Staying In The Loop

“What can be done with fewer assumptions is done in vain with more,” is a paraphrase of William of Ockham's injunction not to make more assumptions than you absolutely need.

The 14th-century Franciscan friar’s admonishment to simply your thinking has a more modern counterpart. Today’s thinking requires less philosophy and Franciscan thinking to accomplish the same goal.

For photographers, the OODA Loop is essential to making good photographs.

The OODA Loop, an acronym for Observe, Orient, Decide, Act, is a strategic tool initially developed by military strategist and United States Air Force Colonel John Boyd. Although it originated in the context of military combat, the principles of the OODA Loop are highly applicable to various fields, including news photography.

Relevance of the OODA Loop to news photographers can be understood through the examination of each phase:

Observe

News photographers must constantly scan their environment to capture newsworthy events or moments. This observation isn't just about what is directly in front of them but also understanding the broader context of the event. By observing attentively, photographers can anticipate moments that might be of significant interest to their audience.

Orient

This phase involves making sense of what you see. This means understanding the significance of what is being witnessed within the context of the story. Orientation can be influenced by a photographer's previous experiences, cultural background, and the objectives of the assignment. It's about filtering the observed information to focus on what's most relevant.

Decide

Based on observations and orientation, photographers must make quick decisions about what to make a photo of, the composition, and when to take the shot. Decision-making has to be swift and accurate to ensure that critical moments are not missed. Decision-making is crucial because it determines the narrative of the photographs.

Act

Finally, the photographer makes the photograph. However, action within the OODA Loop is not the end. Each action leads back to further observation, reorienting based on the outcomes of the previous photos, deciding on the next steps, and then acting again. This cycle allows photographers to adapt to changing situations.

The importance of the OODA Loop for photographers lies in its emphasis on agility, situational awareness, and adaptability.

By cycling through the OODA phases, photographers can better make photographs that are not only timely and relevant but also tell a compelling story. By applying the OODA Loop, photographers can improve their responses to unpredictable events, enhance their decision-making under pressure, and ultimately produce work that stands out for its impact.

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