When I arrive at an interesting location where I am planning to shoot a cultural, architectural, or landscape scene using natural light, there is a general approach I take, a series of thoughts that run through my head, and a group of simple philosophies that I apply to inspire myself to get the creative mood to flow.

It is not so easy to sum up these thoughts on paper, as it took me years to fully understand these ideas myself, but I am going to try to spell them out and I will group all my thoughts into 5 main points so that perhaps you can apply the same processes yourself when you go out shooting.

1 – Your Best Picture Is Still Just Around The Corner – I think this precept is very important because it is what drives us to keep striving to take more and greater pictures. So when you are in a location of amazing beauty, whether it be people, landscapes, architecture, etc, remind yourself that there are beautiful photographs to be had there and that if you just fully apply yourself then you will be able to sucessfully capture them.

2 – Your A Painter Using Light – You should always consider yourself an artist. Don’t just think of yourself as a camera man. Think of your camera equipment as a set of artist’s paints and brushes. Remind yourself that you are there to capture the beauty of the light and shadows to paint a beautiful masterpiece filled with a mixture of brightness, darkness, color, contrast, mood, and emotion, and knowing that you have all the right paints and brushes to do it.

3 – Only Capture What Is Beautiful – When you look at a scene, and as you are framing your shots in the viewfinder, try to focus in really on what is of pure interest or beauty. Don’t try and show the viewer too much in a photo that it ends up not having a distinct, main subject. Show the viewer exactly what it is you want them to see. Don’t leave them hunting around your photo for the beauty. If there are so many beautiful elements in a scene then make 2 or 3 photos out of it so that each element stands out in an obvious and creative way.

4 – Expect The Unexpected. It Could Be Even Better – You may have heard photographers talk about something called “happy accidents”. What I mean is that sometimes great photographs can come from spontaneity. So you don’t always have to perfectly plan and execute every shot. Often times you can get a great shot by just putting your camera in the right place at the right time or by shooting experimentally within interesting lighting situations that may produce dramatic results.

5 – You Never Stop Learning – This is perhaps the most important thing to remember; The journey of capturing the photo can be as wonderful as the finished photo itself. Learn from your experiences, both your mistakes and your triumphs and never think that you can’t grow any further as a photographer. Because the moment you stop trying to learn and make mistakes is the moment you could stop reaching your full potential.

One final word. When shooting people on the the street or in rural areas, always try to be patient with them. Show respect for your subjects by always trying to portray them at their best. Bring out their deepest identity in your pictures to the fullest, but in a way that honors them as people in the same way that you would like to be honored in any photo that would be taken of yourself.

I hope these thoughts have inspired you in some way. So go out and take your best photo now and then again tomorrow and again the next day…