You own the latest auto-everything point & shoot camera so you can take pictures without having to know anything about photography, and you can. But automatic doesn't mean automatically right! So you should understand just a few basic rules of photography and few features of your camera and you'll get even more pictures that you'll be proud of.

Read the Instruction Manual: You should have an understanding of what each switch or button on your camera does, even if you only learn which ones never to press. You should know what each symbol in the viewfinder and display panel is telling you. The camera can tell you a lot, how good the battery is, when the flash is ready, how much film you have left.... For example.

Check the Batteries: (and bring a spare anyway) More often than not when someone asks me to check out their non-working camera, I find weak or dead batteries. As mentioned above, many cameras have a battery check, or indicator. But even replacing the battery doesn't always solve the problem. Do you know how long that "new" battery was laying in that draw or on the stores shelf? It's best to check the battery before you insert it or take it with you. Duracell batteries now come with a tester built into the package. This tester can be removed, is paper thin and can be kept in a camera bag or wallet. And batteries that haven't been used in a while may test fresh, but wear down pretty fast during use, so always bring a spare set.

Know the Focus Zone: It's easy to rely on today's sophisticated camera automation. But how does the camera really know what you want it to focus on? Some cameras simply assume that your subject is dead-center in the image area. While this will often work, sometimes the AF system (Auto Focus System) will literally fall through the cracks. For example, if you're taking a picture of two people standing next to each other, the camera might focus on the background between the two subjects, most cameras let you point the camera at one subject then hold the shutter release button halfway to lock the focus. You can then recompose the shot as long as you don't let go of that button. Some cameras may have a separate button for focus lock or multiple AF zone systems, so read the manual before you start shooting. Some AF cameras send out a beam of near-infrared light to detect focus. These cameras can be fooled if you're shooting through glass (such as a museum display case or a car window). Most point and shoot cameras have an "infinity" focus button which let's you override the AF in those circumstances.

Practice Loading the Film: We have all done it, taken pictures without film in the camera. Modern autoloading systems are good, but not 100 percent fool-proof. Most point & shoot cameras tell you if the film is loaded correctly. Some flash the display, while others keep the counter at '0' if the film is not in correctly loaded. Know your camera and check it before you take pictures.

Understand Backlight and Frontlight: Find out what (if anything) your camera can do about extreme lighting conditions. Have you ever tried to take a picture of someone who was standing in front of a bright window or other brightly lit area only to find the subject comes out too dark in the final picture. The light coming from the rear fooled the camera which adjusted the exposure down automatically, and incorrectly, for the bright background. Likewise a brightly lit subject standing in front of a dark background (as often happens with a spot-lit performer on stage) can trick the AE system (Auto Expose System) and come back too light, again by auto-exposing for the dark background. Difficult or tricky lighting can fool even the most sophisticated autoexposure systems. Some automatically adjust, while many others offer override buttons. With a little familiarization, pushing the proper override button should become second nature.

Move In, Get Close: I'm convinced that many, potentially excellent photographs become typical "snap-shots" usually because the photographer didn't move in and fill the picture frame with the subject. In general, people pictures are much better if taken close-up. What makes a photograph memorable is it's impact on the viewer. At the amateur level pictures taken too far away have relatively little impact...so try getting closer to your subject.

Question the Lab: (Still Photography only) Don't assume that just because the subject is too dark or too light that you blew the shot. Just as the cameras AE system can be fooled, so can the machine your lab uses to make the prints. If in doubt, carefully hold the negative (by the edges only) in front of a brightly lit piece of white paper and see if you can find more detail in the negative. If you do, go back to the lab and ask them to reprint the picture(s). The lab should do this for free. If not, start looking for another lab.

As you've just seen, you don't have to be a professional photographer to get more from today's sophisticated point and shoot cameras. But, the more you learn about your camera, video tape, film and photography in general, the happier you'll be with your final images.