Training Your Eye -
Six Steps to Better Seeing
Copyright: Wayne Setser

Some time ago I wrote an article titled The Three "T"s of Photography , (Oct. 1997) in which I discussed the interrelationship of Tools, Technique, and Training. Of these three aspects of photography the most difficult to (if you'll pardon the pun) "develop" is Training. Not, training to use that new camera or lens, but training your eye, mind, and heart to work together to see more, and better photographic opportunities. When I first thought of writing this article, I tried to make mental notes of what I think and do while I'm photographing. Trying to remember what's going through my mind during that creative moment only interrupts it, so I have to rely on introspection after making the photograph and while viewing the finished prints. What it boils down to are these six steps:

1. Keep your mind on what you're doing. As I mentioned above, allowing other thoughts to creep into your mind disrupts the creative process. Leave your troubles and worries at home. They'll still be there when you get back. Not only will this allow you to concentrate on what you're doing, to stay "in the moment," you may find you have a fresh perspective on things when you get home.

2. Don't be a copy-cat. While looking at other photographers work is a good way to find inspiration and ideas, make sure it stops there. If you see a photograph you like, don't try to take one just like it, chances are you won't be able to and you'll only be disappointed and frustrated. If you do succeed, can you truly call it your photograph? Instead, use the work of others as inspiration to create a photograph that is uniquely yours.

3. Keep an open eye (mind.) Don't set out for your destination with the photograph already composed and exposed in your mind. If you do, chances are, that's exactly where it will stay. Reality rarely lives up to imagination. When hiking to that waterfall you heard about try not to be so set on photographing it that you miss other things. Keep your eye open to any photographic opportunities. Many of my best photographs were made of things that caught my eye on the way to or from whatever it was I was planing to photograph. I have only one photograph that I envisioned before shooting it, and it took over a year of coming back under different lighting and weather conditions before I was satisfied with it. I think the only thing that kept me coming back is that after a while it got personal, I was determined to get that shot. But because I try to keep an open eye, I found something else to photograph on almost every trip. It's a good idea to have a subject or destination in mind, but don't let it control you.

4. Respond. Tune-in to what's around you. Take a moment before you start off to your destination to familiarize yourself with your surroundings. My favorite technique is to close my eyes and take a few deep breaths to listen, smell, and feel my surroundings. Don't be in a hurry, unless you're trying to beat the sun, take your time, walk slow, and look around. The more aware you are of your environment, the more you notice the details that can make a great photograph. Stay alert for anything that strikes an emotional cord in you, then use a three-step process to photograph it. First, identify, figure out exactly what it is that caught your attention. Second, isolate, separate it from the clutter around it. Third, simplify, when it comes to composition, simpler is usually better.

5. Separate. Once you respond to something, you must then emotionally detach yourself from it. When wrapped up in the emotion of the moment we tend to overlook otherwise obvious problems. The two most common problems seem to be distracting elements and exposure. While looking through the viewfinder ask yourself if everything you see needs to be there, and then if everything that needs to be there is there. You also need to pay close attention to exposure. You need to know what is being metered and how it relates to lighter and darker areas of the scene. If the photograph just doesn't work, for whatever reason, don't be discouraged, just take a moment to enjoy it then look for something else. There have been many times that I've come across beautiful scenes that just wouldn't translate to film. When that happens I just relax a few minutes, savor it, smile, and move on.

6. Know your equipment and its limitations. Be familiar enough with your equipment (the Tools and Techniques) to know its abilities and limitations. A through understanding of the mechanics and process of photography will enable you to quickly determine if something can be successfully photographed, and the best way to do it.

If you commit these six steps to memory and practice them you will start making better photographs. And as a bonus, because you will be paying more attention to what's around you, I think you'll get more enjoyment out of photography.

 

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