You don’t take a photograph, you make it

Today, I am going to borrow a quote from Ansel Adams, “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” Far too often I forget this concept. I point my camera at something I want to photograph and click the button. Sometimes it works, other times it is mediocre at best. But, even the mediocre photographs I can work with and develop into something much better, at least to me and the story or concept I wished to convey.

Ansel Adams, was meticulous when he set up his camera to photograph something. He was even more meticulous when he began developing the image. I certainly don’t profess to be anywhere nearly as meticulous or good as Ansel Adams but I have often taken an image from mediocre to good or even very good with some digital darkroom work. I’ve taken some good images from good to an even higher level. This is why I always believe in post-processing. The process of making a photograph doesn’t stop after the shutter clicks. That is just the beginning.

Make your photographs, don’t just take them. Plan them, work them, massage them, and take your time. Just like a good meal, making photographs is planned. Use your vision both setting up to take images and then continue that vision with your darkroom work. Even re-visit some of those mediocre images and apply some post-processing. You make surprise yourself with some hidden gems.