TeamSeptember 7, 2023; Hayward, California, USA; Women’s Soccer: Cal State East Bay Pioneers vs Biola Eagles; Team (Photo credit: Kelley L Cox/KLC fotos)
Every time I'm making images, I'm constantly thinking, "Can I make this image better?"

When you see a photographer's image or set of images, you don't necessarily have insight on what they were thinking to make the image. You (hopefully) just think "nice photo", but you don't know the other photos that could have been.

For example, the other day at Cal State East Bay Women's Soccer, I was photographing the introductions from across the field (not a photo I delivered, just to give you an idea of where I was positioned) Women’s Soccer: Cal State East Bay Pioneers vs Biola EaglesSeptember 7, 2023; Hayward, California, USA; Women’s Soccer: Cal State East Bay Pioneers vs Biola Eagles; (Photo credit: Kelley L Cox/KLC fotos)
Once it was time for the national anthem, I moved downfield so I could have a slight angle on them and not just be photographing the side of them as they faced the flag on the south end of the field. My first frame I thought the bright white signboards splitting where the player was kneeling was visually distracting.

Women’s Soccer: Cal State East Bay Pioneers vs Biola EaglesSeptember 7, 2023; Hayward, California, USA; Women’s Soccer: Cal State East Bay Pioneers vs Biola Eagles; (Photo credit: Kelley L Cox/KLC fotos)
 

So I moved a little further down the field.

Women’s Soccer: Cal State East Bay Pioneers vs Biola EaglesSeptember 7, 2023; Hayward, California, USA; Women’s Soccer: Cal State East Bay Pioneers vs Biola Eagles; (Photo credit: Kelley L Cox/KLC fotos)

Then I noticed the foliage in the golden hour light. And thought, I'll move further down so it's all just foliage behind them. I liked this frame best.
    TeamSeptember 7, 2023; Hayward, California, USA; Women’s Soccer: Cal State East Bay Pioneers vs Biola Eagles; Team (Photo credit: Kelley L Cox/KLC fotos)

Once you start thinking this way, you can try to have that mindset one step sooner. Instead of taking a picture and adjusting, you read the scene and position yourself appropriately. This is especially great for sports where you don't get a chance to make adjustments on the same picture, but rather hope you've put yourself in a good position so that when the play comes through, your lighting, background and settings are already dialed and waiting.

Check It

Sometimes you aren't able to be on the field, walking around, changing positions. If you are stuck in a designated position, consider moving up at down for different angles.

What About You?

Are you intentional about where you position yourself? Do you take a frame and adjust or try to just nail-it on your first frame?

A Challenge

Go out and photograph the same thing from different angles. Not just left, right, but up, down, telephoto, wide, and be thoughtful about the pros and cons of your various angles (ex: clean background, but bad lighting)