Although making the correct technical decisions, such as exposure and focusing, are important, more and more these decisions are being made by automatic cameras. The soul of a photograph springs from the artistic decisions you make. You choose the subject, you arrange the composition, you select the viewpoint, and you decide if the lighting is appropriate. How well you do these things determines the success of your photos. And at the conclusion you'll find a troubleshooting section for those few times when something technical goes wrong.
Some photographers look through a viewfinder and start backing away from the subject.
Getting close to your subject can't be stressed enough. It is probably the most important technique a photographer can use. It clearly and unambiguously reveals the subject. To emphasize the subject, you should move close enough so that it fills half or more of the picture area. Do this by physically moving closer or by using a telephoto lens.