Hint for taking better pictures—change up where to position yourself

This one is really simple.  If the viewer knows how tall you are by looking at the picture, then you're not taking advantage of the opportunity to show the viewer different viewpoints than those to which they're accustomed.  Get low, get high, angle the camera, mix it up a little when it comes to your viewpoint.

A different viewpoint makes more interesting pictures.  One of these birds was taken from below.  It's very ordinary.  A little different perspective comes from shooting it from above.  I did this by taking my camera on a tour of the Alton lock & dam.  From the top of the dam you can look down on the birds from above as they feed from the waters below.