Photography for self expression and enjoyment.

I've done a lot of thinking lately about my interest in photography and what it really means to me. Photography has been an interest of mine as far back as I can remember. The nights spent in my home darkroom developing film and printing images with my Bessler enlarger was as enjoyable a pastime as I can remember. I love all the technical aspects and can read and study for hours without getting the least bit bored. 


What has got me thinking is how stressed out I sometimes get when on location shooting. I may have traveled some distance, and like all fellow photographers want to get that perfect image and tend to ignore the beauty and peacefullness of the location. Capturing it is all consuming. The light is changing, the wind is coming up, the clouds are going away, the scene is changing too fast, now what? Maybe now is the time I should just sit down, relax and enjoy the view and the company that is with me. I am in nature in some of the most beautiful settings and not fully enjoying the experience. 


My images are for me and hopefully those that see them to enjoy. It is my form of self expression and partly my sense of self worth to create an image that is beautiful, interesting, compelling, different, etc. But for me personally I need to work on enjoying the process more and not be so anxious about the final outcome. I have a large investment in time and money in my photography passion and I want to get the most I can from it. I am going to make a real effort to fully enjoy the ride as they say and just to do the very best I can with any given photo shooting situation. I sincerely hope the best of light follows you.