The View From All Angles
August 15, 2012 * * * * * Posted by: Maery 
I drive past a railroad yard Monday through Friday on my way to and from work. As I pass by in the morning, the bright, greens and reds of the shipping containers stacked in the train yard catch my eye. So pretty.
On the other side of the road are the Malt-One Grain Elevators, towers of concrete, flagged by a shiny, corrugated-steel grain bin. One morning, the sun was rising behind the elevators and a group of geese were flying towards them. The silhouettes of the geese’s flight heading into the “Malt-One” lettering on the stacks were greeted by me with an “Oooohhh…” and a sigh.
If only I had my camera! If only there was a place to pull over! If only there would be a repeat performance! But, of course, there never has been.
When I decided I wanted to come to the site on a weekend to take photos, there were decisions to be made. Where could I park and where could I stand to get the angle and view I wanted? It needed to be high enough to overcome the fences and other obstructions blocking what I wanted to shoot.
And which time of day was best? The day I saw the geese, the sunrise created a nice effect, but usually it just washes everything out. Perhaps it would work if I got there just as the sun was just starting to rise, but I’d never seen that lighting so I wasn’t sure. Sunset? I’d never seen that lighting effect either. An overcast day would be best, but the weather wasn’t cooperating.
So much goes into trying to get things just right for a photo that you’ve imagined a million times in your head. Since I lack real photographic know-how, it’s rare to non-existent that I’m able to create what I see with my mind’s eye, and I’m usually disappointed with my results.
These imaginings, expectations, and disappointment don’t just apply to photography. Don’t we have similar experiences with all sorts of things? Don’t we imagine how it will be when we move into a new home, change jobs, or start a new adventure called “retirement”? Is it ever just like we imagined it? Do we end up disappointed? Or surprised and happy about having something different than what we imagined?
I’m getting better at doing the latter. A gentle prod of a reminder when disappointment threatens to spoil my day that I need to change my point of view. To climb up where the fences don’t block my sight or if that’s not possible, to carefully fit my lens through one of the fence slots. Perhaps the fence itself ads an interesting effect. Hmmm…
Yes, an amused curious approach to these challenges is best. Check the view from all angles — look down, look up, turn to the left or right a bit, adjust the camera settings — then take your best shot.
(You can see more views of my photo field trip on my blog post today)
Life, Photography
Reader Comments (12)
Thank you. This is a timely reminder for me.
Such a wonderful metaphor! I find the best way to approach photography (and life) is to expect nothing..and then be surprised by whatever it is you do find.
Love the simplicity - shapes and forms in the image.
I like your description of "an amused, curious approach..." to life. One of the most important things I have come to understand about photography is that we photograph who we are...that everything about us impacts the images we record.
Yes. Adjust...then take your best shot. Like you did here.
I'm fascinated at reading this on the heels of seeing a broadcast yesterday on CNN, Maery, about the Sport's Illustrated professional photographers at the recent Olympic Games. One photographer was assigned to Track and Field in a spot where absolutely nothing was happening for him. Nothing. And then that Usain Bolt won his race and started running his victory lap. At the very moment he stopped to do his now-famous lightening-bolt pose, he was smack-dab in front of the photogrpaher. It couldn't have been planned if he had tried.
I hope I never forget that. We can plan and do all the right things to get those wonderful images, but there will always be the serendipitous one that defies all imagination and planning. Sometimes that's exactly what life is like. And THAT'S how I read your wonderful post. Thank you.
just plain fun for me to read about the joy of photographing. thanks.
Thanks for your comments! There are many unplanned, magical surprises in photography and life. I like the idea that we "photograph who we are". I've seen that most evidently when photographing with a group and how no one takes quite the same shot.
My solution is to make sure I have my camera at hand all the time.
I love the metaphor
Good post
I capture the perfect moments in my minds I and am annoyed if I have'nt got my camera to hand when the view presents itself. But the view is ever present in my minds eye :-)
enjoyed your description of your morning, what you see on your morning drive. I too find it frustrating when what i see in my head, doesn't come out as an image - and even with lots of years of photography - it can still happen a lot :)
..."I need to change my point of view..." So true!!! Enjoyed your photos on your blog. Nothing like a field trip to get the imagination going!
Maery, you are so right. I know about the disappointment, but I've also learned - slowly and a constant work in progress - to change my point of view. Life is so much more pleasant by following that advice.
A lovely image. It an be so hard to capture the image we see in our mind... but yes, we must try and try again. Sometimes, the surprises are so much better than what we thought we saw, almost always those are my favorite photos.
Disappointment comes often, but how wonderful to push it aside and keep searching... there really always is a new angle.