You can take great flower photographs using a simple point-and-shoot digital camera. Great photographers take at least two important precautions that allow them to shoot amazing photographs.

• Plan to shoot at the right time of day to capture the best possible light.
• Take lots of photographs of the same thing using different settings.

Most amateurs don't do either of those things. Often, we're in too much of a hurry and taking photos is just an impulse. We see a beautiful flower, grab the camera and snap off a shot or two.

With the advent of digital cameras, there's no reason not to take lots of photos to get the perfect shot.

Look for dramatic lighting. The best times of the day to shoot any photographs are just after dawn until about 8 a.m. (in the Northern Hemisphere) and in the late afternoon, just before sunset during the time known as the Golden Hour. The light at these times tends to provide a golden quality to everything due to the angle of the sunlight.

Even if you can't take pictures during those times, look for dramatic lighting. I shot the photo of pink poppies above at around 2 o'clock in the afternoon, not a great time to take photographs.

As I walked by the poppies at Fort Tryon Park in Manhattan, I noticed that they were backlit by the afternoon sun. The papery, translucent quality of the poppies accentuated the backlighting in a way that wouldn't have been as dramatic with another type of flower. By getting down on the ground, actually below some of the blossoms, I was able to get more of the backlighting effect.

Another inexpensive manipulation of light can produce subtle but stunning effects. Try spreading a light-colored object on the ground beneath the flowers. A piece of paper, plastic bag, or t-shirt reflects light upward, illuminating the part of a flower that is often in the shade.

Most amateur photographers tend to stand too far back from the object they are shooting. Get in as close as you can. With most of the digital point-and-shoot cameras, you have a functional depth-of-field of maybe 15 to 18 inches.

If you're hand-holding the camera, you'll definitely want to take five or six shots, if not more, of the flower. Your own shaking or a slight breeze can wreak havoc with the focus.

If you can do it, carry a tripod with you. It doesn't have to be a big fancy one, either. Something lightweight will do. Or perch the camera on a fence post or a wall.

One thing that most people consider a drawback to digital cameras can also be a plus: the time delay that occurs after pressing the shutter button.

If you're using a tripod, get the shot set up, then press the shutter button. Take your finger off immediately and let the camera do the rest. Alternatively and even better, if your camera includes a time release mechanism, use it to press the shutter release, then step away from the camera.

In any case, get as close as you can to the object you're photographing.

Look for patterns. The plant world is full of beautiful patterns, from the arrangements of petals and leaves, to the staggering of blooms, as in the poppy flower above.

Frame your subject in an interesting way. Of course, you can always crop an image after you've got it in your computer, but I've found that it's easier to try and get a shot as close to what I'm after while taking the photograph.

In the photograph of the dogwood blossom below, you'll notice that the white blossom is naturally poised against a dark background of shaded leaves. Arrange your position so that you get the maximum contrast between lights and darks. The blossom in this photo could stand to be a bit brighter but I like the subtle quality. I was lucky to catch this blossom as it was near the end of the bloom season for dogwoods and there were just a handful available.

I shot these photographs with a small 3.2 megapixel Canon point-and-shoot. Would I have higher quality using a Nikon D200? Of course. Let's face it, the optical quality of a point-and-shoot will never come close to that of a high-end SLR. But, your photos don't need to look like they came from a $5 disposable either.

One last tip is to try shooting without your flash. Many of the point-and-shoot cameras have a manual mode, as well as other modes that allow you to turn off the flash. Flash can be a critical tool, especially in low-light situations. But, as with the dogwood blossom, a flash can reflect off a light-colored subject and distort or wash out the detail. I suggest shooting a few photographs with and without the flash. As I said earlier, pixels are cheap.