« Note to Self »

On the weekend we went out for a short hike. Short because we were somewhat rushed due to a dinner commitment we had.  Rawson Lake, in Kananaskis, AB was the destination. Mainly a tree lined trail with the water falls pouring into upper kananaskis lake before it turns south and up. From there it's just 2.7 km in and up almost 300 meters. I know that my description of the hike is not really something really worth reading for some, and I wont apologize for that . I keep forgetting the beauty that is so close to Calgary. This was a short hour from my doorstep.  Why am I not out here more? 

 I think i may have found something out there. I have been so dedicated to shooting the prairie, abandoned farms and big open skies I kinda forgot what it was like to shoot something a little more restrictive. I have always loved looking at other photographers work of the mountains. I find them really inspiring, motivating.  And that is something I struggle with. The big nasty Motivation.  Sitting on my ass and reading about how to make good photographs and day dreaming about the gear i would maybe like to have is the much easier option.  Driving out to fail at making the shot doesn't always seem so appealing.  Now I am not one for an easy way out, trust me. But sometimes the uphills get a little tiring.  I think something clicked out there (no pun intended). When I got out of the trees at Rawson Lake. I knew what i wanted and I knew how to get it. There was no way I was going to fail at this one. This is the result. Did i have the gear I wanted to make it happen, no not really. Ideally i would have had a tripod and some GND filters, but all I had was me my 7D and 11-16 lens balancing on some wet logs trying not to fall in.

 

 Why am I writing this?  Maybe it is for myself to come back and read, maybe someone will get something out of this. But mainly it's to say get off your couch, get off your computer and go out and shoot. Stop making excuses.  I have been doing that for far too long, and I am no further along than I was this time last year. I can say I am somewhat embarrassed in myself for that. No this isn't a self pity fest. It more that I have come to the realization, and maybe I should have a while ago and maybe I had but didn't want to believe it. That no one is going to hand me the guide of how to make it as a photographer. There is no magic pixie dust that someone is going to sprinkle so I will have my break.  Yes I have had some tips here and there and am grateful to the photographers that have shown me some of the technical side I have needed to know .  It doesn't matter how many books and magazine articles I read on how to make the perfect shot. Unless I go out and shoot, nothing is going to happen.  I need to make my own path and be proud of it and stop making excuses.