I’m Strange
Sidewalk Rorschach 1, 5th & Lamar, Austin
Fine art landscape photographers, the kind that might make a living from their prints, will scout a location and calculate what time of day to come back for the most dramatic lighting. Some will go as far as figuring the date when the moon will rise at sunset on the left side of the crest then plan a return visit to the area on that date. That’s not me. I am an opportunist with a schedule that is defined by family and work. I am also lazy and impatient; I will never be able pay for more than a very rare meal for two with my pictures.
So it came as a surprise that that I would see a subject and make a plan to go back the next day with a camera. And when the result was not quite what I had in mind (bad framing in the poor Panasonic GF1 EVF), to go back again with a different camera. Again not satisfied – the afternoon sun glared off some of the elements – choose to go back yet again, before 11am and on an overcast day. That’s not my usual haphazard M.O.
And what majestic scene was it that drew me back three times? Was it a Moon and Half Dome (Ansel Adams)? Was it Shiprock Storm (Mitch Dobrowner)? No. It was tar splatter on a downtown Austin sidewalk.
I’m strange that way.
