WHY INTUITION MAY BE YOUR GREATEST TOOL AS A PHOTOGRAPHER
God Rays
As photographers, we’re often taught to plan everything—scout locations, study light, anticipate conditions, and craft the perfect shot. While preparation is valuable, I’ve found that some of the most extraordinary images come when we let go of the plan and trust something deeper: intuition.
On a trip to Japan, I felt this lesson come to life. I had rented a house near a torii gate that held deep meaning for me, dedicating several days to capturing it under various light and conditions. By the time my trip was nearing its end, I felt I’d photographed everything I could. It was time to move on.
But as I loaded my car and prepared for the next destination, a quiet voice told me to go back one more time. I almost ignored it—there was nothing left to shoot, I thought. But something stronger pulled me back.
When I arrived, I saw the first signs of god rays breaking through the clouds above the gate. Over the next hour, the light shifted in extraordinary ways, each moment more breathtaking than the last. Standing there, camera in hand, I laughed aloud at the sheer magic of it all. Had I ignored that instinct, I would have missed this completely.
Moments like this remind me that intuition may be a photographer’s greatest tool. It’s not something you can plan for or predict, but it’s a skill you can nurture. Listening to intuition often means stepping away from rigid expectations and being fully present—open to the possibilities the moment is offering.
The more you trust that quiet pull, the more it rewards you. Maybe it’s revisiting a place you’ve already photographed, changing your composition on a whim, or even putting the camera down to simply observe. Intuition leads us to connect more deeply with the world around us, and in turn, with our art.
As I look back on that image of the torii gate, I see more than just light and composition. I see a moment I would have missed had I been too busy or too rigid to listen. Intuition led me there, and I’m grateful I trusted it.
For photographers, intuition is not just about finding the perfect shot—it’s about staying open to the unexpected and embracing the unknown. It’s about letting the process guide you, because sometimes, the best moments can’t be planned—they can only be felt.
