When we get away from the technical and mechanical aspects of photography we are essentially left with two of the most important elements of making a good photograph.

Seeing and thinking.

This is the crucial stuff that happens in your mind/soul/heart/whatever when you are about to take a picture.

There are times when photography isn’t a rush. We have the time to compose. We have the time to think about what we want to photograph and why. We have the time to see the things before us that make great images.

Do this!

When you hold your camera to your eye pause for a moment or two. Drink in the scene. Ask yourself; Is the image I’m about to capture worthy of a magazine, hanging on a wall, submitting to a gallery, or sending to a customer?

If it’s not, or you’re not sure, then try to consider the things that may need to change in order to make the photograph better.

Make the picture don’t take the picture!

You’re the photographer.

You’re the artist.

Take control of the situation and change angles, lenses, lighting, composition, or whatever it takes to make that picture better.

Almost everything is photogenic!

It just takes a little seeing and thinking to find the beauty of what is before you.  It takes a little bit of seeing and thinking to take a better picture.

Something in the scene before you caught your eye.  Something compelled you to photograph what is before you.  That artistic intuition is there to guide you to where you need to be but it doesn’t always take you to the exact spot.

Take the time, when you can, to see and think about what is compelling you to make that photograph.

Photographs:

Everything I can see now by ◢syka◣

He sees everything… by +?+

Musician. by Tomas Webb

Lima Green and Nowhere to Go by Brian Auer