An aimless pursuit of beauty.
What do you do when a day of scouting for photography locations doesn’t yield anything? That happened recently on a trip to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. We spent the afternoon hiking the Cliff and other trails to check out overlooks and waterfalls. My plan was to find the best ones and spend the next few mornings photographing them.
Nine miles of hiking didn’t yield much. The overlooks weren’t what I expected and the recent lack of rain had the waterfalls running at a trickle. With nothing to plan for, I did something I hadn’t done in a long time. At 5:30am I started driving around to find a photograph, somewhere. It didn’t take long to realize why I don’t do this anymore. Not knowing where to go or what you are looking for can be quite frustrating. Here I am in the beautiful Delaware Water Gap and nothing beautiful is making itself known.
Then I saw the mist. It was coming from a small lake. Then I saw the kayak. Some guy was enjoying the morning fishing and could not have been more cooperative if I had radio communication and told him where to go and how to pose.
Misty Morning in the Delaware Water Gap by Richard Lewis 2016
Shortly after leaving the lake, a glimpse of light caught my eye deep in a dense pine forest. I wandered over to find beautiful opening in the forest with a light mist providing a glow to everything.
Misty Forest 1 by Richard Lewis 2016
Reclaiming The Trees by Richard Lewis 2016
Forest Carpet by Richard Lewis 2016
Misty Forest 2 by Richard Lewis 2016
As if this wasn’t enough, while heading back to the hotel I turned down a gravel road just to see what was there. A break in the forest framed by two well placed trees made for another photo opportunity.
Quiet Forest Road in the Delaware Water Gap by Richard Lewis 2016
I normally like to plan out a shoot to maximize the time when the light is at its best. However, sometimes a little randomness and serendipity can lead to special new places.
Enjoy
Looks to me like things paid off.
They did this time Craig. I tried to the same thing recently around here in the New Jersey Pinelands and all I got was some poison ivy.
being a past painter I know the trials one must go through but picking the right time of day and the right place is sometimes joyous and sometimes just not in the moment.
Thanks for your comment Eric. When things aren’t planned out you are at the mercy of what you find and the light at the time of day you happen to be there.
They are all fabulous Rich! The misty one is especially beautiful. I love them all!
Thank you Laura! that misty photograph was kind of a magical moment. I’m glad you like it.
You’re welcome. 🙂 And oh my gosh…that one should be framed!
It’s on my to do list actually.
All of the frustration was so you’d understand that captures such as the morning mists aren’t just laying around town. The late wilderness photographer, Galen Rowell, is said to have answered the question, “How do you get such beautiful images?” by saying “f/8 and be there.” The “be there” is what counts here. I think I would have needed to change my shorts after that capture.
Thanks Ralph, as always, for your comments and insights. I’m a big fan of Rowell’s philosophy, of “being there” and also waking up early enough to “be there with the best light”.
exceptional ! I won’t say ‘lucky’ for in reality You, had to be prepared. but wow. how exciting! love the quote f8 and be there. even in painting, what I had ‘Intentioned’ to do dissipates…into its own making and creation. usually a much better one.
Thank you Debi. The best way we can be prepared is with our awareness. It shows us what’s available. When I saw that patch of light in the woods it was just a glimpse. Easily dismissed when driving by, but something told me it was important. I would love to someday discuss with you how that applies to painting. Being a photographer limits me to what I see in the world around me. You have that limit too, but once you pick up your brush, it’s all your creative awareness and what you end up with is 100% what you create. The journey you take while getting there must be an interesting one.
intuition is a lovely thing! this creative art journey is interesting for me and as I can see in your art, for you as well Rich. it is, everpresent. which makes it even better!
I agree Debi. i see that same everpresentness in our work as well. It does make the journey very interesting.
🙂
I really loved the “Quiet Forest Road” well done captured the forests story and feeling.
Thanks Lou. I appreciate your comment. Not many people singled the Quiet Forest Road image, but it is one of my favorites of the batch too. That scene had a real charm about it and I had to stop and take it in.
Great photos and great post. It reminds me that beauty is often in front of us when we don’t have preconceived notions about what we are looking for. I am glad I found your blog. Looking forward to seeing more of your photos and musings. ~Rita
WONDERFUL images with the misty morning boating scene receiving first place … an awesome capture Rich!!!
Thanks Denise. That whole experience was a wonderful couple of hours. That boat in the mist was really an amazing thing to stumble upon.