Planning or Reacting?

There are two ways to approach your photography. You can pick a location, scout it, and make plans to go back and photograph during the ideal conditions that you have envisioned or you can just grab your camera and go out for a walk and see what tickles your fancy. For me, while I do plan some of my shoots, I often just pick a place and go out with my camera and just react to the nature that is surrounding me. A couple reasons this woks for me is that for one the experience of being out in nature is half the enjoyment (if not more!), so I usually find myself exploring for several hours. Reason number two is my family. I can't always plan to go out and photograph somewhere (unless it's local), especially on a whim because the conditions are ideal. I am often needed at home or busy with the kids. As the kids get older I may be able to do more of the "planned" type of shooting, but for now I do really enjoy those photo walks I take, and how frequently I can do those. Do you prefer one method over the other, or maybe you do a mix of both as well?

I came across this fall tree reflection lit up by morning sun while out exploring and new I had to capture it. I had to climb up onto the roof of my car to get a good angle.