Back in January, when we were sure that winter was never going to end, some good friends from Belhaven, NC decided to head south to Wilmington, NC to find some warmer weather.  They got to Wilmington and it wasn’t warm enough, so they decided to drive south until they found warm weather.  They ended up in Key West.

I’m currently working on a photography presentation that focuses on exploring a scene, seeing the details and getting down to the gist of what makes something photographically interesting.  It’s the way I often work, getting to a location and staying there until I’m done.  Sometimes it means skipping other locations I had planned on, but I’m a believer that if I get somewhere, I like what I see and it works, stick with it until I’ve worn it out.  I much prefer trying to find something that works where I am and not go running around chasing something that might or might not be somewhere else.

This approach sometimes runs counter to group outings and workshops, since in order to provide a variety of subject matter and conditions for all of the participants it is often necessary to “move along.”  This is tough, because I prefer to not work with an agenda per se, as “watching my watch” makes it tough to be creative.  On the other hand it’s hard to know when I’m finished, or when I have gone far enough.  Conditions change, I get tired, eventually I get hungry or have to sleep!

I feel like my best work tends to come either right at the beginning of a session or right at the end.  Sometimes I connect right away but often I start off wandering around, working on ideas but not really seeing or feeling it.  I gradually build up to the point where I get it.  But then what?  Do I just stop, or do I keep going to see what else there is?

If you are shooting something specific like a sunrise or sunset, you pretty much know when it’s over.  If you are making a portrait you might be looking for a certain pose or expression, and when you get it you might be done.  If you are shooting something abstract like clouds or ocean waves, how much is enough?  Random is random, and once you’ve taken 500 shots or filled a card I sort of feel like you either got it or you didn’t get it, and taking more shots won’t necessarily change that.  It really depends on what it is you are trying to say.  What is it that is pulling you toward a scene and how do you express that?

Sometimes it is good to have an idea in mind but to be open to changing your mind.  If you are photographing a scene and come across something interesting and unexpected, be free to pursue that.  Unless you are on an assignment you are able to choose and go after whatever catches your eye.  Sometimes you can do both.  Sometimes when you get to your personal “Wilmington” you’ll find it is just what you were looking for.  And sometimes you have to go all the way to the end of the road and end up in Key West.