BACK TO THE SUN
Normally, the sun should be at the photographer’s back. If you take a picture of your friend beaming beneath her straw hat, be sure the sun is in front of her. Otherwise, her face will be dark and the shadows under her eyes will look like she hasn’t slept in days. For the same reason, try not to take pictures at noon under an open sky. Always keep an automatic camera’s flash on. A flash both softens shadows and mellows the light, adding a natural touch to flesh tones. And, with flash and creativity, the sun’s position needn’t completely limit how you place your subjects. Try moving them to a shaded spot or under a palm tree. It’s remarkable how softly and evenly the light will fall across their faces and how much more natural their skin color will look.

FLOWER POWER
Flowers and gardens particularly benefit from flash. Find a flower in the shade, then, using your zoom lens, fill the viewfinder completely with the bloom. Stay a few feet back, so when the flash goes off you’ll pep up the image and darken the background. This puts your blossom center stage where it belongs. If you want dew, just sprinkle some water on your garden gem before photographing it.

ADD PERSPECTIVE
For a professional touch, compose your photos. That scenic of far-off tropical hills will look better if youinclude something in the foreground, like an over-hanging palm frond or some lipstick-red hibiscus. This accomplishes two things:You provide viewers a sense of scale. Nobody can tell how big those hills are unless an object in the picture offers a clue. And you add a sense of intimacy by letting viewers feel they’re peeking at the scene from a hidden spot.

MAGIC THIRDS
To prevent portraits that look like mug shots, avoid always putting your subject’s face squarely in the middle of the frame. Professional photographers divide each picture into magic thirds, a method that can make your compositions more interesting. In your mind, divide what you see in your viewfinder evenly into three horizontal lines and three vertical lines. Instead of placing your subject in the center, put it at the intersection of two of these imaginary lines. Place people slightly off to one side, for example. Aligning the ship’s edge with any of the vertical magic thirds also will yield more interesting pictures. These simple rules will give you professionallooking pictures to capture the thrill of your cruise for years to come.

TIPS FROM THE PROS:

1. A simple background focuses attention on the subject and makes a clear, strong picture. Move your subject or camera to find an uncluttered backdrop.

2. Objects in the foreground enhance a vista’s distance, depth and dimension. Incorporate contrast in front for a more pleasing scenic view.

3. Lines—the prow of a boat, the sides of a channel—add an interesting element to pictures. A perfectly framed bridge can lead the eye into a shot.

4. When shooting a silhouette against a sunset, turn the flash off. Use a tripod or brace your camera. With a manual camera, use a longer shutter speed.