Unlike any other format, view cameras require well studied compositions prior to releasing the shutter. The slow nature of the camera design and reversed image on the ground glass forces you to pay attention to each and every line, shape, and element inside the frame. You'll find yourself discovering details  never noticed before with your 35mm or digital SLR. For the first time, you will feel like an artist rather than another individual with an expensive modern SLR. Although confusing at first, mainly due to the bulk of the camera and reversed image on the screen, view cameras are actually easy to use . Using a view camera also forces you to concentrate on the composition thus improving your technique as a photographer.

Before setting up your equipment, take a look at the image you are about to take. The world around you is chaotic. It is your job to create some order out of so many objects competing in the scene. Visualize the world the way you want to see rather than the one everyone else sees. 35mm or digital users can pick up their cameras and fire away, finding out later that they only produced just another shot that is as mediocre as the ones they took only a day before. You with your view camera on the other hand, with careful composition will record images that can proudly be hung on the walls of galleries.

A pair of normal and wide angle lenses will be enough for majority of your shots. You'll quickly learn to compose any shots with just two lenses. The best and cheapest accessory you can and should buy, is a 4x5 cut-out black presentation mat to use as a framing guide. By holding the frame 6 inches from your eye, you'll see approximately the area of a 150mm lens. At 31/2 inches you have the view of a 90mm lens. You can immediately pick the right lens for the composition. Forget about zooming or investing in more lenses and start being a photographer rather than a shopper.

 After setting up your camera, you'll notice the image appears upside down, and reversed on the screen. See the example below.



This is actually a good thing. You are forced to train your eyes for detail and better composition. You'll notice light, form, and shapes more carefully. Your eyes begin to scan the 4x5 area. As you change depth-of-field and play with controls, you begin to notice a more relaxed and pleasing composition. Every line, or shape in the scene forces you to see the whole area continuously. The image looks unfamiliar. In the example above, you see four areas that requires special attention. The hills, ocean, the sun, and the sky. The grids on the focusing screen is a valuable aid for this composition. The scene is divided into several areas and each line or shape is given its own space. It is not so important whether or not you recognize a familiar sunset by the beach. What is important is your eyes constantly trying to align each line into proper place. This is called composition or, true photography. Once you get used to seeing an image through a view camera, you'll never go back to your old way of taking pictures. You'll appreciate each and every image you take, because they are all unique works of art. 

Recommended Reading

View Camera Technique, Seventh Edition (Hardcover)