Missed Opportunities?
Let Me Paint a Scenario For YouThere have been a number of occasions (missed opportunities) where I have wanted to photograph the sunset on Brome Lake. So what I would sometimes do is check the evening western sky to look at the cloud formations, the direction of the moving clouds and the strength of the wind. Why would I do this?If the clouds are the beginnings of a potential storm then the clouds would go all the way down to the horizon. So, when the sun begins to set, it would be blocked by those clouds, making for a very dull sunset. If the winds were strong, as opposed to a very gentle breeze, then the water on the lake would be rough and you would not see the mirror effect that makes for a truly great image. However, if the clouds are the remanence from an earlier storm then usually there is a gap between the clouds and the horizon and the sun as it sets will come into that gap, light up the underside of the passing clouds and definitely make for a much more interesting sunset. If there are no clouds, and the time of year is early spring or late fall and it was a sunny day, then the sky is usually a very interesting deep blue. So that when the sun sets you will see interesting reds, orange and yellow as well as a really intense deep blue sky above. Do you have any idea, the number of times I have walked outside heading towards my dogs yard with their food bowls, turned to look at that western sky and then uttered those famous words, “you moron, you have missed a golden opportunity to get some great pictures tonight”. These are called “missed opportunities”. You can always say to yourself "yes, the sun does set every night and there are often clouds at the end of a storm, so I will capture it the next time. But Mother Nature never paints the same picture twice”.
Why am I Telling You This?Have you ever watched the really great hockey players and noticed they have this knack for being in the right place at the right time. They seem to follow the puck so much better than anyone else. There are not many players who do this.It happens for them because they are always thinking and making mental notes, regardless if it's a practice or actual game time. They watch, they remember, they anticipate, then they practice, practice, practice until their being in the right place at the right time becomes second nature. How Does This Relate to Photography?Very simple. Look back at the missed opportunities scenario I painted earlier and let’s make some notes.
So here I am, just like that hockey player, thinking, making mental notes, and committing these scenarios to memory.
Ok, What am I Missing?Two simple components will help you avoid these missed opportunities:
Why doesn’t this happen? Well, because at that time of day (early evening) my brain is thinking about so many other seemingly “important” issues that I simply forget. And, only when I go out to feed the dogs do I remember to look up at that western sky. By then it is too late. So, how do I solve this problem? I suppose I could create a daily reminder entry in my Outlook calendar to do this and then practice, practice practice. But really the key to this is simply practice. It will help form the routine and it will also serve to make you a better photographer because you WILL be getting out there more often taking pictures.
Another Useful TipIn one of my other pages (The equipment I carry and why) contains a reference to carrying a notepad. One of the uses of this notepad is to write down scenarios that you come across when you are out and about and spot potential opportunities. You make note of that location and settings, the time of day, possible weather conditions that would turn this location into a great photo opportunity. You can also make note of other possible scenarios that could make for more interesting photographs, so they do not become missed opportunities.Another Missed Opportunities ScenarioYou know those evenings when the sun has set, the moon is just above the horizon and is particularly large and crystal clear? This event occurs a couple of times each year. The one I see most frequently seems to always happen in late fall or early winter around 5:00pm, when it is already dark. This is a scenario I have wanted to photograph for years (i.e. its another of my missed opportunities).So, why haven’t I done it….ha ha…its really very simple? I have never taken the time to write down this event and then check the calendar and moon phases each month to see when it is going to re-occur. You see, I am just as guilty as you for not practicing what I preach. I am sure we could easily come up with many more of these “missed opportunities”.
Become a ContributorHave A Great Story About This Topic?Tell us about any of your missed opportunities. Were you able to resolve it? What did you do to make sure you did not have this problem again? We would love to hear your stories and solutions! Leaving missed opportunities to return to Photography Tips
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