Photography Thought Process Before Clicking
The thought process that comes right before hitting that shutter button is a critical aspect of taking the shot.
Here’s what probably goes into your mind just before you press that magical 'click.':
The Snap Instinct
Let’s say you're out in the field, your camera in hand, and a captivating scene appears right there.
You've got just a split second to decide if it's worth capturing, right?
For many photographers, this decision is driven by pure instinct.
The 'click' happens without much conscious thought, and the magic is preserved in that fraction of a second.
See examples of awesome photography that were captured on the go.
Composition and Storytelling
Other photographers love planning.
They ask themselves a series of questions before hitting the shutter:
Why do I want to take this photo?
What story does it tell?
Is this sellable? (mostly stock photographers :)
They take their time to tell a compelling story.
This involves:
framing
angles and perspectives,
and what to include or leave out of the frame.
Setting the Scene
For some other photographers, the decision to click is based on technical considerations.
It’s all about the framing, exposure, shutter speed, and ISO settings that take a central position.
This decision depends on what they are shooting.
A wedding photographer, for example, may prefer to be consistent so they have less editing work after the shooting.
On the other hand, an “artist” photographer will prefer testing many things out and only select unique shots.
The choice here depends on the intended outcome:
– a coherent collection or a diversified portfolio.
Fast-Paced Decisions
Wildlife photography is an interesting challenge.
You don’t have the luxury of time.
The decision to 'click' must be right on the spot, based on your reflex.
Animals are constantly on the move.
So there is not much room for contemplation, but immediate action.
It's all about capturing the behavior in a fraction of a second.
The Art of Composition
And yet for some others, it's all about composition.
movement within the shot,
and avoiding the dead center.
The goal is to create images that are not just beautiful but also harmonious.
See the importance of composition and storytelling in photography.
The Iterative Approach
Most photographers take a shot, analyze it, and then make adjustments.
You repeat until you’re happy with the results.
With time and practice, you learn to take shots that are almost perfect right from the first click.
Context Matters
If you're on a professional gig, you are probably asked to take a specific type of picture.
The key is to find something interesting in the scene.
It could be the lighting, a foreground element, a subject's moment, or the composition.
Unconventional Methods
Photography is an art.
And there is often a touch of the unknown:)
For instance, I heard of some photographers “rolling a die” :) to decide if they will click or not!
This gives a sense of taking random action.
It sure boosts your creativity with some potentially surprising results :)
Post-Click Assurance
You most probably take multiple shots to ensure you capture at least a perfect one.
It’s a great technique to save a lot of disappointment in the post-processing stage.
Experience Breeds Instinct
With experience, many photographers develop an almost innate sense of how a photo will turn out.
You learn to visualize the final result in your mind before even clicking the shutter.
This level of expertise allows you to make split-second decisions with confidence and precision.
And That’s It
It’s all about your own thought process before clicking.
And this is what makes your pictures so unique.
Happy shooting!
Hakan.