It’s all in the Details
The details matter! This is true in a lot of things in life, and especially true in photography. Admittedly this is something that I need help with. Patience is not a venture I possess. So taking the time to scrutinize the small detail in my photographs is a habit I have yet to perfect. But it is one I am working on. Slowing down and taking my time while setting up a composition is essential. Consider all the angels, the light, the colors, the distance to my subject, and the distance from the background; there is a myriad of things to think about. There have been countless photographers, many much better than I, who have made this point before. All of this is done before I even trip the shutter. And all of these things I need to be better about. This is a necessary time to consider all the details; setting up the camera and preparing the photograph is paramount to creating a good image. And once I have all of the accomplished, once that shutter has been released, that work is still not done. Now is the time to double-check EVERYTHING! Digital shooters have an advantage here; we can look at the photograph immediately. Film photographer! You just need to be sure of everything before even calking the shutter. But when shooting with digital, there is no reason not to look at the exposure before I pack up and move on. Take the time to do that “border patrol” and make sure there aren’t things creeping into the frame I don’t want in the frame. Make sure the background is free of distracting elements. Make sure I have your subject in focus.
I was trying very hard to concentrate on this on a recent outing, and while I did better with it, I didn’t catch everything. I did, however, come away with more successful images, or at least a higher percentage of images, than I sometimes do. Taking the time to double-check my image while I still had the subject in front of me and my camera set up only helped to ensure that I captured the image I was imagining. Taking the time to check and recheck all the settings, framing, and focus had a bonus. Not only does it increase the probability of a more successful image, but it also gives me a moment to appreciate my subject and my surroundings. It is a moment to appreciate where I am and what I get to do—a moment to appreciate the intricate complexity of nature truly. The detail that can be revealed by practicing this simple technique can be surprising. For instance, did you notice the ant leg in the middle of this leaf? I didn’t until after I was home and editing the image.
