The 'Best' Question...

What's the best lens...  How best to light a subject...  What camera bag is best (ugh, try to answer that one)..

How many times have you asked, or been asked a similar question?

Twice in the past five days I have been asked something like "I am going to be doing a shoot of [insert subject/place].  What is the best way to approach it?"

What dawned on me is that one of the reasons I am so deeply in love with this crazy craft is that there is no one perfectly right answer... there are umpteen perfectly right answers and like many art forms there is plenty of room for interpretation!  Put ten practitioners in one room, ask them the a question similar to one of the above, and you'll likely get more workable answers than you could handle.  And all will have a high level of viability.

It's from a potpourri of ideas like this, that new, creative techniques evolve, budding photographers can draw from to help grow an inventory of proficiencies and experienced photographers add additional arrows to their already full quiver.

From time to time you might encounter some folks whose massive egos lead them to think their way is the only way. But that's another topic.  More often than not, I find our community is graced with individual's who want to help and believe in giving more than they receive..

Next time you see this kind of question, take the time to share your thoughts and experience.  And open up to idea that there is always something to be learned.