There is nothing like getting the new year off to a good start by hitting the ground running. It’s time to grab the camera and get out the door in search of the light. The Sierra’s fresh snowpack and the winter’s golden tones await the lens of my camera. Quiet places linger among the tall pines.
Standing in deep snow among the silent Ponderosas in fading light, I peer out across Tahoe’s glass-smooth water with a camera in my hand, patiently waiting for golden colors and reflected light. It’s about experiencing and capturing these often overlooked moments that make photography worthwhile.
Shoot to experience. Composing images and making pictures makes you a better observer and draws you into the moment. Photography becomes your journey. The photographic process is an excellent vehicle for experience, exploration, and discovery.
Embrace the process. Fully incorporate the photographic process and make art to satisfy your creative urge. Blend the camera’s technology with the art of your creativity. Experiment with lens selection—fiddle with camera settings and perspective. Create the images you see in your head, which you want others to see. Push your boundaries to capture something a bit outside of your style. Have fun with the moment. Challenge yourself to create something different.
Capture memories. Photograph to remember the special moments, as memories fade. Pictures revive forgotten moments. Carry a camera to relive journeys past in the future. Past images are gifts you give yourself down the road. You can relive those moments again and again.
Make it easy to go. Keep your camera and gear ready. Ensure batteries are topped off. Check them every few days or so. If the shooting conditions show promise, all you have to do is pick up your bag and head out the door.
Take a chance. Pick up your camera and go. What’s holding you back? Strike out in search of those quiet places. Make pictures. Adventure awaits.