PHOTOGRAPHY

Reading the afternoon light

A short exercise in seeing before reaching for a camera.

Find one familiar subject

Choose a window, a doorway or a tree that you pass often. Photograph it from the same position at different times. Compare the direction and softness of shadows, rather than judging which picture looks best. Overcast days can reveal textures that strong sunlight hides.

Simplify the frame

Before pressing the shutter, check all four edges. A small step to the side may remove a distracting sign or separate two overlapping shapes. Keep the brightest part of the scene in mind because it often attracts the eye first. Make one deliberate change and compare the result.

Keep the ordinary version

Save a photograph that describes the place honestly, even if you also make a more abstract composition. Record the date and a short note about the weather. A modest sequence over a season can say more about a place than one carefully staged image.