What Not To Shoot

What Not To Shoot

When I was typing the title, it made me think of Trinny and Susanna and their program 'What Not To Wear'. But this isn't about clothes, it's about photos - of course.

Yesterday, as I passed up several opportunities for taking photos, I was thinking that learning to know what you're doing with your photography probably also means that you not only know what to shoot and how to shoot it, but also what not to shoot - or when not to shoot.

I was looking at a white ara at the parrot shelter yesterday and decided that the fact that he was sitting in full, harsh mid-day sunlight ruined any chance of getting a good shot of him. So I decided not to take the shot.

This happened several times during the day. I love penguins, but they were in the same situation, and I didn't take any shots there either.

I'd rather come back in better conditions than to take shots of which I know in advance that they're going to be ruined anyway.

And I suppose we can come across many subjects that we would like to photograph, but that aren't in the right circumstances at that time. Unless I have reason to take a record shot, I don't shoot them anymore. At least not at that particular time.

Does this mean I take less photos now? No.

Does this mean I discard less photos now? No. (See my previous blog.)

But it does mean I feel less stupid now when viewing the photos I've taken...

Tags: Photos What not to shoot Shots Sunlight Harsh Midday Trinny Susanna