I take pictures but what makes a picture good? and hat kind of camera should I use?

I take lots of pictures usually close up of photos of people but i love taking pictures what kind should i take and what kind of camera should i get the one i have now is just an average digital camera

thnks your tips helped alot

There are many things that make a photo really work. A few basics to consider is composition, the mood you are trying to capture, and lighting. When composing a picture through your view finder, mentally super impose a Tic- Tac-Toe grid in the view finder...the best place to place the subject would be were any of the four horizontal and vertical line intersect. (as opposed to smack in the middle where most people tend to place their subject) If there is some feature in the shot that would lead the eye to the subject like a road, or a wall, or a fence also good to include if you can. A good photograph will always tell a story...try to convey that in your photo. It is really the difference between a great photo and an average snapshot. Consider lighting, natural vs flash, time of day lighting, and color vs black and white..all will evoke different feelings and mood in a photo. If you can include a diagonal line in the photo...it creates tension. Try shooting from an unusual angle...get down on the kids level, maybe on your belly when shooting kids. And remember, all rules are meant to be broken...My wife and I have been into photography for many years...she's a pro doing children's portrait work. We have pretty much graduated from film to digital. We use a Canon 20D, and I still enjoy using my old Canon G2 with the flip out LCD screen which allows for a lot of creative angle shots. As far as camera to use..point and shoot digital have come a long way, but most still have the dreaded shutter lag. If you can afford a digital SLR that problem will go away. It really boils down to what you can afford, and what kind of photos do you want mostly to take. Hope this helps

Vince
Composition

If your taking them for your own enjoyment, then really any picture you take should be good. Now if you want to get them noticed or enter a contest, I would look back at previous contest winners and see what pictures they have taken that made them winners. As for cameras, my persobal favorite is Nikon. I have both digital and film. I am still old school so I take more with film.

I am still back with the 35mm, haven't gotten used to the digis just yet.

But you have to learn to capture the moment. It is hard to do but there are people with this natural ability while others just know how to look for it. A photo has to be able to relate the message to you since it involves no words.

A great picture will evolk feelings in you, no matter what it is ... fear, anger, sadness, pride, etc. It will make you feel as though you are right there.

http://www.time.com/time/yip/2005/ in this photo, we see a child playing on the wall despite of his surroundings, a building in schambles, it capture innocense.

lighting, angle and camera are key. I use a cannon rebel which is a great camera for new photographers. mines a 35mm but they also make a digital. the digital cost about 800$ if your lucky. I didn't realize I could take such great pics till I bought it! I also have a Kodak easyshare digital. It works well for what I payd, about $90. it good... for a cheep digital! you should get a book from the library to learn tricks on exposher and lighting to get the best out of your camera.

Photography was my major many yrs ago and the best advice I et "Get close and then Get closer"!

Start with a 35mm SLR, and a good film speed to start out with is 400. learn how to use the aperture(light intake), light meter, shutter speed, and other essentials, and find things that interest you, and find a new way to look at them, and capture that moment.
Portraits are also good, as are close up photos. Try making abstractions out of everyday items. Just a suggestion, check out fish eye lens(ultra wide angle lens). And have fun at it.

~There are basically three things that make a picture good:
composition
composition
composition

If want really want to make GOOD pictures, work with a 35mm in black and white with 80 or 100 film.

But what kind of artist has to ask advice to create art?
shoot what you like with what you've got and figure it out.