Many factors can occur to spoil an otherwise perfectly worthwhile photograph. Being in too much of a hurry, not paying attention to background clutter, ignoring positioning of your main subject within the frame, are just some of the errors I made in the beginning. These are the things that can make the difference between a photograph and a snap-shot. It can all be very frustrating when you see the finished picture.
In my past experience with close up nature photography, (usually flowers, bees and other insects) I've learned that timing is foremost. You need to get setup and take the shot before the breeze moves the flowers or the insects relocate to another area. Clicking too promptly only leads to an out of focus photograph. However, I learned very quickly that self-control is imperative.
Before clicking the camera, try to focus on your subject, stepping up as close as you can, which is what I always try to do first. If that isn't feasible then stand back and zoom in. Don't forget though, that if you zoom in too much, it will lower the resolution of the photograph, which means if you plan to enlarge your prized photo, it will become grainier the larger you go in size.
The rationale for moving close or zooming in, is to prevent a cluttered background, or noise as it is known. If you simply point and shoot, steps you didn't even notice tend to pop right out in the picture and take away from the subject matter. In my opinion, an admirable photo is one that draws the viewer in, no matter what the subject matter is.
At the start I thought every insect, bee or flower had to be centered with every photograph I took. Boy was I wrong! There wasn't any variety, and after browsing through my files of photo's, it became really boring. Then I learned about the "Rule of Thirds", which fixed many of my later photographic compositions. It's actually quite straight forward and in my opinion not really a rule, but rather a guideline to make your photographs more interesting.
Here's how the "Rule of Thirds" works. Envisage a grid on your screen or viewfinder splitting it into three equal parts horizontally and vertically, basically dividing your field of vision into nine equal squares. As you focus on your subject, the points where these imaginary lines intersect are the strongest focal points.
With a little repetition you too will be able to imagine the grid placement, as you shoot. I must admit I don't use this "Rule of Thirds" for every single photograph, but I do try to remember it before clicking the camera.
If you're shooting a landscape your horizon should fall close to the lowest horizontal line so that the sky takes up the top two thirds of the photograph. If there is a tree or other item of interest, it should fall near one of the vertical lines instead of in the dead center of the picture.
There are many ways to perfect your photographs and this is a super start. Happy hunting!