I think most of all I need to SLOW DOWN.
Far too often, I tend to just mindlessly mash the shutter button, without really considering composition or check for distracting elements. (As long as I don't horribly over/underexpose an image, I can usually rectify my lack of attention to exposure in post although software can't fix a poor aperture or shutter speed choice...)
What makes it worse is that I'm usually shooting inanimate objects. They're not going anywhere, so I have all the time in the world to actually think...but I don't
I've seriously considered making myself a checklist to go through before I push the button!
I've gotten better about checking the edges of the frame, and I use my rule of thirds lines both to remind me to think about framing, as well as check horizontals/verticals, but I still get kind of stupid when I see something that catches my eye.
Sometimes, though, I just don't know what it is I'm seeing. I can think of several recent instances, where I've seen ...something..., but I can't figure why it got my attention. This makes it very difficult to know what to include/exclude/emphasize. I'm hoping I will get better at this with time.
I've also come to realize that I really need to work on postprocessing.
I am, however, extremely skilled at seeing what I should have done, after I get home and get the images on the computer.
David Duchemin has a great ebook called "Making The Image. It is organized as a list of questions you "should" ask yourselves when in the field trying to compose an image.
The questions make you analyze the scene and understand what caught your attention in the first lace. It makes you slow down. The ebook is smartphone friendly so it is easy to use in the field. There book makes you ask questions such as "why do I want to make this photograph", "what are the lines doing?", "are there patterns?", etc
I have found this ebook to be very useful for my personal growth in landscape photography. Highly recommended.
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Pascal Hibon
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/phibon/
Website: https://pascalhibon.net/
Interesting question by the way.
My current biggest weakness is failing to go out and shoot. But I'm getting ready to change that!
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Pascal Hibon
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/phibon/
Website: https://pascalhibon.net/
I need to think more clearly about what I want to accomplish and how best to prepare myself to achieve my goal.
The flip side to that is not being too "locked in" to the subject you intended to shoot and missing other opportunities. I have actually gotten a lot better at that.
Last spring there was a juvenile Red Tailed Hawk on a windowsill, right near where I work. He/she was only about ten feet off the ground and not at all skittish. I went over to take some shots. While photographing the hawk, I noticed a Gray Catbird in a nearby shrub hollering his guts out about the hawk. My Catbird shots were way better than the hawk ones.
David Duchemin has a great ebook called "Making The Image. It is organized as a list of questions you "should" ask yourselves when in the field trying to compose an image.
I was thinking more like an electric shock collar hooked to the shutter button. That way, you'd have to really really want to take the shot... 🤣
(No, actually I'll look into the ebook)
The questions make you analyze the scene and understand what caught your attention in the first lace.
The thing is, I can think of at least two recent instances where I actually took the time to look from multiple angles and really try to figure out what it was that caught my eye...and still came up empty. "There's just something about it..." doesn't really help much! I guess I should just take a whole bunch of different shots and figure it out when I get home.
@bo-gussname very true. Probably it is a matter of awareness about what is going on and responding thoughtfully.
The other day, I went to take this:
....and wound up taking this:
From a "planned" shot, to a completely unscripted shot...which I liked much better. 🤣
The thing is, I can think of at least two recent instances where I actually took the time to look from multiple angles and really try to figure out what it was that caught my eye...and still came up empty. "There's just something about it..." doesn't really help much! I guess I should just take a whole bunch of different shots and figure it out when I get home.
Well that is ok too. Maybe there was no image to be had. The fact that you tried from multiple angles is good practice.
I often leave my camera in my backpack and search for a composition using my smartphone. Only when I find a possible composition with my phone I'll reach for my camera and tripod.
Also, using a tripod is another way to slow down.
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Pascal Hibon
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/phibon/
Website: https://pascalhibon.net/
Getting out during the golden hours in the morning and evening. I’ve had many wonderful results but it takes real effort to make the time.
@bo-gussname I am with you on that. Be prepared for the unexpected.
When people ask what "genre" of photography I do, I answer "Yes".
Getting out during the golden hours in the morning and evening. I’ve had many wonderful results but it takes real effort to make the time.
I am one of those annoying "morning people" so this is no struggle for me.
On the other hand getting my wife out the door that early....well..... 😆
For me it comes down to ‘focussing” (no, not AF). Focus on a subject, focus on a composition. Take my time, don’t rush.
Somehow, with ‘slow’ subjects (like landscapes) I’m always rushing, and with ‘fast’ and spontaneous subjects (wildlife, theatre, etc.) I’m always super calm.
Somehow, with ‘slow’ subjects (like landscapes) I’m always rushing,
Hey, Plate Tectonics is a thing.... 🤣
Light, however can be extremely transient. I was setting up to take some shots of branches and berries (Winterberry?) encased in ice. As I was setting up the tripod, the sun came out and lit everything up like diamonds.
"OH! This is gonna be so cool!"
I finish getting set up and the sun went away.
"No problem. I'll wait..."
I turned around a looked and the sky was completely overcast, for as far as I could see, in every direction.
<SIGH>