Photo Journal
7th July // Reconnection
Vale of Ffestiniog // N52.9585 W-3.9649
St John's Wort
Having decided to start taking my photography more seriously I have marked the shift in how I approach any given day out. What brings me most joy in photography is that feeling of discovery and spontaneity. Being in the moment and presented with new light, or subjects I hadn’t expected, sparks a sense of wonder which lasts far beyond I take the photo. It spurs me to research deeper and further my understanding of the natural world.
But in the pursuit of objective based photography, in the sense of wanting to explore a larger theme, I have upped my planning and research phase prior to heading out with my camera.
So here in lies the dilemma of what has been a particularly wet and cold summer. If the weather conditions don’t seem favourable to what I am trying to achieve, it is hard to justify heading out, and as such I feel less inspired to take photos in general.
So this day I was breaking the pattern I had found myself in and recognising the value that I had lost in just heading out with no plan and just seeing what happens, not working towards any particular project.
At first, grumpy and uninspired I paced around the nature reserve, until I decided to use my camera, focusing on how the light fell through the tree. As I took that photo I felt that spark of enthusiasm I had been so sorely missing jolt through my body and I felt alive.
It was as if something dormant had been unlocked in me and I couldn’t stop myself from chasing the light and photographing every small thing I saw as if it were the first time I’d laid my eyes on them.
The outcome isn’t the point, the point is enjoying the process and the outcome will follow. This is a lesson I must keep reminding myself.
