Today’s post is a short one, though I believe it imparts an important lesson. Last week I embarked upon a 4 day, 3 night motorcycle trip to Crested Butte, Aspen and beyond. I didn’t have a set itinerary although I knew I wanted to photograph an autumn sunrise of the Maroon Bells reflecting in the placid waters of Maroon Lake. On the evening before the final day of my trip I arrived in Aspen and took the road leading to the Bells. I found an idyllic campsite in the Silver Queen campground only a couple miles from the lake. Once camp was set up I headed to the lake to scout compositions for sunrise the next morning.
Having heard stories from friends about dozens of photographers lining the lake with their tripods overlapping I knew I’d need to arrive early the next morning to stake my claim. I awoke early, threw on layers of warm clothing to protect me from the chilly 34 degree ride and proceeded to the lake. Arriving a full half hour before sunrise I was a bit surprised to find seven cars already in the parking lot.
I grabbed my gear and headed up to the lake. I found a nice little spot away from a gaggle of photographers who had all set up right next to one another at the end of the lake. In the pre-dawn light the peaks had a subtle glow about them and were reflected almost perfectly in the lake. I made a single exposure of the peaceful scene. And then, the waters rippled. A breeze! Not a strong one, but potent enough to destroy all reflections. The sun came up, the peaks glowed that beautiful and well-known red and shutters whirred – except mine. I made a couple exposures and was unimpressed with the results.
I turned around to enjoy the light on Sievers Mountain. And then my eyes locked on to such a sweet little scene that it almost made me giddy. I snapped up my tripod and ran over for a closer look. The foliage and grass lining the lake was covered in a thin layer of frost. Even better, some of the plants were displaying brilliant fall colors! I quickly went about hunting for a compelling composition. As I did, I couldn’t help but notice the other photographers. Several of them looked at me, with my camera aimed straight down at the ground, and one of them even pointed and commented to his buddy. One thing remained constant: every last one of them (by now there were over a dozen) still had their cameras trained on the mountains and lake.
I discovered this little arrangement and worked it for a while. I knew I’d made an image I would be proud of as soon as I saw this on the LCD screen. I fiddled around a bit more, packed up and then headed out as the light on the peaks transitioned from warm red to flat, boring and colorless. As I passed the gaggle an older photographer looked at me and said, “Giving up already, huh?” I didn’t even break stride. I just looked at him, smiled and said, “Enjoy your day!”
21 Responses to “Giving Up? – A Lesson in Seeing”
pj says:
Excellent post, and fine photo. I can relate to this totally.
I wonder how many of those other photographers went home with a photograph as truly their own as you did.
Monte Stevens says:
I also can relate. I wonder how many photographers go out to these locations for the social aspect of the experience. I’ve found myself sharing cost and conversation for the chance to get in some shooting. But, I find the solitude of being in nature to be powerful for me and one of the primary reasons I’m out there when it’s 34 degrees. Excellent post and image. I just found your blog and will drop again.
Gary Crabbe / Enlightened Images says:
Great shot & post, Bret.
Dan Bailey says:
Great post Bret! There’s always something to see if you just take the time to look.
Russ Bishop says:
Great post and beautiful image Bret! It’s so true that the path less taken often reveals the best rewards.
Bret Edge says:
Thanks for reading and leaving a comment, Monte. Much appreciated! I’m as guilty as the next guy when it comes to talking gear while out photographing. But, like you, I’m really out there because I need to get away and be in nature, finding new ways to be creative and just enjoying the fact that I’m not surrounded by four walls and a roof.
Bret Edge says:
Thanks, PJ. I was thinking about that, too. Obviously the Maroon Bells are an icon for a reason. It’s a jaw droppingly gorgeous scene and one day I’ll go back to photograph it when all the conditions are just right. But, people should also open their minds to the fact that you may go to a location looking for one thing and find another entirely different, and maybe even better, thing. Not a darn thing wrong with that!
Mike says:
Great stuff, Bret! I had a similar experience almost a year ago with the fall colors around Oxbow Bend. Naturally every single person with a camera wants to get Oxbow Bend at sunrise, especially with fall colors. The more fall colors, the more photographers gather to the point where people begin getting cranky. I saw the crowd, tried to find a spot, got frustrated and drove back up the road just a couple hundred yards to the next pullout. Personally, I liked the view a lot. It wasn’t fall colors reflected in Oxbow Bend, but I still enjoyed what I came back with: http://www.cavaroc.com/photoblog/1220/landscape/fall-colors-at-oxbow-bend-grand-teton-national-park/
Kostas Petrakis says:
I just love these kind of moments, the true photographer shines upon them!
Hope you had a lovely ride my dear friend, I surely did have, since this weekend Greece was on a short summer heat once more…
Jackson Frishman says:
Nice shot, Bret, and I’ll definitely take it over another portrait of the Bells. Icon for a reason, I know, but man! have I seen a lot of them.
I like your comment to PJ too. I feel like I almost never come home from a trip with the shot I had in mind. Most of my best have been at least somewhat surprising, and I like it that way.
Royce Howland says:
Well said Bret, something that (to my way of thinking) shows a better appreciation for expressive photography vs. just trophy hunting. I’d say “giving up” is sticking with the obvious shot of the icon and then leaving. The engaged photographer will peel back the layers and see something beyond the obvious.
I recently re-watched the video “Creative Outdoor Photography” with Galen Rowell and Frans Lanting. One of the most powerful statements was made during the final credits. Galen talked about developing a saturation of awareness of the subject, and then using that to move beyond something that’s just “good” or “right”, to something that is even better than that. It’s a great perspective… something I really want to aim for in my work…
Julie Rorden says:
Thanks for reminding us that beauty comes in small packages, too.
Bill Bean says:
Great post Bret. Lately your posts resonate with me but in this case I’ll try and avoid getting too verbose. It seems lately, when I visit an iconic location, I come away with images that are really pretty average hum drum shots. I suppose it’s because we’ve already seen thousands of images of places like the Bells and some are quite spectacular. So unless the stars align properly it’s tough to create that impact. That being said, even when an icon leaves you yawning there is always an image nearby that will move you. Your image is a perfect example of this. We just have to look beyond the icons and see the rest. Hmmmm….sounds like a blog entry to me. “Beyond the Icons”
Greg Russell says:
Indeed…a fantastic image and a great lesson to pass on! I find this image much more original and creative than any of those big ole’ mountains.
Did you get funny looks for having your back turned to the “big show?”
To Bill Bean above…ask and you shall receive!
http://www.alpenglowimagesphotography.com/blog/2010/01/the-icons/
http://www.alpenglowimagesphotography.com/blog/2010/01/the-icons-reinterpreted/
Bret Edge says:
Thanks for reading and commenting, Greg. Both of the blog posts to which you link are excellent reading. Really appreciate ‘em!
I got more funny looks from tourists who showed up just to enjoy the sunrise than from the photographers. The one photog pointed and I caught a couple of them glancing my way. I’m sure they were wondering what the hell I was doing with my back to the Maroon Bells at sunrise!
Bret Edge says:
Thanks, Royce. I’ll have to see if I can find that video and watch it some time. Galen Rowell and Frans Lanting together in a video about creative photography – how can you go wrong?!
Bill Bean says:
Bret, it’s no big deal. People point and laugh at me all the time. You get used to it.
Greg…Great posts. But now that it’s been done I’ll have to steal a different idea for my next blog post. Dang it!
traceyclark says:
I absolutely love this story! Brilliant!
Brad Mangas says:
Great job Bret, I done a similar thing last week in the West Elk Range near Crested Butte, 4 other photographers and myself were shooting the late evening light on the aspen covered mountains in the distance when I noticed right behind us the aspens no more than 50 feet away in the campgroud were bathed in beautiful light. I immediately turned my camera around and started shooting the trees behind us. To say they gave me a funny look is putting it mildly. It was great.
Uniqueness is an extremely vital part of photography and when one chooses to not follow the crowd great things can happen.
Ken Wyatt says:
Hi Bret, thanks for pointing out the fact there are “other pictures” to photograph besides the usual icons. During my tours, I always direct the participants attention towards alternative locations. Yes, we photograph the icons, but then we spend a little time exploring. For example, at the bells, if one were to walk a bit downstream, there are some gorgeous moss-covered boulders with pretty little waterfalls. There are also some reflecting pools nearby.
I also take people out to Crystal Mill/Pumphouse and, of course, photograph it from several directions….but then, there are reflection shots of the river and a lovely grove of aspens just past the town(?) of Crystal.
Check my blog for recent examples of last fall’s tours. http://www.wyattphoto.blogspot.com/