Looking for a composition

A large format camera has no viewfinder. Although the image preview is available on the matte glass, the camera needs to be set up first, which takes effort. It is for this reason Ansel Adams suggested using a cardboard frame. Looking through it at the scene helps to establish the composition without taking the camera out.

I use an app which does the same thing. An added benefit of the screen is the two-dimensional image, whereas behind a cardboard frame the scene remains three-dimensional and is more difficult to analyze. Also, of course, the preview shots get saved and can be reviewed later.

It is not always that a preview frame is followed by a real capture. Sometimes a composition cannot be found; sometimes there is no way to place the camera in such a way as to take the picture. Sometimes the composition is there but not the willpower to put in the effort, or the conditions are changing fast.

Nevertheless I save those previews for laters to analyze how the composition was developing. It happens that you may have chosen a composition as good as possible on the spot, and then go: “meh…” But later, in a year or two, you look at the frame and think — it’s a great shot, why didn’t I take it? Helps putting in more effort next time.

This works with digital just as well. The result is fewer captures, but of higher quality. However, it takes rather more discipline to do it as opposed to just looking at the back screen.