Charles Haacker wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2018 5:25 pm[...] BUT... after the fact the analysis can even mathematically lay out chapter-and-verse why a particular composition stands out.![]()
I agree. As you say, in the moment there is little time to think. It's all instinctual. While I can agree with his statement that he didn't know what he had, I'm sure he knew he had something. if anything a picture that would have been, "good enough for government work," as they say. I can only imagine his surprise as to how lucky his composition was and then later elated over the notoriety the image received. That part is never up to the photographer though.