Think-point-continue-thinking-and-shoot

I have some visitors from Montreal staying with my wife and me this week. The other day I took them to Sifton bog. There are lots of pictures to be taken at the bog but with one very big restriction: one cannot leave the boardwalk.

Most people go for the scenic picture. That's the obvious picture of choice. I went for two image: one, a grouping of toad stools and two an image of the reflection of the shy, complete with clouds, in the pond at the end of the boardwalk.

The one image, the mushrooms, took some looking. It was a small image hidden in the overall scene. The other picture was essentially a scenic picture with a twist; I flipped the image. I thought it looked a lot cooler when viewed upside down.

The next day we all went to the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory. When one goes to a butterfly conservatory there is only one shot: butterflies.

But, if you can kick up the image with brightly coloured flowers, all the better. This takes time and effort. One must stay observant. If you do, you will be rewarded.

So, don't just point and shoot. That's too uninvolved for a good shooter. Always think about what you are shooting and try and make the strongest possible statement. 

By the way, all the images were shot with my Canon S90 point and shoot. Not a perfect camera but it will do in a financial pinch. Remember: I'm retired.