01
Compose
Use shape, negative space, and depth to decide where the eye lands first.
02
Read the light
Notice direction, contrast, color temperature, and the surfaces that carry the strongest highlights.
03
Edit with restraint
Preserve believable texture and tonal relationships while making the intended subject unmistakable.
Working rule
Make the next measurement cheaper than the next argument.
Keep a minimal reproduction close to the observation. Change one variable at a time, preserve the failing path, and prefer before-and-after evidence over a broad rewrite.