Analyse this
Don’t write off what seems like a random group: Home in on elements within the group that make a good composition.
Portrait of the blacksmith lapwing is the better photograph.
Train your eye to see the better shot
Frauke Goldmann sent in these two photographs. “My boyfriend and I toured to Moremi,” she writes. “I took these photos at one of the many potholes in the road. The muddy pool itself wasn’t very interesting, which is why I then focused on the lapwing.”
Frauke did the right thing by zooming in on one bird. Clearly, there’s something noteworthy going on at the pool – just look at the gathering of birds – but it’s the portrait of the blacksmith lapwing (above) that is the better photograph.
See the whole
When you arrive at a busy scene like this (it could also be antelope gathering at a waterhole), take a picture of the whole scene to start with. That way you’ll have a landscape shot in the bag.
Focus on action
If there is action, such as a heron catching a frog, focus on that. Zoom in if necessary and shoot with a fast shutter speed to freeze the action and make your picture.
Get arty
Often, all you see is a bunch of birds or animals standing or lying around. Dull! But a keen eye like Frauke’s will soon pick out a strong composition to make something out of nothing.
Applying the rule of thirds, Frauke created a strong composition. And the bird’s two-tone jacket stands out clearly against the uniform background. It’s a great photo Frauke can use as an e-postcard.
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