Developing a photographic eye is one of the coolest aspects of photography. Yet it is strange because while we can be standing side by side with someone what they see is different from what we see.

To illustrate, often on my drives home I will be entranced by how the light is falling on the road or through the clouds and trees. I can see it as a photograph, I can see it even as a painting, and I want nothing more than capture what I see.

But I know what I see is not what everyone else sees. For example lets look at a series of shots I took at the beginning of October 2022.

This image was taken on a country interstate on my way back to Southern OH from a quick trip North. This is the natural shot with no editing to be had and it is beautiful. It still has vibrant colors, good lines, and yet I see it going just a step further.

Here is what I saw while I was driving the same scene. Now I couldn’t achieve it without a little editing because well signs are there for a reason and I definitely can not control traffic. But the clean road, the lines, the deeper and darker tones was exactly what I was hoping for.

Is either image wrong? No.

They just have different views. Most people would be thrilled to make the first image, and most photographers would be thrilled to make the second image. What is great is that both were seeing the world and wanting to capture it, celebrate it. No two people see the same way and it is really awesome to see how different people take photographs.