Lesson #18: Scouting You Locations

In an earlier lesson, we learned that better light often makes for more dramatic pictures. Simply being in the right place isn't always enough, it's being there at the right time that can make all the difference between a snapshot and a great image.

One approach to working the light is to put some creative forethought into your photography and scout out your locations before you shoot. By finding and studying subjects that you want to photograph, and then returning under better lighting conditions, you allow your creative process to work without the pressure of trying to come up with appealing compositions at the last minute.

Think of it like rehearsal for your imagery. While pure improvisation can often lead to great results, knowing beforehand how you want the picture to look when the curtain goes up, or when the sun is setting on your subject, will usually give even better results.