Before the Camera

It’s not the photos that matter so much; it's the experience. The one thing I love more than landscape photography is just being out in the landscape. It doesn’t really matter where I am; I just love the feeling that being outside with my camera evokes in me. The main objective is, of course, to create compelling images, ones that hopefully capture a sense of place or that convey the feeling of being there. But to be honest, the resulting images are a bonus. It’s all the better if they turn out to be good Images, even better still, are images that I am proud of. 

But it is the time when the excitement and the wonder of being in a place become the primary focus of my attention. The reaction to the beauty, the environment, and the moment becomes overwhelming. It is at this time that all else seems to fade away, and the beauty and impressiveness of nature fill me with a sense of awe and appreciation. It is this time, if I am mindful enough to do so, that I like to sit down and take it all in. To sit in quiet contemplation of my surroundings. Time to reflect on all the events, both man-made and otherwise, that have led to this place being here. To nature creating this space and this moment, and about how fortunate I am to be able to enjoy it, even if just for a brief moment.

It is this moment that I find most enjoyable about photography—the moment before I get the camera out of the bag—the time to reflect and appreciate the beauty that can be found in the world.