a lesson in seeing

 

A note from Tracey: Last week I came across this image and post from photographer Bret Edge and was so taken by it and how well it expresses what we believe here at Shutter Sisters that I promptly asked Bret if I could share it with all of you.

Without further ado, here is the very first guest post shared by a shutter brother (be sure to give him a warm welcome in the comments): 

Today’s post is a short one, though I believe it imparts an important lesson.  Last week I embarked upon a 4 day, 3 night motorcycle trip to Crested Butte, Aspen and beyond.  I didn’t have a set itinerary although I knew I wanted to photograph an autumn sunrise of the Maroon Bells reflecting in the placid waters of Maroon Lake.  On the evening before the final day of my trip I arrived in Aspen and took the road leading to the Bells.  I found an idyllic campsite in the Silver Queen campground only a couple miles from the lake.  Once camp was set up I headed to the lake to scout compositions for sunrise the next morning.

Having heard stories from friends about dozens of photographers lining the lake with their tripods overlapping I knew I’d need to arrive early the next morning to stake my claim.  I awoke early, threw on layers of warm clothing to protect me from the chilly 34 degree ride and proceeded to the lake.  Arriving a full half hour before sunrise I was a bit surprised to find seven cars already in the parking lot.

I grabbed my gear and headed up to the lake.  I found a nice little spot away from a gaggle of photographers who had all set up right next to one another at the end of the lake.  In the pre-dawn light the peaks had a subtle glow about them and were reflected almost perfectly in the lake.  I made a single exposure of the peaceful scene.  And then, the waters rippled.  A breeze!  Not a strong one, but potent enough to destroy all reflections.  The sun came up, the peaks glowed that beautiful and well-known red and shutters whirred – except mine.  I made a couple exposures and was unimpressed with the results.

I turned around to enjoy the light on Sievers Mountain.  And then my eyes locked on to such a sweet little scene that it almost made me giddy.  I snapped up my tripod and ran over for a closer look.  The foliage and grass lining the lake was covered in a thin layer of frost.  Even better, some of the plants were displaying brilliant fall colors!  I quickly went about hunting for a compelling composition.  As I did, I couldn’t help but notice the other photographers.  Several of them looked at me, with my camera aimed straight down at the ground, and one of them even pointed and commented to his buddy.  One thing remained constant: every last one of them (by now there were over a dozen) still had their cameras trained on the mountains and lake.

I discovered this little arrangement and worked it for a while.  I knew I’d made an image I would be proud of as soon as I saw this on the LCD screen.  I fiddled around a bit more, packed up and then headed out as the light on the peaks transitioned from warm red to flat, boring and colorless.  As I passed the gaggle an older photographer looked at me and said, “Giving up already, huh?”  I didn’t even break stride.  I just looked at him, smiled and said, “Enjoy your day!”

Image and words courtesy of guest blogger Bret Edge; a professional nature and adventure photographer in Moab, Utah who leads private guided photo excursions and group workshops throughout the western U.S.  Visit http://www.moabphotoworkshops.com to learn more about his workshops and http://www.bretedge.com to view his online portfolio.

Comments

[gin.ginny]

What an absolutely amazing photo! I don't think I could have done such early mornings, much less freezing temps! :-)

[Kat]

I love this post! Thank you Bret for sharing this little story. I think this is true for many of us. I figure there are thousands of photographers who do just as you describe to get the perfect, iconic beauty scenes. Why duplicate their efforts?

[Angie Willis]

Isn't this beautiful! Equally beautiful, I'm sure, as the picture of the reflections on the lake would have been and I suspect the other photographers probably went home more disappointed with their results than you. This is a classic case of "seeing" - seeing what other people don't because they've programmed themselves for one thing and can't break their mindset. I'm reading a Bryan Peterson book and he keeps reiterating the need to look up and down and not just straight ahead.
Thank you for this great post.

[Marcie]

What a lovely image..and important lesson to be learned. I - too - tend to find interest in the details:
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1309
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1310
And - so nice to hear the voice of a shutter'brother' for a change. Welcome!

[Jill F]

http://fingerontheshutter.com/

Looking down and sometimes happy accidents.
I loved this guest post today.

[Suki]

We all have a different vision of our surroundings. I still don't get people who see the need to do things like everyone else does. Having a unique is more exciting and fun.
Great post, Bret!

[Jen at Cabin Fever]

Lovely photo! We haven't had more than about 30 seconds of frost, but I am hoping this weekend with the cool temps forecasted we will see some AND some fall foliage at the same time. My camera and I are excited.

http://www.cabinfeververmont.com

http://www.cabinfeververmont.com/p/photography-contests_4966.html --> Monthly Photo Contest

http://www.nekphotography.blogspot.com --> My Photo Blog

[froddard]

Probably 80% of the photos I'm most proud of were the ones I shot AFTER the scene I had come to capture. I've recently moved to the East coast and so the amazing ocean vistas and the quaint lighthouses are usually what I start photographing, because it's so beautiful - and so obvious.

Then I start to look around a little more, and inspiration hits EVERY TIME.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97309340@N00/4977046724/in/set-72157624799443623/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/97309340@N00/4976433561/in/set-72157624799443623/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/97309340@N00/142123991/in/set-72157624799443623/

[Contemporary Wall Art]

Nice post.
thanks for sharing

[lucy]

i'm a detail girl rather than a big picture girl, so i love this perfect little portrait of natures details. and yay for shutter brothers! more!

[camerashymomma]

welcome to the sisterhood bret! i loved the story behind this image. true true, it all rings true.

[Winnie H]

I love this story! It definitely reminds us that beautiful things are all around us - we just have to be looking in the right direction, and sometimes that's in the opposite direction of where everyone else is looking. Well done on getting a beautiful photograph AND having a meaningful story to go with. :D

[DawnS]

Love this story. I walk around the lake & the state park with my camera and will stop to take a picture of a gorgeous berry on a bush, or a butterfly on a flower. I've had people come over to see what I'm photographing and they'll say that they've walked by the bush many times and never stopped to notice the beauty. That's what makes me happiest as a "photographer"...when my pictures help someone notice the wonder of nature.

http://everyday-glimpses.blogspot.com/2010/09/abcs-of-lifew-is-for-wonder.html

[Kathryn Dyche Dechairo]

It's all to easy to get caught up in what others are doing and follow suit but often the best results come from when we follow our own gut and do our own thing. Great shot!

[thedivinemiss]

Thank you very much for such an inspiring and well told story! Well done, beautiful work and welcome!

[littlepurplecow]

Thanks for sharing here, Bret. Enjoyed your image and words so much. I love that the colored leaf in your image reminds me of you standing in the gaggle of sameness.

[Kelly]

What a beautiful capture. It's amazing what we can miss while we are busy looking for something else :) Kudos to you for seeing it and seizing the chance to capture it!

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

Those "well-seasoned" photographers can be quite annoying at times. Glad to see that you found your own unique perspective to showcase instead of the ho-hum shots they were likely capturing.

~WW
http://www.wayfaringwanderer.com/2010/09/facing-my-30s-fearlessly.html

[amy z]

Love this post (and love the whole idea of a shutter brother...welcome, Bret!).

I was in Newport recently for a business meeting. A group of us chose to walk over to our clam bake on Goat Island rather than ride the tour bus. The weather was gorgeous and the sunset was unbelievable. We were walking almost due west, blinded by light. My companions were on a mission to find the Regatta Place, stopping for nothing and busily chatting among themselves. I had to keep running to catch up as I was making photographs. Finally I hollered at them to stop, just for a minute, and turn around. They were totally missing the view behind us, which was spectacular.

I think it's a special gift of certain photographers to have hyper-sensitive eyes, or maybe a better way to describe it is hyper-sensitive awareness of EVERYTHING that is around us. I relish finding beauty in unexpected places, and take a certain amount of pride when I find something that no one else seems to see.

http://latentimages.blogspot.com/2010/09/on-way-to-goat-island.html

[joey]

I'm all for "Shutter Siblings!"

His shot reminds me of this snap. I so wish I had more than a few moments to shoot that morning!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19379573@N06/5035768607/

Winter in on the way!

[strawberrygoldie]

Amen, brotha.

You mirrored my take on photography. And life.

[Winn]

Someday, when my preschooler is more grown up, I too hope to be able to go "hunting" for photos. ;) Beautifully done. I'm interested to see more of his work, so thanks for the links.

[gina]

I love the colors and contrast! and totally appreciate your sharing this article with us!

Thanks so much
xoxo
g

[Bettina]

Welcome Bret! I'm sure you went home the winner that day! What a nice little treasure!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettina2/4713631634/

[Melissa M.]

Love this image!

[Xan Barnard]

Wonderful post! That is the sort of photo I love to take. The image that no one else sees. Imagine all of beauty they are missing.

[Jessica]

Great photo and article. As a beginner, I am constantly watching where other photographers are looking, when I have a chance. I don't want to miss anything. :)

[michel]

Love a shutter brother! thanks Bret!
I read somewhere if you are in a place where everyone is pointing their camera's at one thing, turn you self away from it to find the photo not yet made. this is a great example of that.

I too couldn't be bothered by what everyone else is doing. this one's an oldie

http://www.wishfulthinkingblog.com/wishful-thinking/2010/1/17/sunrise-booties.html

thanks for posting bret, welcome to the sisterhood!

[Denise]

This post, along with the comments, is so inspiring to a beginner who always feels shy to do something different among more experienced photographers. I must remember to look somewhere unexpected. Thank you!

[xanthe]

welcome bret! it's so important to look for beauty in unexpected places, thanks for the reminder x.

[Betty R]

Love this post. Thank you so much for sharing it. It's such an important lesson not only for photography but for life itself.

[Libertad Leal]

Wonderful image and story. A great lesson for everyone. Welcome Bret!!

[Diane]

Bravo and welcome! A true lesson about seeing.

I live in the country and most people around here think there is nothing to 'look at', nothing worth photographing. Two weeks ago, I proved them all wrong (well, I can do that daily, but would they?):

http://www.dianeschuller.com/blog/2010/09/21/frosty-mornings-in-the-peace/

[Donna]

I posted the other day on my blog about a beautiful fall photo walk i had just participated in. I was saying how bright the colours were and how brethtaking ithe scenery was. Then I posted some of my favorite pictures from that walk. When I did a quick once over of what I had posted I realized that all of the photos were of the hidden treasures from the ground and none of the giant Fall beauty that I went on about noting that maybe sometimes its the little things that need to be noticed.
what a wonderful post Bret.
Thanks for sharing.

[cigi]

Great story, beautiful image. Welcome, Bret!

[giftsofthejourney (Elizabeth Harper)]

Great story and image!

[Bret Edge]

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for the incredibly warm welcome! I'm always excited to meet others who share the same passion for photography, whether they're men or women, young or old. I spent a good chunk of my morning perusing the articles and have bookmarked the Shutter Sisters site so I can easily check in frequently. There is some seriously amazing talent here! I look forward to learning from you all and hope to one day meet and photograph with a few of you. Have a wonderful day!

[Victoria Bennett Beyer]

Fantastic post. Those traditional shots are great, but it is far more rewarding to have captured something unique - to discover something new.

[Lindsey]

such a great reminder. So many times I feel like I am up against an invisable force trying to make magic happen instead of letting go and letting it flow. GREAT REMINDER!!!

thanks for sharing Tracey!

[Trude]

That's the way to do it! I've definitely learned to always look all around, not just at what you're "supposed" to. :) Thanks for sharing!

[Jessica New Fuselier]

Welcome Shutter Brother!!!!

Sometimes we have to really look for a special shot, and sometimes it's right in front of us.

http://www.freshangeles.com/2010/09/wordless-wednesday-angels.html

[yvonne]

Who were the three winners for the Picture Fall giveaway on Sept. 16th. I cannot find this anywhere. thanx.

[Laura O'Hanesian]

Welcome Bret! I love your story and capture. I am often asked "What are you taking a picture of?" It always makes me smile and is a hint that I am going to get an image I truly love. It takes courage to be yourself. Thanks for introducing us to our new brother!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lauraophoto/3805044593/in/set-72157621472593259/

[Bret Edge]

I finally got some time to read through every response and really enjoyed myself. One response, from "Denise", struck a nerve. In part, Denise said, "This post, along with the comments, is so inspiring to a beginner who always feels shy to do something different among more experienced photographers."

I can totally relate to feeling shy, awkward or maybe even intimidated when surrounded by photographers who we almost always assume know more than we do. I've been at this photography game for about 11 years now. For the first couple of years I really was intimidated when photographing in a popular location with lots of other photographers. I rarely tried anything different in those situations because I was worried that they might snicker or make some smart aleck comment or even just think to themselves, "What a fool, he's missing the show!"

Now that I have some experience under my belt I look back and wonder what I missed while I was doing the same darn thing everyone else was doing. These days, I wander off and do my own thing with pride. I have had people snicker. I've even had them make snarky comments. To heck with 'em! I can't help but grin when I see someone strike out on their own and do something entirely different from the masses.

One of the things I so enjoy about leading workshops is watching how each participant sees the scene in their own unique way. Some focus on small details while others photograph the grand landscape. Some go high and others go low. It's an amazing experience to watch ten people all work a scene with vigor and passion for what they're doing.

I guess what I'm trying to say is this: don't be afraid to be different. Don't worry about what the other photographers are doing or saying. If they're too closed minded to appreciate that you're finding your groove by trying something new, their opinions aren't worth a squat. Do your own thing, hold your head high and be proud of your art!

[melody]

Ah Bret...you are so a sistah. Thank you for reminding me I ain't doin' it wrong.

Love this.

[Tracy]

amazing photo and love the story that goes with it as well as your additional comments. i get a lot of weird looks when i'm laying on the ground in the middle of a public place to take a photo but i don't care! that's what i love about photography - endless creative possibilities and no one "right" way to see.

[Lauren]

Isn't part of creativity and art about pushing the envelope and seeing things that others don't? I think you've accomplished that and even had a bit of fun while others worked hard to get the "standard" "amazing shot."
Very interesting... and very nice to hear....

[Heather]

Beautiful photo and beautiful story! This really caught my eye because your photo so resembles one I took about a year and a half ago: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lo-l-a/3212490294/

That delicate frost on a fiery autumn leaf is just to good to pass up, I guess!