turn around! .... robert von mayr
Nature’s palette is out there for all to see, and one of the key elements in making YOUR photograph is to select what to include and what to exclude. I have had a variety of teaching that I have compressed to little sayings that I use to trigger (subconsciously, usually) good composition. These include compositional elements to include (NEAR! MIDDLE! FAR!), compositional elements to exclude (EDGE PATROL), and the topic of this little essay (ALWAYS CHECK BEHIND YOU!). Sometimes these things are running around in my head that I have to say “SHUT UP! I’M WORKING HERE!”
Now on to what I want to impart here – always maintain situational awareness when you are photographing. Sometimes you can get locked in to what’s in front of you and forget to look around – particularly when the light is changing rapidly. I was out photographing in Sedona, Arizona on Saturday – and having scouted several new locations, thought that I would go to that old standby, Red Rock Crossing. The weather was overcast and a promising sunset it wasn't I wandered over to the crossing, having paid my $7 parking fee for the 30 minutes I was going to be there and grumbling about how I always draw overcast weather when I come to Sedona. But here I was and another thing I have learned is that if you don’t open the shutter, you can’t capture any photographs.
So I scouted the location and found a pleasing reflection composition. Not the traditional sunlit glowing on the peaks shot, but pleasing. Now I sit and wait for sunset, though when or if, it will take place is uncertain due to the overcast. I noted a “pinking” of clouds to the East and looked west – a little gap opening in the clouds! Maybe…..
Well, the pink extended over cathedral rocks and I got a nice shot.
I was concentrating on moving of the pink, changing exposures to ensure that I got the shot. Nice, not the typical image but pleasing nonetheless.
Then “TURN AROUND DUMMY” crossed my mind. What was making the sky light up like that and what else might there be? WOW! Was the answer.
The break in the clouds had been too late for direct light on the rock formations, but there was quite a show to the west and it was reflecting nicely in the quiet waters in the red rock crossing. New composition needed! There wasn't a way to get those reflections and Cathedral rock in the same composition, but it didn’t matter. I set up a very pleasing sunset composition complete with god beams, color, and reflection on the fly. I had about three minutes of this and then it started to fade. Best shots of the day came here, and it has the advantage of being a little seen composition of a very popular area.
Comment
What we see and how we see it is what makes us all different. The approach to a composition varies vastly among all photographers and as a result, so do the images we produce. In the example above, Robert certainly had something in mind. Preconception is something I think we all do but to varying degrees. I think with such a strong composition at hand, most of us would have shot the image we came to get no matter! The unexpected usually leads to challenges that were not thought of in foresight . It's yet another opportunity to be creative is how I fell about it. The top image has the strength of the formations to carry it. The bottom is all color. The beauty of both is that I think all of us would have tried each differently! Robert came looking for the obvious and came away with two unexpected personalized views, and an afternoon that he wanted to share with us all... Thanks Robert.
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