Visualization is a concept in photography popularized by Ansel Adams. If you’re new to the idea, its goal is to envision what the look and feel of the final version of a photograph may be before the shutter release is even pressed. In Adams’ words, “Visualization refers to the entire emotional-mental process of creating a photograph, and as such, it is one of the most important concepts in photography.” I can’t agree more about its importance.
Over the course of my career as a photographer and instructor, I’ve seen the following scenario unfold countless times. Imagine a photographer at the beginning of a shoot. They place their tripod firmly in front of them, camera mounted, lens pointing straight ahead at a crudely composed scene, followed by asking me, “What settings should I use?”
