POINT-AND-SHOOT POINTERS

Compact cameras and cell phones can take wonderful pictures—if their pea-sized electronic brains aren't too heavily relied upon! The small size of compacts makes it easy to keep your camera ready for those "magic moments." Here's a checklist of ideas to obtain rewarding images:

*Moving in close to your subject gives striking results! Too often a person steps back and tries to take a photo of his sweetheart AND the Grand Canyon without doing justice to either. A closer snap of the sweetheart with a bit of Canyon background would make a better shot. Simple backgrounds give a sense of place without distracting from the subject.

*To zoom or not to zoom? Wide-angle settings often work best for landscapes and in confined spaces. Normal or telephoto lens settings do well for portraits.

*People busy enjoying themselves make memorable photos.

*The early photographer gets the greatest shots. Morning's warm, soft, misty light creates wonderful effects for both landscapes and portraits. Evening's light is almost as good.

*Foregrounds add depth and interest to scenics, but ensure that the camera focuses on the distant scenery—not a nearby tree.

*To flash or not to flash? Cameras optimistically think their flash will illuminate the entire Grand Canyon for that evening shot! Then it's best to turn off the flash, hold the camera steady or prop up the camera on something (a tripod if you're lucky enough to have one handy). Flash can work well in daytime to "fill in" dark shadows. You can dust off the camera's instruction manual to see what flash modes, flash ranges, and shutter-speed range you have.

*Steady cameras get the sharp shots. If you hold the camera securely but not tightly, and let out half of your breath and hold it while clicking the shutter, you'll get the best results.

*Outdoors or on a river-rafting trip, you'll find a weather-resistant camera handy.

*A critical look at professional photos in Arizona Highways magazine www.arizonahighways.com/ will provide a wealth of ideas—you can see how lighting, camera angle, foreground, background, and placement of subjects lead your eye into and around each photo for a delightful experience. And many photo books on the Grand Canyon have great shots as well.

*Books and Internet sites offer examples and tips. The author of www.photo.net/ provides lots of how-to and equipment advice. Short Courses at www.shortcourses.com/ specializes in digital photography.