FOCUS - FOCUS - FOCUS

Poor focusing is one of the most common ways that photographs are ruined. Use the automatic focus of your camera, if you have it; usually, this is done by half-pressing the shutter button. Use the 'macro' mode of your camera for very close-up shots. Don't focus manually unless your auto-focus is having issues; as with metering, automatic focus usually does a far better job of focusing than you can.

Looking for tree pictures

For these items I need a full tree shot – preferably vertical or portrait format – showing the entire tree.
Acer platanoides 'Conzam' Conquest Maple
Acer rubrum 'Autumn Fantasy'
Autumn Fantasy Maple
Fraxinus pennsylvanica 'Heuver' Foothills Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica 'Rugby' Prairie Spire Ash
Fraxinus x 'Northern Gem' Northern Gem Ash
Gymnocladus dioicus 'Espresso' Espresso Coffee Tree
Gymnocladus dioicus Kentucky Coffee Tree Kentucky Coffee Tree
Malus 'Pink Spires' Pink Spires Crab
Malus 'Rudolph' Rudolf Crab
Populus assiniboine Assiniboine Polar
Populus 'Brooks #6' Brooks #6 Poplar
Populus x jackii 'Northwest' Northwest Poplar
Populus x 'Tristis' Tristis Poplar
Prunus padus 'Advance' Advance May Day Tree
Prunus padus 'Sunstar' Sunstar May Day Tree
Prunus virginiana 'Bailey's Select' Bailey's Select Schubert Chokecherry
Quercus borealis (Red) Northern Red Oak
Sorbus aucuparia 'Black Hawk' Black Hawk Mountain Ash
Sorbus aucuparia 'Rossica' Russian Mountain Ash
Syringa perkinensis 'DTR' Summer Charm Lilac
Ulmus americana 'Brandon' Brandon Elm

For this list I need a close-up of the flowers, fruit, fall colored foliage or interesting bark:
Acer platanoides 'Conzam' Conquest Maple
Acer rubrum 'Autumn Fantasy' Autumn Fantasy Maple
Celtis occidentalis Common Hackberry
Fraxinus 'Northern Treasure Ash' Northern Treasure Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica 'Heuver' Foothills Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica 'Patmore' P.P. #4 Patmore Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica 'Rugby' Prairie Spire Ash
Fraxinus x 'Northern Gem' Northern Gem Ash
Gymnocladus dioicus 'Espresso' Espresso Coffee Tree
Gymnocladus dioicus Kentucky Coffee Tree Kentucky Coffee Tree
Malus 'Pink Spires' Pink Spires Crab
Picea glauca 'Conica' Alberta Dwarf Spruce
Pinus mugo 'Pumilio' Dwarf Mugo Pine
Pinus nigra Austrian Pine
Populus assiniboine Assiniboine Polar
Populus 'Brooks #6' Brooks #6 Poplar
Populus tremula 'Erecta' Swedish columnar Aspen
Populus tremuloides Trembling Aspen
Populus tremuloides (Clump) Trembling Aspen (Clump)
Populus x canescens 'Tower' Tower poplar
Populus x jackii 'Northwest' Northwest Poplar
Populus x 'Tristis' Tristis Poplar
Prunus nigra 'Princess Kay' Princess Kay Flowering Plum
Prunus padus 'Advance' Advance May Day Tree
Prunus padus 'Sunstar' Sunstar May Day Tree
Prunus virginiana 'Bailey's Select' Bailey's Select Schubert Chokecherry
Quercus borealis (Red) Northern Red Oak
Quercus ellipsoidalis Northern Pin Oak
Sorbus aucuparia 'Black Hawk' Black Hawk Mountain Ash
Sorbus aucuparia 'Michred' Cardinal Royal Mountain Ash
Syringa perkinensis 'DTR' Summer Charm Lilac
Tilia americana American Linden
Tilia flavescens Dropmore Linden
Ulmus americana American Elm
Ulmus americana 'Brandon' Brandon Elm
Ulmus davidiana japicona 'Discovery' Discovery Japanese Elm

Try an interesting angle

Try an interesting angle. Instead of shooting the object straight on, try looking down to the object, or crouching and looking up. Pick an angle that shows maximum color and minimum shadow. To make things appear longer or taller, a low angle can help. If you want a bold photo, it is best to be even with the object. You may also want to make the object look smaller or make it look like you're hovering over; to get the effect you should put the camera above the object. An uncommon angle makes for a more interesting shot.

Fill the frame with your subject

Fill the frame with your subject. Don't be afraid to get closer to your subject. On the other hand, if you're using a digital camera with plenty of megapixels to spare, you can crop it later in software.

Get rid of distracting backgrounds and clutter

Get rid of distracting backgrounds and clutter. If this means you and your friend have to move a little so that a tree does not appear to be growing out of her head, then do so. If glare is coming off the windows of the house across the street, change your angle a bit to avoid it. If you're taking garden photographs, take a moment to get down all the junk you can see. Keep the mess well out of the frame of the picture, and you will end up with much nicer, less cluttered photos.

Keep the lens clear

Keep the lens clear of caps, thumbs, straps and other obstructions. It's basic, yes, but it can ruin a photograph completely. This is less of a problem with modern live-preview digital cameras, and even less of a problem with an SLR camera. But people still make these mistakes from time to time.

Get outside

Get outside. Motivate yourself to get out and take photographs. Take several normal 'point and shoot' pictures to get a feel for the lighting at different times of the day and night. Go outside at all times of day.