OK - so I promised Michelle A. I'd behave - So I'm scratchin' my head here (not because I'm thinking - it just feels good!) Now that that's done - I am curious as to the process everyone here goes through in the course of creating a photo (have I already done this one? - if so - mods, delete this) I personally have a couple or "rules" that I follow: 1: - when you see a photo - stop right there. Reason being, if it caught your eye, that's probably the place it needs to be photographed from - select a lens that will encompass the area that caught your attention (do not think "I'll get a bit closer" - all you're doing is changing your perspective - and the scene is not what you saw to begin with) 2: Identify (verbally in my case - I actually say out loud) what it is that caught you eye - what is it about this scene that merits a photo 3: After identifying what is is that caught your attention, eliminate EVERYTHING that doesn't fit that description, and incorporate EVERYTHING that falls within that description (If I'm shooting a rock, for example - I'm not going to compose tightly for the rock - unless the environment contributes to the image that caught your eye. 4: crop tight (see above - but this is a big part of what (in my opinion) photographers miss on - they attempt to incorporate too much environment, when what they're actually shooting is not environment associated. i.e., a shot of a squirrel does not need to be 20% squirrel, 80 lawn. (OK, I realize that many (if not most) photographers are limited, in this case, to the equipment at hand - but (here again, my opinion), it's a matter of creating good photos with the equipment at hand - not photos with the excuse of "I could've really got a good one had I the right equipment". (Sorry, Michelle, if I'm stepping on toes here - this is opinion). I would much rather see a well executed shot of a cat than a poorly executed shot of a lion. Excellent photography is not limited to subject matter - excellent photography is a matter of control, of pre-visualizing an image and having the skill to produce said image to an audience (oops - I feel myself getting back on top of the soap box - my apologies). Anyway - I was just curious as to the "thought process" that people go through prior to exposing an image. (I swear - I think I've already done this - but, what the hey!)

Isn't all that supposed to happen subconsciously without much direct analyzing? I would hope so.

You may be surprised.... This was a lesson I learned the hard way - by wasting the better part of a day shooting a wet-weather water fall. I saw it on the side of the road, stopped the car and started shooting - but looking through the viewfinder, I wasn't seeing the reason I stopped. i literally had to stop and verbalize what it was i saw in the scene (the sub-conscience can see it without the conscience realizing it). What i thought I saw was a wet-weather falls that looked inviting - but when I stopped to consider what it really was that invited me, it really wasn't the "falls" as I had been trying to shoot - it was the simple vision of rapid water falling across moss-covered rocks. once I realized that, I was able to concentrate on what it actually was that caught my eye.

I just load a roll of film, turn on the motor drive and press the release while randomly swinging the camera around wildly zooming and focusing in and out. ....maybe i'll get a shot that I can fix in photoshop..... JOKE. I used to have a photo instructor that would take your "final" print at critique and start tearing it to shreds. When he was done, he would hand you back one little piece and say, "This is what you saw and were photographing....not all of this other stuff. Go back and re-shoot." It was amazing. That is also another reason I decided to learn how to use a view camera. There is no possible way to hurry a shot with one. If you do, not only is it bad but there is no real way to salvage it later. Plus the fact that a typical film holder only holds 2 exposures....so you are better off taking the time to try and get the best shot possible. It is not uncommon for me to sit (or stand) for the better part of an hour setting up for one stinkin exposure. (partially because I'm still learning the dang thing, and waiting for light)

Beautiful image by the way.

For me, I do much of what Wolf says but it's not really at a concious level anymore. It used to be (even at the Trolloween festival in October), but over time much of it almost feels like instinct to me and not a concious thing. Because of the type of photography I do (event and street mostly) I tend to try and flow with what is going on around me. To anticipate what people are going to do and then capturing the shot. Perfect example is the photo I first posted from the Lunar New Year (Daughters of China I). There was no way for me set up to get that shot (not unless I had for-knowledge of their routine, which I didn't). In the moments before she moved into that position, I saw and anticipated the shot, zoomed in, focused, opened up to f/5.6, composed to eliminate distraction, levelled my camera, checked for a green light on my exposure and took the shot. If I'd conciously ticked off that list one at a time, she would have been long gone. The only thing I can remember thinking that whole time was "Got my exposure...what a weird shutter speed" (camera had choosen something like 1/120th instead of the more common 1/125th). The point though is, I learned the lessons before they became somewhat second nature. Wolf's list has some good stuff on it that we should all keep in mind. -=>Donald

Different strokes for different shots. There are times when I take too much time taking one pic. Other times I don't think at all. Whatever happens, it's all good. :-) (*

the randomized shooting principle

Pictures appear to me, I shoot them.   Elliot Erwitt

I have to admit, I sometimes go to a place deliberately carrying a smaller memory card - so when I take pics, I HAVE to delete the naff ones to keep the ones I want. Makes me want to take better shots first time. As for all of what Wolfie described - I dunno, I seem to just do that without actually doing that, if you see what I mean. Maybe that explains my naff shots.... (",)

Seems like a good place to start Wolfsnap. I would say that most photography that is bad is because they are not conciously nor subconciously following these steps.

Although I think Wolfie may be loosing his marbles. Talking to himself. I actually think it's a good idea. I frequently desire taking impression photos. which are really hard. However if I consciously make a decision I think I may be better at it. Good idea. Jordy. never throw away ANYTHING . unless it black or blury. I've walked around snapping things from a better angle but then I always take about three time more photos then I intended. Bsteph

We did sort of do this thread once before, but it is a good topic and we have some new people. I guess sometimes I use all of the techniques mentioned so far... What I really like about Wolfie's presentation here is that the thought process is tied to a specific example. "This is the thinking I went through to create this image." I'd really like to see more of this done here. I think it would be a way for all of us to learn from each other.