Proactive and Pessimistic
The Challenge
In the midst of the workweek, it can be difficult to find time for photography. No matter how much I love taking the time, there are always 1000 other things demanding my time each week. Because of this reality, I have been challenging myself to go back to taking my camera along to work with me. For the longest time, I kept a camera with me wherever I went, but at some point this intentionality faded.
The problem with not having the camera on hand is just how easy it becomes to see a stunning sunset or a beautiful fog layer sitting over a lake and just write off stopping simply because you don't have your camera. At most you snap a quick shot out the window on your phone and move on with your busy schedule.
But when the camera is there, well... I guess it couldn't hurt to find somewhere to stop and frame up a nice composition!
I don't know why their is such a distinctly different mindset between these two scenarios for me. Shooting with a cellphone just feels supremely disconnected from the actual art of photography. Thus why I have begun grabbing my small camera sling bag each day, including last Friday.
Equipped but Doubtful
I still don't really know why I grabbed it... I knew that I would be working late and couldn't leave until right around sunset. Yet still I grabbed the camera bag along with the rest of my stuff that morning.
As work was winding down, I noticed that the sun was getting low and the sky was lighting up with golden hues. Sadly I still had to pack my stuff and walk 7 minutes to my car before I could even be on the road, so I just wrote the day off as another glorious missed sunset.
Safe to say pessimism comes a little too easily and a little too frequently for me.
When I finally started driving, the sky was a beautiful display of light and colors which did not seem to be fading. I headed towards home wishing I was sitting at one of the local parks just enjoying the evening's natural light show and taking photos. As I came around a curve on a winding road, I caught sight of the clouds painted in vibrant colors. There was a bridge up ahead directly in line with the sunset painted clouds, and it would be a strong candidate for a pleasant composition.
Embracing Unexpected Opportunity
I quickly pulled onto the grass alongside the road, yanked the camera bag out of the back seat, and dove out of the car. I only had a few minutes to capture this beautiful moment. First I tried to find a framing a little ways away from the bridge, but the road was simply too busy to capture a centered shot from the middle of it showing the bridge with the sunset painted clouds centered overhead. I tried for a composition from the safety of the shoulder and loved the colors I captured... Yet still something was missing.
Short on time, I moved to the beginning of the bridge's walking path, and immediately it provided the necessary foreground interest that was missing before. I took a couple different shots from this spot, and within a couple minutes of me reaching the bridge, the light began to fade. The closest clouds slowly lost their golden glow, and the horizon began to dim more.
Now I could go home with no regrets.
I'm sure every photographer has a lengthy list of moments that they regret not being able to capture in a photograph. This would not be one of those for me... But now the optimism and hope were running strong.
Maybe that last light will hold on a little longer.
Just One More Shot
There was a park nearby with a large lake that I often think would make a lovely sunset photo. The trees and buildings on the far side would make perfect silhouettes with the sunset above them. It couldn't hurt to drive there really quick and test the shot.
With just moments to spare, I made it to the park and captured a few images. I could not have been more pleased with the lighting and the results I ended up with.
Gratefully Prepared
As I finished my drive home, I was struck with an immense sense of joy. Despite all the reasons that made it seem pointless to bring my camera along that morning, I had grabbed it anyways. I was so thankful that I could finish out the workweek with such a beautiful sunset and a few precious moments both enjoying nature and enjoying the photography that I love so much.
