Some of it is, so help me, personal. I have a friend I've hiked and climbed with a lot. He takes a lot of photographs which are superb, and I've watched him closely. He spends quite a bit of time watching his prey before shooting it, even rocks, but that all he does differently than me.

His marmots, etc, come out amazing. One gets the feeling one actually knows the guy, and may even know his mother and father. You want to start talking with him.

Same marmot, only me. Looks like something worn around the neck of '20s flapper and been left outside ever since.

Rocks. In his rocks one can see the grain, the colors, the texture, and admire it as an inhabitant of the land long before Man.

Same rock, my picture. You want to pick it up and throw it at a dog.

Some people simply know what they are doing, and it shows. They have a way with the ol' photon which is a mystery to those of us who just don't.