I’m curious how much serendipity plays a role in your nature and wildlife photography. I often find myself planning my shoots in great detail to capture specific animals or situations - certain shorebirds, raptors, owls, bears, otters, elk, salt marshes & beaches, mountains, etc. - but, more often than not, little unexpected surprises arise that sometimes present great opportunities. And the strange thing is these chance encounters often enough produce (for me at least) images that are more interesting and compelling than those that I had planned.
A few examples: last year I was in Yellowstone to photograph the area’s iconic megafauna (and I did), but on a casual hike with friends to Trout Lake, a badger popped out of nowhere, and sat posing for me while I popped off a series of amazing keepers. Everyone in my group loved the badger images but were just meh about my bear, elk, and bison shots.
Another, more recent, experience: I went out to photograph roseate spoonbills and white pelicans one morning, but the light over the salt marsh was so ethereal that, as an utter second thought, I fired off a few general landscapes with my telephoto and, you guessed it, they were the best images of the bunch!
Sometimes I wonder if we focus too hard, and thereby miss serendipitous opportunities. I’m reminded of my high school art teacher, who asked me to submit something for the town art fair. Well, I worked and worked on a drawing of a horse, which I thought magnificent, but Mr. Davis wasn’t impressed and demanded that I do something else. Angry that he didn’t fall down and worship my horse drawing, I quickly threw together a mindless collage and of course it ended up winning best of show.
Maybe there’s something to going with your gut and trying something totally new?
A few examples: last year I was in Yellowstone to photograph the area’s iconic megafauna (and I did), but on a casual hike with friends to Trout Lake, a badger popped out of nowhere, and sat posing for me while I popped off a series of amazing keepers. Everyone in my group loved the badger images but were just meh about my bear, elk, and bison shots.
Another, more recent, experience: I went out to photograph roseate spoonbills and white pelicans one morning, but the light over the salt marsh was so ethereal that, as an utter second thought, I fired off a few general landscapes with my telephoto and, you guessed it, they were the best images of the bunch!Sometimes I wonder if we focus too hard, and thereby miss serendipitous opportunities. I’m reminded of my high school art teacher, who asked me to submit something for the town art fair. Well, I worked and worked on a drawing of a horse, which I thought magnificent, but Mr. Davis wasn’t impressed and demanded that I do something else. Angry that he didn’t fall down and worship my horse drawing, I quickly threw together a mindless collage and of course it ended up winning best of show.
Maybe there’s something to going with your gut and trying something totally new?
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