, treatments and viewpoints. Don't be afraid to lie down in the mud or sand. Be determined to create something more artistic than you were producing a year ago.
Shoot plenty of frames Really work a subject ─ you're first shot is rarely your best one, and you're not wasting film any more. Work through early framing options to chisel your vision and weed out the duff ideas.
Always carry a camera with you The more you shoot ─ family, friends, daily life ─ the more you'll begin to refine your eye for composition. Then, when a once-in-a-lifetime shot presents itself, framing it quickly will be second nature.
