Everyone seems to have their formula for taking compelling photogrpahs. Some people do the same thing over and over. Others are more creative. You can have the perfect exposure, whit balance, wtc, bu tif the subject isn't interesting, all is lost. Here are a few tips:

1. Include some human element in your phtographs. Have you ever wondered why so many photographs of lakes include a dock floating into the water? Even the smalle3st trace of human activity makes the viewer think that they could be there themselves.

2. Try to incluse action into your shots. Motion blur can be quite effective in accentuating movement against a static background.

3. GET CLOSE! Fill up the frame with your subject. Get so close that you only capture part of your subject. Nothing is so boring as a small subject right in the middle of a frame.

4. Minimize depth of field. This is very useful where you want to emphasize the subject and minimize any distracting background. This is best done with a telephoto lens with a wide aperture.

5. Look for creative angles. Shooting paralell to the horizon all the time is boring. Experiment a little.

6. Get a triposd and try some long-exposure shots. Moving cars are especially easy for a beginner.

7. Carry your camera with you as often as you can. The rule of photography is that the best shots always appear when you don't have your camera with you. This has happened to me so many times that I could scream.