Photographers often talk about learning to see: interpreting a scene, noticing details, studying how the light falls. And rightly so. Photography begins with attention. If we merely look, we’re simply recording what’s there, not responding to it.

But seeing is only the first step. Understanding what we see — why a scene draws us in, why a photograph works or doesn’t — takes time. It doesn’t always happen in the moment, and it rarely reveals itself on the first attempt.

Seeing is Not Understanding

Seeing is immediate. We notice how light falls on the subject, accentuating shape and texture. The moment feels promising. This kind of attention is essential, but it's also incomplete.

Understanding comes later. It's the process of recognising why something mattered, what drew us in, and whether the photograph actually expresses what we felt in the moment.

Often, the first photograph we take of a subject is exploratory rather than definitive. We're responding instinctively, testing possibilities, and discovering its true character. In this case, the photograph isn't the result of understanding, but part of the process of arriving at it, like an artist's sketch.

And as we begin to understand a subject, it begins to reveal its story.

From Understanding to Story

Understanding a subject opens the door to its story. And in photography, it’s the story that creates connection, not just the subject itself.

"What use is having a great depth of field, if there is not an adequate depth of feeling?"

— W. Eugene Smith

Narrative is how a scene speaks to us emotionally. It is often impossible to put into words. Fortunately, as photographers, we don't have to.

In landscape photography, a story rarely reveals itself all at once. It emerges slowly, through observation, reflection, and repeated encounters. If the story isn't obvious, it's because we haven't looked hard enough or for long enough.

If the subject is the what, then story is the why. The why is what gives a moment its significance, and that's what we are trying to capture!

Review and Return

Understanding and story rarely arrive in a single moment. They grow over time through reflection and review. Looking back through our photographs teaches us what we noticed, what we missed, and what truly mattered in the moment.

Returning to a subject allows understanding to deepen. Each encounter adds a layer of insight, refining your attention and shaping the way you respond.

Photography is not a race. There are no prizes for capturing the “perfect” shot on the first attempt. Often, the images that resonate most are those earned through patience and persistence.

Photography begins with seeing, but it doesn’t end there. True understanding grows through reflection, revisiting, and the willingness to pay attention over time.

The story within a scene often reveals itself slowly. By observing carefully, interpreting what you notice, and returning to subjects with curiosity, we begin to capture photographs that carry meaning, not just description.

Learning to see is not a race. There are no prizes for arriving first. The images that resonate most are the ones earned through patience, engagement, and repeated attention.

When we slow down, notice deeply, and return with intention, we discover not just the scene before us, but its story, its significance, and the feeling it holds. Moments worth capturing, and moments worth remembering.