Try new things
You may be familiar with my work, “Lighthouse Aglow.” I love how the light reveals the layers of glass and lenses inside the top of the lighthouse and how it accentuates the Queen Anne’s Lace on the hillside. Personally, I love the lesson behind the circumstances of this image too.
It was a typical Oregon Coast evening. …a Saturday. The winds had that “cooling sun” chill and the gulls called out for the sun’s return from the West. The sun ignored them and continued on its waning path.
I had wandered the area for a couple hours as the tide waters retreated. Now, as the shadows lengthened, I sought out the place where I could use the lighthouse itself to block the evening sun’s glare for a great silhouette. There on a hillside amid various flowering weeds I found my spot. I clicked and tweaked setting; clicked again. I crouched lower, waited for a pause in the wind, and clicked again. Looking into the sun, I did not immediately see the source of the cross voice I heard next.
“You can’t take pictures into the sun!”
Who is speaking? I spot her once my eyes adjust. She has a small frame with hands on her hips, furrowed brow and scolding voice. I am slow to respond as my mind processes a huge variety of thoughts. I am first grateful she isn’t advising me her dog just relieved itself at my location.
“Anyone knows you don’t take pictures into the sun!” she snaps again.
I look at her quizzically for a moment longer. Where does this lecture come from? Am I to apologize, and leave the weedy patch in defeat? I look at my gear bag and lenses around me. She seems to expect a response of some kind yet failed to conduct the first pleasantries of conversation. “Hello,” “Yes beautiful weather today.” “Why yes, I am a professional photographer.”
I can’t help but smile at her. “You should break the rules sometimes. Take a walk on the wild side.” I’m sure my smile says that I know something she does not. She shakes her head with disapproval–almost disgust– and walks away. Truth is, I do know something she does not. I’m looking at the playback window on my camera and looking at the raw image that will become “Lighthouse Aglow.”
