The Art of Anticipation: How to See the Shot Before it Happens

Originals

Feb 11

Have you ever looked at a photo and thought, "How on earth were they in the right place at the right time?" It looks like magic. It looks like pure, unadulterated luck. But in the world of the "Monochrome Collective," we know better. Luck is just what happens when your anticipation meets the world’s timing.

Anticipation is essentially your creative "spidey sense." It’s the ability to see a shot two seconds before it actually exists. If you wait until you see the perfect moment to press the shutter, you’ve already missed it, your camera's lag and your own reaction time have turned that masterpiece into a "close but no cigar" memory.

Setting The Stage

The biggest secret to developing anticipation is to stop chasing the world and start letting the world come to you. I call this Setting the Stage. Instead of running around looking for "moments," find a piece of light or a geometric background that is already perfect. Maybe it’s a sliver of sun hitting a doorway or a set of repeating shadows on a sidewalk. That is your stage. Now, you just wait for the "actor" to walk into it.

When you do this, you aren’t reacting to the person; you’re anticipating the exact millisecond their silhouette will hit that light. You’ve already done the hard work of composing; now you’re just the guy waiting for the universe to finish the job.

The "What If?" Game

If you want to get better at seeing the future, start playing "What If?" while you’re walking around even without a camera.

What if that businessman trips on that loose brick?
What if those two birds on the wire both fly off at the same time?
What if that kid jumps over that puddle instead of walking around it?

By constantly asking these questions, you’re training your brain to recognize patterns in human behavior and physics. You’ll start to notice the "tell", the way a person shifts their weight before they start walking, or the way someone glances at their watch before they speed up.

Why It Matters in Monochrome

In black and white, anticipation is even more critical because we are dealing with the geometry of life. A person’s arm at a 45-degree angle might look okay in color, but in B&W, that angle creates a powerful leading line that can make or break the entire composition. You have to anticipate that specific "shape" of a human being before it happens.

Don't beat yourself up if you feel like you're "missing" shots. It just means you're still reacting. Next time you're out, work on developing the ability to anticipate. Find the light, pick your spot, and wait for the world to catch up to you.