I can remember falling in love with photography like it was yesterday. There was no other feeling like it. It was like another world had opened up and I discovered a whole new perspective of looking at things. It changed the way I saw everything. As a photographer, you start to see things differently the minute you pick up the camera. Once you become a photographer everything has its own take and vision, for what could be. When I was not out in the field shooting, I was studying every photography book I could find. I was immersed in this world of photography. I would study maps, books, websites, and anything else I could find to help plan my next trip. Photography had become an obsession. Each time I went out, I could see the progress. I began to really start to learn what made an image successful. The obsession grew, along with the learning. As the months passed, I spent more and more time in the field shooting as much as possible. The desire to get the perfect shot became all I could think about. As the months went by, I started becoming so focused on getting the perfect shot I forgot to have fun. I can’t tell you exactly the moment this happened, as it is something that slowly occurred. I would see a particular shot in a magazine, book, or website and I needed to get something better than that. I studied everything there was to know about photography. Trying to improve upon that perfect picture. As the months turned into years and my obsession grew I began to have less and less fun and it became too serious. I can look back now at some family trips which turned into photography trips that should have opened my eyes to how obsessed I had become.

 

On one particular trip to Hawaii with my family where we were spending the day on a gorgeous Hawaiian beach, just enjoying time together swimming and relaxing. The perfect family day. Until, right before sunset. I shifted gears and became extremely tense with capturing the sunset that was about to occur. I couldn’t miss it!! I began frantically looking for the right filters, dropping everything, and getting flustered because I could not find that perfect foreground. About that time, my wife turned to me, and asked “are we ever going to enjoy a sunset without the camera?” I look back at that moment as being a huge turning point for me. I realized, I had become too serious about getting the shot and forgetting what was most important, enjoy the moment and the people I’m with. I share this story for those just starting out in photography or find themselves in the same situation.

Images from Pinnacle Peak trail on Mount Rainier in the Pacific Northwest Of Washington State

With the realization I had lost my way, I needed to refocus and find out what it was in the beginning that attracted me to the love of photography. For many reasons I was losing the most important purpose of photography, to have fun. Today I can look back and say without a doubt some of my best work came from the times that I spent taking in the surroundings and just enjoying the moment. I realized, like a marriage everything comes with compromise. I needed to find ways to share my love for photography with other things that are just as important. I needed to focus on the experience and the enjoyment of photography. I needed to find a way to include my family in what I loved so much. I needed to take every opportunity to find ways to share my experience and include my wife. This meant sometimes I had to not bring the camera or stop shooting and sit the camera down and just take in the moment. I have to admit; I still find this challenging but I work at it every day.

 

As many photographers can relate, I had to stop worrying about conditions, timing, and other factors that are out of my control. I realized what ever happened was meant to be. All I could do was just enjoy the moment and do the best with what I was given. Not having clouds didn’t mean the day was ruined. It just meant I needed to re-analyze things and look for something else to shoot. Tunnel vision in the early stages of my photography was a problem. Everything had to be on a grand scale with great clouds, colorful sunsets, and beautiful foregrounds. I had to hit a home run every time. Every experience was based on how successful the image ended up being. Fortunately, I can look back at this now as a chance to learn from my mistakes.

 

Images from the island of Virgin Gorda and Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and the unique beach called The Baths

 

There are times I find myself in a rut when it comes to social media. The amount of incredible work that is on these platforms is overwhelming. I feel it is not good enough to have a great shot anymore. Everything has to have a rainbow, amazing clouds, and a unicorn riding across the sky. I often have to remind myself that it’s okay to have an image that I LIKE, that brings back fond memories or feelings of excitement when I look at it but not necessarily something that everybody else thinks is amazing.

 

One of the most important factors in capturing a moment is finding a story to tell about each image you have. I take time to ask myself “why am taking this picture? what is it I truly want to capture within this scene?” I believe each scene has a story and it is up to the individual photographer to define that story and convey that in their image. Part of the process, is enjoying the moment. For example, I find myself often alone at sunrise or sunset with nothing but the sounds of nature surrounding me. I try to take in all of the sounds and really take in the opportunity I have been given. I ask myself “how does this make me feel and how is this scene unique?” I then try to compose the image to tell the story of how I am feeling at that moment. It is critical to have a connection to the scene that you are photographing. It has to move you in some way or another. Thus, it might be a beautiful scene, but if you cannot find what it is that connects you to that particular moment it will be evident in the final image.

Images from Grand Park in Mount Rainier in the Pacific Northwest Of Washington State

Today, I go out into the field with a new zest and enjoyment for what I love so much. The things I remember now about each place are the experiences, the people and the memories captured. It is not dependent upon the image and its success. I continue to grow as a photographer, as I learn from my mistakes. I approach each journey, with a fresh perspective to the experience rather than the results. Below are some of the images that are from my most memorable experiences out in the field. These are examples of when I was completely just enjoying the moment.

 

 

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