Routinely I have the experience where someone will mention “a beautiful location” that I have not visited and I will almost immediately begin calculating in my mind how to get there to take photographs. If the spot is a relatively local place, I will ask them for directions or landmarks that will help me find it. If it is further away I will make a note, mental or physical, and I’ll try to work that location into a plan for a road trip. Even when I try to avoid doing this, it seems like a subconscious suggestion to consider the photography opportunities. The urge is especially strong if I have never heard of the location.
Recently I have begun carrying a camera with me on all but the most routine errand or specific destination trips. Yes, I do have my cell phone with me when I am away from home and that camera is surprisingly good. But it doesn’t offer the options of a dedicated camera. I’ve written previously about the remarkable capabilities of a cell phone camera. They can be truly amazing and they certainly allow many more people to spontaneously record everyday snapshots. However, even a basic point-and-shoot camera will routinely outperform a cell phone in the creation of most images. And often a point-and-shoot camera will reveal the possibilities of an image that can be captured using an even more full featured camera.
Regularly having a camera at hand will allow a photographer to be able to take a picture when an unplanned image is presented. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I have seen a great photo opportunity but did not have a camera with me. Not long ago I watched a travel show where two photographers were driving to a planned shoot at a specific location. While they were heading to the place, they saw a wonderful image perfectly illuminated. They stopped the car and set up their cameras to take the picture. The lessons were to have some gear with you and to be ready in case a photo opportunity is presented unexpectedly. You cannot always plan to backtrack and get the photo later. Be ready to take a photograph at any time.
While visiting a friend not long ago, his wife mentioned a plan to take their grandsons to a nice town park that had a stream and a waterfall. I asked about how to find the park so I could possibly take some photos on the way home. Basic information was exchanged, enough so that I could find the park. When I arrived at the park the natural beauty was undeniable, especially given the color possibilities of early autumn. I was able to devote an hour to taking many photos of the long views, the stream, and many of the small waterfalls. Unfortunately, the park is still being developed and the trail to the base of the main falls is incomplete. A drone or technical climbing equipment would be needed to to photograph the main falls as they can only be approached from the top currently.
There are always new locations to be pursued for photographers. Even when we return to a familiar place, the light and the scenery are always different. At some dramatic times of the year, such as when fall foliage is changing colors, even a day or two can alter the aspect of a location significantly. That’s why photographers are often chasing opportunities.