Anatomy of a Composition - Liminal Space

The liberation and trepidation that can be found at 12,500 feet, in the middle of an early May night can fill one with equal parts of inspiration and anxiousness. While the trail to hike to this place isn’t necessarily difficult, the challenge of hiking of a slippery and crusty surface are just one element to take into consideration. The wind and the ambient temperature pose additional challenges, as do the lights of passing highway traffic and snow-cats in the distance.

Photography is about a plan - having an idea in mind for what the final composition will look like leads the photographer out again and again. What the photograph finds though is often different than that initial vision, you then have to rely on preparation and an understanding of your gear in order to create something different yet still rewarding.

Patience was my most important attribute this night. I set up one camera to capture stills that would be blended into a time-lapse, and I carried a second camera and tripod in order to create a panorama, as well as images like this - the result of multiple images shot of the same composition, then stacked and edited together. But pushing myself a little higher up the ridge in order to peer down into the valley below providing a rewarding site and a peaceful time to reflect the events and motions that have moved through my life the past few years.

After number of years I’ve decided to take a break from therapy in order to consolidate the work that has been emphasized and to take stock of the lessons provided by this relationship. Much like hiking into the mountains in the middle of the night, a mental health relationship can provide both clarity and a goal to work towards, while also picking apart our confidence as we head out into uncertain territory and uneven footing.

Finally, letting go of this relationship, one that has been a defining part of my week and day, and one that has brought constancy to my life, is now leading to a transitional and poorly defined space in my life. This “liminal-space” is the real work, the space where letting go of certainty, letting go of the known outcome, is what all that other work was really all about.

May, 2021 - As always, thank you for the support and for joining me on this adventure.

For more thoughts on some of these images, and life’s other travails, head to www.wordpress.com/alma175w  

Liminal Space - ISO 6400 | F/1.4 | 8.0 sec. - 25 images stacked - Sony a7riii & Sony FE 24GM