What is your favourite creative tool for in camera compositions

For some subjects studying a weather forecast is the start
 
For other shots forgetting the tripod is the start point.
 
All of the above or none of them, depending on the subject.
Aperture and shutter speed are dependant on what the subject is and how I want it to appear. ISO is determined by the film type used and/or the amount of light available.
Camera viewpoint is determined again by what the subject is, how I want to portray it as well as what vantage points are available.

Choice of lens is usually pre-determined - although I have a few lenses, I usually only carry one body and one lens out with me as it forces a mental discipline to the way I preview a scene.
If it's a shoot where I know in advance what the subject is, lenses will be chosen accordingly.

But the question itself is too broad in scope - you may as well ask "when you prepare a meal, what ingredients do you use?" - what type of meal? Main meal, multi-course or snack, cooked, cold, salad, sandwich, meat-based, vegetarian, Italian, Indian, Greek, traditional English, etc?
 
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