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It’s a fair statement that we photographers take more bad photos than good ones. Over time, our keeper rate will improve as we practice our craft and grow our photographic eye. But … a keeper rate over 50%? That’s crazy talk … I’d be happy with 5%.

So what can we do with all those “bad” shots? Learn from them. Put yourself in the role of the casual observer, disconnected from the photographer that captured the image. As you review the photo, pay attention to where your eye wanders, how the subjects of the photo interplay, and what story the photo tells you (or doesn’t tell you!).

Then tap into your photographer skills and think about what different decisions you might make with the camera if capturing that scene or subject again. How could you tell that story more strongly? Let’s talk about this in today’s podcast.

I posted a full review of the updated ThinkTank Rotation Backpack. This is my go-to field bag and the front half of my ground-free kit. I’ve got a full write-up and video detailing the features of this backpack and why it’s a critical part of my creative and nimble field workflow.