You Are On Location

            There are very few rules, but shooting when the sun is at its highest is usually a bad idea. Around the middle of the day it can be directly overhead, which results in unpleasant shadows, especially with people. Up to three hours after sunrise and three hours before sunset will yield better pictures. The light then is coming from a lower angle, so planning is necessary to make sure you are in the right spot to get the best results for what you have in mind.

            One good way to research what can be photographed at virtually any destination, is to first head for a souvenir shop and look at the postcards on sale there. Try and work out the time of day when the ones you like were taken; a church might look at its best in the morning with a lot of architectural detail visible, but in late afternoon it could be just an outline silhouette.

            A large parade is another good example where planning is essential. Knowing where to stand can make a huge difference between saleable and unsaleable shots. If you cannot visit the location prior to the event, study a good map, and with the compass direction you should be able to work out where the sun will be so you can plan where to stand. In a city, a crossroads corner position gives several angles, and also provides a guaranteed gap in the buildings to let the sun hit the subjects. The basic "get the sun over your shoulder" rule should be followed in this kind of a situation.

Places

            With views and landscapes, try and frame a foreground object to give the picture greater depth, which will "lead" the eye into the image. A tree, archway, signpost, or a road going into the distance, are easy-to-find examples. If there is time, you should shoot a variety of photos of your places and subjects, from different angles and distances, which will provide your photobuyer with the means to put together a story. Detail close-ups, for instance, can sometimes sum up an entire situation in a highly creative and conceptual way. With this in mind, an important part of my standard kit is a 55mm Macro lens, and it always gets used on all my trips.