Considering that photography is such a “mechanical” operation, it is amazing that the process of producing "good" photographs is so difficult. It seems that for every good photograph I have taken, the following factors have been involved on one level or another (and not necessarily in any particular order). #1, Luck #2, Being in the right place at the right time (another version of luck) #3, The camera being “present” when I am lucky and in the right place at the right time (this element includes having fully charged batteries, camera settings correct (although sometimes having the settings messed up results in #1), lipstick and jelly off the lens, lens cap off etc). #4, Patience #5, Cropping #6, Paying attention #7, Placing oneself in a position to get a different “view” (this is important in life as well) #8, Lastly, and arguably the most important-----pushing the button down-----NOTHING comes of not doing that part. This last component translates to: “willingness.” Charles Buell
I do not consider myself to be a real photographer like Debi Boucher, however I do on occasion come up with an “interesting” photograph, and I frequently get lots of comments on my Wordless Wednesday posts----and, like Debi's friends, I have been known to make a funny face or two. 
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My WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures and some selected POEMS & STORIES.
Charles, you present a great and direct perspective on a function we Realtors need to master. Thanks for your list.
Charles, just keep pushing that button down. Love your perspective!
Great list, very well done...thanks for sharing
Pat, I have seen a few "strange" listing photos :)
Geri----will do----and thanks
Mary Lou, you are welcome
Charles, who would have thought a big sewer pipe could make such a great photo opp?
#8- relates a lot to life... We all need to just push that button, dont we?
I couldn't agree more but I'd add one more thing (perhaps an offshoot of cropping and also perhaps a little bit of a cheat): good photo editing software/website. I often take some very ho-hum photos but turning up the saturation and other simple fixes can make a photo sing more than a thousand words.
Robert, no one is going to do it for us that is for sure
Julia, there will always be the "purists" out there but I agree----would love to hear some of the "why not" reasons from "the other side" :)
I remember when a culvert like that replaced a wooden bridge where a country lane near where I cabined for a few years crossed a similar stream. I was pretty disappointed on loosing that wooded rail to sit on by the stream on moonlit (or not) nights. I guess I should have taken another view of it. It looks pretty nice.
Don't forget the willingness to slow down so that you can actually see something worth photographing!
Glenn, I would likely grieve the loss of the bridge----and then climb inside the culvert :)
Jenna, yup---gotta slow down too.
Charles ~ You seem to have found life's meaning with that picture :)
You just never know, sometimes hours later, how that one picture made your day...
From your friend in Washington State Charles,
Paul
I wonder how many people passed by this setting without even giving it a second thought. One of the great things about having a passion for photography is that it helps us really look at things, to see them in a different way. Nice shot, Charles ... and I'm curious what the duck would say about this.
Melinda---always looking for the light at the end of the tunnel here
Paul, ain't that the truth
John, 99.9%
Great photo Charles. If you took that one here you would have some different items in the shot. A washer with a bad motor, an old tire and very possibly a few black plastic trash bags.
You realize you got an insider glimpse of the human brain, right?
Jack, some of them might look like that around here too :)
Kate, just Nutsy's and Steve's
Not being a farmer, it is hard for me to pay attention to my cropping.
Jay, Your brain needs cropping today.
Mr Charles,
It is so good to see you do a post that is in your area of expertise. I would say that I agree that you are an excerpt at taking crappy photos. If anyone knows more about that than you, then I am unaware of that person.
Nutsy S. Wallenda
It's so easy to take crappy pictures! And so difficult to take great ones. Debi is an artist who has the eye for it. But your pictures, Charles, are pretty darned good too. You're an artist too. Of course art is all subjective and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Jay, to crop or not to crop......
Kate, don't compliment Jay like that :)
Nutsy you have the "unaware" part down pat
Craig thanks
Kate and Charlie - your comments taken together made me laugh out loud!
Jay, glad to oblige. (as Grandpa Henry used to say) Kate
Charles, great tutorial! Thanks!
Chuck - You are so right about all the components necessary to take "good" photos! I subscribe mainly to the "Luck" and "Safety in Numbers" theory. I take a lot of pictures, keeping my fingers crossed that at least one of 'em will be good enough to post:-)
Jay, mission accomplished :)
Kate, thanks for helping out
Tony and Darcy, you are welcome
Myrl----ahhhhh yes----should have thought of "safety in numbers"----definitely should be added to the list :)
Charles, You are so right about the fine art of picture taking sometimes coming down to luck, patience and having the camera ready. I've missed many a photo because I was just trying to get the darn thing to turn on. LOL.
Hi Charles, I was out taking photos over the weekend and one more thing to add to the list is the pain endurance. My neck and upper back were stinging from carring my camera around my neck all day. The pain though is worth the results. I took over 450 photos of various events and new found treasures in San Diego.
Susan, been there myself----missed a live rat in a crawl space the other day because of that----dang shame to miss good blog fodder like that:)
William---must be that 100000000 millimeter lens you lug around :)
Hi Charles...You certainly have a way with words and with your camera. Really like this photo.
Kate
Charlie - Thanks for the heads up! I missed this post - as I likely missed many while I waited out the AR PE disease... This is really a terrific, and creative shot - the coup de grace is the awesome reflection that draws the eye. Everything you listed above is imperative - especially being sure you get your lipstick off the lens! (Is that an issue you have often? just askin'....) LOL
PS too bad about the rat....
Debi
Thanks Kate, you must have snuck in here during the AR breakdown :)
Debi, I was thinking you maybe missed it----thanks for commenting. Have been pretty good about the lipstick business lately :)
I'm glad to hear it, Charlie! LOL