One of my photographer friends Stan Kaady, commented while showing someone some photos of his on his phone that was a “U-Turn Photo.” That is where you see something, make a U-Turn, and go back to take a photo.

While stopping and doing U-Turns myself, I had never just referred to those photos as U-Turn Photos. I loved hearing the term used this way.

Stan Kaady might only refer to making a U-Turn in your car to get a photo; I often stop and go back to get a second look.

My mentor, Don Rutledge, would often look at other photographers’ contact sheets and coach these photographers. One thing he was always doing was asking why you only take one photo of something and then move on.

Don would then give a lesson on the art of seeing. He believed that our subconscious sees something that catches our attention. He believes that we should take the time to explore when this happens.

It is no different from making a U-Turn. You know something caught your eye. Now is the time to explore the scene. Sometimes, you may walk around and look for different angles or change lenses. Sometimes, you find everything almost perfect, but you must compose and wait. This is what many photographers do to help out with a photo. They are waiting for something like a person, a car, or even just an animal to come into the frame, and when they are in the right place in the composition, they click the shutter.

Some of the best photos are those U-Turn photos. You follow your gut and emotional reaction and then explore with the camera to find what turned your eyes. Sometimes, you get lucky when you do, and a eureka moment happens. But, sometimes, after exploring, it just never develops.

What is essential that Don taught me was not just to have one shot on the camera but to explore until you have exhausted the scene. How about you? Do you take U-Turn Photos?