If you're like most camera owners and have a digital compact, this is your camera's time to shine. For most photographers, an SLR or DSLR is the obvious camera of choice, but when it comes to landscapes, compact cameras work wonders because they have a much better depth of field. All you need to do to get some great landscape photos is to set your compact to landscape mode and follow these tips.

Remember that the quality of light is one of the most important elements of photography.

• For lighting that is soft with a touch of warmth, take your landscape photos during the "Golden Hours" which is the hour after dawn and the last hour before sunset.

• For intensified colors and subdued highlights, shoot under an overcast sky.

• For dramatic shadows, shoot under a cloudy sky.

• Enhance the qualify of your image and add drama by photographing a landscape scene with contrast; for example, red and gold autumn leafed trees against a strong blue sky.

• To get a very soft light, shoot on a foggy day.

The next most important element of any good picture is composition. Here are some composition tips for perfect landscape photos.

• Always compose your landscape photos so that the horizon looks straight. When taking a horizon, don't get creative and try different angles as they need to be straight or your

picture won't look right.

• Fill two thirds of your viewfinder with the landscape you want to be the subject of your photo.

• Look for distinct lines. Lines could be anything from the obvious river or road to a shadow running along the sand dunes. If your image has lines, try to have the major lines lead the eye toward the subject of the image. For example, a road winding its way up the mountains and the mountains are the subject of your photo.

• Compose your photo with a point of interest in the foreground. This could be anything like a tree, person, animal or house. Although the focal point won't be the main subject, it adds depth and draws the viewer into the picture so they'll look at the picture longer. In short, a focal point makes your landscape photo more interesting and more enjoyable to view.

• Look out for clutter. In a landscape photo, clutter could be a power line or a branch in the way or garbage on the ground. If you can't get the shot you want without the clutter, use a decent photo editor like Photoshop to remove it.

There is always more to learn, but by just following these tips you can take even better pictures of your favorite landscapes.