Knowing what NOT to include.

Photographer: Al Jurina

Many opportunities to take photos are never preceded with the question, "okay, what doesn't need to be in this picture?". However, I personally believe that this is the precise question that one should always start with.

Once you have evaluated that a scene or subject is worth photographing, the next thing to think about when getting the camera to your eye is, what is NOT needed in the frame. Eliminating elements of the scene that are distracting or just plain ugly, can go very far in creating a better photo.
The best way of doing this is to just re-compose your shot before you take it.

 This strategy applies with all types of photography, from landscapes to portraits. The next time you start to take a photo, begin asking yourself what doesn't belong? Your photos will be all the better for it.

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