Driving to Loveland this past weekend I saw a potential image of a horse standing along a fence, back-lit with the morning sunrise. However, I was on my way to meet my sister so I did not take the time and stop. A photo opportunity missed?
As I drove on I wondered how many photo opportunities I’ve had presented to me and missed because I did not take the time. It asks the question, “Why do I not take the time?” A few reasons are sloth, apathy, indolence but primarily due to the importance I place on the plans I’ve made. Any of these reasons may cause the gift of an image to be missed. This has me thinking I need to stop and take the time whenever an opportunity for an image appears.
10 Comments
Cedric Canard
Well Monte, you can think of it as a missed opportunity but you’ll never know what else you would have missed had you taken the time to stop and capture that so-called opportunity. A better photo op, a chance encounter with an old friend, an unfortunate encounter with a drunk driver. We have no way of knowing what we give up (or avoid) every time we make a choice.
Rather than beat yourself up, think of it differently. If you got to see this beautiful scene with the horse, then what exactly did you miss? A digital image? Some zeroes and ones? Probably won’t be the last one you miss. But hey, you got to see a scene no one else ever will, that’s pretty cool right there.
This is just an idea but maybe life doesn’t gift us photo opportunities, it does however, give us moments of beauty and joy. I’d say those moments are worth following up with a moment of gratefulness. It beats spending a moment in self-denigration don’t you think? 😉
Monte Stevens
And, well said, Cedric. I am in agreement with you as we never know. I’m aware I have at times “beat myself up” because I didn’t stop when I could easily. And, there have been those times I stopped and did not come up with an image but did experience the moment. Each moment is a lesson in knowing my intuition at a deeper level.
I am also filled with gratitude of all the scenes life has given me and I have them imprinted in my memory. I will suggest those images are far superior to any digital image I may have on my computer.
Earl
I couldn’t say it any better then Cedric did…so I won’t try. What he said! 🙂
Monte Stevens
So, we all agree! Cedric said it well. 🙂
Tom Dills
I also agree with Cedric’s comments, but would add one word to say that life doesn’t “only” gift us photo opportunities. Life is full of lots of opportunities, but as photographers we have a somewhat unique sense for those scenes that might make for a special photo and it is a two-edged sword. There are numerous ways to expand on the idea of differing choices, both photographic and non-photographic – lost opportunities, etc., but we make the best decision we can with the information we have at the time, based on the mood or motivation or other factors that may be involved. And whatever the influence that makes us stop or not stop, it has to be considered in context with everything else. Ironically, many of the times that I do stop or turn around to photograph a scene, I end up seeing some fatal flaw that would ruin the photo but that I hadn’t seen during the initial pass! Of course there are lots of stories of the old barn that we pass by every day but never stop, then suddenly one day it is gone. One of the valuable life lessons that photography has taught me is that we can’t be everywhere or shoot every beautiful scene. Regardless of the scene before us, someplace else is going to have another better or at least equal scene. So ultimately, I share the sentiment that we shouldn’t beat ourselves up over those decisions, and know that they certainly aren’t out of sloth or laziness. Many of us just aren’t meant to be “drive-by” photographers, and if we prefer to see our opportunities from a park bench or seat in a coffee shop instead of a moving car, that’s perfectly OK. Cheer up there, friend, and have another latte! 😉
Monte Stevens
I am enjoying all the comments and ideas you guys are throwing out here. I also agree with your input, more for me to take in and digest. It’s these interactions that can help us all to see and accept the photo opportunities given to us. I relate to the old man story as every once in a while I would drive out east to photograph a barn with the mountains behind it. It’s no longer there but replaced by a housing development. Those opportunities are no longer there but others do appear 🙁
Over the past 10 years or so most of my photo opportunities have been during my walking the streets of the Fort Collins or walking along a trail in a nature area of Fort Collins.
Your comment of the “drive-by” photographer reminds of the times my children would make comments of my driving as my eyes roamed all over the place in search of photo opportunities rather than keeping the car on the road. It really wasn’t that bad, was it? Thanks for the comments. These are what I need to have.
Mark
Similar to what Cedric crafted, I would say it’s more important if stopping would give you that moment of joy, and if you have a photograph to remember it by, then all the better.
Monte Stevens
Now that I’m moving up in years, maturing and getting handsomer, I have more time to stop, and I do. And, yes there are those moments where I find joy.
Paul
As long as you have the ability to wake up, see those opportunities and be grateful for them, whether or not you take photograph them or not, like Cedric said, you got to see it. To me, that’s very special. Sure, I feel that I’ve missed something if I couldn’t capture it and share it, but, then again, that gratitude for having seen it makes it all better. I’m constantly grateful that I even notice such things when many people have no idea because they are focused on their phones, the radio, the news, or many other distractions.
Monte Stevens
The gift is seeing them and not needing to frame it on a wall. And, that word grateful needs to be more of our lives.