So I follow a bunch of Photographers over on Google+, one of them being Brian Matiash. Brian had a post recently where he stated he found it very challenging to stop and smell the roses.
Since Brian's post was illustrated with a view towards Otter Cliff, Acadia, Maine, I decided to illustrate this post with a view from the other side of the headland, Otter cove.
Brian's post was interesting because I found myself agreeing with him. I normally run-and-gun when I'm traveling. I seek to cover as much territory as possible in the time I have allotted. It doesn't matter if I'm driving down the coastline of Maine over 3 days or photo-walking around Houston for 3 hours, my M.O. is the same, shoot and move shoot and move.
More often than not, I'll have a plan. I'll choose locations or way points I want to visit but I'm not averse to taking detours, some of which prove interesting, some of which do not.
But Brian's post posed the question of whether it's right or wrong to take this approach – whether this approach makes one less appreciative of the grandeur being visited upon the senses. I have to say that often times I do end up frustrated with myself for not taking more time in certain locations. But then the nature of my travel doesn't suit visiting the same location day after day, patiently waiting for all the right elements to come into perfect alignment. Sometimes you just have to go with what you've got.
[ad name=”post”]
My trip to Maine last year was a perfect example of this. I'd accompanied my wife to a conference and the flights determined how much time I had. I could have chosen to stay in Boston but I really wanted to visit the easternmost point of the continental usa and this was going to be as good a time as any. So I spend a day driving cross country from Boston the Lubec then the next three days driving back along the coast. The weather never really cooperated with me those three days, but I'm still very happy with the vast majority of the shots I took, event those in the fog and rain.
And that Maine is beautiful in the fall in the fog and rain is a memory that stays with me, reinforced whenever I view the images from that trip. So while I may have missed some of the grandeur of the moment(s), my ability to relive my experiences through my images transcends my ability to conjure up those feelings from my unaided memory. And so, I think it's OK to run-and-gun, but maybe one day I need to try being in the environment when I'm in the environment and see if I change my mind.
What do you think?
Production Data
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II (B&H)
Battery Grip: Canon BG-E6 Battery Grip (B&H)
Lens: Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS (B&H)
Tripod: Gitzo GT3531 6X Carbon Fiber Tripod Legs – Supports 39.6 lbs (18kg) (B&H)
Ball Head: BH-55 LR: Full-sized ballhead with LR (Really Right Stuff)
Processing: Lightroom 3 (B&H)
Processing: Nik¤Software HDR Efex Pro Software (B&H)
Processing: OnOne Photo Suite 6 (onone) 10% discount with coupon code rdavisphoto
