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Sometimes, with my photography, I feel a little bit like this bucket…

like I’ve been in the same spot too long, allowing the never-ending wave action to lull me to sleep with nothing but rust to show.

I’ve always loved taking photographs, but there have been times in these last few years when taking photographs is not fun – when I feel like I’m doing the same thing over and over again, when I look at my photographs and see nothing.

I know there are remedies for this situation.  My husband would say cut yourself some slack.  And I do…once in a great while.

Recently I went with a friend (and fellow photographer) to take photos.  There were no models involved, no time schedules, and no stress.  We began our time together by just walking on the beach, talking as we went.  There was a heavy mist and some light rain so our cameras remained in our bags for awhile (I wasn’t ready to pull mine out anyway).  Halfway back from the point, I looked up from the beach to a nearby island and saw that the mist had vanished.  I took off my hood as we continued to walk.  My friend pulled her camera out.  I waited, enjoying our conversation and loving the marine life around us.  We came upon a rock we had noticed earlier.  One side of it had some barnacle “scars” that made a nice pattern (I’m still a pattern girl at heart).  I took a few photographs but wasn’t really pleased with any of them; I continued to walk.  We photographed some sea stars, some buoys, pilings, and boats.  We both stared at the bucket in the photograph above.  It was my friend who voiced what I was thinking…how do I photograph this?  We moved around,  photographed high and low, photographed objects nearby, even swapped lenses with each other.  I think both of us walked away not satisfied with what we had taken.  But that’s o.k.

 We focused on other scenes and objects.

I went back to the original bucket and focused on a detail. 

Soon I found myself again in that place I love - completely wrapped up in seeing and photographing.

I suppose I may feel like that bucket at times, but I’m thankful for opportunities like this.  It helps me remember why I photograph – it makes me smile.

Have a great Monday!