Sometimes it is like this
and sometimes it is like this
(click on a photo to make it larger - the detail is kind of cool)
The top photo was taken with my iphone, because I went for a walk without my camera, even though I’d planned to bring it. This happens a lot, and by the time I reach the road and realize I forgot it, I figure I’ll just keep going even though I keep trying to make myself promise to bring it every time, because there’s always something amazing to look at, always.
I got to the bottom of the hill and made up my mind to go the Other way, away from the beach where I go to avoid wet dogs, and sit on a log and stare at the water. Which means I get to walk past one of the most photogenic places on island. It’s hard to see from the road, if you’re driving, and on the other side of the road is the sound, which gets more views automatically, being huge and gorgeous.
The tide was high, almost up to the underside of the bridge between the tidal marsh (ok, maybe it’s not a tidal marsh, but that’s how I think of it") and the sound, with these dreamy small soft waves and an old barnacle covered section of log bobbing in the water, and the reeds were swirling around, and it was magical. So I took a few photos with my phone, grumbled at myself about forgetting the camera again, and then decided to just go back and get it. It’s uphill but a five minute walk, and as I hope you can see from the top picture, perfect conditions for shooting.
I speed walked up the hill, grabbed my camera, plus my small sling bag and the camera’s raingear, since rain was predicted, and headed back to take pictures and walk. By the time I got down there it was pouring. Not regular Washington rain, but that stupid hard Midwest type rain that hurts when it hits you and manages to bounce and spray up inside of everything.
I got wet, through my raincoat, immediately, and it’s a good raincoat. My hair was wet, my face was wet, my hands were wet, my pants were wet, and my beautiful smooth water was gone.
I decided to photograph anyhow, my camera is weather proof, or it’s supposed to be, and I hate giving up.
I like the photos I took, they may or may not be better than the photos I plan to take today or soon when there isn’t rain, and the sky is grey and the tide is high.
And that’s one of the things I like about photography, and life (sometimes), you think you’re going to get one thing, but sometimes you get another. As much as I like to get the shot I wanted, or imagined, the other photos are often better, or equally good. I’m not talking random misfires, though they can be fun, but that sometimes things change while you’re working, or you follow your eyes and see something else, something better or different, and then another thing, and another.
Wish me luck as I head back over, because I’d love to get some of those smooth and dreamy shots I intended, and hopefully won’t fall in the water!