03 BE COMPLETELY AWARE
Hey! You! Pay attention – proper attention – to the whole scene before taking a single shot
One of the most important things to consider when shooting is the idea of awareness. Being completely aware of every aspect of the image you are creating is critical. You should train yourself to notice all of the things that your mind normally filters out. When we look at any normal scene, our brain automatically eliminates most of the objects in view and just shows us the most important. The camera shows the viewer everything.
Not only do we need to be aware of the objects in the scene, we also need to be aware of the overall ‘feel’ of the image. Do we want it to be very warm and comforting, or harsh and unsettling, for example? Awareness allows us to take this into consideration before we push the button, and the overall result will be a much stronger photo. Start training your brain to see literally every aspect of the scene, both in terms of the elements present and the meaning of those elements for the viewer.
Right: You have to arrive early at the barn, or other photographers will crowd in too close
EXPOSURE 1/15 sec, f/10, ISO200 LENS Nikon AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF -ED VR