Anatomy of a Composition - Revisits

Odd to think of this as a title for a single image as it actually applies to many of the images in my portfolio. I have found a certain joy in returning to locations and compositions in this short journey of photography, if not just for the sheer beauty of the locations, but also for a chance to see “what else!” can come of the experience. 

I read early on when I first started shooting that one way to improve is to find places and compositions that you can shoot over and over again, not just for the repetition, but as a way to hone both technical and creative skills. I remember feeling pretty overwhelmed with that thought, as most of the images I was capturing at that time were very much “found” images, images that just presented themselves, when I least expected, but was able to seize upon and by sheer luck end up with a beautiful image.  While I still shoot like this, looking for the moments when the light finds the perfect spot to land on, or those “once in a lifetime” shots, the benefit of revisiting a location is a bit like utilizing a mentor; there is something to compare, there is a model to base your new work on. 

This post, in the shadow of the Sleeping Giant has been one of those inspirational spots in my journey. The first time I was able to shoot this, in 2018 was exactly as I described above, an absolutely serendipitous moment.  I’d made a second trip to Steamboat that February, and even though it had been a really good trip there weren’t any photos with a lot of color in them. Steamboat produces some incredible sunset color when it wants to, rich purple and crimson colors that can last for up to an hour will streak across the sky. That night the sky was much subtler with golden tones trickling in and the blue sky became a translucent palette. Even though this wasn’t the sky I was hoping for, it was one that was mesmerizing and wholly memorable in its own right. So, this post is still an important subject, and this most recent sky was so reminiscent of three years ago; a warmer, yellow glow, rather than the more vibrant sky of the morning. While I was hoping for a break in the clouds at the horizon line, the clouds stayed anchored, the sun backlighting the scene instead of stabbing through with its many starred spears. 

That's what it means to revisit a setting; knowing what the framing is and the potential for the composition, and waiting for the light to evolve. The reward in this venture is the complete surprise in the final results. Suspending the need for a specific outcome is the easiest way to stay present. This is the gift of revisiting a setting; knowing that I can sink into the moments as they pass by, and not have to judge the results as better or worse than the other work, but simply appreciate the process that unfolds while creating. 

March, 2021 - As always, thank you for joining me on this adventure.

For more thoughts on some of these images, head over to www.wordpress.com/alma175w  

Anatomy of a Composition - Revisits ISO 100 | f/11 | 1/160 sec.