APOGEEPHOTO MAGAZINE: Planned vs. Lucky Shots by Bill Miller

Apogee Photo Magazine

Decisive Moments:

Planned vs. Lucky Shots

by Bill Miller

There are only a few ways to make photographs based on the concept of “photographer’s intent”: planned, lucky or planned and lucky. A few weeks ago, as a young photographer was looking at some of my most recent slides I was amazed with the statement: “Wow, you were sure lucky to be there when the light was like that.”

Luck had nothing to do with the photos and the light. I had been going to that location since the early 1970's so I knew what to expect on a sunny, stormy, cloudy, winter or summer day. I have experience and history at that location and long ago began going there looking for specific shots and to discover what happens to the light during every season. It isn’t magic or luck, I began to plan for specific types of photos based on every time of the year.

When I worked for the International Olympic Photo Pool I overheard a conversation between a young photographer from Panama and some even younger photographers from the American Midwest, all of whom were working in the darkroom as they began their careers. The young man from Panama was showing his photos of jungle villages and life far more primitive than any found in the American Midwest. The others were in awe of the exotic village life portrayed in the photos from Central America but also jealous, arguing that he could only get those photos because he was from Panama. The Latin shooter was very quick to point out that while it was true he was from Panama, he was currently working at a newspaper in Tennessee and working at the Olympics – all for the experience and doors his resume might open.

He was also quick to point out that they could journey out from Nebraska, Ohio and Oklahoma to visit “exotic” lands and interesting places so they do exactly what he was doing – travel and working for his photographs while learning about the world. The others sat in stunned silence as they thought about what it takes to grow as a photographer.

In the mid 1970's I traveled around the west, cameras on the floor next to me in my 1963 Ford Econoline van, all the while searching for photographs. I took every opportunity to photograph what I had never seen or experienced before, not for my portfolio but because I was driven to mature my skills and grow my experiences.

Stock photographers and photojournalists know how this process works. Learn what happens at a location from other photographers, a chamber of commerce, almanacs, books of photos on the destination or just showing up and paying attention to what you see. It is a conscious decisions to take a risk and expand your life’s knowledge. Getting paid for that experience is often just a welcome by-product of the self imposed education.

Good photographs can be the result of luck, but you can’t rely on luck – it will eventually let you down – sooner rather than later. Skill and planning based on knowledge will consistently give the results you want. My mentor at the Associated Press once told that: “spontaneity is great, but you can’t count on it.” He was right.

I would add: Don’t just count on luck. Plan your shoots based on what you have learned, but always be open to the unexpected.

Bill Miller is a photographer, teacher and writer. He is the founder of PhotoTreks and conducts workshops in the Oregon area. You can learn more about Bill and his workshops by going to www.empnet.com/imageworks/PTREKS/index.html.