Table for Two, please

I love photography; all of it—digital or film—indoors or outdoors—people or places.    There’s something about hearing the click of the shutter of my Canon D20 that makes me happy.   For years, I have taken photography classes, subscribed to nature photography magazines, joined local photography clubs…you name it, I’ve done it.     I can succinctly state in one sentence what I learned in all that time:   it’s all about the light.      You can follow the light, wait for the light or try to generate the light in Photoshop after the fact.     But if the light is not there, it’s every difficult to get a great photo, right?    It depends.

My friend Jan and I were on our annual photography pilgrimage from Greensboro, NC to the mountains of western North Carolina to find good light and waterfalls.     We had done enough research to know that there were waterfalls in western North Carolina but had no clue which direction they faced or whether they received morning or evening sun.      OK, so maybe we hadn’t done enough research.     Anyway, after a day of hiking and taking waterfall pictures, we thought we’d progress to sunset pictures.     We drove to the top of the mountain along the Blue Ridge Parkway to wait for the sunset—and good light.    We were prepared.    Photo equipment?   Check.     Snacks?   Check.    Wine?   Check.      However, it never occurred to us that when it’s 90 degrees at the bottom of the mountain during the day, it can get darn cold on top of the mountain at sunset.     I have my camera set toward the horizon awaiting my award winning sunset photo, when I look over and see my resourceful friend in her hiking boots and a tablecloth shooting away at the sunset; warm and happy.

Was the light perfect?    Absolutely not.  But to me the photo is.      I would have given up the best sunset ever to get this picture of my friend doing what she does best:   taking great pictures and making me laugh.

While you’re waiting for good light, don’t forget to look around.    You may find your favorite picture has nothing to do with the light.

R Clark