When you can’t make pictures

Sometimes you just can’t…as is my case right now (thus no photograph o’ the day). Yep–no time and not free to stop and pull over when the image-making mood strikes. I am travelling…moving my elderly father to Tucson, Arizona and there are many other priorities besides pulling out the camera and tripod by the side of the road.

There were two images that especially caught my attention on the drive south…the first, a salvage yard in Cortez, Colorado with an upside down car on the office roof with huge, hungry buzzards made of rusted iron parts eating the “entrails” of the “deceased” vehicle (with wonderful storm clouds and spectactular light behind)…the second, coming in to Kayenta, Arizona from the Four Corners area there is a spot where all the magnificent desert monoliths, including Agathla Peak, line up like huge desert schooners. Again, the light was dappled and spectacular as it filtered in through the dissipating clouds of an evening, summer monsoon thunderstorm.

Couldn’t stop for either. So, they are recorded only in my mind.

So, what can you do when you go through a “dry spell” like this?

First, always have your camera with you anyway, just in case. (I did manage to sneak in a few minutes of image making here and there as my dad was off visiting the powder room, for example.)

Second, use the time to simply practice “seeing”. Look at the light. Notice the dynamic range of the scenes that pass before you. Image certain compositions.

Finally and most importantly, when you can’t make images, just take it all in stride. You will never be able to capture everything you see. Let it go. There will be many, many other opportunities, so learn to accept it. (…and relax…take deep breaths!)