The buttons clicked and in the shutter speed time itself froze and was preserved in all its truth. That's the beauty of photography is that it has the ability to tell a story in a single moment.

Perhaps that is why I enjoy taking pictures for my school's newspaper and yearbook and my photography classes so much. They give me a chance to tell a story through the eyes of anyone I want.

Now, I'm all for the digital revolution of photography (even though I enjoy film itself as well) and I do use photoshop to fix tiny things in my photos. Yes, I adjust my lighting just slightly, or strengthen or dull my colors and I crop out things that distract from the subject.  But I also know on its own without any assistance, my photos are overall good shots. I do not rely on photoshop or other programs to make my photos good. Because no photo editor is the complete answer, the only way to get a good photo is to actually take one, with the camera itself.

Here are some simple points to remember while thinking about your photography.

-Composition is key. The rule of thirds is your friend; imagine three lines running vertically and horizontally through the photos. If the main subject is in one of the intersections of these six lines, click the button- this is a good shot.

-Always be aware of your lighting. This will make life easier for you, your subject is more then likely to be in focus, colors will be correct and lets face it, lighting is just one of those things that no program can fix.

-Get rid of unnecessary clutter. It distracts, and just makes the photos seem less artist. It looks almost as if the photographer doesn't know what they're doing completely.

They seem pretty basic and simple, but if used correctly, these three tips can imporve your photography ten fold.