Most of us prepare for a trip afield by making sure all our equipment is packed, plenty of film is on hand, batteries are all charged, and we have some vague idea of an intended subject(s) to photograph. We may have a general premise such as macro flowers, sunsets, birds, or scenic landscapes, but beyond that nothing really specific. I wonder why? Do we not consider ourselves artists? What self-respecting painter picks up a paintbrush without pre-visualizing in his mind exactly what he wants to create on canvas? Granted, we may not be Renaissance artists, but we can learn from them.

Enlightened 18th century painters were among the first to go beyond simply documenting on canvas what they observed. Their intent was to evoke emotion in the viewer, take them to a higher level of cognition, and deliver a lasting impression - what a lofty goal! Their success was due in part to careful planning. It was a new and innovative way of thinking. As nature photographers, we can benefit from their thought process. In fact, many of the top professional photographers today have adopted the practice of envisioning specific images in their mind long before going out and attempting to achieve them.

One could argue that the photographer lacks sufficient control over typical subjects to adequately plan any given image. Or you might think that such planning could be conceived as a "contrived" image and thus, not a true natural image. I submit, we as photographers should strive to gain a thorough understanding of our subjects that will enable us to predict certain conditions and behavior. By combining empirical knowledge with artistic talent and technical skill we can create good images that are planned and, at the same time, occur naturally in the world around us. Let us look at some examples where I have applied this technique.

Marbled Godwit with worm: A goal of mine for several years was to catch a bird pulling a worm from the sand at the exact moment when the worm is stretched and just before it is consumed. I got that opportunity last spring while shooting shorebirds in Galveston. I witnessed a Marbled Godwit feeding on worms through my binoculars from about 60 yards away. I worked my way in slowly positioning myself with the sun directly over my shoulder. Making this image was not easy. I spent well over an hour on this bird and shot 5 rolls of film just to get this image. I was shooting 8 frames per second bursts when he stabbed his beak into the sand. I never knew if he would pull out a worm or something else. It took several attempts, and I later threw a lot of slides in the round file from that encounter. The end result was very near the image I had in my mind all along. Did luck play a part? Sure it did, but so did persistence!

Eastern Meadowlark singing: Each spring large numbers of Eastern Meadowlarks nest in central Oklahoma. On territory they are prolific singers and a common site around my area, but almost always on a man-made perch such as a fence post. My preconceived goal was to photograph one in song while sitting on a natural perch. The species is very skittish so I felt my best chance would be to shoot from my vehicle (aka a very effective blind!). After locating a large pile of dead tree limbs left by utility workers in an open field near my home, I observed several Eastern Meadowlarks using it for cover after feeding in the field. My approach was to cruise in slowly and wait for the birds to pop up out of the pile. It was difficult to get a clean shot without a lot of debris between the bird and me, and usually when I did get one in the open, it was not singing. After numerous attempts for several days, I finally succeeded.

Bewick's Wren on a stick: My back yard plays host to at least one pair of Bewick's Wrens every summer. They always nest in a box I placed in an azalea bed off my back deck. They are not particularly colorful - sort of a dull, dusty brown and gray bird. I chose to add vibrant colors in the background as a way to liven up an otherwise mundane image. I placed a potted flowering trumpet vine a few feet from the nest and used the red azaleas as a backdrop. I wanted to catch the wren with food in its beak to add to the overall effect. Once I set the shot up, it was not particularly hard to achieve.

Some of us are more visual than others and see almost every image in their mind before they take them. Others rely more on instinct and a "sixth sense" when it comes to image making. The important thing to remember is to remain flexible. Even with the best planned shots the light might suddenly change, or the subject could move unexpectedly. Since I began pre-visualizing images and doing as much subject and location research as possible, my photography has improved. It can work for you too. The next time you plan a trip afield put some thought into specific images you would like to make. You just might be surprised at the results!

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Bill Horn has been a lifelong resident of Oklahoma and has 25 years of photography under his belt. The last 4 years Bill has focused his endeavors on compiling photos of "The Birds of Oklahoma". He is the Senior Staff Photographer for PhotoMigrations and Birdzilla.com. Bill's work has been featured in several local, state, and national publications, including Birder's World on-line magazine. He would like to invite you to visit his website located at Birds of Oklahoma - trust me, you will be pleasantly surprised!.