Ansel Adams
Now we all know I like to take the easy way out. You might think this is because I am lazy, or have a short attention span or just don’t care. False, false, false.
It is because #1: I always bite off more than I can chew and this is the only way I can get any of it done and #2: It works for me. More importantly, every time I have tried to change – it goes terribly wrong. You don’t have to get hit with that stick too many times to learn to just stick with what works.
What does this have to do with Photography? Well listen up.
I am what I would call a ghetto photographer. I drive around in my car, see a great shot, pull over, put on my car flashers, take the photo and drive off. In this manner, I can cover a lot of ground and get some decent shots. They are not great, but they are plentiful! But every once in awhile I think to myself “ Annie – take your time, set that shot up, get your fat butt out of the car and just take a really great picture.”
And so it was last Saturday that I was driving on my morning round of errands that I saw this field of flowers. A little voice in my head said, “This is one of those great pictures! Get out of the car, get out of the car”. You know, you really ought to ask yourself when you hear those voices – “who are you? friend or foe?”
I pulled the car over, I got out of the car and I dashed across the back county road. This was going to a fantastic shot. This will win awards. This is the nature shot that will rival Ansel Adam’s. And as I got about half way across the road my shiny new leather bottom shoes did the unthinkable. They let go of the ground. It happened so fast I didn’t know I was falling until I hit the pavement. One minute I am running and the next minute, whoosh I was lying face down in the middle of the road. Two thoughts in my head “Get up before a car comes around the corner and you become road kill” and “where is my camera?” I get up, I am kind of whoozy, my hands are covered in blood and gravel, my right arm hurts, and my ankle is killing me. Oh yeah- and over in that ditch is my camera. I pick up the camera, which appeared to be in better shape than I was. I hobbled back to my car. I climbed in and I drove off. I think that voice belonged to Ansel Adams. Seriously. He was sitting up there thinking, “She is so never going to take a great photograph. She will waste all that time and effort and to no avail so, why don’t I just help her out and get the silly idea out of her pretty little head in one fell swoop.” WHACK He pulled my feet right out from under me, and knocked some sense into me that I won’t soon forget. The photography lesson I learned was this: Do not get out of the car and keep your lazy butt glued to the seat and just stick with what works. And if a little voice says otherwise, you best be asking who it is.
As a side note: I went back the next day, I stayed in my car and I took these OK photos. But I am happy with that. Because I also went out to breakfast with my daughters, went grocery shopping, got my nails done, went to Starbucks, cleaned the garage, went to Barnes and Nobles, made dinner and had a nice bath. Thanks Ansel!