When I pause to consider all the time I've spent in the chase for good photographs, I am surprised.  It is not just time behind the camera that is all consuming, it's also the prep work.  Maps have become a close and trusty friend.  I especially like topographical maps.  It gives me  a greater understanding of the area that I'm interested in, and the direction of the light.  These days computers have made map reading a pleasure.  I can zoom in via Google Maps and take a close look around, even at street view if it's available.  Even so there is always the unknown to deal with.  The photographs that Google uses can be a few years old.  There is nothing that can replace being on site and taking a look around.

Over the years I've developed a list of local places that I'll return to over and over.  I enjoy being there and I am able to dig out new and fresh photographs.  This post is not about those places though.  A new location presents challenges.  The first one is light.  Where is the light coming from, and is there anything blocking it.  A growth of tall trees can cast shade just where I do not want it.  While thinking about light, weather is always important.  Local conditions can vary quite a bit from the general area.  Another consideration is human impact.  Even in remote places there is sometimes unfortunate evidence of people being careless.  I'm the crazy guy you might see cleaning up an area to improve my photo.  Then there is what Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld said quite accurately;  "There are the things we don't know we don't know".  This means that I'm going to spend time looking around and getting a feel for this location. 

Whenever you are on location and looking for subject matter, there are things that pop out at you.  These are the obvious shots.  I'll make photographs of these areas and keep looking.  One thing I do often is make a wide angle shot of a subject, then I'll keep narrowing my viewfinder image little by little always eliminating something and getting closer and closer.  Digital capture encourages this approach, but even in my film days I used this technique. 

One phenomenon that I can count on from time to time is when someone notices me using a professional SLR.  This not only attracts attention, it produces a conversation that I do not have time for.  I am polite by nature and respect natural curiosity, but light waits for nobody.  Most of the time I use an honest approach and just explain that I need to get my shot before the light changes.  This works most of the time.  There is always someone who is unable to understand the obvious though.  I give them my business card and ask them to call or e mail me and I'd be happy to talk photography with them.  Sometimes, (rarely) this can lead to a photo op. 

As the day winds down I pretty much know if its been productive or not.  I'm not a big fan of viewing my work on the camera LCD screen but I take a quick scan.  If I like a shot, I'll check the histogram, and make sure the exposure for the shadows and highlights are within a good range.   I never pack away my gear while I'm still on site.  To often, I'll see a photograph while on my way back to my car.  This has happened often enough that I've learned to check my settings and make sure my camera is set for a quick photo.  Once in a while  the photo I get under these conditions is the best photo of the day.   When a trip to a location produces a few Portfolio grade photographs, I've had a good day.