Exploring Pre-visualization in Photography
(Note: The featured image for this post is an example of knowing how to see in advance what your result will be when you press the shutter button. Through pre-visualization, I envisioned the composition in advance, using a telephoto lens to isolate the subject and positioning the bird between the sun and the camera to get the rim-lighting effect.)
Pre-visualization is the ability to foresee the final photographic result before clicking the shutter. It is a crucial step in mastering photography. It marks the moment where photographers grow and move beyond the uncertainty of whether their pictures will turn out well. Instead of reacting to scenes, they become deliberate image-makers, creating art with intention.
When setting out on a photography adventure, armed with research about the destination and a clear vision of the end result in mind, you are using pre-visualization. You embark on a quest to capture THAT picture, the one you have envisioned in your mind’s eye.
As famously stated by Ansel Adams, “You don’t take a photograph – you make it.”
It all begins with the visualization of the final image, and there are techniques to refine this ability to “see” with greater clarity.
One method is to immerse yourself in professionally published photographs found in books, calendars, and magazines. Study what other photographers have seen and train your eye to move beyond initial reactions. Begin to speculate about their lens choice, the direction and quality of light, and the camera settings employed by the photographer. By consistently asking these questions and deeply studying the images, you can develop the discerning eye you aspire to possess.
Practice photography with your goals in mind. For instance, shooting panoramas can help train you to see a bigger moment. Creating panoramas requires stitching together several images to form the final composition. While it was more labor-intensive in the past, modern photo editing software now offers convenient automatic stitching options. By envisioning the individual images needed to form the panoramic result, you hone the skill of pre-visualization, which is vital for your growth as a photographer.
Enhancing Your Pre-visualization Skills: Practical Steps and Exercises
Improving your pre-visualization skills can significantly elevate your photography. Alongside the practice of studying published images, there are several essential steps you can take:
Dive Deep into Your Subject:
Obtain comprehensive knowledge about the subject you intend to capture. Understanding its characteristics and behavior will enable you to anticipate moments and unique angles.
Know Your Environment: Familiarize yourself with the surroundings where you will encounter your subject. Being aware of lighting conditions, potential obstacles, and background elements will aid in envisioning the final composition.
Master Your Tools: Thoroughly learn how to operate your camera and related equipment. This way, you can swiftly adjust settings and focus on your creative vision rather than getting bogged down with technicalities. Using the camera should be second nature and shouldn’t require ANY real brain power. That should all be saved for “SEEING.”
Have A Point Of View: Often, the difference between a snapshot and a serious photograph is a photographer who has something to say. A POV gives you a starting point in the pre-visualization process.
Embrace Regular Practice: Like any skill, pre-visualization improves with practice. Make a habit of engaging in photography frequently to fine-tune your creative vision.
Cultivate Imagination: Challenge yourself to think outside the box and explore unconventional perspectives. Expanding your imagination allows for innovative and captivating compositions.
Daydream with Photography: Spend time daydreaming about potential photographic opportunities and scenarios. Let your mind wander, and visualize extraordinary moments waiting to be captured.
Utilize Sketching: Even if you are not adept at drawing, try sketching rough outlines of your photography ideas. This exercise helps solidify your visual concepts and improves previsualization.
Consider Storyboarding: If sketching isn’t your forte, create a storyboard with sequential images illustrating your intended narrative. This method can enhance your ability to foresee the final image.
Embrace Post-Processing: Experiment with post-processing techniques to transform your RAW files into expressive masterpieces. Editing can enhance and refine your initial vision.
By likening your RAW files to a musical score and the final image to its performance, you align yourself with the creative process and artistic expression.
Caption – “Sometimes, pre-viz can be as simple as shooting a quick burst with your frame rate set as high as the camera will allow it so you can composite three frames together like I did here to tell a story. Pre-visualization manifests itself in many ways.”
In addition to the steps I have discussed above, I want to leave you with some very specific exercises that I myself have used to enhance my ability to SEE an image before I make a final image…
Exercise #1: Learn from Failures
Analyze your failed images and identify the reasons behind their shortcomings. Practice pre-visualization by envisioning improved versions and consider how you can enhance them.
Exercise #2: Create a Photographic Bucket List
Reflect on what truly matters to you in photography, beyond seeking validation on social media. Imagine your ultimate photographic achievement – the one image you would capture if it were your last. Can you vividly see this significant subject in your mind, even without it being physically present?
Exercise #3: Scout Like Ansel Adams
Embark on a hike without your camera, solely relying on your mind’s eye to scout potential photo compositions. Use the old-fashioned hand-framing technique to envision shots. Take thorough notes about everything you observe and feel during this scouting experience. Later, return with your camera to execute your envisioned photographs.
Exercise #4: Uncover Photo Opportunities from Your Dreams
Keep paper and pen by your bed, and upon waking, jot down your dreams. Doodle and sketch any ideas that emerge from your dreamscapes. See if you can find photo-worthy subjects buried within your dreams, then set out to capture them in reality.
Exercise #5: Embrace Emotional Photography
Before focusing on a specific image, contemplate the emotional impact it will have on you and viewers. Also, consider its psychological effects. By combining different realms of expertise, you can discover innovative solutions. Let your feelings guide your creative vision, resulting in images that truly connect with emotions.
By engaging in these photography exercises, you’ll strengthen your previsualization skills, develop a personal photographic vision, and create emotionally impactful images that reflect your true artistic essence.
CONCLUSION
The best practical example I can give you of pre-visualization in my own life is my photo called “Cranes in the Fire Mist.” I spent many years trying to capture this image. It came to me in my minds eye more than 12 years before I could make it. It required a whole lot of things to happen which I had no control over. So I just had to show up and hope for the best. I hung on to that image in my brain until I could create it. Eventually I got it and it ended up being the biggest image of my career.
Hopefully you can find an image in YOUR mind’s eye that gives you similar satisfaction.
Pre-visualization is generally something you take on once you have some serious photography experience. It’s an advanced concept. Don’t worry if you don’t get it right away. But work towards it if you want to really take your photography to the next level.
He has written or co-authored 11 photography related books including Going Pro with Skip Cohen. He has also served as technical editor for 10 different photographic publications.
He is a pioneer in the digital photography and online space and was named one of the 30 Most Influential Photographers on the Web by Huffington Post. He is the founder of one of the first dedicated, photography sites Photofocus.com, co-founded the first photography related podcast, This Week In Photography (TWIP), anb co-founded Photography Podcast Network (PPN).
He currently serves on the management team at iPhonePhotoTeam.com and resides near Seattle where he enjoys photographing toys strictly for fun.
- Exploring Pre-visualization in Photography - July 27, 2023
