Wednesday 20 August 2008

Mind's eye

A sunbather - Sheringham, Norfolk, UK

This is an quick observation shot which took less than a twenty seconds to see, compose and shoot. The last thing i wanted was for this man, who was obviously enjoying the hot sun, to get up and go. Fortunately he was too busy working on his tan and didn't move an inch from the position seen in the photograph.

I managed to spot him and sit on a bench that was conveniently located directly opposite where he was lying. It was just a matter of a quick look through the viewfinder, focus and click but i managed to pre-visualise the image before i took it. In the blink of an eye, i knew how i wanted the photograph to look, i could see the photograph and how it should look. I'm using this technique more and more frequently - especially when using large format cameras, and it find it works.

I used to hear a lot about the use of pre-visualisation in photography when i was at college. I thought it was rubbish at the time but it certainly seems to work for me at the moment. Just try it next time you come to take an image. See it in your minds eye, see how you want it to look as a finished photograph; the tones, the composition and framing etc. You'll be surprised how well it works!

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