Talk to people with genuine respect and curiosity and you'll never have to "steal" a photo. Digital cameras also allow you to share with your subject an instant "sneak peek" at their portrait.

Try blending into the environment and becoming invisible - tread softly and gracefully, dress appropriately and equip yourself lightly.

Be playful with your composition - place people at the edge of the frame, try shooting from different angles. Try shooting from high up, looking down on your subject - be creative - the sky’s the limit.

Try incorporating a unique point of view. Try photographing flowers (the shy ones) from behind, or, get on your back and shoot those bloomin’ lilies from the underside. Trees never look as majestic as when you take an ant’s perspective and aim straight up!

Keep an eye on your bac­­kground: phone wires, fence posts, or vehicles will detract from the beauty of your composition.

Always keep your horizons straight - unless you are deliberately making a statement. No one wants to feel sea-sick looking at your photo.

Repetition to form a pattern applies to all kinds of photography, including nature photography.

Shoreline shots are plentiful in the Interlake area. Try shooting at dawn or dusk, when the sun and water change colour rapidly.

Be respectful of the natural world. If an animal appears stressed, or you feel you are interrupting, be happy with the shots you have and move on.

Summer is all about sunshine, but don’t forget to shoot when it's stormy or wet - you'll be pleased with the dramatic results! A rainy day is often filled with great saturated colour.

Reflections always offer something interesting to see. A lake calm as glass, a pool, a puddle. Try framing your shot so that the reflection itself is your focal point.

Go in tight for those detailed macro shots. Be sure to use a tripod for those close-ups to eliminate any blur. If there's wind, a lightweight wind-screen made of cardboard or plexiglass will also help reduce blur.

Early morning (warmer, yellow light) or just before sunset (warmer, a hint of red to full red) are the best times for landscape photography when shadows are subtle.

When photographing landscapes, give the photo a feeling of depth by including close objects in the frame as well as the distant subject. These also add a sense of scale to the photo.

Try placing your horizon line very low, or very high in your viewfinder. A horizon that cuts across the middle of a photo tends to slice a picture in half, making it less appealing.

Pre-focus on an object, any object, that you think is the same physical distance from the camera to the subject prior to having to shoot. This will save precious focusing time when your subject (bird for example) is "on the move". This will really come in handy if you use the "auto-focus" feature on your camera. We all know the feeling of missing the "perfect shot".

Remember, the cost of your camera will not determine how good your photos are. It’s all about composition, light and your creative point of view. Remember, you don’t just "take" pictures, you "make" pictures.

Take lots of photographs. Not every picture will be perfect. Taking multiple pictures will give you more to choose from. When taking pictures of children, wait for the right moment, then shoot lots of pictures quickly.

Do your homework: Look at travel guides, postcards and picture books of the area. Learn where the best photo opportunities are. Remember key events, festivities, and landmarks. You'll be inspired to take better pictures.

Sand, water, and heat are your camera's worst enemies. All of which, you'll find in abundance at the beach. When you're not taking pictures, keep your camera in a zippered plastic bag out of the hot sun, under a towel.

Get close –fill the camera’s viewfinder with your subject to create pictures with greater impact. Step in close or use your camera’s zoom to emphasize what is important and exclude the rest.

And last, but not least...have fun!!!