Been absent a long time.  Just picked up Mandlebulber and created a few images.  

I find the process similar to photography.  When photographing:  I wander around until I see something I like, I frame it, select depth of field, make choices about lighting, etc, and take a shot.  When "mandelbulbing":  I wander around in a virtual world until I see something I like, I frame it, select depth of field, make choices about lighting, etc, and take a shot.