Scan the edges before taking the shot.
Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 10:03PM 
When looking through the viewfinder I have the tendency to focus solely on the subject. I focus on the subject, position it in the frame, and then take the photo. This is a good start but something is missing. The subject is not the only part of the shot. The area around the subject, up to the edges of the frame can make up a large portion of the photo. Unless you maintain a vigilante watch of these areas, the intruders will creep in.
I have been trying to create a habit of pausing for a moment before pressing the shutter button. In this moment I scan the edges of the viewfinder, looking for obstructions and other intruders. If necessary I can remove any intruders or adjust the composition.
Hopefully as this becomes more of a habit, I will end up with less photos like this one. Had I taken the time I could have removed the glass and taken a much better portrait.
Photography 
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Reader Comments (1)
I am not a photographer so I am just looking through laymen's eyes but I kind of liked the glass in the photo. It was her 80th birthday and I thought it kind of made a statement of special occasion. If it was a studio portrait it would be different. I thought all the photos you took came out well. I already have some in frames.