Make the best of what you have!

“Things turn out the best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out!”
― John Wooden

As a photographer we all sometimes find ourselves expecting to create a work of art every time we go out with a camera and the truth is it just doesn’t happen. The more experienced photographer knows that we are reliant on so many changing factors that can throw a spanner in the works. All we can do is go out armed with the the tools to create the very best images we can, determined by the factors we can’t control.

The photographers biggest problem

So what is the biggest issue a photographer will face?, Is it the weather? Is it the lack of light? well the short answer is no, it is actually neither of these factors. The biggest issue we struggle with is …. ourselves! Our own expectancies! We plan maticulously our photography trip, we check weather, sunset/sunrise times, we look at other photographers images or we take a to a guide book of some sort, we do this to give ourselves the best chance of creating something special, however by doing that we inadvertently begin to envisage what we will create while on location. That image then imbeds itself into our brain and before we know it, anything other than image would be a failure.

Too much pressure on yourself to produce

This is self explanatory, because we have that perfect image on our minds we then put pressure on ourselves to ensure we get that image, in reality we are actually placing a ridiculous amount of pressure on ourselves without even knowing it. How can you guarantee the perfect shot? Yes, we know all the honeypot locations, we know the perfect season to shoot them and the perfect time of day to be on location but that’s it. You arrive and the light isn’t right or maybe its very windy and wet its not possible to get the shot in your head. The stubborn side of yourself will force you to persist and you will wait around, sometimes for hours trying to get that shot and it never comes. You pack up and head home disappointed in yourself and disillusioned, let me ask you a question, Did you enjoy photography today? Of course you didn’t and that is a problem!

So what should we do?

I am not saying we shouldn’t plan ahead, i’m not even saying don’t plan your shot but what I am saying is don’t allow it to become the only image you think about, empty your head of expectations and head out free with the sole purpose of clicking that shutter. If you do this you will begin to see shots you had never noticed before, you will take so many more images and you will enjoy doing it. If the circumstances are right and you can create your planned shot well you have it all but if you do not, you have still enjoyed your day, you have still made images and you just never know, one of those images could just turn out to become a favourite.

What I,m saying is, make the best out of every situation you find yourself, if you have clear blue skies, shoot more intimate, If its wet and windy maybe a long exposure highlighting those moody clouds, don’t be put off by whatever hand you are dealt, just look at the hand and change your thought process. Make the best of what you have!

I wrote this blog today because it was relevant to my own situation, I planned to head to a woodland around a one hour drive from my location, I had visited last year and was amazed at the blanket of Bluebells, everywhere you looked it was a sea of Bluebells. This morning I set out at around 7am knowing I was going to treated to this amazing sight once again. Unfortunately when I arrived I was immediately disappointed and felt let down, my immediate thoughts were, What am I going to do now? I sat on a panic bench and enjoyed a sweet clementine and decided I would just enjoy the walk, the walk is around two miles and ascends 450 feet. I grabbed my bag and head off up the hill with no expectations. I was literally 10 minutes into the hike when I seen my first composition and another 5 minuets before I created my second, it was at that point I realised, I am having a good morning. A couple of hours later and after witnessing two deer bouncing around in the woodland I arrived back at my car feeling so happy with myself, I felt I had been blessed with what I had seen and enjoyed during this walk.

Below you will see, what turns out to be one of my favourite images ever, created today having following my own advice.

A lone tree stands proud surround by Bluebells