You may not realize it, but every time you bring your camera up to your eye you're making decisions about composition. Simply put, composition is how you choose to frame the picture you're about to make. Many books have been written about composition, and while no two people are likely to frame the same scene the same way, there are some general guidelines that can help you improve your photos and make them more interesting and engaging.

The Rule of Thirds
One of the first questions to ask yourself when composing your picutre is: "What is my subject?" Of all the things you see in front of you, which one is the reason for taking the photo? Once you've answered that question you can begin to work on how best to show that subject. The rule of thirds is a guide to help you do just that.

When you look through your viewfinder or at the LCD screen, imagine a tic-tac-toe grid over the scene. Some Nikon cameras even have a menu item that allows you to turn on gridlines in the viewfinder. These gridlines are a guide to help you frame your image and won’t show up in your final picture.

Now, notice where the lines intersect. The rule of thirds suggests that these points are the best places to position your subject. Doing so will generally result in a pleasant and balanced composition.

Try moving your camera so your subject appears where two of the lines meet. The subject doesn’t have to be directly on the intersection but somewhere close to it. Try a couple of different compositions to find the one you like best.

These same gridlines can help you to keep your horizons level and the vertical elements in your photo straight. Most pictures look better if the horizon is positioned above or below the middle of the frame and not directly in the center of the image. The exception is when shooting a reflection. In this case having the horizon in the center can work well because it creates equal elements at top and bottom—the scene above and the reflection below.

Watch Your Head

How many times have you seen this happen? You compose your portrait and click the shutter. Then you look at the image on your LCD screen and, oh no, there's a tree growing out of her head. Always consider the background when composing your image. Look for any distracting elements that might spoil an otherwise nice photo. If there's something behind your subject that you don't want in the final photo you have several options. First, you can change your physical position, or, if, that of your subject. If that's not possible try changing the focal length. Zoom the NIKKOR lens on your Nikon D-SLR camera or your COOLPIX and avoid the unwanted object in your photo.

Into the Frame
When photographing people and animals it's best to have them looking into the frame. If there’s action in your picture, leave more space on the side of the frame where the action is headed. It looks more natural that way and lets the viewer have a feel for where the subject is going.

Look Carefully
Most people aren't thinking about composition when they look at photos, but they do know when a photo is pleasing to look at even if they don't know why. To improve your composition skills spend some time looking at the photos taken by people whose work you admire. Pay attention to how they've positioned their subjects within the frame, what their backgrounds look like and what was included in the image and what might have been left out. Now, review some of your own photos and ask yourself how you could have made the picture better by changing the composition.

These guidelines are just a starting point. Remember, for every rule there is an exception. Don't be afraid to step outside the box if it makes for a better photo.