Bracket
There is a term the pros know as bracketing. This is good practice for the aspiring photographer. It will teach you how to know your camera and what settings work best. Bracketing means taking each shot with the meter in the middle as the first shot with one stop over and one stop under as the second and third frame of the same image. Try this, because sometimes the middle meter that the camera chooses is not the most accurate.

A few tricks
Once you have tried a few frames, have fun with this. Wait for a streak of cars to approach and click the shutter. Don't press it as they go by; snap as they are approaching. Once they race by and the camera is done shooting the frame, you should see a really cool effect of the streaking cars.

If there are people in the way, give them the disappearing act. Did you know that if you take a long enough exposure with your camera, you can actually make people disappear? You don't have to be a magician to try this trick. Remember basic principles. Still objects will remain in the photograph. Moving objects will show up only as a blur. If you leave the shutter open long enough, the motion will actually cause them to disappear. I have used this trick many times with great results, especially when shooting scenes where it is almost impossible to take the people out of the photo any other way. If someone lingers too long (like if they are sitting on a bench relaxing and not walking) then they are going to be your picture. Keep that in mind when composing your subject.

With that said, one more trick I would recommend is your camera's self-timer mode. This is particularly helpful if you don't have a stable object to place your camera on. Don't handhold your camera. It is too difficult to keep completely steady and you will not achieve the desired results. One exception: sometimes you can stabilize yourself and your camera against a stiff streetlamp or tree. Take a deep breath before you click the frame, and do not move! Don't breath for the entire second, two seconds or five that the camera is sucking in the light. Once you hear it click to the next frame, you can let out your breath. This tactic has worked for me a few times when I didn't have a tripod or a pedestal. You will have to master this because it is difficult not to flinch for a full few seconds.

Lastly, if you're feeling creative, then purchase a star filter. They come in 4 points, 6, 8 and more. I would say four is adequate. Star filters are nice for candles, street lamps, and subtle lights on bridges or windows in buildings. Not necessary, but nice to have. Like playing with too many fonts on a page, don't overdo the star filter. Once in a while, the effect is magical. Done on every picture and the effect is just overused.

Five tips for fabulous pics
Since you can't bring this information with you while you're on the fly -- remember five important tips.

• First: take advantage of the magic hour. Indigo Blue is the sky for you.
• Second: work quickly setting up the scene and finding adequate stabilization for your camera.
• Third: choose interesting subject matter.
• Fourth: Use aperture priority.
• And fifth: bracket.

That's it! You should be well on your way to stellar, award-winning photographs. I'll look for your samples at the postcard boutique. Good luck.

Anne Violette is a freelance writer and photographer in Delray Beach, Florida. Find her at http://www.ifreelance.com/pro/24979 or http://www.photomaine.com.