Ansel Adams was a great advocate for, and master of the technique of pre-visualisation. This allowed him to “see” the final negative and printed image in his mind and the various steps he would need to go through to get there.
This was a powerful tool for he and others of his generation(s), because shooting mono in a colour world, required the ability to visualise the processes required , rather than responding only to what was on the ground glass in front of them.
As I understand it, Adams could see all of the processes used in making a print in his minds eye, applying them “virtually” to the scene and predict the end print. I am sure this had a failure rate and he admitted himself that mistakes were regularly made, but overall, he was a pre-computer, computer for the photographic process.
I can make no such claim.
Sometimes the subject and light are known elements, but often you have to shoot and take what was in your minds eye on faith. Mirrorless cameras suit me fine and I would only go back if forced.
I and I assume most of us, shoot on faith. Not faith that everything I do will work how I want, just faith that by composing, applying decent technique and believing that my gear will allow a reasonable amount of processing flexibility.
This does have a hidden benefit.
I am not immune to the excitement of re-discovery and the dual benefit of shooting quickly and without too much thought to technical issues. The freedom to just get the job done, with some applied technique is the core of good photography and the longer you do it, the better you get at doing just that.
How about you? Do you shoot within a control envelope that guarantees results, or do you go more freeform and take what you get?