I was out with a friend the other day when something happened that got me thinking about what experienced photographers do naturally and beginners frequently don't know anything about. So I've decided to share three simple rules that shift photographs out of the snapshot arena.

My friend had a brand new compact camera and was happily enjoying taking pictures of all the plants and flowers in the garden we were visiting. There was a very attractive holly bush with berries that she found particularly photogenic.. I borrowed her camera took a shot and with a quick glance through the photos my friend had taken it was obvious that my shot was significantly better.

This puzzled me for a moment. I had a quick glance at the bush, selected my view and took the picture. My friend had taken considerable time carefully selecting viewpoints and making several exposures. She obviously wanted to know why mine was so much better.

So did I.

Looking through the shots it was clear that the main difference was not in the subject matter - leaves and berries. The main difference was in the arrangement of the leaves and berries in the frame. There is a technical term for this - Composition.

Composition is how the elements of a picture are arranged within the frame of the viewfinder - or nowadays the screen on the back of the digital camera. The aim is to create an image that pleases the eye.

People who have been photographers for a long time tend to do this automatically simply because they've taken thousands of photos and spent time looking at what makes the difference between a good one and a bad one.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that you don't have to take thousands of photographs in order to improve your pictures. Here are three rules that will easily transform your photographs into images that please you and your friends when you share them. And that's a huge part of taking photographs - sharing. Pictures need to be shared and enjoyed by many people.

Rule 1 The Rule of Thirds
If you can remember the name it is very easy to remember how to put it into practice. You mentally divide your viewing screen up by placing two, equally spaced, vertical lines and two equally spaced horizontal lines. This divides your view into thirds vertically and thirds horizontally.

These lines are where you place significant items of interest in your picture. So an horizon line would be placed one third from the top, or one third from the bottom (perhaps if you had a particularly interesting sky). The corner of a building, a person, or a lamppost would be placed one third of the way in from the edge of the frame. Other significant elements would be placed on the intersection of the vertical and horizontal lines. Fortunately some digital cameras, such as the Canon Powershot A650 IS Digital Compact Camera, have an option whereby you can overlay this grid onto the screen while you are composing your picture.

You'll find that when you do this, your pictures start to take on a greater appeal and are more pleasing to the eye. A good way to prove this to yourself is to take a picture the way you always have done and then take another one, moving the horizon from the centre of the picture to one third down from the top. And then compare and see which one you prefer.

Rule 2. Use Diagonals.

Another simple device is to change your position so that you can have lines, like roads, rivers, or paths, moving diagonally across the frame from one of the lower corners towards the centre of the picture. This has the effect of leading the eye into the picture and keeping it there. This is visually pleasing and satisfies the 'eye'.

Straight lines angled across the frame, rather than horizontally or vertically, create visual tension. This has the effect of making the picture more interesting, and more pleasing to view.

Rule 3. Compose with Colour.

The vast majority of pictures are taken in colour. Notice the effect of different colours. Cool colours like blues and greens recede. Bright colours like reds and yellows tend to dominate. So small patches of red or yellow can be used to balance much larger areas of cooler colours. The eye is drawn to these brighter colours so make sure there are no distracting reds or yellows to pull the eye away from your subject. Watch out for this especially if you are out in the countryside. Many waterproof jackets are made of bright materials and even if the person wearing them is a long way off - the eye is pulled straight to that patch of colour. Wait until they've walked out of frame. And you will have a better photograph.