Not capturing the decisive moment

In any set of images, one will stand out as the best; the one where everything comes together. This ‘peak’ moment doesn’t have to be something as grand as a gymnast at the zenith of an elaborate spin: it could be a subtle shift in someone’s expression when you’re shooting a portrait, for example, or the position of clouds in a landscape shot.

Naturally, the more frames you fire off in succession, the greater your chances of capturing the peak of the action or the defining moment. That being said, timing is everything; if you see the moment through the viewfinder, then the chances are that you’ve missed the opportunity to record it! Trying to anticipate this moment is key, and starting to shoot before it happens will increase your chances of capturing it.

right Even ‘stationary’ shots can show a peak moment. The second shot stands out because of the position of the clouds – the larger one appears to be streaming from the cathedral’s central pinnacle

wrong