Think before you shoot

KmH · May 6, 2010

Here's some insight into the thought process that is the difference between a snapshot, and making an image.

40 Questions I ask Myself before Hitting the Shutter Release

Dallmeyer · May 6, 2010

That's a good post!

Overread · May 6, 2010

its a bit muddled about - good points to be certain but there is no order to the thinking.

16 Do I need to change lenses? - appears way too late and after you've already made choices on exposure (at least some).

27 Is my subject Moving or Stationary? - at point 27 if its the former chances are its already gone

As I said good points, but the overall thinking there is very muddled - give it some structure and some context (ones thinking about a nature shot would be very different to a studio shot for example) and you would have some ground to work from.

c.cloudwalker · May 6, 2010

40. Did I just miss a great shot?

Yes, because you were asking too many darn questions :lmao:

Good list but that last one is just too much.

mwcfarms · May 6, 2010

This is a great post. Thanks. Im struggling with things to shoot and the why. Mostly because the weather is crappy. Been snowing/raining here for two days and Im not sure how the D90 handles this weather as it isnt weathersealed very well I have read. I have things that are interesting to me to see how it photographs but nothing that I have been happy enough with to ask for critique.

usayit · May 6, 2010

KmH said:
Here's some insight into the thought process that is the difference between a snapshot, and making an image.

Although the list is ok but I don't necessarily agree with the "snapshot, and making an image" part of the original post. Most are technical questions behind creating an image regardless if you are making an image or the so called "snapshot".

I also think at least 20 of the 40 questions should be more along the lines of these two listed:

And how am I going to use it?
What story am I trying to tell?

those types of questions are what make or break a photograph. How about composition?

A magnum photographer who has created wonderful series in his gallery is known to use P&S cameras on full auto. Which again... begs to wonder if those technical 40 questions are really that important.

KmH · May 6, 2010

Key word - Insight.

Not dogma.

Dallmeyer · May 6, 2010

Yes. It's all useful info. I would run through 95% of these considerations within a few seconds in my mind, so for me the sequential order isn't significant in how they are listed. The remainder are thoughts that flit through the mind while walking out the door to begin a days photography or things thought about while walking around doing it. I think its a worthwhile post to blog.