Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Maybe having a list relaxes you, frees up your mind from worry over potential misses. Whatever works is A-OK!

rydabyk Loc: Florida Panhandle

I have "areas" that I plan to visit but no "shot list" for me that would possibly result in some form of tunnel vision to ensure I got to everything I wanted plus, if I would run out of time before I got to everything on my list I may be a bit disappointed.

Fred Harwood Loc: Sheffield, Mass.

From time to time I try to find the exact spot the photographer stood to make an old photo, and recreate it.
Not a list, per se, but short list of things to reproduce.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

Sometimes clients give me shot lists, sometimes we work one up together. I always want to be open to detail shots and other creative perspectives while on location because that is the only opportunity to take advantage.

On vacation, I have a list or at least a general idea of where I want to go and shoot with the route I am planning to follow. But I am usually visiting places for the first time, so I want to capture the experience as much as the visual. So I shoot what appeals to me and work the angles for different perspectives. Again, because the opportunity won't be coming again soon. Besides, I chance upon many places that I didn't plan or know were there. Case in point, last Year in Paris, we went the wrong direction to see an exhibit and wound up finding a couple of beautiful churches in a run down area by chance. When we visited friends in the countryside, the father took us out to different villages and towns each day. We saw everyday life and churches, abbies and architecture we never knew existed. On the reverse side, I had visiting Chartres Cathedral on my list, but let the ebb and flow of other possibilities to visit take precedence on my time.

I can't imagine going to a place for the first time and having a list of shots to fulfill and be satisfied.

Bill_de Loc: US

I only had one picture ever on my "list". I passed this tree dozens and dozens of times over (IIRC) 5 or 6 years. I always knew there was a picture there but it never seemed right, until one morning ...

Nothing really special, but now I am once again a man without a list.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Good one.
It's terrible to be "listless".

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

Me thinks many are taking this shot list too literally. It is not a "I want to shoot this and this and this" but more of I want to shoot this scene type with these parameters. For example:

My old way - walk down to the shoreline see an iceberg a ways out and snap... nice iceberg but same as everyone else's.

New way - on my list is to shoot an iceberg a way out but with a few rocks in the foreground and maybe some fishing shacks on the bay that can frame the iceberg.... nice shot that is unique.

If it doesn't happen then it is OK but the creativity was pre-planned and I have a goal in the back of my mind as I travel.

When I look at others pictures of an area, a great majority do nothing for me, but occasionally a photographer has a unique aspect such as the above example that ends up making me work the scene more than just to get a snap shot. It might remind me to get down on my belly for a low angle of a rushing river to give more of a sense that I'm part of the water rather than a yup it's a river shot.

Case in point, when visiting the Smokey Mountains a vista of the smokey mountains with God rays was on my list. We were there for a week but in my travels I kept an eye out for the right conditions and ended up with this. Yes, other photographers got this shot but I am pretty sure it was just luck that put them there at that time. I prefer to put some effort into the shots I make and not rely on serendipity.

Late afternoon in the Smokey Mountains

(Download)

BebuLamar

I never make a list. I do make a mental list of things I want to photograph before the trip though.

Bill_de Loc: US

Serendipity is part of the fun for me when I'm travelling. I'll bet you would have taken the shot above, a real beauty, even if it wasn't on your list.

If I was selling my prints and new what was selling well at the time I may start out with some preconceived ideas. But I'm just in it for the fun.

And as Richard pointed out, I'm listless.

--

grandpaw

Great shot, really like the detail in the tree!

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

I prefer to look at what the view gives me. If the sun were behind the Statue of Liberty, maybe I'd shoot it, although that's close to cliché. In fact, after "recording" a scene (somewhat like a movie Establishing Shot), I try to open up and look carefully for something wonderful but not usually seen as we rush by. Having a list would be the exact opposite of that.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

I generally agree - serendipity and observation produce most of my better images.

But do you ever have a "vision" when you're looking through old images of familiar subjects? Sort of "I wonder what it would look like if I stood over there?" or "I wonder what that scene would look like from a low angle with a wide lens?" ideas? I generally make a mental note but I don't actually make a list. Perhaps, with advancing age, I should...

Andy

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

I research heavily before I go and make a list of things to be "on the lookout for." I feel that we should always "shoot the light", but I would hate to go someplace and forget about certain things that I have admired about that spot.

cmc4214 Loc: S.W. Pennsylvania

I have never made a list, but now you've got me thinking about it, though one (at least I) would have to be careful not to focus so much on the "list" that you miss out on chance opportunities

traderjohn Loc: New York City

You are right about a "shot list" mine starts and ends with McCallan 12-year-old Single Malt Scotch.