Right Moment, Right Time

Capturing the magnificent moments of nature are exhilarating. There is beauty in every day and all around us, you just have to open your eyes and take the time to appreciate all of it. There are also amazing seconds like no other.

In the Columbia River Gorge we have amazing sunrise and sunset. Maybe its the vast open endless river of water that allows reflects of the sky. Maybe the water reacts like a huge prism and not only reflects the light but captures it to illuminate brilliant colors. But even during the sunrise or sunset as the light peaks is gradually brings on that one magnificent moment you can almost miss with a blink of the eye.

As a photographer, there is a passion to not only experience the moment but to try to capture it. Today as I headed out it was one of those MOST AMAZING sunrises. I was in my car, while I could pull over the scene was obstructed with power lines, houses and trees ( not a great photo moment). I was not going to get to a location in time to capture the truly best colors, and when I did reach an open good location.....it was socked in with fog. While timing for being at the right place at the right time, patience waiting for either the wildlife or the best moment of lighting ( or both) and still capture it all on film or in a pixel. But the colors, the light, the scene, or even a simple flower we will never capture it 100%.

Why? There is more to capturing a moment than technical knowledge, luck of timing and patience of waiting. Nature is perfect and we can not recreate its perfection. An artist can try to replicate the moment. A good artist whether in a photograph, a painting or a drawing can express what they see. We even try to express what we feel. There is a magical moment in the heart and soul a person captures that includes what you hear, smell, see and feel.

Watching an amazing sunrise as the colors emerge with the sun rising and reflecting on water, clouds and the sky is more, its more than the warmth of the light on your face, or the temperature of the air on your skin, or the peacefulness and silence of feeling so small in the magnificence of the universe. It is the feeling of perfection in the moment of the grace of God and the creation. It is the miracle you can feel in your heart of peace and faith in the world. Man can not replicate the creation. An artist does not try to copy the creation to be equal to nature but the desire to hold dear to that single moment and wish to share it with others.

Sometimes the moments in nature are small and distant. Some days just step away from trying to capture it on film and capture it in your heart. To be able to drive to an appointment and view dozens of bald Eagles perched in trees watching for breakfast or to heading down the road and seeing the sky wake up with an amazing colors are "wow" moments. There are times we are graced for our timing and patience we will be at the right time at the right moment ready with a camera to grab a fraction of the "wow" you feel in your heart and be able to share that moment with others. It is ok, to take many of those moments in and just feel the grace and beauty for yourself as well. Don't miss them, they are around us every day and sometimes staring right in your face, take the moment and feel blessed.

"Miracles start to happen when you give as much energy to your dreams as you do to your fears"