not a science. I know all the technical junk, how shutter speed, aperture, and ISO speed relate, what exposure and white balance are, how to make backgrounds blurry, capture good colors, fast action, nighttimey stuff, and panoramic shots.

But my friend Roman showed me yesterday that none of that matters, if you don’t know how to take a good picture. All my futzing with settings and multiple shots and my pictures don’t come out half as good as the ones he takes in “auto” mode.

His advice? Pretend I can only take five pictures. That will help me develop an eye for good shots.

I had gone adventuring earlier that day, and spent too much time futzing with settings. So I missed some photos I would have liked to have gotten. Next time, instead, I will try out this advice.