Composing a Photo

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Ready, Set, Done.”

Ten Minutes to create the perfect image ?

There’s a couple of schools of thought on that one

The first – is the instamatic brigade – the point and shooters, take the shot there and then

– no messing with messy things like composition.

Click – Flash – Bang – and the photos taken

(and if you have a Polaroid camera – the print is pretty instant too)

The second – is the purist brigade – scenes have to be poised, framed and timed

The subject matter has to be just so – and the lighting positioned just right

Colours work wonderfully when they’re perfectly staged

but perfection takes time…if you sneeze (or your subject moves)..

That’s it – the frame of film’s been exposed to light – its gone

That’s probably why I like the digital age so much

You see I grew up with film – the point and click – and the 35mm crowd

afternoons stood outside Boots waiting for the pics to be developed

and the joy (or disappointment) of seeing those results

with Digital – i’m the processor! –

made a slip ?  If i’m in the right mode – I can get that back

(so long as I press the right button)

So it might matter for a moment

Auntie Maud has the dog in her face that second

he’ll be gone in the turn of a dial..