Everything in nature happens in cycles. But the way light falls on a scene changes with each moment.

While the basic elements of photographic composition haven't changed, low-cost digital cameras make it easier than ever for amateurs with no special training to take quality outdoors photos. Whether pointing the point-and-shoot camera is the whole point of an outdoor trip or an incidental part of an adventure, keeping a few points in mind can make all the difference.

When nature appears in the right light, it is a gift that can not be reclaimed. Things change quickly, however. Be ready with your camera.

Be aware, too, that conditions creating the peak colors can sneak up on us or blitz as unexpectedly as Troy Polamalu in a Super Bowl game. Keep your camera close at hand to grab unexpected scenes. If you want more than "grab shots," plan a trek designed to give photography your full attention.

"Early light, late light" is the mantra of outdoors photographers. Scott Goldsmith, a professional photographer from Pittsburgh, cringes when someone says a clear sunny day is the only good time for photography. Goldsmith (find his work at www.ScottGoldsmith.com) has shot photos for National Geographic magazine and says he's waited for hours at one spot for the perfect light.

"Early morning -- the first half-hour or hour of daylight -- is a wonderful time for a lot of reasons," he said. "So is late afternoon, when light is traveling [from the side] instead of coming straight down. Early morning sun has an orange cast to it and the trees are getting kissed by these beautifully rich shades of light giving everything dramatic colors."

The autumn colors of gold, yellow and red seem more enhanced, he said, when the sky is a bright blue. Spending a few minutes reading the camera manual can help amateurs to capture those special moments.

"Those little point-and-shoots look simple," said Goldsmith, "but they're packed with amazing features."

The whole point of the point-and-shoot is that the camera does the thinking for you. But some outdoors situations call for a basic understanding of the camera's controls.

"Cloudy days tend to be a little bit blue-ish," said Goldsmith. "But the camera's 'cloudy' setting adds a little bit of yellow to make it look natural. In the same way, the light bulb icon adds blue to the picture to make indoor shots look less yellow."

The main thing to keep in mind about photographic rules of thumb, said Goldsmith, is "there are no rules of thumb. Know the rules, then break them to get the most interesting pictures."

Whether you're an amateur with a point-and-shoot or a seasoned pro, the tricks to taking good wildlife photos are knowing enough about the animals to anticipate their actions and having the camera ready for those moments.

"I did a four-month assignment for National Geographic on songbirds," said Goldsmith. "I learned a lot of techniques. One thing I learned was how to call these birds en masse in the deep forest. The more you know about birds and their environment, or any subject matter, the easier it is to shoot them. If you're a trained hunter, or think like a hunter, you can use some of those hunting techniques to get into the right position and know how the animal is likely to react."

Too often, he said, amateurs concentrate on the central subject and fail to look at the entire frame, resulting in shots with signs or sticks coming out of people's heads or dark, backlit faces.

"That's a common one," said Goldsmith. "A lot of people think [point-and-shoots] can't take good pictures with the light coming at you, but there's a backlight setting even on digital cameras. When the light's coming at you, the camera is saying, 'The light's really bright so I need to darken down,' but it's just backlight that's telling a lie to the camera. Set the backlight setting and focus on the face. The other way is to turn on the built-in flash."

On some models the flash won't fire if the camera thinks there's too much light, but those controls can be over-ridden.

"It doesn't cost money to experiment with digital cameras," said Goldsmith. "If it doesn't work, hit the delete button."

Natural beauty happens in every kind of light. What you see is not what you get, though, because the photographic process is limited to recording a range of shades and colors that are fewer in number than what the can eye see.

Every different kind of chip in a digital camera records a scene in its own predictable way. Try shooting in different conditions so you know how your equipment responds to what you see.

Light creates magic on otherwise predictable scenes. Features to keep in mind are the color, direction, quality and intensity of the light source.

Getting good advice from veterans always helps. Some accomplished local outdoors photographers attend meetings of the Photographic Section of The Academy of Science and Art of Pittsburgh. They have a pedigreed history and a lot of talent. Their next meetings are at 8 p.m. Oct. 14, Oct. 21 and Oct. 28 at Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center. Find more about them at www.pghphoto.org/index.htm.