What's the word?

I posted a shot on my Flickr account regarding how certain events can lead you down a path to an unexpected end.

Luck is not the best word. This image was not made by luck. I had to possess a certain level of skill to pull this off. My experience over the last few months shooting seascapes and long exposures had better prepared me for this day. I also have been shooting consistently several days a week, honing my skills. Time invested is key to personal growth. I always wanted to learn to play guitar, bass, mandolin, clarinet, but I just don't have the drive to dedicate the time. Instead, I have a collection of instruments gathering dust. Photography is my thing. I enjoy putting hours of time into it, everyday if possible. Likewise my growing abilities in the digital darkroom have further refined my ability to produce a final image for presentation.

I also needed the drive, that inner push, to capture images that I hope are relevant in one form of another. Whether it be the beauty and raw power of nature, or simply something pretty to look at, there has to be a reason for me to get up early in the morning to go photograph.

So it isn't luck.

Fate doesn't sound right either. I don't think some predetermined force lead me to this image. Certain things had to happen that easily could not have happened. More random chance than anything. I guess that depends on your beliefs, so if you want to call it fate, go right ahead.

But I don't think it's fate.

I'll summarize what happened. You see, my girlfriend unexpectedly had to leave town, and she usually lets the cats out early in the morning, something I tend to sleep through. And the first two days she was gone, I had gotten up earlier than the cats to shoot sunrises, and I am NOT a morning person. So day #3 rolls around, and the incoming rain was one day closer, so I planned on sleeping in on my day off. But no, the cats want out, and my girlfriend isn't there to bail me out. I finally cave, roll out of bed, and realize that the rains had stopped, but more were on their way. Then the inner drive kicks in to get out and photograph. "Better do it now..." I thought to myself "...before the rains come". And they did come just about an hour after getting this shot.

I headed to a spot I knew might offer a glimpse of any sunrise warmth in the sky, but instead was rewarded with high contrast, moving skies...perfect for a long exposure. My first choice for accessing the Capitola Pier was thwarted by the storm waves and high tide. This led me to another access point, one which dropped me right into this composition. It was all laid out in front of me, and set-up was a breeze. Perfect when you're working on little sleep and no coffee.

So, if my girlfriend had been home, I would have slept right through this shot. If the cats had decided to sleep in, same thing. If the rain were falling, no go. If the tide had been lower, I might have shot from a different vantage point. Who knows what would have happened.


So, what's the word? I think I'll call it serendipity.

The Photography Experience, for today

Photography is a very rewarding process for me. It is an activity that puts me out in the elements, enjoying nature and wildlife, and I have the opportunity to come home with photographic images to remember these special times. There also is an element of personal growth from the constant learning of photography skills, both out in the field and at home in the digital darkroom.

My outings today really drove home how both of aspects of this learning experience have helped me to get to this point, and will hopefully make me a better photographer in the future.

First, don't be afraid of foul weather. Often times cloudy skies can be a blessing in disguise. Long exposures can smooth out the clouds for a dramatic effect as in this image at sunrise.

But one cannot go out unprepared. I recently picked up a rain fly for my camera. It cinches around the lens, covers the camera, has an opening for my tripod, and allows access to the back of the camera for viewing images and controls. As the sprinkles came down at sunset, my small investment was paying off.

Back home, I have been learning some basic "ins and outs" of layer masks in Photoshop. These allow me to blend parts of images or adjustments to the image in very controlled amounts for a true creative effect. Some of my recent images are using this technique for a final product that is more a visual composite of the scene as I saw it. I have no problem with this approach as it can deliver an image as I saw it, blending exposures to get an evenly lit scene. It also unleashes my artistic side. I used to use charcoal and sketch for hours back when I was in college. I've dropped the pencil, but picked up a brush in the form of these layer masks. I can brush parts of a black and white image for a scene that is more my imagination than reality like this shot as sunset.

The two images in this entry are such creations. I hope you enjoy them. I enjoyed making them, both in the field and at home.

Welcome to my Blog!

Welcome everyone to my first ever blog entry. I really don't know what to say other than I feel like I've done this before, only I haven't. Blogging is just a term, but I have been chatting it up about my photography and travels on my website as well as my Flickr site.

This is just an extension of both of these endeavors. I don't have any solid plans for this site other than to have fun with it, maybe add some items not found on the above mentioned sites, but mostly share my photos with some of you who haven't seen them yet.

As I figure out all the "ins" and "outs" of this blog, I promise it will get better. I'll leave with a recent photo from "Hole In The Wall" Beach near Davenport taken just a few days ago.

That's all for now. Have a great weekend everyone!