Your planned or pre-visualised shots

How often do you plan? Say you see a nice scene but want to change such and such conditions, so you wait or come later on.

This is one of my first pre-visualised images. I saw this scene in the morning with the beautiful light on the rocky overhang, but the sun was too high already. I thought it could've made a nice picture at sunrise. I was able to return the next morning and execute it right at sunrise. Not a huge deal of planning but since then I started to plan my shots more carefully and more often.




Cronulla Beach



--

I pre-visualize probably 99% of the images I create, but not in the way you are talking about. Walking or driving by something, I see the shot I want to make and apply the lens, angle and technique, camera settings etc... to create it.

Closer to what you are saying I would say rarely, but I think you might be saying two different things. It's one thing to be standing in an exact spot with a lens on the camera and frame a shot and then think, I need to come back here tomorrow morning and recreate this exact shot again. That' almost never.

What's closer is just realizing a location would be better under certain conditions or time of day and returning to it and working the subject without a pre-planned image before I got there, and just using the better lighting to explore the subject and create nice results.

I usually preplan my snaps.

For this one I had an image in my mind and waited a year to take the shot. I wanted a low tide (the boulder is otherwise under water), no moon, and clear skies so that I could get the stars:



For this one I visualized the effect of attaching a flashing light to a dog collar. Bought the flashing light and found a friendly dog owner and...





--
———————————————————————------
"View their gallery before accepting their comments."
———————————————————————------
My photos: http://www.gordonpritchard.blogspot.com/

mfinley said:

I pre-visualize probably 99% of the images I create, but not in the way you are talking about. Walking or driving by something, I see the shot I want to make and apply the lens, angle and technique, camera settings etc... to create it.

Click to expand...

Yeah that's not what I meant, although it's a very important skill to be able to apply the proper gear and technique.

mfinley said:

Closer to what you are saying I would say rarely, but I think you might be saying two different things. It's one thing to be standing in an exact spot with a lens on the camera and frame a shot and then think, I need to come back here tomorrow morning and recreate this exact shot again. That' almost never.

Click to expand...

Yep that would be an example of planning. I do return to my locations but obviously when I can revisit them repeatedly.

mfinley said:

What's closer is just realizing a location would be better under certain conditions or time of day and returning to it and working the subject without a pre-planned image before I got there, and just using the better lighting to explore the subject and create nice results.

Click to expand...

That also means planning. For me it involves checking the weather forecast, tides, Sun and Moon paths etc.

Mostly I don't plan in detail. I explore on walks and bike rides and take what I see. If there seems to be a possibility of something special then if I can I will return and try again

Some shots I see and have to wait, sometimes a year to go back in the right conditions

The first I was late on my way to work and had been visualising the scene for more than a year. I had my little Sony with me, so hopped out of the car and quickly took several shots. I am waiting for autumn for the mists and rising sun to try again





This one I saw the tree and had to wait a few months. I also planned it with a sunset app to align it all on the right day



View attachment 11852d3dc15444dd84dbe7cb9eada33a.jpg



--
anyone is welcome to do anything they want with my images except sell them for profit

Good examples of planning. The second one is quite unusual and looks impressive. I like the first one with moderate amount of light painting (it's easy to over-paint and get it very unnatural).

softmarmotte said:

Mostly I don't plan in detail. I explore on walks and bike rides and take what I see. If there seems to be a possibility of something special then if I can I will return and try again

Some shots I see and have to wait, sometimes a year to go back in the right conditions

Click to expand...

I'd say it is planning in detail! Especially when you wait, use sunset apps etc.

I don't plan all the time either, for planning you need to know your locations which means scouting and visiting the locations more than once. It's not always possible.