Keep Going Back

Walking Path.  I like this little path, its s-curves, the trees and the emerging color.  But I have not
yet made the photo I have envisioned in my mind.  Read on. (click to enlarge)
Fujifilm X-T4; 16-55mm f/2.8 lens @ f/8; 1/300 sec. @ f/8; ISO 320

Almost a year ago I spotted this series of s-curves and rows of trees on this local walking path.  I liked the scene and saw potential for a number of compositions spanning more than one season.  Why do I like this?  I like simple scenes of everyday life.  Scenes and subjects at which others may not look twice.  I don't need the grand landscape or the once in a lifetime street or documentary photo.  Just, as I like to say, "things as they are."

Saturday morning I drove over to the path and made a few images as I knew people would be out walking on the beautiful autumn day.  I was hoping to make the photograph I have envisioned.  Unfortunately, things just didn't come together the way I had hoped.  I'm fine with failure.  In life, I believe, we fail many more times than we succeed.  But we don't let failure stop us from success.  Early in their lives I made sure I taught my children that. 

I've been waiting for two things.  First, I'm waiting for the trees to change into more vibrant colors as I want this scene to clearly depict autumn and second, I'm waiting for the right person (or people) to walk through this scene wearing the right clothes at the right time of day.  Despite visiting this little path several times over the past couple of weeks, I still have not captured what I have envisioned in my mind.  

Not being discouraged, I will continue to return until I feel the scene I want to capture is gone until next year.  I may not get what I want but it has been fun trying.  That is okay for I also have envisioned a black and white winter scene with a person walking along this path heavily bundled up for the cold, exhaling moisture that is backlit by the low winter sun and the trees now with bare branches showing the starkness of the winter season.  Sooner or later, I will make images in all four seasons of this path that I feel are satisfying to me.  As it is not too far from home, I look forward to returning over and over again and being surprised as to how it will look and challenging as to what I can make of it.

Here are a few other images I made Saturday as I experiment with subject placement.

None of these suit me so I'll return and keep trying.

I would encourage you to keep going back to the places you have been, enjoyed and have photographed.  Envision what could be and not only what is currently before you.

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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