How can I make better photographs?

I love digital cameras but I cant edit them as well as I like. Is there good, but cheap software to help me? What would recommend. Not just software, but in general for taking great photos.?

Just to give you some ideas of my medocire photo skills go to myspace.com and my page is myspace.com/megangee_is_hawt its not really like i was trying though.

I've got a few recommendations:
* Learn about the "rule of thirds" and pay attention to your framing.
* Seek interesting lighting. Many of your photos have very flat, uninteresting artificial lighting. Don't use a flash.
* Get a camera that will allow you to take pictures with a limited depth of field. This will be any camera that has to focus before it takes a picture. This usually means you'll need a lens larger than your fingernail. This will also help you in the light department because larger lenses receive more light.
* Pay attention to your background. A busy background can ruin a photo. Pay attention to things in the background that disrupt the lines of the foreground object.

edit: Oh, and you said you haven't really been trying. Start.

Go to my web site, download a few of the free pics and see what a good photo is. Then go to the link I have provided on the web site for the GIMP photo editing software, download it, THEN LEARN HOW TO USE IT. It is free as well. It will take you time to learn as in any powerful software. DON'T GIVE UP AFTER 10 MINUTES, SPEND AT THE VERY LEAST A FEW DAYS WITH IT. There is a ton of documentation on their web site to help you and you can download plug ins and all of it is free. They only survive off of donations, so if you really like it, you may want to send them a few bucks.

As far as becoming a better photographer, I've said this a thousand times. "There are a million photographs within 20 feet of your front door, learn how to find them"

With digital, you can shoot to your hearts content and once you have the equipment, it costs nothing to get instant feedback. I had to learn the old fashioned way, film, time in the darkroom or waiting for the lab to return my work and a lot of expense. I wish I had your problem.

The second answer is pretty good, the first answer is wrong in that photo editing has a lot to do with the FINAL RESULT.

Almost all of the photographs on my web site were NOT taken with a professional camera. Some of the older ones from 2003 were. Now I use a point and shoot Canon A640 that I bought here in China.

Yes, you can use a tripod, and fill up your camera case with a whole bunch of useless crap, or just have fun and do away will all of that. I rarely use a tripod, even at night. All I need is a wall, the trunk of a tree, or whatever to steady my camera. Some of the best photos ever were technically poor, but very telling. That is what your goal should be. Is it just another pretty shoot that resembles every other pretty shot, or does the photo stand out from the rest?

One rule to follow is the KISS principle. Keep It Simple (stupid) meaning, keep your subject to the point, don't clutter it up. Keep your eye on the subject, make it the point of the shot. You should not have to hunt for the subject, it should be in your face.

As in any rule, they can be broken. But first you must master the rules to break them.

Source:
50 years of shooting.

My web site
http://www.chinablix.com

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Life is so simple, but we insist on making it complicated

Confucius
551 - 479 BC
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Peace

Jim


http://www.ChinaBlix.com

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Study lighting, use a tripod, get it right in the camera.

a

You make better photographs with your camera and the necessary skills and NOT in editing.
The secret is all in the brain behind the eye behind the camera.

Well, the key thing is to do it right in your camera and not have to correct it in Photoshop. Photoshop should only be used to enhance your artistic ability, not to fix your mistakes.

There is a lot to learn. Your best bet would be to take an on site photo class, not online or through books. Get direct feedback from your instructor and ask questions! You can often find them in photo studios, rec centers, camera stores, and community colleges. Good luck!