If memory serves me, and it probably doesn’t, there was one of those Sunday morning opinion shows called “The Last Word”, many, many years ago.  If not, what the heck I get the last word here anyway, lol.

I certainly am not showing this first image because it is one of my best landscapes. The waterway you see in the distance is known as The Strait of Juan de Fuca, near Port Angeles, Washington.  The image was made from a mountain in Olympic N.P.  For some reason I digitally copied this very old slide a while back.  If you look to the right side of the picture, you will see a clear-cut bit of woodland.  Photographing clear cuts is actually what I was doing on that morning.  I wasn’t attempting to make pretty pictures or create artistic prints.  This is something that stock photographers used to do.  Documenting the stories in nature, as they relate to the modern world.  My guess is that I was slowly making pictures that combined clear cuts with popular tourist areas known for their beauty.  A recent statement from an old photo editor friend raised my awareness of something I really should have guessed.  It is getting more difficult to find images that tell the sad stories that accompany the beauty of nature.  We used to admire photojournalists like that, but the pictures themselves don’t glorify the photographer, so bye, bye imagery.  This is why I wrote in my last post that I find that some nature photographers today wear their environmentalism on their sleeve, and prefer to simply say “I support” this environmental group or another, usually without checking them out.  If environmentalism is what you believe, then your camera is a great tool to show what is wrong.

When I am in mountains or deserts, I become filled with excitement when I see an approaching storm. I don’t know why mountains and deserts increase those feelings inside of me,  but they do.

I stood on the edge of a corner of Black Canyon of The Gunnison in Colorado when I saw the skies darken to the north.  Those telltale drooping rain clouds told a story of what was to come…..or not.  I think when I am out making pictures, it is the only time that I root for the storm. Unfortunately like is so often the case, that great picture would have to come another day.  The storm basically fell apart. Much of nature photography  is spent missing the moment and thinking about the next time.  When in doubt make the picture anyway.

I love pictures of wading birds striking poses like you see below. Most such images by me, are accompanied by clean and pretty backgrounds.  In each case the birds were the artists. I am no different from any photographer in that I rarely show artistic poses with busy unattractive backgrounds.  I said rarely.  We need bird pictures with the habitats they live in, even when they don’t give us any applause.  The “Birds as Art” approach denies the little boy in Harlem or the little girl in Mexico City the truth. Every photographer is capable of showing both sides of nature.

One thing that the modern nature photographer is doing very well, is making images of predators with prey. It took me a lifetime to photograph (maybe) 20 different subjects with prey.  None of my pictures of predators in the physical act of catching prey, have been sharp enough.  None of them.  Equipment today makes that last fact ancient history but it is the sheer number of photographers making photos of predators with their meal in their mouth that astounds me.  Some individual photographers manage to get pictures like that weekly.  If I was a more cynical person I would say that those photographers are repeatedly baiting wildlife so they can build files full of such images.

My promise to you.  I was not driving around with live voles in my pockets, so I could bait birds like this American Kestrel.  I guess sometimes you just get lucky.

This image did take a little work in order to share it.  This image was made in extreme sidelight and was very contrasty.  In order to bring everything to an acceptable level I darkened the background sky, and added just a flicker of light to the bird.

As long as I’m not being very artistic today, I’ll finish with one of my least artistic images of one of my favorite waterfalls, Morgan Falls.  I guess this image is sort of “the last word” on that subject.

Each and Every Step

I’ve written dozens of times on the theme Journeys.  It began with a website page that carried the title Journeys, and was expanded and expounded on with subsequent articles.  I have many times used the example of the rainbow, and the journey to that proverbial pot of gold at the end.

I wrote that first journey article as I approached a step that I had not taken in several years.  I had fears that this part of my journey would be short, and I wanted to make sure that I savored each and every step.  I knew that there would be lessons to be learned, and that I would be richer for having made the journey.

There is nothing wrong with chasing that pot of gold, but it is the rainbow that really matters.  We spend so much time in life chasing gold, that we often fail to even notice the rainbow.  You might say that the rainbow is the journey.

I have written today (somewhat) about making your photography about more than just yourself.  I know at least two photographers who are currently on a  great photographic journey.  No matter what your journey is, be it photographic or otherwise, experience the joy along the way.  Even when the photographic subjects are sentimental or sad, there is still joy and humor to be found. Even when the project wears you out emotionally, the journey is worth all of it. Don’t complete a great project and find you missed the joy that was waiting for you…..all along the way.

When it is done, it matters little if your journey took you to the desired result. You and those that you touched, will have been enriched on each and every step.  The journey is in fact about…..each and every step.

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Many years ago I was in the heart of Crex Meadows State Wildlife Area.  I was making sunrise photos, and I was dancing in between the mosquitoes.  I would trip the shutter and run back in the car to avoid more aerial attacks.  It was once again time to run for the car, but this time I found that the car was locked.  I was locked out of my rental car at sunrise, 8 miles from Grantsburg.  I swore….several times….and moaned to myself about missing the loon photography that I had intended to do right after sunrise…..and hefted my big tripod and heavy Pentax 6×7 over my shoulder.  That and my camera bag with an assortment of lenses, filters and film.  As I began my walk I noticed sounds and sights that I would have missed if I had not made that walk.  Nature filled my senses like it never did before. I finally hit the first paved road and a nice old farmer (going the opposite direction) stopped and said if I wanted to wait a short while, he would return and give me a ride. I said thank you I will keep walking and if you make it back, then I will accept the ride.  He kept his promise but I was close to a garage by then so I thanked him and settled down for a long wait, as the garage was closed.  As if it was all timed, an employee pulled up and got out his key.  I explained my plight, and he grabbed a few tools and we were off. Thoughts of $300 charges rushed through my mind as we pulled up to my little rental. It took him (maybe) three minutes to break into the car and he asked if $10 would be too much. I gave him $30 and said I hoped one day I could do something for him.

When I found myself locked out of my car, my only thoughts were of getting to that garage and getting my car open again.  Like so often in life, it turned out to be all about the journey.  Those sounds of nature that were more vivid than they had ever been before.  That kind old farmer and the helpful and honest mechanic.  I learned about nature and I learned about people.  I learned something with every step I took. Oh ya, I got my loon shots the next morning.

Even something as mundane as getting locked out of a car, presents us with an opportunity to take a journey.

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Ideas and philosophies that I have written about, have appeared in many locations, by other authors over the years. I don’t say that with ego, but with pride. In many respects it is the only way I know I have had an impact.  I think only Ron has ever given me credit for those ideas, but if I write only for the credit, then maybe I should find another hobby. When I read my ideas being used, it means just as much to me as seeing my pictures being published.

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For any of you old-time photographers out there, the fine art photography market is beginning to see a substantial increase in the demand for prints that originated on film.   I am talking about private art buyers not galleries. Medium format and especially large format are the sizes of choice.  Just like there are camera collectors who want these bigger film cameras, there are art collectors looking for prints.  Excellent condition original wet process darkroom prints are especially in demand, but digital prints from (provable) medium and large format film scans or copies are accepted among many.  Everything old is new again.

Every day is a journey, enjoy your’s.