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| Olympus E-M5; LUMIX 12-35mm f/2.8 lens (click to enlarge) |
Several years ago I was wandering through the back roads of Northern California. I had left the redwood forests and indescribable beauty of Humboldt Redwoods State Park and was heading west toward the coast. I planned on picking up famous California Route 101, the Pacific Coast Highway, then driving south along the ocean. The road I was driving was heavily forested, curvy and two lane. At one point, we drove up and over some large hills or smaller mountains. I’m not sure what you would properly call them. Houses were scarce. I was fascinated by the miles and miles of woodland.
As I cruised along, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed an old building and a couple of trucks occupying an opening in the trees. Only getting a glimpse of it as I drove by, I instinctively knew it was something visually interesting and quickly stopped, made a U-turn and went back to get a better look. Once I saw it more clearly, I decided this little scene was certainly unique enough to be photographed. What I saw reminded me of a Hollywood movie set.
Walking around the deserted place, I made several photographs in a number of different compositions. At any moment, I expected some old, grizzled hermit to burst out of the front door with a raised shotgun demanding I “get off his property.” But, silence prevailed. It really was quiet and serene. No cars passed during my time there.
After completing my self-assigned mission, I thought to myself how pleased I was that I had returned. The place with its roof covered in vegetation, old rusted trucks, faded red paint on the house’s exterior walls which were made from rough vertical boards was well worth the stop. Very unique.
I’ll admit, that because I was ‘on my way’ somewhere, I almost skipped going back. I used to do that regularly but a long while back, I decided if I saw something interesting, if at all possible, I would stop. By doing that, I’ve captured some really interesting images over the years that I otherwise would have missed. If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you’ve seen some, even though I almost never point them out.
My recommendation is for you do to the same. See something. Stop. I don’t think you will regret it. Oh! Don’t think you’ll be able to go back at another time and make your photographs. It’s never the same.
Thanks for looking. Enjoy!
Dennis A. Mook
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Lovely capture Dennis. You are so right about not being able to go back because something is always different, usually not for the better. I'm not sure if you had both, but the EM5 plus the two Panny 2.8 lenses made for a high quality low weight kit, which I felt epitomized the m4/3 vision. I regret that I no longer have mine.
ReplyDeleteYour story reminds me of a time I was photographing one of the finished barns celebrating Ohio's 200th Bicentennial. I was looking at it from different angles when I heard a door open and a shotgun being racked. I quickly made myself visible and asked if it was OK to photograph his barn. He was very nice about it and the shotgun was for something else. LOL - Jim
Good story Jim. Being a law enforcement officer for over 30 years I was often asked for recommendations for a firearm for home defense. Almost always I would recommend a pump action shotgun for three primary reasons. Anyone who may decide to break into your house would know to flee and flee NOW upon hearing the sound of a round being racked into the shotgun’s chamber. Second, shotgun pellets lose energy and velocity relatively quickly and there is much less chance that one or more of those pellets would piece an outside wall and enter a neighbor’s home. Third, aiming a long gun is much easier than aiming a revolver or pistol. ~Dennis
DeleteI enjoyed this post Dennis, as I do all of your posts. Good advice as usual. May I make just one pedantic comment! The word "unique" does not have degrees. Something is either unique or not. Something can be very or somewhat unusual, but the same does not apply to unique. I'll see myself out now before you get that pump action shotgun 😅
ReplyDeleteWell, you caught me. I’m always happy to be corrected. No problem. Seriously. Since good grammar has seemingly gone by the wayside over the past few years, I thought I would strategically and quietly join the crowd to be more popular. The use of “they” when referring to individuals, the expanded misuse of “less versus fewer,” starting sentences with “and” or “but,” dangling prepositions and splitting infinitives all seem the norm with the modern internet-based writers. I’m sure I’ve committed a few of those faux pas in the almost 1900 posts I’ve written. I’m just trying to get along. Yep. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it! Lol. 🤣🤣🤣 ~Dennis
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