Pictures are beautiful. They can decorate a home or an office, be published in magazines, books and calendars, or can be used for a kiss-ass presentation.

Creating a beautiful photograph isn't as difficult as you might think. Some people can instinctively compose their images beautifully others might need a little help.

Over the next weeks, I'll show you some basic photography techniques that will dramatically improve your images. Your photos will go from looking amateurish to professional.

Trick 1 - The rule of thirds

This is one probably one of the most popular rule out there. Draw 2 imaginary lines (both horizontal and vertical) at equal distance from each other, dividing your image into thirds. Now adjust your subject to these imaginary lines and press the button. The rule is based on the theory that the eye is naturally drawn to those ‘thirds' and the points at each intersecting line.

Image by John Watson