Picture Perfect

So You Want to Shoot...
A SUNSET

Common mistake Fiddling with the lighting.

For best results Turn off the flash. Yes, even the "night flash" setting—it will only highlight potentially distracting elements in the foreground and won't add anything to the sky's rich showing. If you have time, take several shots from the same spot over the course of the sunset.

Our reader pick Redwood City, Calif., resident Kevin Ummel's shot, taken in Sanur, Bali, in December 2007, captures a calendar-worthy array of hues but avoids cliché territory thanks to the dark silhouettes just off center, which add layers and dimension to the otherwise static, symmetrical composition. (view photo)

So You Want to Shoot...
A CITY AT NIGHT

Common mistake Not giving yourself enough time.

For best results You'll need a tripod or a flat surface to hold your camera absolutely still and a long exposure to allow distant ambient light to reach the camera (this shot took 10 seconds). If you can't set your shutter speed manually, choose the lowest ISO setting your camera offers (usually 100) to get a similar effect—and turn the flash off.

Our reader pick In May 2007, a bridge over the Las Vegas Strip provided Brian O'Neill of Austin, Tex., with an ideal elevation to shoot from. Diagonal lines made by moving car headlights introduce a graphic element to the composition and draw the eye to the center of the image. (view photo)

So You Want to Shoot...
A CLASSIC LANDMARK

Common mistake Snapping the same ho-hum shot as everyone else.

For best results Scan the perimeter for groups of shutterbug tourists. Now walk away from them. You're far more likely to land a one-of-a-kind photograph if you remove yourself from the crowds. And remember: You don't have to include every last brick of a building to get a great picture. Focusing on a particular segment of a structure can yield much more surprising, compelling, and dramatic results.

Our reader pick By strolling about half a mile from the base of the Eiffel Tower in June 2009, Andrea Hughes of Redondo Beach, Calif., was able to capture the majority of the monument without tilting the camera to the point of distortion—and in the process she found a built-in frame in the edges of the nearby Wall for Peace. (view photo)